Dish of the Day (A Lost Weekend Edition)
Just some film musings of a more succinct, spontaneous and sometimes seditious nature:
Friday, August 15, 2025
Today on TCM:
Anthony Mann’s laser-like focus on his characters’ deep-rooted psychological clashes of will makes this film noir western exhilarating, tension-filled and one of extreme efficiency and excellence. 1953’s The Naked Spur, previously reviewed here, will be shown on Friday, August 15 at 1 pm PDT.
(From left) Millard Mitchell, Robert Ryan, Janet Leigh, Ralph Meeker
“The mattress is soft and there're hangers in the closet and stationary with ‘Bates' Motel’ printed on it in case you want to make your friends back home envious.”
Still another Hitchcock artistic triumph 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 Friday, August 15 at 5 pm PDT.
This 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 Friday, August 15 at 7 pm PDT.
TCM's current schedule can be seen by clicking on any of the above images. To confirm the correct Pacific Daylight (West Coast) showtime information, subtract 3 hours from the Eastern Daylight (East Coast) showtime listed on TCM’s schedule.
All responses are not only welcomed but encouraged in the comments section below.
Hope to see you Monday, August 18th.
A.G.