ChipHeartsMovies

How's this: I'll happily wait 'til November, EARLY November, if FrankGrimes agrees to at least give it a shot next go 'round? (Come on Grimey...out of the Peanut Gallery, into the Fun!)

Is there ANYONE who isn't creeped out by Scott Jacoby & Robby Benson? Bad, bad, bad Ronald!

Cynthia, what a nice experience, and thanks for sharing it. Have to admit Ben M. is not my cup of tea as a TCM host --- I feel like he often heads for the lowest common denominator in his commentaries --- but he certainly comes across on television as a generally nice guy. It's good to find out he really is a nice guy.

CineMaven, you hit the proverbial nail on the head. The interchange between Carrie and (our beloved) Robert O. is so clearly scripted, and stilted when they are onscreen, that it is off-putting. I have no issue with Carrie being a co-host for "The Essentials." She not only grew up within the Hollywood world, but she went on to star in one of the biggest movies in history --- granted, not one of the movies most TCMers want to watch, but one of the biggest ever. And she wrote an insanely funny book, that was made into one of my absolute favorite movies from the '90's. Carrie, fine. Robert, we all love. Together: not so good. They actually seem (to me at least) not to like each other.

I like it too. It's obviously silly, but honestly --- Irene Dunne isn't someone I generally enjoy in films (although I recognize her talent), and I really liked her in this. So add my voice to the chorus in hoping for it...

I can't wait until November! These challenges are the most fun...Kyle, think about October. You want to give people some time to play around before the holiday time crunch. Your schedule was so creative, I can't wait to see what you throw our way.

WildKathy, your mention of Ginger Rogers made me think of a real gem --- "Roxie Hart" from 1942. That's the same story that was reworked as the play "Chicago," which was made as a film with Renee Zellwegger and Catherine Zeta-Jones a few years back. Ginger's "Roxie" isn't a musical, but it is terrifically sarcastic and fun. (FYI; the same story was a silent movie, "Chicago," in 1927, and was based on a Broadway play). I don't recall ever seeing "Roxie" on TCM, but I love that they play Ginger's "Tender Comrade" once in awhile. It's a sweet, and generally overlooked, WW2 comedy about women who work in a defense plant who live together and set up a "family unit" (sharing expenses, etc.) to economize during the war. Dalton Trumbo wrote it, and it was repeatedly brought up as proof he was a Commie during the blacklist era. Crazy --- watching it today, it's just a cute comedy. (By the way --- it was in the paper today that Tori Spelling is in talks to join the "Chicago" cast on B'way).

Yes --- she co-hosts every Saturday for "The Essentials," which is a series of must-see classics.

PrincessAnanka, what inspired choices! Two other movies that spring to mind, that have been recently discussed on other threads: "The Crazies" - terrific 1973 George Romero movie where a government-caused biological accident creates havoc in a small town. "Bad Ronald" - a 1974 TV movie (I know, I know, but everyone in the "obscure movies I love" thread adores it) --- Scott Jacoby plays an artistic, sensitive teen who accidentally kills a small child. His mother Kim Hunter hides him inside the walls of the house, and then dies. The house is sold to another family who have no idea that Bad Ronald is lurking behind the wallpaper, and he's getting hungry. When I was a kid I was REALLY creeped out by this one. And remember, 70's TV movies were in many ways racier/edgier than they are today --- remember Linda Blair in "Born Innocent?" And did anyone mention "Carrie?"

Also "The Crazies" - 1973 George Romero movie about a biological accident. "The Gay Deceivers" - 1969 movie about guys who pretend to be gay to escape the draft. "Merrily We Live" - 1938 screwball comedy with Constance Bennett, Polly Moran, Bonita Granville, and Billie Burke "Misleading Lady" - 1932 Claudette Colbert comedy --- she's a socialite who wants to become an actress "The Story of Temple Drake" - terrific (and racy pre-Code) 1933 Miriam Hopkins movie. It's been a long time since TCM aired it, and it's rare enough that all the screenings at Film Forum (the art house theatre here in NYC) sold out in a booking last year. "Kurotokage" ("Black Lizard") - 1968 Japanese spy thriller --- SUPER stylish, and the lead, a female jewel thief named Black Lizard, is played by a transvestite. One of the most entertaining movies I've ever seen. I'm also fond of lots of the cheapie B-movies with Ann Miller, which TCM has happily begun showing now, and of Jane Withers, which never air ANYWHERE, other than "Bright Eyes" with Shirley Temple and Jane, which comes on Fox Movie Channel once in a while (and is easily obtained on DVD), and a Western or two that crops up on whatever that Western-only channel is (that's like Channel 249 in Manhattan). There are so many...hope TCM Programmer will consider a few of the suggestions in this thread! (And let me add to the chorus who love "Bad Ronald!")

I always watch Meet Me in St. Louis at the right after thanksgiving and again just before Christmas.

"The King of Comedy" with Jerry Lewis, Robert DeNiro, and Sandra Bernhard -- almost forgotten Scorsese from 1983. "Charlie Bubbles" with Albert Finney and a teen-aged Liza Minnelli --- 1967. Not on DVD in the U.S. "The Killing of Sister George" -- TCM aired it in June. Lesbian radio star's twisted relationship, with Beryl Reid. -- 1968. "Torch Song" -- if there's such a thing as an obscure Joan Crawford movie --- she's like a drag queen in this one. Includes the famous blackface song. Never on DVD. - 1953 "Skidoo" --- AWFUL Preminger movie that is so bad it's hilarious. Carol Channing, Jackie Gleason, Groucho Marx. - 1968. Never on video or DVD. "Homicidal" - campy William Castle movie - TCM aired it last month too. - 1961. Never on DVD (or video as far as I know). "Stolen Face" - Lizabeth Scott - 1952 "Cobra Woman" - Maria Montez - 1944. Not on DVD or video.

Congrats Kyle!

CineMaven and I got to meet Kirk Douglas tonight. He was doing a book signing here in NYC and she and I went down early to meet him backstage to have him sign some memorabilia for an AIDS charity auction I produce. He's really funny --- he recounted an anecdote about a movie son Michael was having trouble getting past the MPAA ratings board. He said: "I told Michael in a G-rated movie the hero gets the girl; in an R-rated movie the villain gets the girl; and in an X-rated movie EVERYONE gets the girl!" And classy: although his publisher suggested he pre-sign the books (he IS 90), he insisted on signing them directly there for fans, so each one would get to at least say hello. And he couldn't have been more accommodating about welcoming us in the green room and signing a stack of photos and DVDs for my auction (coming in December). CineMaven stayed to have a book signed; I had enough stuff from the backstage session for the auction, so I left. It was fun to meet someone from the boards face-to-face!

How nice we were able to see "Here Comes the Groom" just yesterday. Let's hope the headlines veer more toward "Oscar-winning Actress" than "Former Mrs. Reagan."

Noticed that virtually all of us mentioned Halloween (1978). Although I want TCM to play more of the 30's-40's films, maybe TCM should license Jamie Lee & Co. for the 8 PM/need-high-ratings slot. It really IS a classic, under any definition.

Nicki, how could I have forgotten "Freaks" and "The Unknown?" If you have a Halloween party, definitely invite me! Your taste is clearly impeccable.

Bronxgirl, I can take all the Troy Donahue you wanna dish out. I'm glad others brought up "Touch"/"Mannix" --- he's great, and I also thought the same, but it's hard to shine next to Bette & Susan trying to outperform each other. Apparently Bette & Hayward LOATHED each other, which might explain the way their acting seemed to be so "top this!"

Hopefully TCM will program it again soon --- I'm tempted to get the DVD, it was so much fun. Wouldn't you love to see a day of these overwrought, over-the-top kinds of movies? It could go alongside Peyton Place, Valley of the Dolls, Imitation of Life and the other Douglas Sirk's, . etc. And two trashtastic goodies I've been wishing for for a while --- Joan Crawford in Torch Song and Elke Sommer in The Oscar.

Homicidal was on TCM in the wee hours yesterday --- I came in at 4 AM and it had just begun. I'd second the William Castles, and would also love to watch Night of the Living Dead/Dawn of the Dead, Halloween, Dracula, Frankenstein/Bride of Frankenstein, Plan Nine from Outer Space, Rosemary's Baby, White Zombie, Rocky Horror, and Nosferatu. I also have a cherished bootleg of a Halloween TV special Paul Lynde made in 1976, with guest stars Margaret Hamilton, Kiss, and Donny & Marie. No Halloween is ever complete without a viewing of that!

Oh, Bronxgirl, what a glorious piece of trash you missed. Susan Hayward ACTING so over-the-top it's a miracle the set didn't burst into flames, Joey Heatherton sent to apparently permanent lockdown reform school after being acquitted of murder (apparently juveniles can still be imprisoned after acquittal), and Bette Davis being Very Bette Davis. I can't do justice to this masterpiece, but read the funny rundown at http://www.coolcinematrash.com/movies/wherelovehasgone.htm

I'm with CineSage on this one. Like fingernails on chalkboard.

Who can forget Linda Blair and her pea soup in The Exorcist?

FMC seems to heavily rerun certain classics for a while, then cycle into another batch. The Shirley Temples are a case in point; once a year for about two months they slam all of them on, even some of the less enticing ones like The Blue Bird and Young People (which I inexplicably love, just for the weirdness of having teen Shirley acting far to immature for her age). So CineMaven, be aware that you'll need to keep checking their schedule even after it goes a little stale. In NYC, be sure you check Channel 13, American Life, and the CUNY channel, which will occasionally run something really rare.

It looks like it worked now --- for anyone else having trouble, I copied the original posts to a text editor and removed all the boldface, italics, etc. It's a little harder to read without seeing it swim in front of you, but at least it's here. Sorry I have been off the board for a few days ---