TCM Schedule for Thursday, March 24, 2015 -- TCM Spotlight: Condemned

[Staph]

In the daylight hours, TCM is celebrating the birth of Terence Steven McQueen, born on March 24, 1930, in Beech Grove, Indiana. In prime time, TCM is finishing up this month's theme of films that were in some way condemned by the Catholic Legion of Decency. Enjoy!



6:03 AM -- The Song Of A Nation (1947)
This short film dramatizes the events that led to Francis Scott Key writing the words to "The Star-Spangled Banner." Vitaphone Release 7557-7558.
Dir: Frank McDonald
Cast: Lottie Williams, Carlyle Moore, Glen Cavender
C-17 mins,


6:30 AM -- An Enemy of the People (1978)
A scientist stands against an entire town when he discovers their medicinal spa is polluted.
Dir: George Schaefer
Cast: Steve McQueen, Charles Durning, Bibi Andersson
C-107 mins, CC,

This was a personal project for McQueen, as he made it to prove to many people that he could act. But Warner Bros. could not figure out how to distribute it and decided not to release it domestically. It had a very brief theatrical release in New York a few years after it was made.


8:30 AM -- Baby Rain Must Fall (1965)
A parolee tries to launch a musical career and keep out of trouble.
Dir: Robert Mulligan
Cast: Lee Remick, Steve McQueen, Don Murray
BW-99 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

The denim shirt Steve McQueen wore in the movie was made by Wrangler (Model 27MW). This shirt is now a collector's item and highly sought after by denim enthusiasts.


10:15 AM -- The Honeymoon Machine (1961)
Two sailors discover a way to beat the roulette tables in a Venice casino.
Dir: Richard Thorpe
Cast: Steve McQueen, Brigid Bazlen, Jim Hutton
C-87 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

The type of computer program in this story did not exist in the late 1950s when this play was written, but did as of 1990 and is a form of artificial intelligence called a neural network. They were not developed until about thirty years later, so this story in a way foresaw their development. Although probably not able to predict numbers of a roulette wheel spin because each result is independent of previous ones, neural networks can, by simulating the human brain, solve widely ranging problems using real data that are interdependent.


11:45 AM -- The Magnificent Seven (1960)
Seven American gunmen hire themselves out to protect a Mexican village from bandits.
Dir: John Sturges
Cast: Yul Brynner, Eli Wallach, Steve McQueen
C-128 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture -- Elmer Bernstein

Although the film received only mixed reviews, John Sturges got a rave from the one source that really mattered to him. After seeing the picture, Akira Kurosawa was so impressed, he sent the American director a ceremonial sword as a gift.


2:00 PM -- 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 mins, CC,

The rather gratuitous fight scene in the film was added at the instigation of Steve McQueen who had it written into his contract that he feature in an action scene.


4:00 PM -- Bullitt (1968)
When mobsters kill the witness he was assigned to protect dedicated policeman investigates the case on his own.
Dir: Peter Yates
Cast: Steve McQueen, Robert Vaughn, Jacqueline Bisset
C-114 mins, CC,

Won an Oscar for Best Film Editing -- Frank P. Keller

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Sound

Bullitt's reverse burnout during the chase scene actually wasn't in the script - Steve McQueen had mistakenly missed the turn. The footage was still kept, though.


6:00 PM -- Le Mans (1971)
During a deadly endurance race driver faces the trauma of a past accident.
Dir: Lee H. Katzin
Cast: Steve McQueen, Siegfried Rauch, Elga Andersen
C-109 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Steve McQueen was a car-racing fanatic and owned a Porsche 908. Driving this car during the 12 Hours of Sebring's 1970 edition with professional driver Peter Revson, he finished a close second behind Mario Andretti, who was determined "not to be beaten by a movie star". Andretti was driving a Ferrari 512. McQueen also wanted to be in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but was denied permission by the film's producers. His Porsche eventually did participate, driven by Herbert Linge and Jonathan Williams, with three cameras to get "live" footage for the movie. Despite the spoiled aerodynamics and frequent stops to change film rolls, the car managed to finish ninth. According to a persistent rumor, McQueen may have driven it secretly after all.



TCM PRIMETIME - WHAT'S ON TONIGHT: TCM SPOTLIGHT: CONDEMNED



8:00 PM -- The Carey Treatment (1972)
A doctor uncovers a hotbed of corruption when he tries to clear a colleague of a murder charge.
Dir: Blake Edwards
Cast: James Coburn, Jennifer O'Neill, Pat Hingle
C-101 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Based on a novel entitled 'A Case of Need', published in 1968 and credited to Jeffrey Hudson. Decades later, Hudson was revealed to be a pseudonym for Michael Crichton.


9:51 PM -- The Redd Foxx Becomes A Movie Star (1976)
This promotional short film looks at Redd Foxx's first leading role in a motion picture, "Norman... Is That You?" (1976).
Dir: Elliot Geisinger
C-8 mins,


10:00 PM -- The Competition (1980)
Competitors in a classical piano competition fall in love.
Dir: Joel Oliansky
Cast: Richard Dreyfuss, Lee Remick, Amy Irving
C-126 mins, CC,

Nominated for Oscars for Best Film Editing -- David E. Blewitt, and Best Music, Original Song -- Lalo Schifrin (music) and Will Jennings (lyrics) for the song "People Alone"

Both of the film's co-stars, Amy Irving and Richard Dreyfuss, had strong reactions to the film's theme. To actor Richard Dreyfuss, the film's theme was competition which is what "makes us strive for perfection. Few people know more about the pressure of competition than actors. We've all gone through the lean years, when landing even a bit role meant beating out maybe fifty rivals. You never know what's going on in the other room during someone else's audition. So it forces you to be as damn near perfect as you can". Actress Amy Irving speaks of the film's theme in terms of sexual confrontation. Irving said: "Most woman are brought up to believe that a man's career comes first. Women are supposed to stay home, have their babies and enjoy success vicariously . . . second hand. It's extremely difficult for a man to deal with a woman who makes more money, or enjoys more of the intangible rewards, than he does. Human relationships are tough enough without that new element. All you can ask of a man . . . if he's in love . . .is to try".


12:15 AM -- Those Lips, Those Eyes (1980)
A small-town star helps a young apprentice land the girl of his dreams.
Dir: Michael Pressman
Cast: Frank Langella, Glynnis O'Connor, Tom Hulce
C-106 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Anachronisms: When Artie and his father are driving in the truck, discussing Artie's future, passing trees are reflected on the windshield. At the end of the conversation, a street light is reflected that did not exist in 1951 (the setting of the movie).


2:15 AM -- Lemora: A Child's Tale of the Supernatural (1973)
A vampire cult stalks a gangster's daughter.
Dir: Richard Blackburn
Cast: Lesley Taplin, Cheryl Smith, William Whitton
C-85 mins,

Alvin Lee's car seen at the beginning of the film is a French Citroen Traction Avant made from 1934 - 1957.


3:49 AM -- A Look At The World Of "Soylent Green" (1973)
This short film gives a behind-the-scenes look at the science fiction film "Soylent Green" (1973).
C-10


4:00 AM -- Ice Castles (1978)
A young girl is on top of the world until a tragic accident dashes her hopes and dreams of becoming a world-class figure skater.
Dir: Donald Wrye
Cast: Robby Benson, Colleen Dewhurst, Lynn-Holly Johnson
C-110 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Music, Original Song -- Marvin Hamlisch (music) and Carole Bayer Sager (lyrics) for the song "Theme from Ice Castles (Through the Eyes of Love)"

The production originally wanted to cast a name actress in the lead role of Lexie Winston and use a real-life ice-skater as a double for the complex skating scenes. However, it soon became apparent to them, in their opinion, that despite the best editing and camera-work, the differences between the actor and the double would be noticeable, particularly as the choreography would require a number of close-ups and medium shots.