On Sunday, October 13th, at 10:00 AM ET, Turner Classic Movies will be showing the 1941 Alexander Korda production of LYDIA. Starring Merle Oberon and Joseph Cotton, this romantic drama follows an unmarried woman who tries to recapture the romance of her past with some former suitors. The film is not available on DVD.
LYDIA’s score was by Miklos Rozsa, who was nominated for an Academy Award for his efforts. Here are some themes from the score:
On Sunday, October 13th, at 10 PM ET, Turner Classic Movies will be showing the 1939 David Niven film RAFFLES. This film from producer Samuel Goldwyn was based on the 1899 British novel The Amateur Cracksman by E. W. Hornung. The film itself was a remake of a 1930 Goldwyn film of the same name, which had starred Ronald Colman as the gentleman thief of the title. This more recent version has a score by Victor Young, none of which has ever been released.
RAFFLES, originally titled “Colonel Rowan of Scotland Yard,” was to have been filmed in England. But the outbreak of war in Europe caused the studio to change its production plans. David Niven, who was a soldier in the British army, was granted a twenty-one day grace period by the British Consul so that he could finish his scenes in this film before beginning his military service. The production company worked double time so that Niven could finish on time, shooting all his scenes first. This was Niven's last American film until the 1946 film THE MAGNIFICENT DOLL.
RAFFLES has never been issued on cassette or DVD, but was released on a double-feature laserdisc along with its 1930 predecessor.
TCM ON OCTOBER 18TH will continue with its Friday night horror marathons with the following films-BURN WITCH BURN-61-Top notch well acted effort originally done in 44 with LON CHANEY JR called WEIRD WOMAN-44-TOMB OF LIGEIA-64-Solid PRICE- CORMAN effort worth checking out-THE SEVENTH VICTIM-43-A VAL LEWTON film dealing with witchcraft in New York, depressing ending stands out- CURSE OF THE DEMON-58-Classic genre film that is first rate all the way. great ending-I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE-43- A VAL LEWTON FILM dealing with voodoo, that has a depressing ending that stands out.-THE LEOPARD MAN-43-Another VAL LEWTON effort that really is more drama then horror dealing with a leopard on the loose and murder, ENJOY.
I'd like to see "Stevie" with Glenda Jackson, Trevor Howard, and the great Mona Washbourne. And it has a lovely guitar-centered soundtrack by Patrick Gowers.
TCM ON SATURDAY THE 19TH has more genre stuff with THE DEVIL'S OWN-66-Nifty witchcraft effort with Joan Fontaine and PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES-66-Good effort by John Gilling which has sequences that influence George Romero to make the cult classic NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD a few years later. Both are HAMMER FILMS- ENJOY.
TO RON- STEVIE-78- can be bought on both VHS AND DVD , check on the computer. Unfortunately it has rarely been shown on cable for years.As for the score, I had the lp years ago . Good score.
TCM on Saturday the 19th will show THE WINDOW-49-A top notch thriller based on the boy who cried wolf theme. one of the best of it's type.Also early on Saturday morning TCM will show THE MASK OF FU MANCHU-32=At one time this crime effort with BORIS KARLOFF was thought to be a lost film[70'S] but it was not. Was brought back to syndication in the 80's. not bad of it's type.
TCM continues with it's OCTOBER GENRE SALUTE ON SATURDAY EVENING OCTOBER 19TH with the following films- FREAKS-32-Controversial neat little drama from TOD BROWNING- MARK OF THE VAMPIRE-35- Horror, more mystery with BELA LUGUSI- not bad.-DEVIL DOLL-36- Solid touching eerie effort with wonderful effects for it's time, ending is so sad.-MIRACLES FOR SALE- 39- fine film-LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT-27-Another CHANEY effort, but sadly it will be shown only with stills since the moving prints are long lost.-INCUBUS-65- Very obscure WILLIAM SHATNER film, which has it's interesting moments. TCM dug it out with a rare showing a couple of years ago.-THE HYPNOTIC EYE-60-Interesting plot, moderate film also has been pretty obscure of late- ENJOY
On Tuesday, October 22, at 12 noon ET, Turner Classic Movies will be showing the 1955 British murder thriller CAST A DARK SHADOW. The film, which has only been released on video by public domain label Madacy, stars Dirk Bogarde and Margaret Lockwood. It was directed by Lewis Gilbert (SINK THE BISMARCK!; THE SPY WHO LOVED ME).
VINCENT PRICE was one of the great genre stars. he died 20 years ago next week. but his contribution to films, no less genre films lives on and in many ways as popular as ever to movie fans. TCM on THURSDAY OCTOBER 24TH will have a Vincent Price genre marathon. Here are the films-----------HOUSE OF WAX-54- 3D classic, but even in flat form it's a winner-THE MAD MAGICIAN-54-Underrated solid shocker. Price Playing again a good man going beserk by film's end.HOUSE OF USHER-60-Top notch Poe classic from Roger Corman. DIARY OF A MADMAN-63-early version of the EXORCIST theme but they call it a HORLA here. Pretty good effort.THE TINGLER-59- A CASTLE PRICE cult classic, which has too many good fun things to say about it here. a winner, HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL-59- Another CASTLE, PRICE classic which has too many good things to say about it here. another winner.THE BAT-59- Fun take on the old chestnut theme, Worth checking out.TOWER OF LONDON-63- Underrated CORMAN PRICE version of the 39 classic.-THE RAVEN-63- One of the best genre comedies ever made. PRICE KARLOFF, LORRE and even JACK NICHOLSON going at it , FUN , FUN , FUN, ENJOY.
TCM concludes with it's FRIDAY NIGHT GENRE FILMS ON OCTOBER 25 with the following films-THE WALKING DEAD-36-Top notch thriller with BORIS KARLOFF, A touching ending with the interesting line GOD IS A JEALOUS GOD--- BUCKET OF BLOOD-58-Quirky small film from the Corman factory-DEMENTIA 13-63-Not bad murder mystery, nicely photographed-WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE-62- Smash hit that started the crazy old ladies on the rampage sub genre-SISTERS-73- BRIAN DEPLAMA'S early eerie effort. SPIDER BABY-64- Possibly LON CHANEY JR'S best performance during his twilight years. LON was a genius at pathos. A cult hit. VILLAGE OF THE DAMMED-61-Classic SCIFI effort. Well made and memorable.-THE DEATH KISS-33- Creeps a bit today but has it's moments, BELA LUGUSI is in it. ENJOY
SLAUGHTER TRAIL, a 1951 western starring Brian Donlevy and Gig Young, will be broadcast by Turner Classic Movies on Thursday, October 24th, at 4:30 PM ET. This independent production was one of the earliest films produced by Irving Allen, who produced the “Matt Helm” films, as well as such epics as THE LONG SHIPS, GENGHIS KHAN, and CROMWELL. Allen also directed the film, his last time in the director’s chair.
SLAUGHTER TRAIL was originally slated to be an Eagle-Lion release. A completed version of the picture, starring Howard Da Silva as "Capt. Dempster," was submitted to the Production Code Authority in April 1951. When the film was acquired for release by RKO early in May 1951, the studio, then run by Howard Hughes, announced that, due to Da Silva having testified as an unfriendly witness before the House Committee on Un-American Activities, his scenes would be reshot with Brian Donlevy in his role. The reshoots took place from June 1st to June 7th 1951 at Motion Picture Center Studios. Consequently, the release of the film was delayed until October 1951.
SLAUGHTER TRAIL has never been issued on DVD.
Much of the film is accompanied by narration and songs from folk singer Terry Gilkyson and a male chorus. One song, heard only briefly in the film, "The Girl in the Wood," became a hit recording for Frankie Laine.
TCM on SATURDAY OCTOBER 26TH in the evening has the following genre films-BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN-35-Classic genre effort with the crazy doctor, the monster and the lady with the afro-THE MUMMY-32-Nicely done effort with BORIS KARLOFF, still holds up pretty good today-CAT PEOPLE-42-VAL LEWTON'S most famous effort, has some classic subtle mood scenes that work well- good effort-WHITE ZOMBIE-32- Early Lugosi effort that while a bit dated today still offers some good entertaining scenes.PSYCHOMANIA-72- Great premise adds some spice to this interesting film. THE DEVIL'S OWN-66- JOAN FONTAINE stars in this good HAMMER tale of witchcraft- ENJOY
TCM salute to the genre films in October continues on OCT 27 with the following films - CHILDREN OF THE DAMMED -64- Sequel to the hit VILLAGE OF THE DAMMED in some ways even more interesting- THEM-54- SCIFI classic about those giant bugs in the L.A sewer. ENJOY.
TCM 'S HALLOWEEN MARATHON this year is a CHRISTOPHER LEE/VINCENT PRICE FESTIVAL with PETER CUSHING showing up in a few of them.Here are the films in order-CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN-57-Top notch Hammer effort with LEE/CUSHING in a groundbreaking film.THE MUMMY-59-Another Hammer LEE/CUSHING effort which is solid all the way.-HORROR CASTLE-63-Italian effort with LEE that has some atmospheric scenes, used to be a syndication standard in the 70's,-CASTLE OF THE LIVING DEAD-63-Donald Sutherland joins Lee in this Italian effort.DRACULA PRINCE OF DARKNESS-65- Second in the series , pretty good film, but they shouldn't have made LEE mute.THE DEVIL'S BRIDE-68- one of Hammer's best, This one LEE plays the good guy.-DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE-68- Hammer's most successful film in the LEE series. It is a fine effort with a grand James Bernard score that stands out.HORROR EXPRESS-72- Cushing and Savalas joins LEE in this Spanish effort. shown to death in syndication for years and I can understand why. It's one of those perfectly enjoyable fast moving genre film with a fun cast and fast pace direction.The marathon then turns to HORROR ICON VINCENT PRICE with the following films-PIT AND THE PENDULUM-61- Price at his best. one of the genre's best . Eerie as hell.THE HAUNTED PALACE-63-Pretty good effort with PRICE/CHANEY JR, has a great RONALD STEIN music score.MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH-64- Superb Price effort, with a humdinger of an ending.ABOMIABLE DR PHIBES-71- another one of those entertaining fun genre effort where Price just has a hammy ball going at it.- TWICE TOLD TALES-63- Good anthology tale that works well, Price has a field day in all 3 tales.TOMB OF LIGEIA-64- Solid effort with some great atmospheric moments- ENJOY
THIS NETWORK salutes HALLOWEEN day with the following genre pics-COMEDY OF TERRORS-63-CRY OF THE BANSHEE-70-HOUR OF THE WOLF-68- HOWLING NO 2-82-THE WOODS-06-THEY-02-DRACULA NO 3 LEGACY-05-TRUCKS-97-HIGHWAY TO HELL-92- ENJOY
On Friday, December 13th, at 12:30 PM ET, Turner Classic Movies will be showing the 1942 historical drama TENNESSEE JOHNSON. The film stars Van Heflin as President Andrew Johnson, the man who succeeded Abraham Lincoln in the White House.
The film was controversial in its day, because of its portrayal of Congressman Thaddeus Stevens. At the end of the Civil War, Stevens, who had been a strong abolitionist, championed the rights of the newly freed slaves. His opposition to some of Johnson's Reconstruction policies led to his advancing articles of impeachment against Johnson. After concerns raised by the Office of War Information in 1942 (the OWI was concerned about how the film would affect U.S. war morale), MGM agreed to reshoot a major portion of the picture, softening up the script's anti-Stevens rhetoric and generally sidestepping "controversial" history.
Additional shooting did take place in early October 1942, although the California Eagle noted in an article that director William Dieterle had written a defense of Johnson in Daily Variety and "Since $250,000 worth of reshooting will go forward under his supervision, there is little hope that an honest reflection of the historical facts will be rendered."
TENNESSEE JOHNSON has never appeared on any video format.
On Friday, December 13th, at 6:30 PM ET, TCM will be showing the 1953 adventure film THE GOLDEN MASK. This British production was shot in Algeria, and stars Van Heflin. It has never appeared on any video format.
On Monday, December 16th, at 8:00 AM ET, TCM will be showing the 1961 British comedy MARY HAD A LITTLE . . . . The film stars Agnes Laurent and Hazel Court, who had the female lead in three of Roger Corman's Edgar Allan Poe films: THE RAVEN, PREMATURE BURIAL, and MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH. This is a chance to see Court's comedic side.
MARRY HAD A LITTLE . . . has never been available on any video format.
