If you're not a fan of the Turner Classic Movie channel, now is a great time to dive in. January boasts a great lineup of classic films. Not only is the overall selection fabulous, but each Wednesday this month is devoted to actor Jack Lemmon, and Thursdays focus on movies with New York City and Los Angeles as their backdrops.
Here are some of my favorites for the coming week and beyond:
Tonight (1/7), check out Mister Roberts, the film for which Lemmon won his first Academy Award. Directed by the great John Ford and starring Henry Fonda in one of his signature roles. As Roberts, Fonda is a WWII naval officer fighting with boredom and a difficult captain (James Cagney) on a cargo ship full of misfits far away from the action of battle. Lemmon draws laughs as the lazy but lovable Ensign Pulver.
My Sister Eileen (12:15 AM)is a 1955 musical remake of the same-named 1942 film, itself an adaptation of the titular memoir about a writer's life with her flirtatious sister. I prefer the original non-musical starring Rosalind Russell, but this one is definitely an entertaining way to spend 107 minutes—and one of the rare opportunities to hear Lemmon testing out the ol' pipes. Also starring Betty Garrett, whom you may also catch tomorrow night in. . .
On the Town (1949, airing at 8 PM Thursday, 1/8), one of my favorite MGM musicals. Penned by Betty Comden and Adolph Green and bearing little resemblance, musically, to the Broadway show of the same name, the story of three sailors (Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and Jules Munshin) on 24-hour leave in New York City is an irresistible gem. The trio pursues their heart's desires (Garrett, Vera-Ellen, and Ann Miller) as mayhem and music abound. From Miller's trademark tapping in the shadow of a doomed dinosaur model to Alice Pearce (Gladys Kravits on Bewitched)'s appearance as Garrett's socially awkward roommate, you'll hardly notice the misplaced dream ballet sequence. A wonderful start to Thursday's "NY Vs. L.A." night, which continues with. . .
The Out of Towners (1969, 12:15 AM), which also stars star-of-the-month Lemmon. Here, he is paired with Sandy Dennis as a midwest couple enduring a miserable string of bad luck on a trip to the dirty, dangerous Manhattan of the late 1960s. Don't be fooled by the ghastly Steve Martin/Goldie Hawn remake: this is one of Lemmon's best comedies.
Later that night (we're still on Thursday, the 8th), I'll be DVRing California Suite (1978, 2 AM), the natural progression (but not a sequel) of Neil Simon's east-coast Plaze Suite (which is, unnaturally, not being shown). I've never seen this movie, and I don't expect all that much, but I do like Plaza Suite (adapted from the Broadway show, although "adapt" isn't really the right term, since the movie is performed in one room and does not really expand from the stage version). And Alan Alda is in it, so it's DVR-worthy. Love you, Al.
On Friday the 9th at 10:15AM, I recommend Cimarron (1960), a remake of the 1931 Best Picture-winning original. It's a Western starring Glenn Ford, a personal favorite of mine, as a restless pioneer who witnesses the great Oklahoma land drive and the subsequent taming of the territory. I believe that with its large ensemble cast and numerous story threads, Cimarron is ripe for a third take in the spirit of modern ensemble films such as Babel or Crash--and I enjoy imagining what a great film that could be. Watch and let me know if you agree.
AT 6:15PM is Key Largo (1948), a Bogey/Bacall gangster tale also starring Edward G. Robinson (as the gangster, naturally) and a crusty old Lionel Barrymore. I know Bacall is famous for her "You know how to whistle" line from To Have and Have Not, but I'm partial to this film, where Robinson holds the dynamic duo (and many others) hostage at a ramshackle hotel during a hurricane.
This post is getting very long-winded, so I'll write another tomorrow covering the rest of the week and beyond.
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