The September 2014 Schedule for TCM

Discussion of programming on TCM.
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moira finnie
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The September 2014 Schedule for TCM

Post by moira finnie »

The Sept. 2014 Schedule can be seen in full here: http://www.tcm.com/schedule/september2014.html

TCM kicks off the Fall with a month's worth of interesting programming, including:

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The Projected Image: The Jewish Experience on Film, on Tuesdays this month. There are a plethora of good films related to this, with 19 movies showcased, from The Jazz Singer (1927) to the delightful Hearts of the West (1975) and more recent and little known movies, such as Focus (2001), based on the only novel by Arthur Miller. More about this spotlight this month can be seen here.

A separate website is also available with considerably more content at TCM Presents - The Projected Image:
http://www.tcm.com/projectedimage/

A brief clip of Dr. Eric Goldman, who helped curate this month's theme:
[youtube][/youtube]

Star of the Month: Melvyn Douglas:

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He made Garbo laugh, was nearly strangled by Boris Karloff, fixed Joan Crawford's scars, was a spare hubby for Jean Arthur, and worked with directors as diverse as James Whale, Ernst Lubitsch, George Cukor, Elia Kazan, Martin Ritt, Hal Ashby and John Guillermin (who directed him in the captivating but little known 1965 movie, Rapture). All this was accomplished while being politically active (his wife was actress and Congresswoman Helen Gahagan Douglas), and continuing to appear on stage for many years. Why isn't he better remembered?

On Wednesdays in September, TCM focuses on actor Melvyn Douglas, a rather under-appreciated actor who went from sophisticated romantic comedy player (Ninotchka, Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, Theodora Goes Wild) to versatile supporting player (Sea of Grass, Captains Courageous, A Woman's Secret) to become one of the best older actors on screen, giving moving reality to his many mature roles (Hud, The Americanization of Emily, One is a Lonely Number, I Never Sang for My Father, Being There). You can see more about the actor and the films being shown here:
http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/1 ... Sept-.html

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This month's Friday Night Spotlight expands to 24 hour binges of Pre-Code films on TCM, hosted in the evenings by Robert Osborne & Alec Baldwin, relishing the 67 movies from the period being screened! Warm up the DVR and read more here, if you like:
http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/1 ... -Code.html
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Re: The September 2014 Schedule for TCM

Post by Rita Hayworth »

I will be using my DVR very heavily on Friday Nights and I'm looking forward seeing films regarding Pre-Codes and that's one area that I'm very weak on.
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Re: The September 2014 Schedule for TCM

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A late career Michael Curtiz film featured a favorite actor of mine whose excellent work in an unexpected role really surprised me. That movie, THE JAZZ SINGER (1953) happens to be on TCM this evening at 9:45 PM (ET).

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Before you say "Oh, NO, how could they?" take a look at this movie if you have time. Danny Thomas plays the role created by Al Jolson, but the story is updated to be about a guy wanting to pursue a different career after his military service in a different America than Jolson and his family experienced. There is assimilation to a degree, but also a bit more acceptance (or so it seems) in his own religious community for people who want to expand their horizons. The movie, typical of Curtiz at times throughout his career, focused on individual immigrants and what the process of becoming a "success" really entails spiritually. The movie is good when revealing the conflict, the pain and the anger in his character's desire to express his talent. It also helps that Curtiz cast his parents with two fine actors, Eduard Franz and Mildred Dunnock--and tossed in the jazz great Peggy Lee as Thomas' romantic interest.

Rounding it all out is a great score that includes Rodgers & Hart's "Lover,", "The Birth of the Blues," "I'll String Along With You" and "Living the Life I Love" all delivered with considerable show biz savvy and some (not all) schmaltz. Really worth a look. More about this movie, including clips and a feature article here: http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/79698/Jazz-Singer-The/

More about Peggy Lee in this movie can be seen here:
http://peggylee.com/new-cd-dvd-releases ... zz-singer/
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Re: The September 2014 Schedule for TCM

Post by Western Guy »

kingrat, DEFINITELY tune into THE SNIPER. A "must-see" with strong performances by Arthur Franz (his best role), Marie Windsor, Adolph Menjou and Richard Kiley.
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Re: The September 2014 Schedule for TCM

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kingrat wrote:So the poster boy for the Jewish Experience is . . . Paul Newman? Yes, I know it's because of that bloated snoozefest masterpiece Exodus, but casting Newman in the lead is one of that film's many problems.
Yeah, ain't it the truth. I was surprised to read that Paul didn't want to do the role, and man, does it show! That said there are some things I love about Exodus (1960). First, that Ernest Gold music is so lushly heroic in scale and tone. Even if the film fails to grasp the bar set by its ambitions successfully and completely, I just fall for the score every time. Other good things are the all too brief glimpses of George Maharis on a motorcycle (but I am shallow). There's also a brilliantly done set piece centered on the escape from prison, which was very well edited too.

Not to mention the two actors who steal the show:
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David Opatoshu (right) as a not entirely fictional version of Menacham Begin with Sal Mineo (left) as the Jewish refugee, Dov Landau.
kingrat wrote:Anyway, I'm excited about the lesser known Edward Dmytryk films to be shown tomorrow. I want to see So Well Remembered again, having enjoyed it the first time--Martha Scott as an English noir dame! who knew?--and I've never seen Obsession or The Sniper. Just recently I re-watched Cornered and liked it much better the second time. The plot's complicated, the mostly unfamiliar (to me) character actors are good, and Dick Powell does a fine job. I particularly admired his opening scenes, where he conveys a complex tangle of grief, anger, and determination. This is mostly done through subtext and body language.
The Sniper is excellent, but if you watch Obsession, I don't think you will think of Robert Newton as that guy who played a cuddly Long John Silver ever again. Dmytryk created a small, very dark gem filled with dramatic tension intensified by the story's unbearably claustrophobic feel.
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Re: The September 2014 Schedule for TCM

Post by Western Guy »

Thanks for the heads-up on OBSESSION, Moira. Confess that's a new one to me, but you just said the two magic words that will have me tuning in: ROBERT NEWTON.
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Re: The September 2014 Schedule for TCM

Post by Mr. Arkadin »

Obsession & The Sniper are great--don't miss them. Another feature not mentioned is The Devil Commands (1941), which rarely plays on TCM. I think it's one of Karloff's finest performances.
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Re: The September 2014 Schedule for TCM

Post by JackFavell »

Jut for the record, Paul Newman, while technically not jewish, had a jewish father and felt himself to be a jew. Yeah, it surprised me too.

Is there a cuter pooch in cinema than that nice little doggie in OBSESSION? Man's best friend indeed, and worth ten of Sally Gray's character. :D

I really enjoyed SO WELL REMEMBERED, which I had never seen before, maybe because I am not too fond of precious Martha Scott in any of her good girl roles. I find her sometimes too concerned with enunciation for my liking, and her big eyes seem a bit empty to me... she was probably a better stage actress than screen. Here as the phoney Olivia, she was just perfect. Mills and Howard were terrific with Howard exceptional in a throwaway role as the doctor and best friend to poor love struck, put-upon Mills. I loved his delivery and demeanor here, and the way his thinning hair was always swept off in spirals of disarray... denoting his concern with medicine rather than his appearance. :D

I also liked Richard Carlson as Scott's son, even though I laughed when he first came on the scene...his un-Britishness brought me out of the movie for a minute. Carlson actually had some acting chops, and lately he's been standing out of the pack for me, at least in the category of young, well groomed actors with good voices - you know, the Hugh Marlowe, Phil Carey school of players.

I'm terribly excited about the Bea Lillie night...I've never seen any of her films except for THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, and she scared the bejesus out of me in that one when I first saw it.... at age six. But now it's time to investigate her early screen appearances... I hope she's good! I've always been fond of British comediennes - Anna Russell, Joyce Grenfell, etc. I'm hoping to add Lillie to the list of eccentric British dames that I like.

I found Melvyn Douglas strangely comforting on his first night and day of films. Plus, with young Douglas you also get more Felix Bressart.

I haven't seen BEING THERE since it came out, and Hal Ashby didn't disappoint. The movie is quite odd and interestingly paced, slow as the character of Chance the Gardener himself. If you find that slow build funny, as I did, then the movie is for you. The scene where Chance's friend the maid talks about his rise to fame is priceless. Still left wondering about the ending, but I've created my own interpretation of it that works for me. Melvyn Douglas was excellent. He and Betty Grable should be two great inspirations for actors - examples of tenacious learners who stuck to it despite lackluster roles and developed until finally the payback of stardom/critical excellence was achieved.
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Re: The September 2014 Schedule for TCM

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I LOVED the "No Talent Joe" number, kr! I actually went to look it up on youtube afterwards, it cracked me up so much. "What he lacks....he doesn't need." Great number.

[youtube][/youtube]
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Re: The September 2014 Schedule for TCM

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I loved SAFE IN HELL but have a question: why does every early thirties movie involving a "bad" woman have them playing and dancing to a record of St. Louis Blues?

Wish they were showing GOODBYE, COLUMBUS and CROSSING DELANCEY as part of The Jewish Experience.
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Re: The September 2014 Schedule for TCM

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Oh god, I love Crossing Delancey. It's the best known of the two movie appearances of Yiddish theatre great Reizl Bozyk, who plays Amy Irving's grandmother, Bubbie Kantor.

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Re: The September 2014 Schedule for TCM

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LOL! WHATTA NUMBER.

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Water water everywhere...and not a drop to drink: Makes me think of Jane Russell in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes."
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Re: The September 2014 Schedule for TCM

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I'm looking forward seeing tonight ...

http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/93019/Th ... rn-Millie/

Is this charming musical starring Julie Andrews, Mary Tyler Moore, and Carol Channing back in 1967 tonight ... I haven't seen this movie in years and I'm going to watch it later on today.

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