Carter Steven's Guide To TCM This Week (1/3-1/8)!

Week 2

3 Sunday

10:00 AM Americanization of Emily, The (1964) A British war widow falls for an opportunistic American sailor during World War II. Cast: James Garner, Julie Andrews, Melvyn Douglas. Dir: Arthur Hiller. BW-115 mins, TV-14, CC, Letterbox Format

One of the greatest anti war films ever made with dialog that could only have come from the nimble pen of Paddy Chayefsky who could write speeches that sounded like conversations.

4 Monday

4:15 PM My Favorite Year (1982) A flamboyant star throws a TV comedy show into chaos. Cast: Peter O'Toole, Mark Linn-Baker, Jessica Harper. Dir: Richard Benjamin. C-92 mins, TV-14, CC, Letterbox Format

A very funny “Jewish” comedy. Peter O'Toole plays a not very subtle version of Errol Flynn, Mark Linn-Baker an homage to Mel Brooks and with Joseph Bologna in a not very veiled portrayal of Sid Ceaser that almost steals the picture. Lainie Kazan plays the ultimate 50s New York Jewish Mother who is one RCH away from being a horrible stereotype except she is so spot on. First time or fortieth it's still a freakin' funny picture.

5 Tuesday

5:00 AM D.O.A. (1950) The victim of a slow-acting poison tracks down his own killer. Cast: Edmond O'Brien, Pamela Britton, Luther Adler. Dir: Rudolph Mate. BW-84 mins, TV-14

The plot summery says it all. Crank up that TiVo.

3:45 PM Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967) An aging couple's liberal principles are tested when their daughter announces her engagement to a black doctor. Cast: Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Sidney Poitier. Dir: Stanley Kramer. C-108 mins, TV-PG, CC, Letterbox Format

NOT a great picture but worth watching just for the acting lesson of a (in real life) dying Spencer Tracy who shows how it's supposed to be done. On second thought just catch the last 15 minutes for Tracy's speech and Hepburn's tearful look.

7 Thursday

3:15 PM Back From Eternity (1956) When an airliner crashes in the jungle, the repaired plane can only hold five of the survivors. Cast: Robert Ryan, Anita Ekberg, Rod Steiger. Dir: John Farrow. BW-97 mins, TV-PG, CC

Never seen it, never heard of it but an interesting cast. I'm going to catch it.

8 Friday

Friday is Elvis day on TCM. Boy that man could sing, but the only film of his worth watching, King Creole isn't among the selections. (except for Viva Las Vegas at 6:15 which is only worth watching to ogle Ann-Margret)

10:00 PM Elvis: That's The Way It Is 2001 (2001) Restored version of the King's classic Vegas concert film. Cast: Elvis Presley. Dir: Denis Sanders. C-96 mins, TV-14, CC, Letterbox Format

I prefer the slim leather clad Elvis of the Comeback Special but even the Vegas Elvis is worth a listen.