TCM Schedule for Friday, June 9, 2017 -- What's on Tonight: TCM Special Theme - European Vacation

[Staph]

In the daylight hours, TCM is celebrating the comic stylings of wire-haired terrier Asta (born Skippy sometime in 1931). Then in prime time, TCM begins a month-long European Vacation. From the TCM website:


"It's Summertime and the living is easy-especially if you've hopped a plane for a destination where you can stroll by the Seine, sample "la dolce vita" on the Via Veneto or pay a visit to the Tower of London. If an overseas vacation isn't a possible reality, then join TCM for a vicarious tour of filmic sites that celebrate the charms of Europe.

"A Little Romance (1979), an engaging tale of young love between an American girl (Diane Lane) and a French boy (Thelonious Bernard), unwinds in two of the most fabled European cities, Paris and Venice. Roman Holiday (1953), the sparkling romantic comedy that introduced the world to Audrey Hepburn, takes place, of course, in Italy's "Eternal City." Royal Wedding (1951), a lively musical starring Fred Astaire, is set in London during one of that city's most festive occasions-the marriage of Queen Elizabeth to Prince Philip in 1947.

"Other films unfolding partly or wholly in France include the comedy Monsieur Hulot's Holiday (1953), staring Jacques Tati; Two for the Road (1967), a rocky romance with Audrey Hepburn and Albert Finney; and a number of adventures set in Paris including the Jane Powell musical Rich, Young and Pretty (1951) and the Alec Guinness comedy To Paris with Love (1955). Rome is the setting for the Troy Donahue-Suzanne Pleshette romance Rome Adventure (1962), the Rock Hudson-Gina Lollobrigida comedy Come September (1961), and the Cindy Carol frolic Gidget Goes to Rome (1963)."


Enjoy!



7:45 AM -- SUMMER STOCK (1950)
A farmer gets sucked into show business when a theatrical troupe invades her farm.
Dir: Charles Walters
Cast: Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Eddie Bracken
C-109 mins, CC,

Judy Garland is said to have been at the height of her drug addiction throughout filming, resulting in her weight changes, mood-swings, and unexplained illnesses. It was due to this behavior that MGM fired her after filming completed.


9:45 AM -- THE ENCHANTED COTTAGE (1945)
A scarred veteran and a homely woman are transformed by love.
Dir: John Cromwell
Cast: Dorothy McGuire, Robert Young, Herbert Marshall
BW-92 mins, CC,

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture -- Roy Webb

In 1973 it was announced that a remake would be made. According to Young the setting would be updated and Dorothy McGuire and he would be playing the parts of the housekeeper and blind pianist originally played by Mildred Natwick and Herbert Marshall. The idea fell through after McGuire watched a screening of the original at Young's invitation at the actor's home. She said that the film belonged to another period and that she did not want to go backward.


11:30 AM -- MGM PARADE SHOW #30 (1955)
Walter Pidgeon discusses Greta Garbo's early career; Irene Papas introduces behind-the-scenes footage from "Tribute to a Badman."
BW-25 mins,


12:00 PM -- THE KENNEL MURDER CASE (1933)
Society sleuth Philo Vance investigates a murder tied to a Long Island dog show.
Dir: Michael Curtiz
Cast: William Powell, Mary Astor, Eugene Pallette
BW-73 mins, CC,

Dr Doremus' repeated line "I'm a Doctor not a..." was later used as the catchphrase of DeForest Kelley's character Dr Leonard "Bones" McCoy on the sci-series Star Trek (1966).


1:30 PM -- FOG OVER FRISCO (1934)
A San Francisco heiress discovers her sister is hanging out with gangsters.
Dir: William Dieterle
Cast: Bette Davis, Donald Woods, Margaret Lindsay
BW-68 mins, CC,

Bette Davis remarked that she looked back at this film with fondness, making it one of the few from the early part of her career that she would look at that way.


3:00 PM -- THE THIN MAN (1934)
A husband-and-wife detective team takes on the search for a missing inventor and almost get killed for their efforts.
Dir: W. S. Van Dyke
Cast: William Powell, Myrna Loy, Maureen O'Sullivan
BW-91 mins, CC,

Nominated for Oscars for Best Actor in a Leading Role -- William Powell, Best Director -- W.S. Van Dyke, Best Writing, Adaptation -- Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, and Best Picture

According to Myrna Loy, the actors were not allowed to interact between takes with the highly trained Skippy, who performed his feats on the promise of a squeaky mouse and a biscuit.


4:45 PM -- BRINGING UP BABY (1938)
A madcap heiress upsets the staid existence of a straitlaced scientist.
Dir: Howard Hawks
Cast: Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Charlie Ruggles
BW-102 mins, CC,

Howard Hawks modeled Cary Grant's character, David, on silent film comedian Harold Lloyd, even having Grant wear glasses like the comedian. Christopher Reeve based his performance as Clark Kent in Superman (1978) and its three sequels on Cary Grant's character David Huxley from this film.


6:30 PM -- TOPPER TAKES A TRIP (1939)
A glamorous ghost helps a henpecked husband save his wife from gold-digging friends.
Dir: Norman Z. McLeod
Cast: Constance Bennett, Roland Young, Billie Burke
BW-80 mins, CC,

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Effects, Special Effects -- Roy Seawright (photographic)

This is the second of three films that Hal Roach adapted from Thorne Smith novels, Topper, Topper Takes a Trip, and Topper Returns.



TCM PRIMETIME - WHAT'S ON TONIGHT: TCM SPECIAL THEME: EUROPEAN VACATION



8:00 PM -- 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 mins, CC,

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

Retitled "Wedding Bells" in England so as not to make it seem as a documentary of the recent Royal Wedding of Princess Elizabeth, later to become Queen Elizabeth II.


9:45 PM -- LOOKING AT LONDON (1946)
A colorful travelogue of London's most historic buildings and the residual damage still left from WWII.
Cast: James A. FitzPatrick
C-10 mins,


9:45 PM -- SEEING SPAIN (1953)
This short film highlights the local culture, history, and architecture of various cities in Spain.
Cast: James A. FitzPatrick
C-8 mins,


9:45 PM -- PARIS ON PARADE (1938)
This short film takes the viewer to the Paris International Exposition of 1937.
Dir: James A. FitzPatrick
Cast: James A. FitzPatrick
C-9 mins,


10:30 PM -- THE PLEASURE SEEKERS (1964)
Three young women share a room in Madrid between romantic escapades.
Dir: Jean Negulesco
Cast: Ann-Margret, Tony Franciosa, Carol Lynley
C-107 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Music, Scoring of Music, Adaptation or Treatment -- Lionel Newman and Alexander Courage

A musical remake of the 1954 film, "Three Coins in the Fountain". Filmed in Madrid, Toledo, and Marbella, Spain.


12:30 AM -- RICH, YOUNG AND PRETTY (1951)
A rancher's daughter visits Paris to meet her mother and find love.
Dir: Norman Taurog
Cast: Jane Powell, Danielle Darrieux, Wendell Corey
C-95 mins, CC,

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Music, Original Song -- Nicholas Brodszky (music) and Sammy Cahn (lyrics) for the song "Wonder Why"

Film debuts of Vic Damone and Fernando Lamas.


2:15 AM -- TO PARIS WITH LOVE (1955)
A father and son go to Paris to help each other find love.
Dir: Robert Hamer
Cast: Alec Guinness, Odile Versois, Vernon Gray
C-78 mins, CC,

The title of this film is said to have been the inspiration for James Bond creator Ian Fleming for the title of the 1957 novel "From Russia With Love".


3:45 AM -- MONSIEUR HULOT'S HOLIDAY (1953)
Vacationers in a French resort town almost kill themselves trying to relax.
Dir: Jacques Tati
Cast: Jacques Tati, Nathalie Pascaud, Micheline Rolla
BW-89 mins,

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Writing, Story and Screenplay -- Jacques Tati and Henri Marquet

Monsieur Hulot, the main protagonist of this film, was cited by Rowan Atkinson as one of his influence for Mr. Bean. Atkinson later on played his character on the film Mr. Bean's Holliday (2007), a film which was also set in France and shares a similar theme with this film. Primarily filmed in Saint-Marc-sur-Mer, France.


5:30 AM -- COURS DU SOIR (1967)
An acting teacher confronts a class of talent-challenged students.
Dir: Nicolas Ribowski
Cast: Jacques Tati, Marc Monjou, Alain Fayner
C-29 mins,

[Galileo126]

1. Nothing says "screwball" better than "Bringing Up Baby"

One of my faves. Hepburn going gangster is just to funny!

[Staph]

3. Hard to believe

that the movie did badly in its initial run. Bringing Up Baby is one of my all time favorites!

[longship]

2. I recommend "Monsieur Hulot's Holiday"

With almost no dialog, and end-to-end sight gags, while on holiday on the seashore everything around Hulot turns to chaos often with charming results.

This is a very pleasant gem. You'll smile!

Trailer: