"Now Listen to Me..."
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 30 recommended films to watch on Turner Classic Movies in the U.S. this month:
My first TCM recommendation is star Jimmy Cagney's most formidable foray into noir, White Heat. A criminal's mother-fixated pathology and the undercover cop trying to catch him are the topics of this previous recommendation here. TCM's screen will heat up Saturday, May 1 at 3pm PDT.
Next up is Satyajit Ray’s 1955 masterpiece Pather Panchali, his first in the “Apu” trilogy, previously reviewed here. This is cinematic art at its finest and will air Sunday, May 2 at 5pm PDT. The other two films in the trilogy will immediately follow with Aparajito (1956) Sunday, May 2 at 7:15pm PDT and The World of Apu (1959) Sunday, May 2 at 9:15pm PDT.
This hypnotic but terrifying entrancement is a highly expressionistic Grimm-like fable, that appears as if conveyed from a child's point of view. "Fairytale noir" is what Film Noir expert Eddie Muller calls it, previously reviewed in Opening Up a Treasure: The Night of the Hunter and will be told Monday, May 3 at 8:15pm PDT.
Next on my list of films to watch is King Kong (1933), who's scheduled to make his grand entrance on Monday, May 3 at 10pm PDT. I have reviewed this motion picture with a focus on its musical score here.
Anatomy of a Murder is one of the most authentic and enthralling courtroom dramas of all time. Previously reviewed here, the trial will begin Wednesday, May 5 at 7pm PDT.
Those who associate the name Sam Peckinpah with a strong dose of cinematic violence might be surprised to see the elegiac Ride the High Country, one of his early and finest westerns with far less than the usual amount of physical conflict often identified with the maverick director. This is Top Ten Western #4 and will ride into TCM territory Saturday, May 8 at 7am PDT.
One of Steve McQueen’s most iconic characterisations appears in Bullitt, reviewed here. Bullitt will speed its way onto TCM Saturday, May 8 at 2:45pm PDT and again Monday, May 17 at 5pm PDT.
Returning to films noir, we have Hidden Gem #10: They Won't Believe Me (1947), with its fascinating twisted plot and antithetically noir central character. This was my very first entry (linked here) for the Cinema Cafe Site with some kind words from the "Czar of Noir" himself, Eddie Muller, in the comments section below the review. If you're a noir fan and haven't seen this unusual motion picture, please believe me, you don't want to miss this major opportunity.
*** Note *** For the first time on TCM, the recently restored longer version including an added 15 minutes from all previous U.S. presentations (i.e. 95 minutes instead of the usual 80 minutes) will be aired and introduced by Eddie Muller. This makes TCM’s Saturday, May 8 at 5pm PDT showing a must see for film noir fans.
They Won’t Believe Me is also May’s Blu-ray recommendation. Please see the last entry in this column for more details.
Jane Greer, Robert Young
There have been quite a few movies centred around boxing over the years from 1937’s Kid Galahad to 2018’s Creed II with plenty of standouts in-between such as 1947’s Body and Soul, 1956’s Somebody Up There Likes Me, 1962’s Requiem for a Heavyweight, 1972’s Fat City and 1980’s Raging Bull. None of these however get as straight to the punchline as 1949’s knockout noir The Set-Up, previously reviewed here and happening again on TCM Saturday, May 15 at 9am PDT.
The next recommendation is a film a few of you may have heard about: 1944's Academy Award Best Picture Winner Casablanca. This choice may come as a surprise to readers more familiar with my past articles since it is included on a list of overrated films and reviewed here. There is 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. Besides, for those who haven't seen Casablanca or seen it enough, how are they to know if my criticisms are sound? This 1942 classic, one of Hollywood's proudest, airs Saturday, May 15 at 12:45pm PDT.
If you like gutsy thrillers that surprise big time and missed last month’s showing of The Manchurian Candidate (1962), previously reviewed as a Blu-ray selection here, you don’t want to miss this month’s airing on Saturday, May 15 at 2:45pm PDT.
The screen will heat up big time when Fritz Lang's The Big Heat, previously recommended here, arrives Saturday, May 15 at 5pm PDT.
My next TCM recommendation is for many experts the final film noir released during the classification's classic time period (1940 - 1959), Orson Welles' stylistically aggressive Touch of Evil.
(From left) Orson Welles, Charlton Heston
I have previously written about how there came to be several different versions of this noir extravaganza especially as it concerns the ingenious opening sequence in Main Title Inspirations No. 2 Touch of Evil. Viewers can compare the introduction's bold visual display to the equally superlative use of sound at this film's conclusion when Touch of Evil airs Saturday, May 15 at 9pm PDT and again Sunday, May 16 at 7am PDT. This is the next stop in host Eddie Muller’s Noir Alley.
One of the most intelligent and illuminating documentaries ever produced is Robert Epstein's 1984 feature The Times of Harvey Milk previously reviewed here and making another rare showing on TCM Saturday, May 15 at 11:15pm PDT.
(From left) Harvey Milk, George Moscone, Dan White
For a good chance to succeed in finding a fun and lively musical to watch, be sure to discover How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, previously reviewed here. Lessons will begin on TCM Monday, May 17 at 10:30pm PDT.
John Huston's The Treasure of the Sierra Madre is indeed an unforgettable American treasure and a prior TCM recommendation here. Its cinematic riches can be uncovered on TCM Wednesday, May 19 at (early morning) 3am PDT.
Barbara Stanwyck stars as a devoted wife trying to save her husband (played by Barry Sullivan) but equally determined to match wits against killer Ralph Meeker in order to do so, in the previously recommended (here) noir, 1953's Jeopardy. This life or death struggle will commence Wednesday, May 19 at 7:15am PDT.
Ralph Meeker, Barbara Stanwyck
Tomorrow Is Another Day, reviewed here, may sound like some forgotten Douglas Sirk melodrama, but certainly has its fair share of film noir qualifications delivered with assuredness by director Felix Feist. A couple of hard cases, played by Steve Cochran and Ruth Roman who slowly start to soften up to one another, informs this film’s compelling nature. A previous stop in Eddie Muller’s Noir Alley Tomorrow… will appear Wednesday, May 19 at 10:15am PDT.
Steve Cochran, Ruth Roman
Next is one of film noir's finest, Gun Crazy, previously reviewed here. Noir's most distinguishing feature, a focus on their criminal participants' psychology, marks a major shift regarding motive. In the earlier "gangster" films, money and power provided enough reason for the pursuit of illegal gains whereas in noir, the internal cause behind the action is paramount, and runs so much deeper... and darker. See for yourself, Wednesday, May 19 at 1:15pm PDT.
Does anyone notice anything peculiar in this shot considering this film was made during the Production Code?
One of the most prestigious American films ever made, is the subsuming anti-war drama Paths of Glory, previously reviewed as a Blu-ray recommendation here. Paths of Glory will be forged Wednesday, May 19 at 8:30pm PDT.
Blake Edwards' whimsical, charming and finally endearing little comedy was previously recommended as a video release here. The Party starts on TCM Thursday, May 20 at 3:15pm PDT.
In case anyone missed last month’s showing of Alfred Hitchcock's dazzling thrill ride Foreign Correspondent (reviewed here), Johnny Jones’ (aka Huntley Haverstock) precarious globe trotting assignment will begin again Saturday, May 22 at 9am PDT.
(From left) Some guy reading a newspaper, Joel McCrea
In 1967, British Director John Boorman nailed the American crime milieu with the precision of his film's title, Point Blank, a neo-noir masterpiece fortified with style and driven by purpose.
Lee Marvin's 'cold as a frozen corpse' Walker, is a machine-like man on a mission, appearing unstoppable as he charges through LAX possessed with unbridled vengeance. It's also quite ironic that despite Walker's hardened resolve, the considerable threat he poses, generous amount of punishment he dishes out, and the high body count he seems responsible for, doesn't directly kill anyone in the entire picture. "Was it a dream?" You be the judge when Point Blank (first acclaimed here) hits Saturday, May 22 at 1:30pm PDT.
Lee Marvin
My next TCM recommendation for the month is a highly atmospheric but less artistically accomplished motion picture: John Huston's Reflections in a Golden Eye. The performances from its superbly chosen cast genuinely convey their characters' turbulent emotions making this an engrossing film-watching experience. It is one of my TOP TEN Guilty Treasures, a previous TCM recommendation here, and is worth eyeing Tuesday, May 25 at (early morning) 2am PDT.
Zorro David
In the U.K. town of Midwich, strange children with mysterious origins are behaving badly. Find out just how bad when the chilling Village of the Damned, previously reviewed here, airs Wednesday, May 26 at 8am PDT.
After World War II, many returning servicemen were disillusioned to find jobs were scarce and their wives’ (or girlfriends’) faithfulness even scarcer. The Best Years of Our Lives addresses this reality head on when the Dana Andrews character finds it impossible to please either his previous employer or trophy wife upon his return to civilian life. Perhaps for this narrative distinction, authors Borde and Chaumeton referred to The Best Years of Our Lives in their highly respected book “Panorama of American Film Noir 1941 - 1953”, the first to be published on the subject.
Dana Andrews holding the Mayo… Virginia Mayo that is
The film portrays no crime, the focus is not on Andrews’ experiences alone, and he comes out better off at the end without his superficial but admittedly gorgeous wife, which for myself, collectively place this film well outside of noir’s dark and gloomy world of illegal activity. Previously, I highly praised The Best Years of Our Lives for its exceptional musical score composed by Hugo Friedhofer in the first part of a series entitled Top Ten: Motion Picture Music Treasures. This emotionally powerful tour de force will commence Friday, May 28 at 9:15pm PDT.
James Garner, Rod Taylor and Eva Marie Saint star in the intriguing “Mission Impossible” prototype espionage thriller 36 Hours, previously reviewed here. The hour to watch will occur Saturday, May 29 at 5pm PDT.
(From left) Rod Taylor, James Garner, Eva Marie Saint
Next up is one of ace director Richard Fleischer's compact but fiery film noirs, The Clay Pigeon (1949) reviewed here and setting alight on TCM Sunday, May 30 at 5:45am PDT.
Barbara Hale, Bill Williams
Viewers who dare to have their imaginations stretched considerably should be rewarded Where Eagles Dare, previously reviewed here and appearing on TCM’s radar Sunday, May 30 at 8pm PDT.
(From left) Clint Eastwood, Richard Burton
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.
This month's Happy Birthday shout-out goes to the versatile Irish actor Colin Farrell, who turns 45 on May 31st.
Notable film roles include those seen in Tigerland (2000), American Outlaws (2001), Hart’s War (2002), Minority Report (2002), Phone Booth (2002), The Recruit (2003, alongside his idol Al Pacino), Alexander (2004), The New World (2005), Miami Vice (2006), In Bruges (2008), Crazy Heart (2009), Seven Psychopaths (2012), The Lobster (2015), The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017), The Beguiled (2017) and The Gentlemen (2019). TV viewers will undoubtedly know Farrell from Season 2 of True Detective (2015).
The Soundtrack recommendation for the month is Michael Kamen's vital score to the 2000 superhero film X-Men.
This is one of the most distinguished films of its type due to the unique background, complexity and development of the story’s characters and exploration of personal themes relatable to its distinct conflicts. Kamen’s robust score also has moments of tenderness and beauty. His landmark soundscape combining acoustic orchestra with synthesiser set a strong precedent for the new millennium’s action/thriller blockbuster. This 2 CD expanded, remastered and limited edition (only 3000 copies produced) is from La-La Land Records, 20TH Century Studios and Universal Music Special Markets. More information, including international ordering is available from Intrada Records by clicking on the soundtrack image.
Finally, Hidden Gem #10, and a prior TCM recommendation this month, is available on a Region Free Blu-ray from Warner Archive. They Won’t Believe Me is May’s Blu-ray recommendation making its U.S. video debut May 11, 2021. This is the long awaited, full 95 minute version, including an added 15 minutes seen for the first time in H.D. My review of the film can be read here. Click on the image for more information including ordering from Amazon.com
A.G.