professorecho Posted March 26, 2004 Share Posted March 26, 2004 Okay, TCM decides (and I truly wish they would!) to have a spin-off Channel, TCM 2 and they put you in charge of establishing its format and programming it. What would you do? Conveniently, I'll go first: I would program it exclusively with silent films, foreign films and documentaries. Now it's your turn.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stellabluegrl Posted March 27, 2004 Share Posted March 27, 2004 Well, professor, I like what ya came up with so far. I would have to give it more thought but the first thing I would do is have a host for the daytime programming. Robert Osborne's intro's are wonderful...so informative -- now if only there was a daytime host to fill us in with facts about the movie that is to be aired! Hmmmmm.....now I'd have to think of who I'd chose. Tough one...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stellabluegrl Posted March 27, 2004 Share Posted March 27, 2004 Oh, and I'd add plenty of shorts to TCM 2! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littletramplover Posted March 27, 2004 Share Posted March 27, 2004 love the idea of silents and documentaries, prof. Stella, yeah, totally a hard choice on who to pick... I would love to see a screen personality grace us with their presence... perhaps Lauren Bacall? Debbie Reynolds? That would just *add* to what was being said. (Sydney Pollack is wonderful on the Essentials, but I doubt if he'd take on a full time position...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leobertucelli Posted March 27, 2004 Share Posted March 27, 2004 As for a host I'd go after that genial one who was on AMC-Bob Dorian I beieve was his name and please hold those silents & program triller- suspense-horror films; especially those from the 40 - 50's on up.. Leo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daddysprimadonna Posted March 27, 2004 Share Posted March 27, 2004 Silents,silents,and more silents! Including the very early ones,all the way back to "The Great Train Robbery", Melies,etc. Definitely documentaries-including some new ones on style,fashion,make-up,interior design trends,cuisine,from those days,up to the early-mid Thirties. More Pre-Code movies.Specials featuring as many early film stars/artists/behind the camera people as remain.Some made-for-TV movies or documentaries about legendary movie stars-the few I've seen weren't very good,they're always anachronistic to me,ascribing modern sensibilities of speech and thought to the people in them(such as "Chaplin",that movie could've been really good,but they showed things like Mary Pickford saying catty things,which I just couldn't believe-not saying that people didn't have the same feelings as we have now,but com'on-I just can't picture Mary Pickford being overtly publicly catty,and people saying words like "bitchy" so casually as they do now). More showings of the "revue" type films,such as "Paramount On Parade" and "King of Jazz". Oh, and silents with music scores more like they would have been originally,instead of modern-sounding music with them. That type of music can be good,and very fitting,so I guess I'd like to see them shown with both styles of music scores. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cinemetal Posted March 27, 2004 Share Posted March 27, 2004 One day a week of silents, one day of Pre-Codes, one day of foreign classics, and so forth, on a fixed daily schedule, all hosted by some heretofore unknown person. Much as I like the idea of famous hosts, I feel that celebrity would often get in the way of good historical information. Incidentally, though I have little love for Attenborough's Chaplin (or any of his other films, Shadowlands excluded), I don't think the Pickford depiction was completely off. From what I've read in places (and certainly according to Chaplin himself), Mary Pickford could indeed be a catty, sniping type of gal. I think the anachronistic feeling in the movie has less to do with history and more with the poor casting of the totally worthless, shrill Maria Petillo in the role. And, for the record, "****" was certainly a profanity used in certain circles back then, Hollywood included. Incidentally, I once read a terrific anecdote about Carole Lombard and John Barrymore, wherein the former said she wanted to "kick him in the balls." I still giggle at that one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
classicsfan1119 Posted March 27, 2004 Share Posted March 27, 2004 I would definitely like to have a lot more Silents, all of the one-reeler's or shorts in their vault, and each and every Documentary or "interview" they have ever done with an actor, filling most of the day. Now, I realize that in no time, they would have to start repeating (there's that dirty word) films, so it would also be nice if some of the Classics we get now could also fit into the schedule, especially if they would fit nicely around a given Documentary or Interview. More importantly, TCM would need to get busy doing Interviews with the few remaining Golden Age film-makers, and how great it would be to see a brand new one at least once a month, and every month, on TCM2! It would also make me very happy if they would take every movie that they habitually schedule in the middle of the bloody night, and start showing all of them at 8:00AM Eastern instead on this hypothetical new TCM2 Channel. And, wouldn't it be fun to see a few vintage Cartoons between movies more than we do now? And, doesn't TCM have a few vintage "Newsreels" in their vaults, too...so we could see what was going on in history on the same day during the Golden Age of Film? There are also a bunch of Character or Supporting Actors/Actresses that I would love to see featured for a day...and again, NOT in the middle of the night! It seems to me that if these things were scheduled, such a fictional channel might actually float! ML Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daddysprimadonna Posted March 27, 2004 Share Posted March 27, 2004 Cinemetal,I guess I didn't state that very well:) I meant,I know that people cursed and all then,I don't think it was some ultra-pure era,and emotions are universal and timeless,and I think that Mary Pickford amongst others would very well have had those kinds of feelings and even expressed them,I just didn't think that it would have been her "style" to express it the way they have her character in that movie do it.She wasn't considered "modern" even in her own day,she was beloved for being kind of a throwback even then.I didn't think that sarcasm would have been her way,or overt bitchiness,as it was in that movie. I know that Tallulah Bankhead,for an example,was famous for her colorful vocabulary,LOL,and Anita Loos and Dorothy Parker were examples of women who used irony and sarcasm and biting wit to perfection.It just didn't seem like Mary's style,from what I've read,even in her private life. I think that irony is more of a modern phenomenon:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daddysprimadonna Posted March 27, 2004 Share Posted March 27, 2004 More vintage cartoons and newsreels-add that to my programming also:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littletramplover Posted March 27, 2004 Share Posted March 27, 2004 Mary Pickford was amamzing! I adore her to pieces, and I've always loved what Andrew Sarris said about her: "Good may have prevailed in [her] movies, but the set of her tought little jaw told you it damn well better!" What's interesting is that, since she was such a strongheaded woman, she actually didn't get along very well with a couple Hollywood personalities-- let's put it this way: JOAN CRAWFORD was intimidated by her!! When she worked with Cecil B deMille, they were generally uncomofortable projects *because* each person was so opinionated. Mr. Chaplin was also strong willed like her, and so the two were often at odds regarding the handling of United Artists business affairs. In fact (I LOVE THIS) Doug Fairbanks Jr. told Mary, later in life, that she really should call Mr. Chaplin and reconcile because apparently Charlie had been wanting to work things out between them for quite some time. She told Doug, and I quote: "I don't care. He's still a son of a b**ch." She was terrific! As someone once said about her: she wans't only America's first sweetheart but also one hell of a woman! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daddysprimadonna Posted March 27, 2004 Share Posted March 27, 2004 Oh my, I didn't explain myself very well at all,LOL. I didn't mean,that I never thought she would say the "b-word",hehe,but that she wouldn't have that "sarcastic" air she had when saying the line in the movie. She seemed like a person,from all the books I've about and by her,like someone much more straightforward than that.She would say something like that,very sparingly,which would make it carry more weight when she DID use the word,but I just can't see her as the sarcastic ironic type no matter what she said,she seemed too forthright for that. Lord,I didn't mean to get so off-topic with this,but I completely made myself misunderstood:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
professorecho Posted March 27, 2004 Author Share Posted March 27, 2004 In my wish for documentaries I was not only referring to performer biographies or behind the scenes exposes. I was actually talking about real documentaries, feature film and short documentaries which are rarely shown on television. Though I don't watch the Academy Awards and have for the most part nothing but contempt for awards shows, they do honor documentaries every year and it would be interesting to have the opportunity to see some of these films. They often get released theatrically here in L.A. and NYC, and are sometimes shown on PBS later, or may have a limited video release, but then they disappear. Many of them would fit the programming on channels like DISCOVERY or THE HISTORY CHANNEL, but they concentrate on showing their own in-house productions or running programs originally produced in the UK. Thus many worthwhile films, about a variety of interesting subjects, have very few outlets to be seen. In my programming of TCM 2 I would make sure they had a regular slot. I agree with the idea of running many shorts as well, especially newsreels and widescreen cartoons, which never get shown anywhere in their proper aspect ratio. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
classicsfan1119 Posted March 27, 2004 Share Posted March 27, 2004 Oh...Ok...now I get you about Documentaries. I also think it would be great if someone, anyone, and who better than TCM, would start showing us all the Documentaries that are even nominated for awards! By the time I finally see them on HBO (maybe), they are years old and it's still likely that I'm not going to be told that it was nominated for, or received an award of any kind. I just saw a Documentary on HBO called "Boy's Life" (1:30). It doesn't even tell me the year in which it was made in my TV program guide! It's "TV14", and the description says, "His famiy's problems affect a 7-year old boy." Boy, do they ever! It's one of the most heartbreaking Documentaries I've seen in ages! This Documentary must have at least received nominations, if not awards! And, I almost missed it! If any of you have HBO, it's on again next week, and well worth watching. ML Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littletramplover Posted March 27, 2004 Share Posted March 27, 2004 Oh don't worry daddysprimadonna, you *did* explain yourself quite clearly!! It's only that what you were talking about reminded me of a couple things about Mary, and I just wanted to post a few bits I thought were really cool about the lady! No probs, okee dokee daddyo? (hope you don't mind my calling you that...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daddysprimadonna Posted March 27, 2004 Share Posted March 27, 2004 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
professorecho Posted March 27, 2004 Author Share Posted March 27, 2004 I wish littletramplover would have a cute nickname for me. She obviously hates me and why not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alix1929 Posted March 27, 2004 Share Posted March 27, 2004 I think I would try to have somewhat set schedule for certain genres. And I promise that Pre-Codes would NOT always be religated to the wee hours of the morning! I would also show newsreels, cartoons and shorts. I might even try and show a golden era Saturday matinee--complete w/newsreel, short, cartoon and a double feature. I always thought that would be cool programming for a Saturday afternoon. Today's kids don't even know what a double feature is (unless they are lucky enough to have a drive-in nearby). Finally, I would do my best to enter into negotiations w/Paramount & Universal to secure some of their movies. I doubt that Fox would be interested now, with the advent of FMC. It would be so awesome to show some of Cary Grant's early talkies! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daddysprimadonna Posted March 27, 2004 Share Posted March 27, 2004 I think I'll just watch your channel,and then I won't have any of the problems,hehe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
professorecho Posted March 27, 2004 Author Share Posted March 27, 2004 Alix, I am currently a programming consultant for a film series being planned bythe Autry Museum Of The American West here in Los Angeles. It will replicate as best as possible the old saturday matinees from back in the day, featuring two B-westerns, cartoons, a serial chapter and coming attractions. The series will probably play on Saturday afternoons (natch!), once a month, and the promotion will be aimed at grandparents to take their grandchildren and introduce them to this vintage way of seeing movies. Any memories or suggestions you can supply would be most welcome. Kindly write to: hhill@autrynationalcenter.org The person in charge of this project is named Holly Hill and I know she would appreciate hearing any and all ideas from saturday matinee fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 27, 2004 Share Posted March 27, 2004 I, too, would show more silents, in the late night/early morning, but also a few during prime-time at least weekly. I would show the shorts, including animated ones. There would be plenty of B-movies, as well as the bigger ones. There would be plenty of foreign flix. There would be epics, dramas, musicals, comedies, westerns, etc. I'd try to mix it up--play some of everything...keep it pretty well balanced. Oh, and there'd be Hedy Lamarr tributes! ;-) And lots of Garbo, too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littletramplover Posted March 28, 2004 Share Posted March 28, 2004 > I wish littletramplover would have a cute nickname > for me. She obviously hates me and why not? Oh I have nicknames for you all right, just none that I should post on a message board That IS of course a joke I'm actually quite fond of plain old "Prof", myself. Alix, your idea of having a sort of Saturday Matinee would be **terrific**! Complete with the double feature and all! I have to hand it to you there-- I can just *see* the advertising campaign already! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
professorecho Posted March 28, 2004 Author Share Posted March 28, 2004 Every so often someone in programming at TCM will go wild and schedule seven or eight films back to back that virtually no one has ever heard of. I call it THE UNKNOWN FILM FESTIVAL and they don't do it very often, but when they do, I've got my DVR all set to record every one. I'm talking about the most obscure little B's, most running 60-70 minutes, and you often wonder how and when they played in an actual movie theatre. They just did one of these UNKNOWN FILM FESTIVALS recently and it included a Joe Penner film! Man, now that's an acid flashback if ever there was one. You never know what you're going to discover when this fest rolls around and it's very exciting to just dive right into it. This would be another good idea for TCM 2, regular scheduling of THE UNKNOWN FILM FESTIVAL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgm80s Posted March 28, 2004 Share Posted March 28, 2004 I'm with you guys on the old B movies, I love the old B westerns especially, and maybe they could even show some serials like once a week or something. Like on Sunday mornings. The idea about showcasing character actors movies would be great too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
classicsfan1119 Posted March 28, 2004 Share Posted March 28, 2004 Alix, your idea about a "Saturday Matinee" format is fantastic! I would like to see you promote that one with TCM and maybe get them going on it in the current programming. I see kids, and parents, and grandparents lined up around the block to get in on Saturday afternoons, every week. Wow! ML Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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