SummerStars

February 19, 2020

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February 19, 2020

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February 19, 2020

Best: HIS KIND OF WOMAN

Worst: THE WRATH OF GOD

Next: James Cagney

February 15, 2020

I guess when certain character actors have only appeared in very minor roles in films, TCM probably feels it's not worth having a whole day dedicated to them. Still, character actors deserve as much recognition and appreciation as the leading men and women of movies. I'm glad there was a month dedicated to character actors three years ago.

Certain leading actors and actresses who hadn't appeared in that many movies to be shown for a full day make it rather tricky for the network's programmers. Now, I don't mean someone like James Dean who had only made three films, as well as a few occasional TV appearances, but there's people like Grace Kelly, who only made 11 films before retiring from Hollywood prior to her marriage to Prince Rainier of Monaco. If she were to have a SUTS salute, I guess 11 films plus the footage of her wedding, which had aired on TCM, would be enough to fill in the 24 hour schedule.

February 15, 2020

It's okay. It's just as easy a mistake to make like confusing the names Marie Wilson and Marie Windsor, which doesn't help the fact that they both appeared in "THE STORY OF MANKIND".

On the topic of character actors getting recognition for SUTS, I would like to see a day dedicated to Henry Travers. He's co-starred in films like "MRS. MINIVER" and "THE BELLS OF ST. MARY’S", but of course, the one movie that he's best known for, "IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE", would not be shown since TCM never had the rights to air it. Another good character actor to highlight would also be Louise Beavers. I thought she was excellent in "IMITATION OF LIFE" with Claudette Colbert. She's another underrated star. I guess it's because people often get her confused with Hattie McDaniel. It makes sense, since the former was a possible contender to play the role of Mammy in "GONE WITH THE WIND".

I did like it though back two Augusts ago when TCM debuted 14 star dedications for those who had never been saluted thus far for "Summer Under the Stars". I liked seeing a day dedicated to Virginia Mayo. I hoped for that year that she would get a day for her movies.

February 15, 2020

Was Eleanor Powell really a "Star of the Month"? You wouldn't be getting her confused with "Eleanor Parker", would you? Sometimes I get the two names mixed up myself. If that hasn't happened yet, then I would really like to see her have a month dedicated to her and her movies.

February 15, 2020

This list is VERY useful. There are so many people on it whose names should be included for the next "Summer Under the Stars". There are some names on it I'm not even familiar with, most of whom are probably supporting character actors. However, there are three leading stars of classic movies whose names are not on that list that I'm VERY surprised had never had a "Summer Under the Stars" salute so far, and I believe are each finally due to have one this August -

Jack Carson - He's been in a number of WB films, like the ones with Doris Day of the late 1940s and the early 1950s, and TCM has the rights to all of those. He's one of my favorite comedic actors, and I feel that he deserves a day dedicated to him already.

Robert Taylor - This one really surprised me. He was a very prolific actor during Hollywood's "golden age", and one of MGM's leading men of the 1930s and 40s. Many of his films are frequently shown on TCM, so it's about time that Mr. Taylor gets a day-long tribute in August.

Eleanor Powell - If Robert Taylor will get a "Summer Under the Stars" salute, then so should his regular co-star of MGM's "Broadway Melody" pictures of the 1930s. Ms. Powell is someone that I had always felt was very underrated, especially since she was often overlooked because of Ginger Rogers (who, mind you, is a great tap dancer who I also really admire). Of all of Fred Astaire's on-screen dancing partners, Eleanor Powell has got to be the one most people seem to forget about. It's such a shame, because she was SO talented. I strongly feel that this woman deserves a "Summer Under the Stars" salute already.