HITS & MISSES: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow on TCM

[GregoryPeckfan]

Osborne's interview with Gloria Steinem will be broadcast NEXT Tuesday...April 19.

Next, Tuesday?  I'm getting my weeks messed up.  Thanks for the correction.  The 12th tomorrow. Oh, tomorrow would have been my father's 73rd birthday.

 

Looking at the films that are airing tomorrow night, I have not seen Juke Girl yet. 

[Barton_Keyes]

Next, Tuesday?  I'm getting my weeks messed up.  Thanks for the correction.  The 12th tomorrow. Oh, tomorrow would have been my father's 73rd birthday.

 

Looking at the films that are airing tomorrow night, I have not seen Juke Girl yet. 

 

JUKE GIRL is a moderately entertaining film, one of those social message picture Warner Bros. produced with such frequency and efficiency in the '30s and '40s. This one is not too much better or worse than most of them, but it's a bit jarring to see Ronald Reagan playing an advocate for organized labour.

[speedracer5]

4/12

 

FILM THAT IS ONLY NOTABLE FOR IT'S PLACE IN FILM HISTORY:

 

Too Many Girls.  Okay.  I will say it right now.  This film is not good.  It's not bad.  But it's not good.  Lucille Ball is very obviously dubbed.  The story is lame.  However, Desi Arnaz and Ann Miller provide good support and sing two very energizing songs.  Frances Langford sings as well.  Desi, Ann and Frances are the best characters in the film.  This film is notable for two reasons: 1) It is the film where Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz met.  They met on the set, had a sixth month courtship and married by the end of 1940.  They were married for twenty years and by the end had one of the biggest (if not the biggest) television studio in the country and had created the most beloved television show of all time--I Love Lucy.  We owe Too Many Girls much gratitude for bringing Lucy and Desi together. 2) This film features a very minor character actress named "Tiny Person."  TINY PERSON! 

 

One of the funniest parts of the film is at the end where Desi Arnaz is leading a very rousing conga after they win the football game.  Lucille Ball is in the front of the pack and very noticeably misses her cues for the arm movements.  Look for a young Van Johnson as an extra! 

 

I'm RECORDING:

 

I'm probably going to record Juke Girl with Ann Sheridan.  As I understand it, this is Sheridan's breakthrough film, so I'd like to see it.  

 

My DVR is 90% full.  I hope I can knock some films off this week so I don't run out of room!

[Fedya]

but it's a bit jarring to see Ronald Reagan playing an advocate for organized labour.

You mean like the head of SAG?

[Fedya]

I think Too Many Girls is a lot of fun, even though it has no basis in any sort of reality.

 

And how could you forget Eddie Bracken?

[EugeniaH]

And how could you forget Eddie Bracken?

Goodness knows I try!

[Sepiatone]

Well, NObody here has the last word on anything.  Just because person "A" doesn't like a particular movie, and thinks it stinks to high heaven, DOESN'T mean persons "B", "C". and all who remain need comply with that opinion. 

 

Now, I'm somewhat neutral on the matter of TOO MANY GIRLS.  I too thought it was "fun", but not deep cinematic art.  But WHO SAID movies HAVE to be?

 

But also think......this film JUST MIGHT be somebody else's favorite movie!  And anyway....who are ANY of us to judge?  But then again....

 

LOVED Fedya's remark that, "It has no basis in any sort of reality".....Really?  You mean of course, like most OTHER movies ever made?  Geez......Did somebody think it was supposed to be a documentary? 

 

GAWDAmighty!  Seems like if you poked a hole in some of these people with a pin, they'd fly around the room like a baloon!  Heck, ...they already make a similar sound!

 

Sepiatone

[LornaHansonForbes]

I think Too Many Girls is a lot of fun, even though it has no basis in any sort of reality.

 

And how could you forget Eddie Bracken?

 

 

Goodness knows I try!

 

I'm actually fine with Eddie Bracken, but as a BIG FAN of SHADE, I must doff my hat to you on this.

Well played, Miss H, well played.

[EugeniaH]

I'm actually fine with Eddie Bracken, but as a BIG FAN of SHADE, I must doff my hat to you on this.

Well played, Miss H, well played.

I saw Bracken in The Miracle of Morgan's Creek, (he was) he visual version of nails against a chalkboard. Even if it is another zany Preston Sturges movie, he was way too over the top for me.

[GregoryPeckfan]

Poor little GregoryPeckFan...Why do you construe everything I post to you as an insult? As darkblue said, I was genuinely trying to ascertain the difference between "movies new to me and new to me films". I thought perhaps I'd missed something.

I truly did not think what you wrote was the result of a typing error. Typos ( and for that matter, spellos) are mistakes I make here quite often; I harbour no disdainful feelings towards others who also make them.

Sometimes I even suffer from brainos.

No worries, MissW.  I got you confused with another poster who actually *does* mean to insult me and whose post was deleted over night.  I have put that person on ignore.  Cheers.

 

GPF

[JamesJazGuitar]

JUKE GIRL is a moderately entertaining film, one of those social message picture Warner Bros. produced with such frequency and efficiency in the '30s and '40s. This one is not too much better or worse than most of them, but it's a bit jarring to see Ronald Reagan playing an advocate for organized labour.

 

Yes,  Juke Girl is a moderately entertaining film but I find Reagan to be the weak link in the entire picture.   If that part was played by another actor with a stronger screen persona and one that wouldn't be completely overshadowed by Sheridan, it would have elevated the film.  

[GregoryPeckfan]

Curses! Foiled again.

[Bogie56]

Wednesday, April 13

 

9:30 p.m.  From Caligari to Hitler (2014) looks promising.

[darkblue]

Gonna watch 'The Main Event' (1979) tonight at midnight.

 

Barbra and Ryan close out the 70's - arguably the best decade for both.

[misswonderly3]

Yes,  Juke Girl is a moderately entertaining film but I find Reagan to be the wink link in the entire picture.   If that part was played by another actor with a stronger screen persona and one that wouldn't be completely overshadowed by Sheridan, it would have elevated the film.  

 

I didn't know Ronald Reagan was given to winking.

[darkblue]

I didn't know Ronald Reagan was given to winking.

 

Me neither. I always thought of him as given more to  w anking.

[mr6666]

Gonna watch 'The Main Event' (1979) tonight at midnight.

 

Barbra and Ryan close out the 70's - arguably the best decade for both.

still seems odd for a "Bob's Picks"

 

".."The Main Event," which is a Meet Cute from beginning to end, forced smiles, smarmy dialog and all. Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal act so cute, indeed, that I was squirming. There should have been a scene showing them brushing their teeth and vowing to the mirror: "Every day in every way, I'm getting cuter and cuter." This is the first shaggy dog movie that pets itself."

-R. Ebert 

= 2 1/2 *s

[darkblue]

still seems odd for a "Bob's Picks"

 

".."The Main Event," which is a Meet Cute from beginning to end, forced smiles, smarmy dialog and all. Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal act so cute, indeed, that I was squirming. There should have been a scene showing them brushing their teeth and vowing to the mirror: "Every day in every way, I'm getting cuter and cuter." This is the first shaggy dog movie that pets itself."

-R. Ebert 

= 2 1/2 *s

 

Ebert, yeah.

 

(Speaking of w ankers.)

[AndreaDoria]

Yesterday: King's Row  I loved this one.  None of the actors were favorites of mine,  other than Claude Raines, but the story was excellent.  I love a good drama (or melodrama) in the evening.  The best part for me was that even though it was made in 1942 and set in 1900, the character with dementia praecox (schizophrenia) was handled sympathetically and not portrayed as a terrifying monster.

 

Today: A whole lot of acting about acting. Meh. I can understand people being fascinated with their own business, but I don't know why the rest of us should be.  The only one of these I've ever liked is All About Eve for its good performances, but even there, the self-reverential speech on the stairs where they all talk about show people being the best,  most dedicated, most sacrificing people in the whole wide world, as if they were  Ebola doctors or nuns in Calcutta, always makes my eyes roll.

[Bogie56]

Thursday, April 14

 

Maybe trails are the theme of the day?  Just a guess.  If I have the time there are some John Wayne and Tim Holt b’s that I have never seen.

 

10:45 p.m.  The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967)  by Jacques Demy is worth a look.

 

[film lover 293]

Thurs., April 14/Fri. April 15--All times E.S.T.:

 

3:00 a.m. "The Big Cube" (1969)--Lana Turner, LSD, and the 60's.  Sounds like an interesting combination.  Supposed to be a classic,of sorts.

 

4:45 a.m. "Meet Me in Las Vegas" (1956)--Cyd Charisse dances a sizzling "Frankie and Johnny", narrated by Sammy Davis Jr.

[Tikisoo]

Well yesterday 4/13 I have recorded BODY & SOUL (1947) just to see another powerful John Garfield performance, and later 4/16 FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS (1966) the Roman Polanski thriller.

 

I won't get to watch these for another couple of weeks or so, but am looking forward to them. Thank goodness TCM airs such diverse titles. Could you imagine if they confined their titles to just "golden age classics"? So limiting in scope.

 

I'm very much looking forward to 4/17 early morning shorts: MATCH YOUR MOOD/DROP OUT/YOUR NAME HERE.

 

Often, the shorts schedule isn't accurate & misses the recording. I have the recorder set to put the shorts at the beginning of PIG ACROSS PARIS (1957) a movie that sounded intriguing & fun by the description.

[film lover 293]

Friday, April 15: Speaking of shorts--Three to catch--All times E.S.T.:

 

7:39 p.m. "La Fiesta De Santa Barbara" (1935)--The Gumm Sisters in action and also The Garland Sisters appear--I don't know if Judy Garland soloed in this one or not.

 

9:48 p.m. "Bubbles" (1930)--Judy Garland is 2nd-billed in this short film.

 

3:16 a.m. "Starlet Revue" (1929)--Judy Garland gets 2nd billing in this short also.

[Bogie56]

Friday, April 15

 

2 p.m.  Dead End Kids on Dress Parade (1939) is my pick of the day.  Seriously.

 

3:15 p.m.  Canon City (1948)  Sounds like it could be good.

 

[JessieB]

Yesterday: King's Row  I loved this one.  None of the actors were favorites of mine,  other than Claude Raines, but the story was excellent.  I love a good drama (or melodrama) in the evening.  The best part for me was that even though it was made in 1942 and set in 1900, the character with dementia praecox (schizophrenia) was handled sympathetically and not portrayed as a terrifying monster.

 

Today: A whole lot of acting about acting. Meh. I can understand people being fascinated with their own business, but I don't know why the rest of us should be.  The only one of these I've ever liked is All About Eve for its good performances, but even there, the self-reverential speech on the stairs where they all talk about show people being the best,  most dedicated, most sacrificing people in the whole wide world, as if they were  Ebola doctors or nuns in Calcutta, always makes my eyes roll.

 

 

Thurs., April 14/Fri. April 15--All times E.S.T.:

 

3:00 a.m. "The Big Cube" (1969)--Lana Turner, LSD, and the 60's.  Sounds like an interesting combination.  Supposed to be a classic,of sorts.

 

4:45 a.m. "Meet Me in Las Vegas" (1956)--Cyd Charisse dances a sizzling "Frankie and Johnny", narrated by Sammy Davis Jr.

 

The "Big Cube" is a Kooky movie.  Came upon at a time when aging (now classic) actresses still wanted to work but were not being given parts that matched their talents.  Some made it work (Bette Davis, Kate Hepburn, Olivia De Havilland etc.) unfortunately for Lana this movie did not.  Lana Turner on LSD  (unknowingly of course) who thinks of this stuff.  It was the 60's and front and center in conversation...its worth a watch at least once.  All I can say is a very kooky film.