Just some thoughts on current happenings:

Our monthly feature of “Classic Film Screenings from around the world” remains suspended as there are no reliable reports of future theatrical screenings during the Corona virus pandemic.

There are 17 recommended films to watch on Turner Classic Movies in the U.S. this month:

An American cinematic treasure, Double Indemnity stands at the top of noir's hierarchy and is described as such in Opening Up a Treasure: Double Indemnity. One can cash in their noir policy Saturday, August 1 at 7 pm PST.

Many cinephiles may be unaware that stars Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray made three other films together besides Double Indemnity namely: Remember the Night (a previous TCM recommendation), The Moonlighter (Roy Rowland's serviceable but undistinguished western) and There's Always Tomorrow (Douglas Sirk's moving melodrama).

The duo’s on screen relationships brought to mind something Fred MacMurray said about working with his famous co-star: “I was lucky enough to make four pictures with Barbara. In the first I turned her in, in the second I killed her, in the third I left her for another woman and in the fourth I pushed her over a waterfall. The one thing all these pictures had in common was that I fell in love with Barbara Stanwyck… and I did, too.”

For those who enjoy the best in creative romantic comedy, be sure to tune in for Pillow Talk (reviewed here) Sunday, August 2 at 5 pm PST.

From the same director who brought us Citizen Kane comes another kind of cinematic hero (of sorts). Michael O'Hara, like the deeply flawed Kane, is flawlessly played by his creator Orson Welles. Unlike Citizen Kane however, this film fell under producer Harry Cohn's butchery with considerable footage lost and destroyed forever. Nevertheless, what survives is vastly entertaining and not to be missed. The Lady from Shanghai was also previously recommended here and will reappear on TCM Monday, August 3 at 5 pm PST.

Few biopics are as inspirational as Michael Curtiz’ Jim Thorpe - All American, a previous TCM recommendation here and one that can be appreciated again Thursday, August 6 at (early morning) 4:30 am PST.

Later in the day, TCM will present another film starring Burt Lancaster, director John Frankenheimer’s action-packed and thought provoking The Train, a previous Blu-ray recommendation here. The Train will begin its perilous journey Thursday, August 6 at 2:30 pm PST.

One of the greatest silent films ever produced is Charlie Chaplin's masterpiece, 1931’s City Lights.

Chaplin, who writes, stars, directs, and even composes the music for this humorous and touching work of art, plays his familiar “little tramp,” only this time in a more integrated fashion with the brilliantly inventive situations and characters he becomes engaged with. Consequently, he seems more connected to what’s occurring rather than just performing for his audience. One can witness Chaplin’s less vaudevillian approach right from the start of City Lights, by way of his character’s creative but unassuming introduction. In addition to the hilariously choreographed boxing match, and our loveable vagabond’s comical entanglements with a wealthy alcoholic (and would-be benefactor except for the latter’s reoccurring amnesia following sobriety), there’s Charlie’s affection for a blind flower girl that adds a welcome sense of devotion especially at the film’s masterful conclusion. City Lights will illuminate TCM (updated) Thursday, January 4 (2024) at 11:30 pm PST.

TCM's current monthly schedule can be confirmed by clicking on any of the above TCM related images. For those who live in parts of the U.S. other than the western region, the time zone can be adjusted in the upper right-hand corner of TCM's programme.

Another prior TCM recommendation is Robert Siodmak's expert 1949 film Criss Cross with Burt Lancaster and Yvonne De Carlo imbuing their characters with passion and complex individuality.

Criss Cross was previously reviewed here. It will cast its noirish spell on TCM Sunday, August 9 at (late evening) 1:15 am PST.

Next up on TCM are 2 films appearing back to back featuring Steve McQueen in the driver’s seat although on opposite sides of the law.

In the first, he’s being pursued by both cops and robbers in 1972's The Getaway recommended here and stopping off at TCM Friday, August 14 at 11 am PST.

Immediately following has the actor in pursuit as unorthodox San Francisco cop Frank Bullit: a more identifiable, well rounded character than hardened criminal McCoy. This is due to the police detective’s additional complexity emanating from an ever-changing number of adverse situations. Bullitt, reviewed here. will speed his way onto TCM Friday, August 14 at 1:15 pm PST.

… and as police lieutenant Frank Bullitt

Another film noir worth checking out (although not so well known), is 1955’s Illegal previously reviewed here. Instead of playing an insurance agent as he does in Double Indemnity, Edward G. Robinson is a shifty lawyer who quite literally, and like the film itself, packs a solid punch. Illegal’s activity can be observed on TCM Saturday, August 15 at 8:30 pm PST.

(From left) Jayne Mansfield, Ellen Corby, Edward G Robinson, Nina Foch

For a perhaps needed change of pace, there's the hilarious Bringing Up Baby previously recommended here. The antics will begin on TCM Sunday, August 16 at 7 am PST.

My next TCM recommendation has been previously reviewed here and is the story of Bonnie and Clyde only re-imagined as the mythical romantic exploits of an impossibly gorgeous but infamous couple in crime. The Barrow Gang will strike on TCM Tuesday, August 18 at 3 pm PST.

Then there's John Ford's masterpiece The Searchers, previously reviewed here. It is Top Ten Western #2 and is as likely as any film to provide one with a truly unforgettable, rich and rewarding movie watching experience. The search will begin Saturday, August 22 at 5 pm PST.

My next two TCM recommendations are not only romance films with two of the same cast members (Paul Henreid and Claude Rains), they were both produced by Hal Wallis and share screenwriting duties by Casey Robinson. Now, Voyager is up first and displays the greater romantic fireworks of the two, presented with fervour, maturity and elegance. Previously reviewed here, Now, Voyager will set sail Friday, August 28 at 5 pm PST.

Later that same evening, 1944's Academy Award Best Picture Winner Casablanca will air which I criticised in my review here, for its emotionally underwhelming Parisian flashback, partly due to the fact that we did not see the romance develop before these rather lukewarm scenes took place. There is, however, no denying the fact that this film casts a magical spell and is certainly capable of sweeping one up in its appealing blend of romance, sacrifice and political intrigue. This 1942 classic, one of Hollywood's proudest, arrives Friday, August 28 at 9 pm PST.

Many film noir aficionados and academics feel that Orson Welles’ 1958 Touch of Evil officially closed out the the category’s classic time period. If so, the creative and flamboyant director certainly did so with a bang! I’ve previously written about this exhilarating film noir with a focus on its various “versions” and how they came to be in Exploring the Artefacts #11: Main Title Inspirations No. 2 Touch of Evil. Viewers can feel Welles’ Touch of Evil Sunday, August 30 at 5 pm PST.

In case one missed last month’s showing of 1968’s Planet of the Apes, reviewed here, it will arrive again at TCM Sunday, August 30 at 9:15 pm PST.

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TCM's current monthly schedule can be confirmed by clicking on any of the above images. For those who live in parts of the U.S. other than the western region, the time zone can be adjusted in the upper right-hand corner of TCM's programme.

This month's Happy Birthday shout-out goes to the lovely and talented actress Elizabeth Ashley who turns 81 on August 30th.

She is perhaps best known to classic film fans for playing actor George Peppard’s wife Monica (she wound up marrying the actor as well in 1966) in her film debut, The Carpetbaggers (1962) after a successful stage career. Other film roles around that time included those in Ship of Fools (1965) and The Third Day (1965, also starring Peppard). After a brief hiatus to devote more time to family, Elizabeth returned to the stage with great success, winning a third Tony nomination for her on Broadway performance as "Maggie the Cat" in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” (1974). She’s also performed on many TV shows such as Mission Impossible (1971 - 1973), The F.B.I. (1974), Another World (1990, as Emma Frame Ordway) Murder, She Wrote (1989-1995), All My Children (1996, as Madge Sinclair), Treme (2010-2013, as Aunt Mimi) and more recently Russian Doll (2019, as Ruth Brenner). Elizabeth can also be seen to great advantage in the films The Marriage of a Young Stockbroker (1971), Paperback Hero (1973), the underrated Rancho Deluxe (1975), Coma (1978), the hidden gem Split Image (1982), Shoot the Moon (1996) and most recently Ocean’s 8 (2018).

August's Soundtrack recommendation is Dave Grusin's lively and infectious score to Tootsie.

The film blends, in a most harmonious fashion, comedy, relationship concerns and social commentary, creatively building these diverse elements to a most satisfying surprise conclusion. Composer Dave Grusin, a long-time collaborator of director Sydney Pollack (The Yakuza, Three Days of the Condor, The Electric Horseman and The Firm, et al), has contributed a jazzy, thematic and invigorating score that adds to the film’s captivating ambience and delightful nature. In addition, there is the beautiful hit song “It Might Be You” sung by Stephen Bishop to enjoy in the film and on this limited edition CD. The soundtrack (only 3,000 copies) was issued by Film Score Monthly and is still available as of this writing from Screen Archives Entertainment. Click on the image for more information including international ordering.

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Humour and drama is perhaps a little less successfully combined in this month’s Blu-ray recommendation, newly issued and currently limited to Australia and New Zealand, No Way to Treat a Lady: one of our Top Ten Guilty Treasures, reviewed here. This Region Free Blu-ray has been issued on the Imprint label and is available from J.B. Hi-Fi by clicking on the accompanying image.

A.G.

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