TCM Schedule for Saturday, May 3, 2014 -- The Essentials - Norman Jewison

[Staph]

Tonight's Essentials features films directed by Norman Jewison. The father of three children, Jewison hitchhiked across the Deep South region of the US at age 18; he was struck by its apartheid-like, strictly enforced racial segregation. He considers The Hurricane (1999) the last in a trilogy of racial injustice movies he's directed, the first two being In the Heat of the Night (1967) and A Soldier's Story (1984). Jewison cast a then-largely unknown Denzel Washington in A Soldier's Story (1984), then coupled him with Rod Steiger in The Hurricane (1999). Enjoy!



6:00 AM -- MGM Parade Show #1 (1955)
Judy Garland sings "You Made Me Love You" in a clip from "Broadway Melody of 1938"; Cyd Charisse introduces a clip from "It's Always Fair Weather." Hosted by George Murphy.
BW-26 min


6:30 AM -- The Satan Bug (1965)
A mad millionaire bribes a scientist to steal a deadly virus.
Dir: John Sturges
Cast: George Maharis, Richard Basehart, Anne Francis
C-115 min, Letterbox Format

Though it follows the general plot rather closely, there are a number of differences between this adaptation and the original novel by Alistair MacLean. Notably among them, in the novel the action is set in the UK, Sation Three is called the Mordon Microbiological Research Establishment, George Maharis' character is called Pierre Cavell and Anne Francis' character is called Mary and is actually married to George Maharis' character.


8:30 AM -- He Walked By Night (1948)
After killing a cop, a burglar fights to evade the police.
Dir: Alfred Werker
Cast: Richard Basehart, Scott Brady, Roy Roberts
BW-79 min

Technical advisor for the film was Sgt. Marty Wynn of the Los Angeles Police Dept. During the course of shooting he fell into conversation with Jack Webb, then the star of radio's "Jeff Regan, Private Investigator", who had a small part in the film. Wynn suggested that Webb do a radio series based on actual police files. Thus was born the idea for "Dragnet," which debuted on NBC radio about four months after this film was released.


10:15 AM -- Carson on TCM: Steve Martin (6/15/79) (2013)
TCM presents an interview from The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson, with Steve Martin from 6/15/79.
C-10 min, CC


10:30 AM -- Mexican Spitfire Sees a Ghost (1942)
An advertising executive and his temperamental wife investigate a haunted house.
Dir: Leslie Goodwins
Cast: Lupe Velez, Leon Errol, Charles "Buddy" Rogers
BW-70 min

Notorious as the main feature on the double bill which also featured the original release of the Orson Welles classic The Magnificent Ambersons (1942). "Ambersons" was therefore relegated to "second feature" status, something usually reserved for B pictures.


11:45 AM -- The Big Sky (1952)
Trappers lead an expedition against river pirates and Indians along the Missouri River.
Dir: Howard Hawks
Cast: Kirk Douglas, Dewey Martin, Elizabeth Threatt
BW-138 min, CC

Nominated for Oscars for Best Actor in a Supporting Role -- Arthur Hunnicutt, and Best Cinematography, Black-and-White -- Russell Harlan

While shooting Red River (1948), there was a scene that director Howard Hawks unsuccessfully urged John Wayne to do. It involved his getting a finger mangled between a saddle horn and a rope, resulting in Walter Brennan's amputating it. Hawks reportedly told Wayne, "If you're not good enough, we won't do it", but Wayne wouldn't do it. According to Hawks biographer Todd McCarthy, Hawks did get Kirk Douglas to do that scene in this film, and it came off so funny that Wayne later declared to Hawks, "If you tell me a funeral is funny, I'll do a funeral."


2:15 PM -- King of the Wild Stallions (1959)
A young widow and her son on an isolated ranch find themselves being protected by a wild stallion.
Dir: R. G. Springsteen
Cast: George Montgomery, Diane Brewster, Edgar Buchanan
C-77 min, Letterbox Format

Shot in 1958, not released until 1959.


4:00 PM -- The Pink Panther (1964)
In the first Inspector Clouseau film, the bumbling French police detective tries to stop a notorious jewel thief from nabbing a princess' diamond.
Dir: Blake Edwards
Cast: David Niven, Peter Sellers, Capucine
C-115 min, CC, Letterbox Format

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Music, Substantially Original Score -- Henry Mancini

The film was intended to have David Niven's character Sir Charles Lytton as the main character. However, Peter Sellers' portrayal of Inspector Clouseau was so loved by the crew (and later by the audience) it became his character this film and the sequels focused on.


6:00 PM -- Another Thin Man (1939)
Not even the joys of parenthood can stop married sleuths Nick and Nora Charles from investigating a murder on a Long Island estate.
Dir: W. S. Van Dyke II
Cast: William Powell, Myrna Loy, Virginia Grey
BW-103 min, CC

The elegant car that Nick and Nora ride out to Col. MacFay's estate in is a 1935 Lincoln. These were an expensive, low-production car, with only about 1,400 made that year. The major movie studios kept a number of expensive cars around for executive purposes, and they often did double duty as props as required in production.



TCM PRIMETIME - WHAT'S ON TONIGHT: THE ESSENTIALS: NORMAN JEWISON



8:00 PM -- In The Heat Of The Night (1967)
A black police detective from the North forces a bigoted Southern sheriff to accept his help with a murder investigation.
Dir: Norman Jewison
Cast: Sidney Poitier, Rod Steiger, Warren Oates
C-110 min, CC, Letterbox Format

Won Oscars for Best Actor in a Leading Role -- Rod Steiger, Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium -- Stirling Silliphant, Best Sound, and Best Film Editing -- Hal Ashby, and Best Picture

Nominated for Oscars for Best Director -- Norman Jewison, and Best Effects, Sound Effects -- James Richard

Sidney Poitier insisted that the movie be filmed in the north because an incident in which he and Harry Belafonte were almost killed by Ku Klux Klansman during a visit to Mississippi. Hence the selection of Sparta, Illinois for the location filming. Nevertheless, the filmmakers and actors did venture briefly into Tennessee for the outdoor scenes at the cotton plantation, because there was no similar cotton plantation in Illinois that could be used. Poitier slept with a gun under his pillow during production in Tennessee. Poitier did receive threats from local racist thugs so the shoot was cut short and production returned to Illinois.


10:00 PM -- The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming (1966)
When a Russian sub runs aground in New England, it creates a local panic.
Dir: Norman Jewison
Cast: Carl Reiner, Eva Marie Saint, Alan Arkin
C-126 min, CC, Letterbox Format

Nominated for Oscars for Best Actor in a Leading Role -- Alan Arkin, Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium -- William Rose, Best Film Editing -- Hal Ashby and J. Terry Williams, and Best Picture

The film had a profound impact on both American and Soviet leaders. It is one of the few films actually mentioned in the Congressional record. Norman Jewison was also personally invited to Moscow, where he reported that the Russian crowd was transfixed by the scene featuring the little boy who falls from the bell tower, and the Soviets and Americans cooperate to save him.


12:15 AM -- The Cincinnati Kid (1965)
Card sharps try to deal with personal problems during a big game in New Orleans.
Dir: Norman Jewison
Cast: Steve McQueen, Edward G. Robinson, Ann-Margret
C-103 min, CC, Letterbox Format

Spencer Tracy was originally cast as Lancey Howard but poor health forced him to withdraw and he was replaced by Edward G. Robinson.


2:15 AM -- The Doll Squad (1973)
A squad of beautiful government agents tries to catch saboteurs.
Dir: Ted V. Mikels
Cast: Michael Ansara, Francine York, Anthony Eisley
C-91 min, Letterbox Format

This film is referenced in Kill Bill: Volume 1. The look of The Doll Squad influenced the look of the DIVAS.


3:50 AM -- Match Your Mood (1968)
Westinghouse shows women how to improve their lives by decorating their refrigerators in this short film.
C-6 min


4:00 AM -- Ten Violent Women (1982)
Women miners get fed up with their line of work and turn to a life of crime.
Dir: Ted V. Mikels
Cast: Sherri Vernon, Dixie Lauren, Georgia Morgan
C-97 min

Shot in 1978, not released until 1987.


5:40 AM -- Time Out for Trouble (1961)
The spirit of an evil mantle clock examines various household accidents in this short film.
Dir: David S. Glidden
Cast: Loren Brown, Bonnie Hammett, Nancy Clifton
BW-19 min