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 noteworthy classical film theatrical screenings during the Corona virus pandemic.

There are 20 recommended films to watch on Turner Classic Movies in the U.S. this month:

One of Steve McQueen’s most iconic characterisations appears in Bullitt, reviewed here. Bullitt will speed its way onto TCM Saturday, April 3 at 11 am PST.

A sterling example of how to present complex and enthralling characters, all of whom develop naturally while still holding our intense fascination, is Citizen Kane,

a previous TCM recommendation here. This American film masterpiece, the only U.S. film represented on our Top Ten: World Cinema Treasures, will begin Sunday, April 4 at (early morning) 3 am PST.

Recently, in our Facebook chat room (all readers are welcome to join here), Citizen Kane came under significant fire for being boring and overrated. It seemed the best defence enthusiasts could muster was based primarily on the film’s technical achievements which prompted me to make the following response:

"Citizen Kane is, for myself, aside from all of the technical razzle-dazzle, an insightful, exploratory look into the human psyche. The relationships are chronicled with immense creativity and dynamism, having personalities rich in intellectual and emotional development, and yet remain consistent with each individual's temperament. It's not simply Welles' flashy style to admire here... it is how he ingeniously fuses those techniques into his narrative's progression that serves to enhance such a passionate overview of his characters while providing a thorough understanding of their experiences from each one's unique perspective. How anyone, much less a cinephile, could dismiss this extraordinary film, so relatable, revelatory and resonant, is beyond my comprehension.”

Also worth seeing is Alfred Hitchcock's dazzling thriller, Foreign Correspondent, previously reviewed here. His main character’s precarious globe trotting assignment will begin Tuesday, April 6 at 6:30 am PST.

Next up is the wonderful Guys and Dolls, a previous TCM recommendation here. Both will show at TCM Thursday, April 8 at 10 pm PST.

This year saw the sad passing of Cicely Tyson (See End Credits) who made a genuine heartfelt impression in The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, a previous TCM recommendation here. Viewers can realise a wealth of emotion by tuning in Friday, April 9 at 2:45 pm PST.

Cicely Tyson as Portia with Alan Arkin as John Singer in The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter — Cicely Tyson as Portia with Alan Arkin as John Singer in *The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter*

MGM contract player Robert Taylor appeared in a startling number of excellent films. Johnny Eager, a previous recommendation here, is one of them. If you haven’t seen this exciting film noir with its irresistible characters and situations, don’t miss the opportunity Tuesday, April 13 at (early morning) 1 am PST.

Earlier this year saw the sad passing of actress Cloris Leachman. Viewers can witness her heartfelt Academy Award winning performance in The Last Picture Show, previously reviewed here. One of the '70s finest films originated from the novel, and was co-adapted for the screen, by Larry McMurtry, also recently lost to us. This most astute exploration of small town American life will be shown on TCM Wednesday, April 14 at 8:45 pm PST.

(From left) Timothy Bottoms, Ben Johnson, Sam Bottoms

My next TCM, as well as April’s Blu-ray, recommendation (reviewed below) is 1962’s The Manchurian Candidate scheduled to appear Friday, April 16 at 9:30 pm PST.

My next recommendation can be found on Mystery Street, briefly reviewed here. This CSI noir with a Hitchcockian twist can be checked out Sunday, April 18 at 11:15 am PST.

(From left) Ricardo Montalban, Bruce Bennett

Another film well worth seeing is Network (1976), previously reviewed here. This “mad as hell” exposé of just how far some TV executives will go to exploit for profit, amongst other things, a former news anchor’s severe “on the air” mental breakdown, will itself air on TCM Sunday, April 18 at 7:15 pm PST.

In a past review of, Casablanca, my criticisms focused on the film’s emotionally underwhelming Parisian flashback, a weakness partly due to the fact that we did not see the romance develop before these rather lukewarm scenes took place. Prior to this film, however, Casablanca's producer Hal Wallis and one of its contributing writers, Casey Robinson, made Now, Voyager where the romance witnessed from start to finish comes alive with fervour, maturity and elegance. Previously reviewed here, Now, Voyager will set sail Monday, April 19 at 6 am PST.

For those who enjoy the best in creative romantic comedy, be sure to catch Pillow Talk (reviewed here) Wednesday, April 21 at 5 pm PST.

One of cinema’s most quintessential performances by an actress can be seen in 1947’s Possessed by the film’s star Joan Crawford. Crawford’s thorough commitment is bolstered by the actress, along with the film’s director Curtis Bernhardt, having visited several psychiatric hospitals observing patients and interviewing doctors regarding the script’s authenticity. Possessed is a prior TCM recommendation here, and can be thoroughly absorbed Thursday, April 22 at (early morning) 1:15 am PST.

Now it’s on to horror for what was at the time (including throughout its primary creator’s career) the most audacious cinematic assault ever perpetrated on the movie going public or the Motion Picture Production Code for that matter. 1960's Psycho was previously reviewed here. The terror will begin Thursday, April 22 at 6:45 pm PST.

Director Howard Hawks was known for his confident, straight-forward westerns like Rio Bravo, El Dorado and Red River, the latter which is perhaps his finest. Selected and reviewed as one of the Top Ten (#6) westerns here, the story concerns the opening of the Chisholm Trail, used after the Civil War to drive cattle from Texas to Kansas. John Wayne plays one of his darker, least heroic characters most earnestly. The "drive" will begin on TCM Friday, April 23 at 5 pm PST.

Make way for the rapturous Stanley Donen directed musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, reviewed here, Saturday, April 24 at 7:30 pm PST.

MGM's 1952 musical Singin' in the Rain was not adapted from a theatrical production, though the film was later turned into one, being first presented on stage in 1983. Its abundant creativity, innovation and driving energy place this film at the top of all cinematic musicals ever produced. Singin' in the Rain has been reviewed as a past Blu-ray selection here and will joyously dance its way onto TCM Sunday, April 25 at 3 pm PST.

This will be a really bad day for anyone who encounters Them! (the giant mutant ants that is). The motion picture, however, is an exhilarating creature feature, previously reviewed here. Them! will march on TCM Wednesday, April 28 at 5 pm PST.

Foreshadowing Alien perhaps? — Foreshadowing *Alien* perhaps?

*(Added April 29, 2021) On another related post, someone asked about other giant insect films following in Them!’s footprints. Our CC contributor Bob DiMucci was kind enough to provide a list.

Tarantula (1955)
The Deadly Mantis (1957)
Monster from Green Hell (1957) [wasps]
Beginning of the End (1957) [grasshoppers]
The Black Scorpion (1957)
The Spider (1958)
The Cosmic Monsters (1958) [spiders and centipedes]
The Giant Spider Invasion (1975)
Empire of the Ants (1977)

John Huston's The Treasure of the Sierra Madre is indeed an unforgettable American treasure and a prior TCM recommendation here. Its cinematic storytelling riches can be uncovered on TCM Thursday, April 29 at 5 pm PST.

My final TCM recommendation is Umberto D., reviewed here. Carlo Battisti provides a heart-wrenching portrayal of a Government pensioner in Rome as he desperately struggles to survive his impoverished circumstances. The scheduled showtime is Friday, April 30 at 12 pm PST.

TCM's current monthly schedule can be confirmed by clicking on any of the above TCM 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 talented actor, director, motorcycle enthusiast and race car driver Perry King, who turns 73 on April 30th.

Perry’s a Yale graduate with a degree in theatre, afterward attending The Juilliard School, where he studied with John Houseman. Notable motion picture appearances include Slaughterhouse-Five (1972, as Billy Pilgrim’s son Robert), The Possession of Joel Delaney (1972), The Lords of Flatbush (1974), Mandingo (1975), A Different Story (1978), Class of 1984 (1982), A Cry in the Night (1992, TV movie), The Day After Tomorrow (2004, as President Blake) and The Divide (2018, which he also directed). TV viewers will perhaps best remember his role in the television series Riptide (1984–1986).

The Soundtrack recommendation for the month is Russian born composer Dimitri Tiomkin’s memorable score to the classic 1952 western High Noon.

High Noon is our Top Ten Western #8. The music has been a favourite of film and music fans for decades mostly due to the song “Do Not Forsake Me” performed on the film’s soundtrack by Tex Ritter. Both the song and Tiomkin’s underscore became Academy Award winning recipients. This CD issued by Screen Archives Entertainment is comprised of score recordings that were thankfully kept by the composer, as the optical soundtracks to the film were lost. More information, including music samples and ordering, can be obtained from the manufacturer by clicking on the accompanying image.

April's Blu-ray selection is The Manchurian Candidate (1962).

1962’s The Manchurian Candidate is America’s most audacious political thriller. The bar was set so high for this type of film that nothing else has, or perhaps ever will, come close.

Abundant with creative imagination (thanks to George Axelrod’s adaptation of Richard Condon’s novel) delivered with such titanic force (via John Frankenheimer’s direction), even the film’s individual scenes defy genre classification. Mystery, horror, political topicality, intrigue, conspiracy, suspense, savagery and satire, romance, character and relationship study, personal tragedy and humour, you name it, The Manchurian Candidate has it all… oppositional characteristics that brilliantly converge and hurtle toward us at the same time. Yet one element never detracts from another. Every narrative development is so shrewdly integrated with the others and confidently presented, it would seem as though the filmmakers are having a blast eliciting our extreme emotional response, even if they aren’t sure what those reactions will be. The narrative’s political views are impossible to pin down as well. There is a Communist plot centred around brainwashing but it’s fronted by a right wing extremist with counter plans of her own after taking over, * offering equal opportunity to affront both conservative and liberal mindsets. The Manchurian Candidate is so exhilarating and intentionally confounding, first time viewers will watch stunned, relieved they can finally catch their breath when this wild cinematic ride is over. Paul Frees’ distinctive narration, Lionel Lindon’s vigorous cinematography and David Amram’s alternately tender and off-kilter score offer immeasurable support.

In keeping with the enormous energy behind the camera, the actors in front of it are just as fired up in depicting their distinctive and exceedingly motivated characters. The cast includes Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey and Janet Leigh. The supporting players consist of James Gregory, Leslie Parrish and John McGiver et al. Special mention must be made of Angela Lansbury’s devastating delivery of Eleanor Shaw Iselin, one of the most powerfully persuasive and dominant personalities captured on film. Attentive viewers are certain to have, like the characters depicted here, their minds completely controlled by the storytellers. The difference is, audiences won’t complain.

* This conflation of political ideologies reflects its subject’s (mind control) factual use during the time surrounding the book and film’s creation. The CIA project "MKUltra”, began in the U.S. but was motivated reportedly in response to alleged Soviet, Chinese and North Korean application of mind-control techniques on U.S. prisoners of war during the Korean conflict.

The Criterion Blu-ray (North America Region A locked) is presented in its original theatrical aspect ratio and can be ordered from Amazon.com by clicking on the image.

A.G.

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