TCM Schedule for Thursday, March 29, 2018 -- What's On Tonight: Treasures From The Disney Vault

[Staph]

In the daylight hours, there are a bunch of films about baseball -- I have no idea why!

Then in prime time, TCM is once again dipping into the Disney vault. From the TCM website:

TCM proudly presents another installment in our ongoing Treasures from the Disney Vault series, a showcase of classics from the Walt Disney Library. Once again, the celebrated film critic, historian and Disney expert Leonard Maltin serves as host. This month, we present a night of rare and magical classics that are all TCM premieres.

The Golden Touch (1935) is a "Silly Symphony" cartoon based on the Greek myth of King Midas and directed by Disney himself. When the greedy king wishes that everything he touches will turn to gold, an elf named Goldie grants his desires while warning that the "golden touch" could prove a "golden curse." The story was adapted by Albert Hurter, and voices are provided by Billy Bletcher.

Mickey's Trailer (1938) is a Mickey Mouse cartoon also featuring Donald Duck, Goofy and Pete, with the gang taking a disastrous road trip in a trailer. Ben Sharpsteen directed, and the voice talent includes Walt Disney as Mickey.

Mr. Duck Steps Out (1940) is the Donald Duck cartoon that introduced Donald's love interest, Daisy Duck. The plot has Donald introducing his new sweetheart to his nephews, Huey, Dewey and Louie, only to find that they, too, want to be objects of Daisy's affections. Jack King directed, with voices by Clarence Nash.

The Sword and the Rose (1953) is a feature based on Charles Major's 1898 novel When Knighthood Was in Flower, which tells the story of Mary Tudor, a younger sister of England's Henry VIII. In this British-American production, co-produced by Walt Disney and Perce Pearce, Glynis Johns stars as Mary, with James Robertson Justice as Henry VIII. Richard Todd plays Mary's true love, Charles Brandon, and Jean Mercure is the French king she is forced to marry. Ken Annakin directed.

Rob Roy: The Highland Rogue (1953) is another costume film, released in the same year as The Sword and the Rose and again filmed in Great Britain, produced by Disney and Pearce, and prominently featuring Richard Todd, Glynis Johns and James Robertson Justice. Todd stars as Rob Roy, the 18th-century Scottish warrior later played by Liam Neeson in a 1995 movie. Harold French directed.

In Search of the Castaways (1962), one of a series of six Disney movies starring Hayley Mills, casts the young star as a girl trying to arrange the rescue of her shipwrecked father (Jack Gwillim). The screenplay was adapted from the 1868 Jules Verne novel Captain Grant's Children, and the film was directed by Robert Stevenson, who also guided Mills through That Darn Cat! (1965). Co-starring in Castaways are Maurice Chevalier as a kindly professor who helps in the rescue mission, and George Sanders as the villain responsible for the father's disappearance.

The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band (1968) is a musical movie based on a memoir by Laura Bower Van Nuys, whose family hopes its brass band can perform during Grover Cleveland's 1888 presidential campaign. Lesley Ann Warren is the young heroine, and family members include Walter Brennan, Buddy Ebsen, Janet Blair and Kurt Russell. John Davidson provides Warren's love interest, and you can catch Goldie Hawn in her film debut. Songs are by the talented Sherman Brothers, Richard and Robert.

The Journey of Natty Gann (1985) introduced Meredith Salenger in her first leading role as Natty, a Depression-era teen who takes a grueling trip across the U.S. in search of her father (Ray Wise). John Cusack and Lainie Kazan costar in the film, directed by Jeremy Kagan from a screenplay by Jeanne Rosenberg. Albert Wolsky's costumes received an Oscar® nomination, and Salenger won the Young Artists Award for Best Starring Performance by a Young Actress - Motion Picture.

by Roger Fristoe

Enjoy!



8:15 AM -- BIG LEAGUER (1953)
An aging ballplayer is relegated to managing a training camp.
Dir: Robert Aldrich
Cast: Edward G. Robinson, Vera-Ellen, Jeff Richards
BW-71 mins, CC,

Of Vera-Ellen's 14 films released between 1945 and 1957, this was her only movie not to showcase her dancing and also not to receive a contemporary New York Times review. Moreover, this picture was her second and last to be shot in black and white. Her previous monochromatic appearance was in The Marx Brothers frolic Love Happy (1949), a semi-musical.


9:30 AM -- TOO MANY WOMEN (1932)
In this comedic short, some baseball teammates try to cheer up their pitcher after his girlfriend runs off and marries another man.
Dir: Lloyd French
Cast: Mickey Daniels, Mary Kornman, Grady Sutton
BW-19 mins,

Archive footage of Mickey Daniels and Mary Kornman from two silent Our Gang comedies is incorporated into the story, as Mary shows Mickey an old photo album.


10:00 AM -- THE WINNING TEAM (1952)
Baseball great Grover Cleveland Alexander fights his way back from a blinding injury.
Dir: Lewis Seiler
Cast: Doris Day, Ronald Reagan, Frank Lovejoy
BW-98 mins, CC,

According to TMC, Ronald Reagan had lobbied hard to play the title role in The Stratton Story (1949) but Warner Bothers didn't want to take a chance on a baseball film and passed on the project. After "The Stratton Story" became a huge hit the studio picked up the Grover Cleveland Alexander story about another player who made a comeback after being forced from professional baseball.


11:45 AM -- HOME RUN ON THE KEYS (1936)
In this short film, Babe Ruth proposes to put a song about baseball on the radio. Vitaphone Release 2073.
Dir: Roy Mack
Cast: Byron Gay, Babe Ruth,
BW-9 mins,


12:00 PM -- THE BABE RUTH STORY (1948)
A childlike oaf becomes the greatest star in baseball.
Dir: Roy Del Ruth
Cast: William Bendix, Claire Trevor, Charles Bickford
BW-106 mins, CC,

The film was rushed for release while Babe Ruth himself was still alive, which is why the movie ended the way it did. George Herman Ruth attended the movie's premiere on Monday, July 26th, 1948. He died 21 days later on Monday, August 16th, 1948, 3 weeks before the theatrical release date on Monday, September 6th, 1948.


1:47 PM -- HOME RUN ON THE KEYS (1936)
In this short film, Babe Ruth proposes to put a song about baseball on the radio. Vitaphone Release 2073.
Dir: Roy Mack
Cast: Byron Gay, Babe Ruth,
BW-9 mins,


2:00 PM -- DIAMOND DEMON (1947)
The unusual talents of Johnny Price, a minor league baseball pitcher and trick artist, are showcased in this short film.
Dir: Dave O'Brien
Cast: Pete Smith, Johnny Price
BW-9 mins,


2:15 PM -- THE GREAT AMERICAN PASTIME (1957)
A mild-mannered lawyer gets more than he bargained for when he takes over a little league team.
Dir: Herman Hoffman
Cast: Tom Ewell, Anne Francis, Ann Miller
BW-89 mins, CC,

Written by Nathaniel Benchley, son of Algonquin Round Table figure Robert Benchley and the father of Peter Benchley of "Jaws."


3:46 PM -- BELIEVE IT OR NOT #3 (1931)
In this short film, Robert L. Ripley shares with reporters the various sights and oddities he has seen through his world travels, such as a baseball team made up of nine brothers. Vitaphone Release 1304.
Cast: James Dunn,
BW-7 mins,


4:00 PM -- TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME (1949)
A beautiful woman takes over a turn-of-the-century baseball team.
Dir: Busby Berkeley
Cast: Frank Sinatra, Esther Williams, Gene Kelly
C-93 mins, CC,

The idea for the movie was conceived by Gene Kelly, who wanted to pay tribute to the early days of baseball. The movie takes place between 1909 and 1911, as evidenced by Ryan's picture on a new T206 baseball card.


5:45 PM -- OPENING DAY (1938)
A man attends the opening of a new baseball stadium to throw out the first pitch, but the crowd must first endure his monologue in this comedic short.
Dir: Roy Rowland
Cast: Robert Benchley, Philo McCullough, John Butler
BW-9 mins,

Filmed at Wrigley Field, Los Angeles!


6:00 PM -- THE STRATTON STORY (1949)
True story of Monty Stratton, the baseball star who fought to continue his career after losing a leg.
Dir: Sam Wood
Cast: James Stewart, June Allyson, Frank Morgan
BW-107 mins, CC,

Winner of an Oscar for Best Writing, Motion Picture Story -- Douglas Morrow

After the events of the movie, the real Monty Stratton went on to be a coach for the Chicago White Sox for a couple of years before going back to his home town of Greenville, TX to start his own farm team. In 1946 he shocked the world when he took the mound once again, this time in the minor leagues, and he posted an 18-8 record for that season.


7:48 PM -- DONKEY BASEBALL (1935)
This short film pays tribute to America's favorite pastime, which requires speed, knowledge, and occasionally donkeys.
Dir: John Waters
Cast: Cotton Warburton, Robert Milash, Jack Lipson
BW-8 mins,



TCM PRIMETIME - WHAT'S ON TONIGHT: TREASURES FROM THE DISNEY VAULT



8:00 PM -- THE GOLDEN TOUCH (1935)
King Midas discovers the ability to turn objects into gold is more of a curse than a blessing.
Dir: Walt Disney
Cast: Billy Bletcher
C-10 mins, CC,

Walt Disney's last film as director.


8:00 PM -- THE SWORD AND THE ROSE (1953)
During Henry VIII's rule, Mary Tudor seeks to get out of an arranged marriage by fleeing the country with her one true love.
Dir: Ken Annakin
Cast: Glynis Johns, Richard Todd, James Robertson Justice
C-88 mins, CC,

Walt Disney green lit this film as he thought it would be nominated for Best Picture Academy Award at the 1954 Oscars. He was sadly mistaken!


10:00 PM -- IN SEARCH OF THE CASTAWAYS (1962)
Two siblings embark on a dangerous journey to find their shipwrecked father.
Dir: Robert Stevenson
Cast: Maurice Chevalier, Hayley Mills, George Sanders
C-99 mins, CC,

The film was made and released about ninety-four years after its source Jules Verne novel "Les Enfants du Capitaine Grant" (Captain Grant's Children) had been first published in 1868.


10:00 PM -- MICKEY'S TRAILER (1938)
Mickey and his friends travel in his house trailer when a steep mountain road nearly ruins their vacation.
Dir: Ben Sharpsteen
Cast: Pinto Colvig, Walt Disney, Clarence Nash
C-8 mins, CC,


12:00 AM -- MR. DUCK STEPS OUT (1940)
Donald Duck tries to head out for a night on the town with Daisy but his disobedient nephews keep him from doing so.
Dir: Jack King
Cast: Clarence Nash
C-8 mins, CC,

Daisy Duck gets her name in this cartoon. She had previously appeared in Don Donald (1937) under the name Donna. As in that cartoon, she speaks in the same quacking voice as Donald.


12:00 AM -- THE ONE AND ONLY, GENUINE, ORIGINAL FAMILY BAND (1968)
A Democrat and his family band provide entertainment during the 1880 presidential election.
Dir: Michael O'Herlihy
Cast: Walter Brennan, Buddy Ebsen, Lesley Ann Warren
C-110 mins, CC,

According to a 1968 interview with Robert B. Sherman, the film was originally intended to be 156 minutes, but the studio cut the film to 110 minutes after Radio City Music Hall requested it. The cuts consisted of two songs and a good deal of character motivation. The same fate befell two of the Sherman Brothers' other Disney live-action musicals, The Happiest Millionaire (1967) and Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971). Sherman said he felt the studio "acted like horses' asses" over the running time.


2:04 AM -- OLD SHEP (1934)
In this short film, a man prepares to shoot his ailing dog and sadly recounts their time together.
Dir: Harold S. Bucquet
Cast: Charles Sale,
BW-9 mins,

What is it with the Disney Studios and dying dogs?


2:15 AM -- THE JOURNEY OF NATTY GANN (1985)
During the Great Depression, a young girl meets a young man and a wolf on her journey west to find her father.
Dir: Jeremy Kagan
Cast: Meredith Salenger, John Cusack, Ray Wise
BW-101 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Nominee for an Oscar for Best Costume Design -- Albert Wolsky

Final cinema movie appearance of actor Scatman Crothers.


4:04 AM -- A WEE BIT OF SCOTLAND (1949)
This short film focuses on the history, culture, and people of Scotland.
C-10 mins,


4:15 AM -- ROB ROY, THE HIGHLAND ROGUE (1954)
Scottish highland leader, Rob Roy MacGreggor, leads a revolt against the English monarchy.
Dir: Harold French
Cast: Richard Todd, Glynis Johns, James Robertson Justice
C-82 mins, CC,

Rob Roy was shot on location in Scotland. Richard Todd related in his autobiography that the extras were soldiers of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders who had just returned from the Korean War. Todd said as well as providing thrilling battle scenes for the viewers, the soldiers used the opportunity to enthusiastically get back at their non-commissioned officers.


5:48 AM -- SWING BANDITRY (1936)
In this comedic short, a group of musicians takes desperate measures to appear on a radio program.
Dir: Reginald LeBorg
Cast: Virginia Dale, Franklin Pangborn, Maurice Cass
BW-11 mins,

[Wwcd]

1. Very cool! Thank you Staph ☺

Will have to check this out