daddysprimadonna Posted December 30, 2003 Share Posted December 30, 2003 I've had to skip watching TCM SOOOOO much this month, and lately for that matter, because they're NOT showing "classic" movies-they know darn good and well that people equate "classic" with "silver screen" era movies, when they watch TCM-why are they doing this???!!! I guess, there goes ANOTHER good classic movie channel down the drain. They started with just showing the movie-good,bad,famous,obscure-and I was thrilled to see things,especially silents and early Thirties, that I'd never have had a chance to see otherwise. NOW they're showing all this newer and newer mess-OK< some of it's not TOO bad, but I watch TCM for REAL classics, and they know what that means to most TCM fans as well as those fans do! Yes, I'm really aggravated, had to get this off my chest-they keep adding more "talk" and silly guest hosts, like that silly Sidney Pollack-I liked it better when they just showed the movie(except for Robert Osborne), and back when they used to show what most of us accept to be "classic' movies,as in old! Ok, that's my rant, for all the good it'll do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bansi4 Posted December 30, 2003 Share Posted December 30, 2003 Before you get yourself in a snit do me a favor and take a look at the March schedule topic here in the General Discussions Forum. After you read the selection by "the sky ain't falling" by Coffeedan you will appreciate TCM and be glad that your one of the lucky people that have access to it. Mongo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theresabackle Posted December 30, 2003 Share Posted December 30, 2003 I am more then aggravated about TCM..... I am a dedicated viewer and fan. Is there a new station manager? What audience are you targeting? What happened to the glamour of this station? As one of many Baby Boomers who watch and look for the 1930's and 1940's movies I am now subjected to Movies from the 1970's and 1980's you can view on Flix and the Movie channel but wouldn't watch anyway. What an insult to the 'Classy' Robert Osbourne to have him introduce some of the nonsense that's been showing. Please stop feeding us with the line a movie doesn't have to be old to be a classic cause it just 'ain't' true. I find myself changing the chanel more and more often. Bring back the old format, its what made you special! I just scanned the January schedule and I am really disappointed! Check out Amc they still haven't recovered from the mess they made of that station over the last few years!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsoshoko Posted December 30, 2003 Share Posted December 30, 2003 What is going on with these people who take the greatest channel on television for granted? TCM continues to show a majority of black-and-white classics, so why is there such aggravation when they show a modern film in prime time every once in a while? I rather enjoy being able to see some very good "modern classics" letterboxed, uncensored, and without commercial interruption. As far as silents go, in March we not only get our regular Silent Sunday Nights, but we also get Charlie Chaplin every Wednesday night. TCM realizes that people want silents on their programming, so even if they must omit it for their salute to Oscar in February, they make it up to the viewer in March. If memory serves me correctly, they did the same last year with Harold Lloyd following their 31 Days of Oscar. And Robert Osborne...If you look back at some of his picks, he has chosen such 80s films as Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982) and Pennies from Heaven (1981). If he wants these modern films on TCM, why must you pity him for introducing them? One final item: For those planning to go back to their video and DVD collection, many great classics that are shown on TCM are not available on either of those formats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cinemetal Posted December 30, 2003 Share Posted December 30, 2003 Well said. Why do certain modern-phobic folks think of Robert Osborne as a kindred soul? He is very much a fan of many new films and actors, which was clearly evinced by his more than effusive praise of 1995's Sense and Sensibility last night. And, to correct some people, a classic film isn't necessarily an old one, the same way that being an old film doesn't necessarily make it classic. Perhaps you were looking for the channel called "Turner Vintage Movies" instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daddysprimadonna Posted December 30, 2003 Author Share Posted December 30, 2003 We know that "classic" doesn't literally have to be "old", but I've been watching TCM for a LONG LONG time,and when I began, apparently my defintion of "classic" was the one they agreed with,because that's what they showed. What did most people who saw the "classic" in Turner Classic Movies" expect to see? When I saw "classic movies", I said "hurray!", because I knew that was a code word for vintage movies-good,bad, or indifferent. It's what TCM meant by classic also, because that's all they showed. OK, I'll be realistic and try to accept that only a small percentage(even though in primetime, it seems more) of so-called "modern classics" are shown,but it's also realistic to agree that my(and TCM's original) defintion of "classic" is what drew most of us in the first place. I would never have become a fan of TCM for movies such as "Sleepless In Seattle" or "Moonstruck", and that's not what they meant either. I'll accept that "the sky isn't falling" if TCM shows a FEW newer movies(even if they ARE showing blocks of them in primetime), if they'll be honest and admit that these "modern classics" aren't what they or I meant by "classic" when this network began. That's why they keep telling us "a movie doesn't have to be old to be classic"-because we'd already agreed that classic, in this case, meant older. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cinemetal Posted December 30, 2003 Share Posted December 30, 2003 I can certainly accept all of that. I respect your passion for the old movies (and I have it too!), and I admire and praise your ability to humbly modify what were previously a bit overextended criticisms. Now then, I haven't seen you here before, as I am a newbie. Care to share with me some of your favorite movies, directors, cinematographers, gaffers...?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daddysprimadonna Posted December 30, 2003 Author Share Posted December 30, 2003 Heh heh, I am a movie fan, as opposed to a movie buff(I'm told that there is a distinction), so I don't know from "gaffers",LOL. I love silents, pre-Codes, Technicolor musicals,"Broadway Melody"-style musicals, most anything up to the end of WW2. I'm not crazy about much after that-when the Jayne Mansfield, Marilyn Monroe,"blond sexpot", "battle of the sexes" stuff begins.I LOVE Norma Shearer,Mary Pickford,Lillian Gish, Myrna Loy.Don't care for the "angry young man" stuff from the late Fifties-Sixties,you know "Rebel Without A Cause", that type.They're great movies, but I like escapism a bit more, I guess, though I liked some earlier "message movies"-they were done less earnestly, I suppose, so I can bear them-you know, the James Cagney "gangster" movies,that kind of thing.I like a lot of "shallow" pictures, the glamor and fashion plate stuff,especially in the silents and pre-Codes.I love "The Women",and Joan Crawford silents,with her flappers(Our Dancing Daughters,etc).I love any "jazz baby" movies, or the "sweet silents"-"Student Prince In Old Heidelburg" is a real favorite. Hey, shoot me, I like fluff-as long as it's vintage,LOL. It just wasn't so self-conscious,to me. I like Katherine Hepburn's earlier stuff, even the hammy ones that make me cringe a little. I like the all-star extravaganzas,like "Paramount On Parade", and "The King Of Jazz"(I think it's called, I'd need to look at tape of it).I like the really early silents, Theda Bara vamping, like "A Fool There Was", or "The Sheik"(LOVE that movie! when a man could overPOWER his lady,and she fall in love with him at the end, and the women watching would SIGH, not scream,LOL).Shoot me, I'm politically incorrect:) I love the "One Reel Wonders", they're really surreal sometimes,it's great:)I ADORE all the Andy Hardy movies except the last one, Lewis Stone was great. I love Clark Gable, William Powell, Glenn Ford,Rita Hayworth,Gilbert Roland, Constance Bennett,Douglas Fairbanks(both of 'em),Greer Garson,Garbo in the silents and early talkies, and in "Camille". Oh, now you've wound me up,LOL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cinemetal Posted December 30, 2003 Share Posted December 30, 2003 Ahh, King of Jazz, of course. If you're partial to revues, then look for a little-seen flick from 1934 called Hollywood Party. One little trivia note to the film is that it's one of only two films in Hollywood history to be released with NO director credited (the other being 1947's Desire Me). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daddysprimadonna Posted December 30, 2003 Author Share Posted December 30, 2003 I'd love to see "Hollywood Party", is it for sale on tape or DVD? If so, I'll get it and watch-it sounds like fun:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cinemetal Posted December 31, 2003 Share Posted December 31, 2003 To my knowledge, it's only available on VHS, but of course, goooood luck finding it! I happened to see it at a Pre-Code musicals retrospective several years back, paired with a 1933 film called Going Hollywood, which was one of the early Bing Crosby appearances. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
movieslover1000 Posted December 31, 2003 Share Posted December 31, 2003 Hollywood Party can still be ordered new at Amazon for $19.99. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stellabluegrl Posted January 5, 2004 Share Posted January 5, 2004 I just had to comment about what daddysprimadonna said about movie "fans" & movie "buffs". I would DEFINITELY classify myself a "movie fan" rather than a "buff". I have watched SO many classics, and I easily remember the plots and characters (which helps me out big time while playing trivia here) but I have never taken the "scholorly" approach to the cinema as so many others here have. Yes, I do know a thing or two about the actors of the past (nicknames, first films etc.) but reading through MANY posts I'm learning so much more. I guess what I'm getting at is that I'm just thrilled to be a part of this forum. I may not be able to participate in many of the discussions on directors, scandals etc.; but I read the posts everyday and I just love learning new things that I would never know about if it wasn't for this forum. Oh, and I'm also creating quite a film library thanks to your suggestions and from reading through different posts mentioning books worth taking a look at. Thanks again TCM forum members! ~*~Stella~*~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renderkingfisk Posted January 6, 2004 Share Posted January 6, 2004 Turner Classic Movies isn't going "AMC" on us, are they? If they actually had "Turner Vintage Movies"... That would be pretty darn cool, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetbabykmd Posted January 28, 2004 Share Posted January 28, 2004 I agree! I switched from AMC to TCM last year when they started showing Smokey and the Bandit and Sister Act every other day. Now I see more and more "modern classics" being offered -- at prime time!! If I want to watch Splash or Blue Lagoon (how this one made the play list someone please explain) I can switch to TBS or AMC. Please TCM, keep the classics from the silver screen era during prime time, and offer the junk in the early morning hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
classicsfan1119 Posted January 28, 2004 Share Posted January 28, 2004 In order to know why certain, and more recently released movies, are being shown on TCM, you need to understand that TCM does various "themes" from time to time ("Spoofs", for example), or features a Star, which might mean the showing of a newer film that star made (Kate Hepburn this month, and "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?"), and during February TCM gives us a daily schedule of the Oscar Winners they have in their library. This is called "The 31-days of Oscar", because of this special once per year theme, we will be seeing lots of movies that aren't normally shown on TCM. So, don't panic...just read TCM's Home Page from time to time and sit back and enjoy the wonderful movies they show us. ML Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmarshall1111 Posted January 28, 2004 Share Posted January 28, 2004 There's a local deal here called the "CAPA Summer Movie Series" where they play old movies on the big screen, the way they were intended to be seen. They started out playing vintage movies, but, sort of like TCM, they slowly started adding more and more modern films. It got to the point where only a handful of scheduled films were B&W. I talked to a woman who worked there, and she said the old movies simply weren't making any money, and their attendance has doubled since they started showing newer flicks. In their case, it's all about the money, and I can sort of understand that. However, does TCM make more money by playing newer films? In anticipation of the day when they quit playing old movies entirely, I've been archiving a bunch of movies on my computer, to later burn into DVDs (just for my own use, not to sell or distribute). Once TCM goes "the way of all flesh", I'm afraid these old movies will be inaccessible to the common folk. What a sad day that will be... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomagain77 Posted January 28, 2004 Share Posted January 28, 2004 I totally agree Jmarshall...........I have been burning DVD's off of TCM for 2 years now........I have about 2000 burned because unfortunately, I anticipate a time when these movies are no longer played and I plan on having a lifetime supply of great movies! lol...... I know there are some young people that watch TCM but I would be afraid to see a percentage........I am 40 years old and most of my friends in MY age bracket have little or no interest in the classics. They think I'm a nut. I just NEVER want to see the day when I am forced to watch jerks eat worms on reality TV....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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