Bogie56

Sophia Loren as Sofia in Vittorio De Sica's The Gold of Naples (1954). She features in one of the anthology segments where she plays the young wife to a rather ordinary naive man. Together they make and sell pizzas through a window in a lane in Napoli. It is a very popular pizzeria with young men. Loren is a knockout and that blouse that keeps slipping from her shoulder is a hit with the customers.

Monday, March 23 8 p.m. Destination Tokyo (1943). With Cary Grant and John Garfield.

Martin Landau as Leonard, James Mason's henchman (and other things) in North by Northwest (1959). Making the most of a small part.

Sunday, March 22 10 p.m. Von Ryan’s Express (1965). Apparently a premiere.

The last time that I saw Shane (1953) I was struck by how small Jack Palance's part as Jack Wilson really was. But he was so impressive he garnered a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination nonetheless.

Saturday, March 21 In these troubled times we still have .... 10 a.m. Popeye Meets William Tell (1940). 4:30 p.m. Creature From the Black Lagoon (1954). Sandwiched in between Hamlet (1948) at 1:45 and Bullitt (1968) at 6 p.m.

Robert Morley as the ill-fated brother of Katherine Hepburn, the Reverend Samuel Sayer in The African Queen (1951).

Friday, March 20 10:30 a.m. Gun Crazy (1950). Featuring John Dall and the girl from Wales, Peggy Cummins (1925-2017).

Scrooge or as it is known in North America, A Christmas Carol (1951) has a number of fine character performances. Kathleen Harrison as Mrs. Dilber (above centre) was certainly a stand out in the film but perhaps her part is too big to be considered. But how about (from left to right) Louise Hampton as the laundress, Ernest Thesiger as Mr. Stretch, the Undertaker and Miles Malleson as Joe, the Ragpicker.

Thursday, March 19 11:30 p.m. Winchester ’73 (1950). Superb Anthony Mann western with Jimmy Stewart. Good support from Stephen McNally, Dan Duryea and Millard Mitchell.

British character actor, Francis L. Sullivan as the quintessential Mr. Bumble in David Lean's Oliver Twist (1948).

Wednesday, March 18 5:15 p.m. Wide Open (1930). With Edward Everett Horton.

Jolting may not be the right word, but Stephen Tobolowsky's brief cameos as annoying Ned Ryerson in Groundhog Day (1993) certainly provided some laughs. And some people really loved this guy too ... Stephen Tucker as Johnny Henshaw-Jacobs in Airplane! (1980) and Airplane II: The Sequel (1982).

Tuesday, March 17 Here we go again, St. Patrick’s Day. But no St. David’s, St. Andrew’s or even Canada Day. 10 a.m. Flight of the Doves (1971). With Ron Moody, Dorothy McGuire and Jack Wild. I’ve never seen this one.

Not only does his own mother not recognize him in his alternate (non) existence but she has changed from a loving woman to a bitter old shrew. Beulah Bondi gives Jimmy Stewart the shock of his life as Mrs. Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life (1946).

Monday, March 16 1:15 p.m. Cruise of the Zaca (1952). Interesting short subject by Errol Flynn aboard his schooner.

Tortilla Flat (1942) also offers a trio of very funny performances by the rag tag gang that follow Spencer Tracy around. Akim Tamiroff as awfully dumb Pablo who's main ambition in life is to acquire another jug of wine; John Qualen as Jose Maria Corcoran who is introduced to us sleeping under a tree having just sold someone a boat he didn't even own; and Allen Jenkins as Portagee Joe. I wondered if they were the inspiration for some of Speedy Gonzales' sidekicks - John Qualen as Slowpoke Rodriguez ... .

Sunday, March 15 6 p.m. Moonstruck (1987). Featuring one of Danny Aiello’s (1933-2019) best performances.

Frank Morgan as 'the Pirate' in Tortilla Flat (1942). Pirate is a miserly hermit who lives in the woods with his dogs. He is a good natured soul who is saving his money to buy a candlestick for St. Francis as he saved one of his dogs when he prayed to him. Morgan gives the small role complete sincerity and sympathy.

Saturday, March 14 10 a.m. Popeye: Puttin’ on the Act (1940). 10:30 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969). He was right, there are no rules in a knife fight.

Another amazing performance by Max von Sydow from not long ago was his Papinou Bauby in The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007). His telephone calls to his son are heartbreaking.

Preston Sturges regular, Jimmy Conlin as 'Trusty' in Sullivan's Travels (1941). Trusty befriends Joel McCrea when he winds up on the chain gang. Conlin adds an extra bit of heartbreak as you just know that this old codger is likely going to spend his last days in prison.

Friday, March 13 7 a.m. Dime With a Halo (1963). Boris Sagal film that has very divided reviews on the imdb.

Thursday, March 12/13 5:45 a.m. Strange Justice (1932). Not given good reviews but the cast isn’t bad: Marian Marsh, Reginald Denny, Richard Bennett and a couple of directors, Norman Foster and Irving Pichel.

No, No, No, No, No! Fortunio Bonanova as Signor Matiste in Citizen Kane (1941). Matiste is the quintessential frustrated opera singing coach who is prostituting himself by working with talentless Susan Alexander.