My TCM Picks of the Week

I’m thinking of buying a new TIVO, even though it’s not really functional in Canada, just for some extra TIVO hard drive space. The responsibility for this very stupid idea falls solely on TCM. Damn you TCM! You make it hurt so good. In that spirit, here are my TCM picks of the week.

Monday, June 18, 2012

5:00 pm EST Chicago Confidential (1957)

There’s a whole series of cheap pulp fiction novels and movies that follow the formula of city name + “confidential.” This formula is the honey, and I am the fly.

Dir: Sidney Salkow Cast:  Brian Keith , Beverly Garland , Dick Foran

10:00 pm EST Nights of Cabiria (1957)

Well it’s Fellini and the synopsis goes a little something like: A streetwalker dreams of a better life. And really, who doesn’t?

Dir: Federico Fellini. Cast: Giulietta Masina, Francois Perier, Amedeo Nazzari, Franca Marzi, Dorian Gray

 

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

8:00 am EST Northern Pursuit (1943)

A movie about a Mountie and the Canadian wilderness. FTW!

Dir: Raoul Walsh Cast:  Errol Flynn , Julie Bishop , Helmut Dantine

 

Thursday, June 21, 2012

10:00 am EST The Man I Love (1947)

The amazing Ida Lupino, directed by Raoul Walsh, with just a soupcon of mobster thrown in. Come on.

Dir: Raoul Walsh Cast:  Ida Lupino , Robert Alda , Andrea King

3:15 pm EST On Dangerous Ground (1951)

Here’s a good life rule: if there’s a Nicholas Ray film, watch it. Especially if it’s got some more Ida Lupino on offer.

Dir: Nicholas Ray Cast:  Ida Lupino , Robert Ryan , Ward Bond

6:15 pm EST While The City Sleeps (1956)

Here’s an even better life rule: if there’s a Fritz Lang movie, watch it. Twice.

Dir: Fritz Lang Cast:  Dana Andrews , Rhonda Fleming , George Sanders

 

Friday, June 22, 2012

6:00 am EST Ninotchka (1939)

Is it just me, or does it seem like Greta Garbo is always a cold-hearted spy thawed by a night love in Paris? One should have such problems.

Dir: Ernst Lubitsch Cast:  Greta Garbo , Melvyn Douglas , Ina Claire

5:00 pm EST The Apartment (1960)

Okay, here’s a shameful confession for ya – I’ve never seen this movie. And every time it airs, I vow that this will be the time when I watch it. Will I or won’t I? Stay tuned…

Dir: Billy Wilder Cast:  Jack Lemmon , Shirley MacLaine , Fred MacMurray

8:00 pm EST Street Scene (1931)

I don’t want to keep laying the same schtick on you, but… it’s King Vidor. You know the life rule.

Dir: King Vidor Cast:  Sylvia Sidney , William Collier Jr. , Estelle Taylor

 

Saturday, June 23, 2012

7:30 am EST The Black Scorpion (1957)

Giant! Prehistoric! Scorpions!

Dir: Edward Ludwig Cast:  Richard Denning , Mara Corday , Carlos Rivas

9:15 am EST Crime Of Passion (1957)

The synopsis for this film includes the phrase “Barbara Stanwyck barters sex.” Need I say more?

Dir: Gerd Oswald Cast:  Barbara Stanwyck , Sterling Hayden , Raymond Burr

8:00 pm EST Rebel Without a Cause (1955)

See: Life Rule: Nicholas Ray, subhead Life Rule: James Dean. Sure you’ve seen it – maybe a billion times – but so what?

Dir: Nicholas Ray Cast:  James Dean , Natalie Wood , Sal Mineo

 

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Sunday night is circus night on TCM. Don’t miss this block of funny-cry-happy-sad clowns.

8:00 pm EST The Circus (1928)

Dir: Charles Chaplin Cast:  Charles Chaplin , Merna Kennedy , Betty Morrissey

9:30 pm EST The Big Circus (1959)

Dir: Joseph M. Newman Cast:  Victor Mature , Red Buttons , Rhonda Fleming

11:30 pm EST The Circus Clown (1934)

Dir: Ray Enright Cast:  Joe E. Brown , Patricia Ellis , Dorothy Burgess

12:45 pm EST Laugh, Clown, Laugh (1928)

Dir: Herbert Brenon Cast:  Lon Chaney , Bernard Siegel , Loretta Young

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barbara StanwyckBilly Wildercharlie chaplinErnst LubitschErol FlynnFederico Fellinifritz langGreta GarboIda LupinoJack Lemmonjames deanking vidorLon ChaneyNicholas RayRaoul WalshSterling Hayden