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Maybe it IS you-you're saturated by the same old movies. I used to be able to have TCM on all day while working, but seeing the same movies over & over is a bore. I never went to the movies in the 70's-80's, so catching up on those is fun for me, there are good movies made in all decades. When I look over next month's schedule to see what I'd like to record, it's pretty easy to skim through the plethora of titles I've seen multiple times. But then, there's always a few that pique my interest-typically 3-6 per month to set for late night recording. This month was the Fleischer documentary and a couple of Lucy films I haven't seen that aren't available elsewhere.

Oh Lord! One of the worst and most nonsensical movies ever made, Billy Jack, has an even worse, more ridiculous , pretentious hippie piece of crap song that just the mere mention of its title will cause it to play in my head unendingly for days at a time! I hope Tom Laughlin had really bad muscle cramps for subjecting the world to that.

I saw this as a young teen and the one thing that stuck with me was that scary as hell chauffeur! He freaking terrified me! Next time I saw it was as a middle aged adult and Anthony James still scared the bejeebers out of me! Now as I'm in my early dotage and getting ready to watch it again, I can at least use my age as an excuse for the sudden incontinence.

As long as there will be message boards, we are always going to have people coming on and complaining about more recent films being shown on this cable channel. And some of these folks are always going to say that the demise of TCM is just around the corner and many will say that all they see are newer films. If one looks at the schedule, that is further from the truth. I agree that many of the films TCM shows are repeats. Often times the same film is shown multiple times per month. But as Tiki has written there are "newer" older films that have not been repeated as much or films which have never been shown on the channel. People just have to understand that when TCM purchases the rights for certain films,most of the films come in packages that can include newer films and many older more "B" films from earlier decades. For every time they show a film like The Best Years of Our Lives, they will show other possibly older films multiple times so they can show the best film of a package. At least that is the way VP Charlie Tabesh explained it to me (if I can remember).

Just returned from a great weekend at the DC Noir Fest in Silver Spring. Eddie was there and, as always, he was gracious and thoughtful in his introductions. I always learn much more about certain movies when I go to this event. And it made me a bit nostalgic and sad, at the same time, for the vanishing TCM. Eddie is a like a latter day Robert Osborne; he knows his material inside and out and he LOVES it. He is not afraid to say a film is "odd" or that some actor is weak. He is a breath of fresh air in this increasingly PC world. I simply don't get that feeling from any of the other TCM hosts. They're just punching the time clock. So, bravo to Eddie. People will always remember him, long after the others have moved on to other jobs. TCM has been altered. I even see it on the homepage of the website. Have you noticed how they almost always now feature color films? I realize that TCM must have paid a lot of money to do research. Large companies do NOTHING without doing research to cover themselves, but you can also get research to prove just about any premise you float out there. Those of you who were/are "insiders" probably got probed over the last year with various, seemingly impartial surveys. And I'm quite sure they did call-out styles surveys as well... It's all too sad.

I may be slow on the uptake, but I see a pattern forming. They are keeping the older films during the weekdays, but during primetime they are going towards new films, even if those newer films are not very good. And when I say "newer" I mean post 1970 or 1980. That is still ancient as far as people born in the 90s or later are concerned. That doesn't mean the death of TCM necessarily, but I find myself less and less interested in what is on during primetime.

Rebecca (1940) (Rebecca de Winter's death haunts many of the other characters) The Big Chill (1983) ("Alex Marshall"--the whole film is motivated by his death) Frankenstein (1931) (death of a little girl incites an angry mob, who wrongly assume the monster deliberately killed her) The Ox-Bow Incident (1943) (lynching of three innocent men leads to much soul-searching) Saving Private Ryan (1998) (entire mission is motivated by the death of Ryan's three brothers) The Third Man (1949) (several characters' actions are motivated by the mistaken belief that Harry Lime is dead) Atonement (2007) (Briony's rewriting of history is an attempt to "atone" for Robbie Turner's death) Murder on the Orient Express (1974) (Ratchett's death directly affects all twelve suspects) September 30, 1955 (1977) (characters affected by James Dean's death) Love Field (1992) (characters affected by JFK assassination)

Caught 1949 Director: Max Opuls (or Ophüls) Starring Robert Ryan, James Mason, Barbara Bel Geddes Imdb designates this as film-noir, but I'm not sure why. It's not really important, but it's curious. Sometimes I think they just look at the cast or director and maybe the year - like Robert Ryan, 1949, must be noir. In my opinion it's not, but is quite good regardless. I think two major points together would disqualify it. One, there's no crime. Just wishing someone dead doesn't count. Failure to render aid in a timely manner could probably qualify, but it's a stretch. Two, it has a happy ending. I'd call it a romantic melodrama. Robert Ryan just has a mean looking face and rarely plays the romantic lead. In Caught he's a mean Howard Hughes-like character who marries poor car-hop Bel Geddes. After a year of marriage hell she leaves him and gets a job working for a handsome doctor, Mason. You can guess the rest. Art Smith (In a Lonely Place) has a supporting role as Ryan's psychotherapist. 7/10 Caught was the first American film for Mason, who had moved to California after burning his boats in England. "People always ask why I chose to start my Hollywood career with Caught, thinking that I was in a position to chose any film I wanted" he explained. "The truth was that I was desperately broke, needed a job, and this was the nearest thing to an acceptable project that was offered to me." Not one to toot his own horn, James also did The Reckless Moment for Max Opuls that same year. Good print free on You Tube

Ward, Sela

Julius Caesar 1953 King of Kings 1961 JFK 1991 Lincoln 2012

The Best of Everything

Yeah, the psychology was sketchy. First time William Holden actually annoyed me in a film, but he was young and still learning his craft I suppose. My favorite part was Eddie saying he didn't like it.

You know(I hope) that an "earworm" refers to a song or piece of music that gets stuck in your head. You hear it in your head for most to all of the day or maybe more than just one day. For me, I've been hearing the main title song to the movie TOP BANANA ('54) all day so far. Can't figure it out as it's been at least 20 or more years since I've seen the movie. So..... This ever happen to anyone else? and if so, what was the movie? Sepiatone

disclaimer: this is an opinion piece, and while it is a critical opinion piece, it is not malicious...although it's about a highly malicious (ALTHOUGH admittedly beloved) film series, so remember that before any of you get all puckered up or indignant about anything you read here. also in re: THE THREAD TITLE: Yes, thank you, I am aware NO ONE is paying me to do ANYTHING, this is a pure hypothetical, with an honest answer on my part, and I use it to voice my personal view on what the HALLOWEEN SERIES has become. $300.00** **(Tax free. American, CASH. And you get me high beforehand.) Seriously, I wouldn't see it for a ****ing dime less than that, and I am by no means a wealthy PERSON. I gave it some thought, and $200 is not enough, I thought about accepting $200.00, but I then I remember the line "I have peanut butter on my P. Nis" from 2018's HALLOWEEN, and I want to jack the price up to $350.00 or ask for a nice deli spread to snack on while I watch, (takes a deep breath here) by the way I have a hard time tempering my anger when discussing it, but... the 2018 re-re-re-boot of HALLOWEEN is ONE OF THE WORST G**D*MNED MOVIES I HAVE EVER EVER EVER EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE, and the genuine NADIR of the series, (and this comes from someone who has developed quite a deep and abiding affection for HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH over time!!!!!) in fact, i would go so far as to say that 2018 ROTTED PUMPKIN HALLOWEEN WITH BENJAMIN FRANKLIN JAMIE LEE CURTIS is one of my least favorite films EVER. IT IS ONE OF THOSE FILMS THAT REMINDS ME WHY I DON'T DO MOVIES MADE IN THE 21ST CENTURY.

Well.. This Sucks. (Apologies.) "Just" Only a Day. But This Sasquatch Forgot,. Happy Happy Happy (Happy) One-Hundred & Fourth(,!!!) Birthday to.. Possibly (Probably.. if my calculations are Correct), the Oldest Living Artist Still With Us Today: Madam Marsha Hunt. Born October 17th, 1917(,!.!!!). Chicago Illinois. Happy Birthday, You Marvelous Wonder. Sorry that it got rerouted while on its way to You Madam.

TCM recently showed another film directed by GEORGE C. SCOTT (about a teen son poisoned by government gas... why do I wanna laugh?) I watched almost 30 minutes right from the typically beautiful strange long beginget down in da dirt with dyed eyebrows... DYED EYEBROWS??? What? I mean weird shots of why am I being shown this perplexed and... GEORGE C. SCOTT DYED EYEBROWS??? I gave up.

Y'think? MARIO and Ben told a story of OLIVER running up and down the hotel hallays on a major bender (BETTE did not care for this one bit . ) If you read Hollywood memoirs type "literature" like Full Service, (fascinatingly gross) check out Hellraisers all about RICHARD BURTON, PETER O'TOOLE, RICHARD HARRIS, and CARROLL's favorite nephew. Wonderful stories! JACK HAWKINS too...

OLIVER REED not get along with someone?! WHAT'S THIS YOU SAY?! No. I don't believe it. He seems like such a friendly guy. (heavy sarcasm,)

I don't think you or Walter would come out alive.

Okay, get any ONE of the song's two or three separate signature riffs out of your head for the rest of the day. If "Bill Murray comedy" could be a piece of music, this historically encapsulated it: One of the great pioneering efforts that led the way to end the stigma for more 80's soundtrack movie-pop at the Best Song Oscars. (And no, that new movie still looks like a bit of panicky Millennial stuffed-taxidermy of our generation's gold...Still haven't figured out why 80's Movies Were Better, have you, Ivan's Kid?)

Massimo Troisi died just after shooting rapped for IL POSTINO Another Disney story — Howard Ashman died of AIDS before BEAUTY AND THE BEAST was released, and also wrote lyrics for ALADDIN

...that does throw a monkey wrench into my revenge plans. Okay... replace Debra Hill with Debra Winger and director Walter Hill. I will not be denied.

I THINK what they were maybe (?) going for with HALLOWEEN III SEASON OF THE WITCH was to capture something of the essence of those childhood playground/ campfire horror stories which are audacious and illogical, but so amusingly cobbled together from the rawest fears of childhood that, you know, there's just something there that burrows into our minds about it and stays..... and it plows forward, relentlessly, flying in the face of the many many many many questions from the audience "what about the different timezones?" "how is it NO OTHER KIDS ANYWHERE IN AMERICA or their parents in the days leading up to Halloween took apart the SILVER SHAMROCK SEAL on the back of the mask and also got FACEFRIED like Marge?" "(every?) kids across America was okay with one of THREE options for a mask???" "how the **** EXACTLY does one remove one of the pillars from STONEHENGE and ship to it California with NO ONE NOTICING????? FedEx? UPS? A ***ton of postage stamps, what?" HALLOWEEN III hears your questions, it just doesn't care.

Operation Petticoat

Tuesday October 19, 2021 Flynn on TCM the master of ballantrae captain blood the sea hawk

Yeah, she was married to Ad-Rock, my favorite Beastie. And dated the lead singer of the Chilli Peppers for years. Daughter of the 60's musicain Donovan, and has battled drugs for much of her adult life, which sadly i'm guessing is why her career seemed to stall. Liked her in Gas, Food, Lodging. and of course she will always be Diane Court for most teenagers of the the 80's and 90s from Say Anything.

You won't be on an elevator with DEBRA HILL, Citizen Ed. She died in 2005 at age 54. HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH is a movie for people who don't like kids. 'nuff said. ALSO: The first HALLOWEEN in '78 Michael Myers could've lived. The second one, however, there's no way anyone could survive being burned alive so any of the sequels -- with the exception of the un-alike "Halloween 3" -- are 100% impossible even if you can suspend your disbelief. Michael Myers was turned into a 'crispy critter' at the end of HALLOWEEN 2 and that's that. Same thing with "Jason" -- no one ever survived drowning so there really was no possibility 'Jason' could've lived. But, heck, the first FRIDAY made so much $dough$ . . . ergo, a sequel or twelve were created. I wanna see a sequel to the masterpiece TOBY GETS TUSSLED! 🤪

I like it for the people involved, but it is kind of a weak film. An 80's film featuring **** Skye, the weird guy from Back to the Future, and Reeves is always going to grab my attention. I know its a serious film, but there's a few moments in it which i find the acting to be absolutely hilarious and i know a few people who quote this film quite often. I think this is peak Crispin Glover.

Alan Ladd's star status was definitely in trouble at the end of his career. He hadn't had a hit in years and accepted second billing (for the first time in almost 20 years) to play a character supporting role in The Carpetbaggers. Why any poster would call it "wrong" to mention The Proud Rebel is beyond me. I merely said that Rebel was his last good film while One Foot could be lumped in with all the disappointingly mediocre vehicles that, unfortunately, marked the final years of Ladd's career. The Proud Rebel is not a particularly well known western today and fans should be aware of its existence and the fact that Alan Ladd at least appeared in one good film in his later years as an actor. As for Olivia's appearance in The Proud Rebel, she's playing a farm woman. Do you expect her to look glamourous? Besides that, I think she looks fine in the film anyway, her credible performance in the film a major asset, as well.

Giant--James Dean The Bohemian Girl--Thelma Todd Plan 9 From Outer Space--Bela Lugosi Jailhouse Rock--Judy Tyler

I think a frequent 'mistake' people make (and I mean fans as well as critics) is that they compare a film made during an actor's prime with a film made during an actor's decline. In the case of Alan Ladd, not everything is going to be SHANE. Nor should it be. And I also think it's 'wrong' to compare this film to THE PROUD REBEL. It's not supposed to be THE PROUD REBEL. It's not a remake or a sequel of his earlier hits. What ONE FOOT IN HELL is, in my view, is a high concept western. Where the revenge motif is taken to extremes. In a way it's a precursor to the much more violent spaghetti westerns that came into vogue later in the 60s. I feel it's unique in that Don Murray is actually playing the 'hero' who reforms at the end. And in any other production he would be the main character and receive top billing. But since Ladd is the one who got the project off the ground, and he's the star, we have the villain as the main character, which is a rarity in the western genre. As for comparing Ladd to Wayne, they were totally different performers with different realities off screen. But what they do have in common is that both worked up to the end of their lives and were still considered stars at the time of their deaths.

My favorite TV house is "Leave it to Beaver's" second house (the one with the breakfast nook. I liked Ward's den to the left of the door, where Beaver and his friend decide to wash his pipes. It was also where they kept the TV. Classy types in the 1960's never had a TV in the living room. I liked the boy's room with their attached bath, and best was the big living room and dining room. If I had that house back then I would have worn pearls to vcuumed, too.

Yes they did. In anticipation of making The Proud Rebel Ladd was concerned that Curtiz might bully his son. But that didn't happen. In her first film with Curtiz in 17 years Olivia de Havilland, who disliked working with the director, had friction with him once again, saying he was still a cruel man. After seeing the film, however, Olivia was pleased with the end results, saying Curtiz was the right director. De Havilland got along very well with the Ladds, particularly David. They would remain friends, with David visiting Olivia at her Paris home on his honeymoon a few years later.

I actually enjoy the movie, it's so dark and creepy and that chauffer guy really creeped me out with that grin! And what a cast too....Oliver Reed, Karen Black, Bette Davis. And the ending is certainly shocking enough to have haunted me for days.

Oh but YOUNG Frankenstein's monster sure did!

To me, the entire movie is THE ENDING, its got one of the most unique endings of any film ever.

I'm with KIKIKI here, sadly. Way back in the late 90's, my wife and I would visit my parents; and part of the excitement -- along with being with family! -- was that my parents had TCM aspart of their cable lineup. We would be able to watch all kinds of older movies for a couple of days. Then later on we moved to a town that had TCM on the cable package. Well, for many years the only channels we had on during almost any time of the day were either TCM or sports. Months would go by when TCM was our primetime channel alone. Now in our house, TCM is lucky if we watch two or three movies a month after the 6:00 time slot. Just don't find that many compelling choices anymore. Surely something has changed, and folks on these boards can cite all the stats about how many films from each decade are being shown when. Still, the fact remains that what was once the staple movie channel in our house now has shifted over to TVMovies and Grit for the most part. Sorry, but I can't really give more of an explanation for it. Hat's off, KIKIKI (a fellow TOM compatriot)!

Tuesday, October 19/20 5:15 a.m. This Sporting Life (1963). Richard Harris is terrific in this.

If you read the credits, you'll notice the original "Frankenstein" movie is adapted from a play by Peggy Webling called "Frankenstein". Peggy's play is based on Mary Shelley's novel. Peggy Webling is the playwright who Universal paid to acquire the rights for the movie of Frankenstein. Several screenwriters adapted the treatment from her play. But it's Peggy Webling who changes Victor's name into Henry. And most famously names the monster Frankenstein after his creator. She took literary license with the work, so there's no reason to believe that Universal had any intention of copying the novel verbatim. The Universal- James Whale movie is closer to the play but is still a unique version all its own. As with any movie, based on a novel, you have to remind viewers that the filmmaker has literary license to change or to create whatever they want--especially to make the work cinematic. This was one of the problems that Hitchcock had with some of his films. It was a particular problem for him with "Rebecca", as the producer David O Selznick often insisted upon shooting the authenticity of the novel. Later in his career Hitchcock got around that by simply buying the rights and then hiring a screenwriter, often writing some himself along with his wife Alma, and ditching whatever didn't suit him. For that reason, Hitchcock often said that "Rebecca" was not a Hitchcock film, even though it was his only film which one the Academy Award for Best Picture.

I guess I'll have to say Where Eagles Dare (1966) by Alistair MacLean and the film by the same name from 1968. To me, the most interesting aspect of this Thalia and Melpomene (if you will) between the book and the film is that MacLean wrote the novel and the screenplay at the same time. The book was less violent, the characters were better developed, and the love stories were more pronounced. I've read parts of it, not the whole thing from cover to cover. Interestingly, Angelo Torres did his first movie satire for Mad Magazine in 1969. It was "Where Vultures Fare."

Desilu also inherited RKO's complete prop department when they bought their studio facilities. It could date back to RKO. There was a rather contrived Westinghouse/Desilu promotional film (intended for Westinghouse execs, the network and affiliates) in 1958 with Lucy and Desi giving a tour of their various studio properties to a "Westinghouse" rep (played by Ross Elliot), and at one point they take a little tour of one of the prop departments. It kicked off the partnership between Westinghouse and Desilu after Westinghouse agreed to sponsor the Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (which later spawned The Twilight Zone and The Untouchables). Though Twilight Zone wasn't produced or filmed by Desilu, and the Serling Playhouse episode wasn't strictly a pilot, the Playhouse episode convinced CBS that Serling had something with his concept and enabled the development of that series.

The problem with One Foot in Hell is not that Alan Ladd plays a man who, bitter for revenge after the death of his wife, turns into a cold blooded manipulator. That could have been interesting counter casting of an actor known for playing heroes. The problem is that a puffy faced Ladd does nothing with the role and delivers a somnambulist performance. Unfortunately, this is typical of the actor in virtually all of his final films. He was drinking more than ever and it showed in both his appearance and attitude on screen. By the time of his second last film, 13 West Street, he would look downright haggard. One Foot In Hell is just further evidence of the sad downward decline of an actor who would be dead four years later at a far too young age but looking much older. The last film he made worth watching, in my opinion, was a sensitive, low key western The Proud Rebel (1958) in which he delivered one of his better performances. It was also the last film of note in the career of director Michael Curtiz.

Dan Curtis' Burnt Offerings Next up at 10:00PM EST

A twist to this thread, one plot in Y&R, Victoria decided to build a replica of the "Father Knows Best" house to live in. Wonder will someone do such a thing for real to live in their favorite actors home?

I reviewed this film a few years ago and rather enjoyed it. Here's my commentary: Made near the end of Alan Ladd’s career, ONE FOOT IN HELL is tougher than most westerns. It’s about a man named Mitch Barrett who seeks revenge on a town for the death of his wife. Aaron Spelling co-authored the screenplay and he gives Ladd plenty of opportunity to demonstrate a range of emotions, which the actor does with skill. Mitch Barrett goes crazy due to an unfortunate set of circumstances, and we’re supposed to sympathize and even applaud his brand of vigilante justice. The whole town did not actually kill his pregnant wife, but none of them would help when she had a difficult delivery. She lost the baby and then lost her life. So Mitch is grieving badly, and he unleashes his anger at the ones he holds most responsible. This includes a hotel manager, a store owner and a lazy sheriff. Ladd seems to enjoy the dramatic possibilities of the story. His older-looking appearance adds to the grittiness of the film. There are shocking scenes where Mitch murders the sheriff then takes over his job. He gains everyone’s admiration as the new lawman, acting as if he’s forgiven them for the death of his wife. But of course, Mitch hasn’t really gotten over it, and becoming sheriff is just an opportunity to take the law into his own hands. In addition to Ladd’s revenge-minded character, we have a drifter named Dan Keats, played by Don Murray. Dan Keats is an alcoholic ex-soldier in need of money. There is also a prostitute (Dolores Michaels) in search of a better life; as well as a suave pickpocket (Dan O’Herlihy). It’s a unique ragtag group, and each one plays a key role in the given scenario. Eventually these people join up with Mitch to rob the town bank. Of course, things don’t go smoothly. But Mitch will not go down without a fight. The story reaches a climax inside the local saloon, where Mitch is gunned to death. I won’t tell you who shoots him, because it’s very surprising. After Mitch is killed, Spelling’s story does provide a happy ending, or at least a partially happy conclusion, when Dan Keats and the prostitute decide to reform. They agree to do their time and then reconnect when they get out. It’s not the best film ever made, but has several things going for it. There are a lot of great outdoor scenes. It’s photographed in CinemaScope and in color with Fox’s typically good production values. The theme of a man taking on those who’ve wronged him is one Ladd would revisit in 13 WEST STREET, a noir where he fights delinquents. In this story, Ladd battles more “respectable” folks. He has gone to hell, and hell can’t handle him.

I was always amused at this film as I don't recall Frankenstein's monster and his bride ever consummating their "marriage". Or any mention of Henry and Elizabeth having any son. Too bad Mary Shelly never wrote a sequel. Last I heard(or read) Henry was still chasing his creation all over the arctic. Sepiatone

Here are, from my 16mm prints, the original 1931 DRACULA and 1938 (adapted from 1931) FRANKENSTEIN trailers. These are vastly different from the common Realart trailers that are on all the Universal DVD's, blu-rays etc.

My second favorite (After Bride Of) of the Universal Frankenstein films and one of my favorite films of all time. I had to shut it off last night because they snipped out bits of dialogue and cut scenes short, probably for time constraints. Most wouldn't notice but I have seen this film dozens of times so I know it well. Sven didn't have time for much trivia but here is some things I have read: Peter Lorre was first considered for the role of Wolf von Frankenstein, played by Basil Rathbone. Rathbone considered the film a "penny dreadful" and does not even mention it in his memoirs. Boris Karloff made this his last time as The Monster, saying "We had exhausted his possibilities, he was becoming a clown". Bela Lugosi's wife, Lillian said Bela was a very warm person and he found the verrrrry Brrrritish Rathbone and Karloff to be "cold fish". Donnie Dunagan, who played the little boy Peter, says that Karloff played checkers with him for money, the kid actually won some quarters from him. Dunagan also said Rathbone would read him poems and stories. He did not mention Lugosi since he had no scenes with him, he said the only one he did not care for as Lionel Atwill, saying "I didn't like him, I avoided him" but did not elaborate.

I'm sure they've all be warned about what they will encounter so this message Board is avoided like the plague. Message Boards are filled with know-it-alls who whine about why TCM doesn't __________ (insert any esoteric narrow subject here) Those pictured above have been picked apart in here for their hair, voice, mannerisms. Mean, nasty, self centered comments about these people just trying to do their job. The anonymity of the internet is just allowing/teaching people not to have any real social skills. I was once part of a message board about my friend's rock band & knew the moderators. The band members NEVER came on, it would have broken their hearts to hear what stoopid things people complained about. Could you imagine going on stage & hearing boos instead of applause? That's what a message board is like for the celebrity. For the same reason Twitter, FB & the others are popular -"a f-art in the wind" as Ohio so succinctly called it-rather than a real conversation. I betcha celebrities quickly dismiss the unintelligible outbursts of emojis & one liners on those platforms. Look what happens when one of THOSE posters come here.....we are more literate. We want to discuss. And most of the time our Moderators delete posts because some crybaby complains "I feel personally threatened!" in attempt to eradicate any evidence of his mistakes.