TCM Schedule for Friday, April 13 -- What's On Tonight: Happy Anniversary

[Staph]

Happy birthday to Stanley Donen, born April 13, 1924 in Columbia, South Carolina. We have a day of his films, and an evening of films that are celebrating significant anniversaries. Enjoy!



6:00 AM -- On the Town (1949)
Three sailors wreak havoc as they search for love during a whirlwind 24-hour leave in New York City.
Dir: Gene Kelly
Cast: Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Betty Garrett
C- 98 min, TV-G, CC

Won an Oscar for Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture -- Roger Edens and Lennie Hayton

Jules Munshin was terrified of heights. While performing on the tiny rooftop during the song "New York, New York" the only way he could perform the number was while one end of a rope was secured around his waist under his sailor suit. The other end of the rope was secured, off camera, to Stanley Donen. And even so, alert viewers of the scene will notice that during the scene Munshin is almost always touching a wall or a prop or another actor.


7:45 AM -- Royal Wedding (1951)
A brother-and-sister musical team find romance when they tour to London for Elizabeth II's wedding.
Dir: Stanley Donen
Cast: Fred Astaire, Jane Powell, Peter Lawford
C- 93 min, TV-G, CC

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Music, Original Song -- Burton Lane (music) and Alan Jay Lerner (lyrics) for the song "Too Late Now"

The ship's rocking during "Open Your Eyes" was based on the Astaires' own dancing experience on a voyage to London in 1923. A boat-rocking device was used to create the film effect.


9:30 AM -- Fearless Fagan (1952)
When a circus clown is drafted, he tries to sneak his pet lion into the service.
Dir: Stanley Donen
Cast: Janet Leigh, Carleton Carpenter, Keenan Wynn
79 min, TV-PG

Based on a story by Sidney Franklin, better known as the director of Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939), The Good Earth (1937), and The Barretts of Wimpole Street (both the 1934 and 1957 versions).


11:00 AM -- Love Is Better Than Ever (1952)
A small-town girl falls for a big-city talent agent.
Dir: Stanley Donen
Cast: Larry Parks, Elizabeth Taylor, Josephine Hutchinson
81 min, TV-PG, CC

In 1951 star Larry Parks was among the first Hollywood personalities to admit that he had been a member of the Communist Party, in testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee. He was subsequently among those blacklisted in Hollywood, and the release of this film was delayed as a result.


12:30 PM -- Give a Girl a Break (1953)
Three young dancers vie for a starring role on Broadway.
Dir: Stanley Donen
Cast: Marge Champion, Gower Champion, Debbie Reynolds
C- 82 min, TV-G

Although Stanley Donen and Gower Champion were credited with staging the musical numbers, Bob Fosse insisted on doing the choreography for his dance scenes.


2:15 PM -- Seven Brides For Seven Brothers (1954)
When their older brother marries, six lumberjacks decide it's time to go courting for themselves.
Dir: Stanley Donen
Cast: Howard Keel, Jeff Richards, Russ Tamblyn
C- 102 min, TV-G, CC

Won an Oscar for Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture -- Adolph Deutsch and Saul Chaplin

Nominated for Oscars for Best Cinematography, Color -- George J. Folsey, Best Film Editing -- Ralph E. Winters, Best Writing, Screenplay -- Albert Hackett, Frances Goodrich and Dorothy Kingsley, and Best Picture

The censors weren't too happy about the line in the song "Lonesome Polecat" where the brothers lament "A man can't sleep when he sleeps with sheep". By not showing any sheep in the same shot as the brothers, the film-makers were able to get away with it.


4:00 PM -- It's Always Fair Weather (1955)
World War II buddies get mixed up with gangsters and an egotistical TV star when they hold a 10-year reunion.
Dir: Gene Kelly
Cast: Gene Kelly, Dan Dailey, Cyd Charisse
C- 102 min, TV-G, CC

Nominated for Oscars for Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture -- André Previn, and Best Writing, Story and Screenplay -- Betty Comden and Adolph Green

Betty Comden and Adolph Green originally conceived this musical as a sequel to their smash, On the Town, having the new film reunite Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra and Jules Munshin. The concept was changed somewhat because was Mr. Sinatra was unavailable to reprise his role.


5:45 PM -- Bedazzled (1967)
A short-order cook makes a deal with the Devil to win a beautiful waitress.
Dir: Stanley Donen
Cast: Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Eleanor Bron
C- 104 min, TV-14, CC

An article about Peter Cook that appeared in the New Yorker stated that the filmmakers didn't have a title for Bedazzled when it was being made. Cook suggested calling the film Raquel Welch. The producers didn't understand why Cook would want to name the movie after an actress that only appears for a few minutes in it. Cook explained that movie marquees put the lead actors names over the movie title. Thus the letters on the marquee would say "Peter Cook and Dudley Moore in Raquel Welch". The producers ended going for the more ordinary title.


7:30 PM -- MGM Parade Show #9 (1955)
Ann Sothern performs in a clip from "Lady Be Good"; Marlon Brando introduces a clip from "Guys and Dolls." Hosted by George Murphy.
26 min, TV-G



TCM PRIMETIME - WHAT'S ON TONIGHT: HAPPY ANNIVERSARY


8:00 PM -- Casablanca (1942)
An American saloon owner in North Africa is drawn into World War II when his lost love turns up.
Dir: Michael Curtiz
Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid
103 min, TV-PG, CC

Won Oscars for Best Director -- Michael Curtiz, Best Writing, Screenplay -- Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein and Howard Koch, and Best Picture

Nominated for Oscars for Best Actor in a Leading Role -- Humphrey Bogart, Best Actor in a Supporting Role -- Claude Rains, Best Cinematography, Black-and-White -- Arthur Edeson, Best Film Editing -- Owen Marks, and Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture -- Max Steiner

Producer Hal B. Wallis nearly made the character Sam a female. Hazel Scott, Lena Horne, and Ella Fitzgerald were considered for the role.


10:00 PM -- Forbidden Games (1952)
During World War II, a refugee child creates a cemetery for animals.
Dir: René Clément
Cast: Brigitte Fossey, Georges Poujouly, Amedee
86 min, TV-PG

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Writing, Motion Picture Story -- François Boyer

In a television interview ("Vivement Dimanche Prochain", France 2, 17 April 2005) Brigitte Fossey, who played the little Paulette, revealed that the film had originally been shot as a short, and then it was later decided to extend it into a feature film. Unfortunately she had lost her milk teeth and Georges Poujouly (who plays the boy Michel) had had his hair cut to play in Nous sommes tous des assassins. So, in many scenes of the movie Paulette has false teeth and Michel is wearing a wig.


12:00 AM -- Cape Fear (1962)
An ex-convict plots to destroy the district attorney who sent him to prison.
Dir: J. Lee Thompson
Cast: Gregory Peck, Robert Mitchum, Polly Bergen
106 min, TV-PG, CC

Gregory Peck, who produced the film, didn't like the original novel's title "The Executioners". When thinking of a new title, he decided that movies named after places tended to be very successful, so he looked at a map of the U.S. until he happened upon Cape Fear in North Carolina.


2:00 AM -- The Iron Rose (1973)
A young couple finds they are trapped in a cemetery and soon their fears begin to overtake them.
Dir: Jean Rollin
Cast: Françoise Pascal, Hugues Quester, Natalie Perrey
C- 80 min, TV-MA

Based on a poem by Tristan Corbière (1845–1875).


3:30 AM -- The Devil Within Her (1975)
A pregnant woman learns she is about to give birth to Satan's child.
Dir: Peter Sasdy
Cast: Joan Collins, Eileen Atkins, Donald Pleasence
C- 94 min, TV-MA

Originally titled I Don't Want to Be Born (in the UK), and Sharon's Baby (in the US).


5:15 AM -- Six Murderous Beliefs (1956)
12 min, TV-PG


5:30 AM -- The Perfect Crime (1954)
Dir: Robert Altman
Cast: Leonard Belove, Owen Bush, Art Ellison
20 min, TV-PG

[CBHagman]

1. Great story about Jules Munshin and acrophobia.

I seem to recall his character in the movie finds himself in a very precarious position indeed.

And happy birthday to Stanley Donen. I had no idea he was born in Columbia.