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.
Just some film musings of a more succinct, spontaneous and sometimes seditious nature:
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Tomorrow on TCM:
Hayden does not portray the criminal mastermind (that honour goes to actor Sam Jaffe) in this first TCM recommendation: The Asphalt Jungle, previously recommended here.
Just some film musings of a more succinct, spontaneous and sometimes seditious nature:
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Tomorrow on TCM:
1983’s Academy Award winner for Best Motion Picture went to Terms of Endearment, reviewed briefly here, and showing on TCM Wednesday, August 13 at 5 pm PDT.
Just some film musings of a more succinct, spontaneous and sometimes seditious nature:
Monday, August 11, 2025
Currently available at Watch TCM (until August 16th):
James Garner, Rod Taylor and Eva Marie Saint star in the intriguing “Mission Impossible” prototype espionage thriller 36 Hours (1964), previously reviewed here.
Just some film musings of a more succinct, spontaneous and sometimes seditious nature:
Friday, August 8, 2025
Currently available at Watch TCM (until September 4th):
Some cinephiles take aim at those films identified as film noir if their stories’ setting occur during an earlier time than the classic period (1940 - 1959) in which they were made. They insist that this alone would disqualify a film from being categorised as such, even though the dark criminal surroundings and emphasis on character motive are present and accounted for. The Tall Target is such an example and for myself, joins other so called “period noirs” that are rightfully embraced in the film noir canon.
Just some film musings of a more succinct, spontaneous and sometimes seditious nature:
Thursday, August 7, 2025
Currently available at Watch TCM (until September 4th):
In my review of 1942’s Casablanca, I made some criticism regarding its emotionally underwhelming Parisian flashback. Prior to this film Casablanca's producer Hal Wallis and one of its contributing writers, Casey Robinson, made Now, Voyager (1942), previously reviewed here, where the romance witnessed from start to finish comes alive with fervour, maturity and elegance.
Just some film musings of a more succinct, spontaneous and sometimes seditious nature:
Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Currently available at Watch TCM (until August 9th):
MGM contract player Robert Taylor appeared in a startling number of excellent films. Johnny Eager (1941), a previous recommendation here, is one of them.
Just some film musings of a more succinct, spontaneous and sometimes seditious nature:
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Today on TCM:
From 1947, director Michael Curtiz brings inspirationally to life the unsuspectedly stylish film noir The Unsuspected, previously reviewed here, Tuesday, August 5th at 8:30 am PDT.
Just some film musings of a more succinct, spontaneous and sometimes seditious nature:
Friday, August 1, 2025
Currently available at Watch TCM (until August 10th):
Both tension and fear are at their zenith in Cape Fear (1962) with Robert Mitchum once again playing southern bred evil incarnate as he did in 1955’s The Night of the Hunter.
Just some film musings of a more succinct, spontaneous and sometimes seditious nature:
Thursday, July 31, 2025
Tonight on TCM:
Filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola’s 1979 magnum opus Apocalypse Now (the “Theatrical Version” reviewed here) has been canonised by its opening alone: perhaps the most hypnotically captivating introduction in the history of cinema.
