TCM Schedule for Saturday, April 13, 2019 -- What's On Tonight: Best of the Essentials

[Staph]

In the daylight hours, TCM has the usual Saturday matinee lineup of films and shorts. In primetime throughout April . . .

TCM looks back at some of our guests and films from The Essentials, the series with our hosts and special guests introducing and discussing movies considered to be must-see viewing for cinema enthusiasts. The series, which began in 2001, has covered some of the finest movies ever made. Each Saturday in April, we'll show a double feature of The Essentials, with presenters as shown below.

. . .

Singin' in the Rain (1952), with direction and choreography by Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly, is considered by many the best movie musical of all time. In this satirical depiction of Hollywood during the 1920s transition from silents to "talkies," Kelly stars opposite Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds. Comedian and writer Tina Fey presents with host Alec Baldwin.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) stars James Stewart in a definitive, Oscar-nominated performance as a young U.S. senator fighting government corruption. The movie racked up a total of 11 nominations, including one for director Frank Capra and won for Lewis R. Foster's original story. Film critic Molly Haskell presents with host Robert Osborne.

by Roger Fristoe

Enjoy!


6:00 AM -- "SOME OF THE BEST" TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF MOTION PICTURE LEADERSHIP (1949)
This promotional short features highlights of MGM's productions from 1924 through 1948 in honor of the studio's 25th anniversary.
C-42 mins, CC,


6:45 AM -- CROWN VS. STEVENS (1936)
An ex-dancer marries a rich man hoping to pay off a loan shark.
Dir: Michael Powell
Cast: Beatrix Thomson, Patric Knowles, Googie Withers
BW-66 mins,

This film had its U. S. television premiere on Turner Classic Movies on 17 September 2007 during TCM's festival of films made by Warner Brothers at Teddington Studios in the UK.


8:00 AM -- MGM CARTOONS: THE HICK CHICK (1946)
In this triangle drama a country chicken chooses between a country rooster and a city rooster.
Dir: Tex Avery
Cast: Sara Berner, Daws Butler, Stan Freberg
BW-7 mins, CC,

Spoofs Algiers (1938) with Charles Boyer and Hedy Lamarr.


8:09 AM -- MY TOMATO (1943)
In this comedic short, Robert Benchley attempts to grow his own tomatoes.
Dir: Will Jason
Cast: May McAvoy, Monte F. Collins, John Dilson
BW-7 mins,

Joseph pays 20 cents for 6 tomato plants (in 2-inch pots).


8:17 AM -- GYM COLLEGE (1955)
In this short film, members of the Florida State University gymnastics team demonstrate their athletic skills.
Dir: Howard Winner
Cast: Peter Roberts, Dick Gutting, Dick Ireland
BW-8 mins,

Also known as Sportscopes (1955-1956 season) #2: Gym College.


8:26 AM -- THE CHEYENNE KID (1933)
An honest cowboy is mistaken for a bandit.
Dir: Robert Hill
Cast: Tom Keene, Mary Mason, Rosco Ates
BW-55 mins,

Remake of Man in the Rough (1928), and remade as The Fargo Kid (1940)


9:30 AM -- FLASH GORDON CONQUERS THE UNIVERSE: THE FIERY ABYSS (1940)
BW-18 mins, CC,
Episode eight of the Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe serial.
Dir: Ford Beebe, Ray Taylor
Cast: Buster Crabbe, Carol Hughes, Charles Middleton

This serial was based on Alex Raymond's Flash Gordon comic strip continuity involving Prince Barin and his kingdom of Arboria. Much of the serial's action also takes place in the comic strip kingdom of Frigia. The movie serial characters of Queen Fria, Count Korro, Gen. Lupi and Capt. Sudin all originated in the strip.


10:00 AM -- POPEYE: HOSPITALIKY (1937)
To get at nurse Olive, Popeye and Bluto fake various illnesses.
Dir: Dave Fleischer, Seymour Kneitel (uncredited)
Cast: Jack Mercer, Mae Questel, Gus Wickie
BW-6 mins, CC,

Remade as For Better Or Nurse (1945).


10:08 AM -- THE ADVENTUROUS BLONDE (1937)
Reporter Torchy Blane walks out on her own wedding to solve the case of a murdered actor.
Dir: Frank MacDonald
Cast: Glenda Farrell, Barton MacLane, Anne Nagel
BW-61 mins,

The third of nine "Torchy Blane" films released by Warner Brothers from 1937 to 1939. Glenda Farrell played Torchy in seven of the nine pictures.


11:11 AM -- THE KNIGHT IS YOUNG (1938)
A woman, afraid to leave her apartment for not paying her rent, is rescued in this musical short film. Vitaphone Release B141-142.
Dir: Roy Mack
Cast: June Allyson, Hal LeRoy, Billy Reed
BW-20 mins,

Also known as Broadway Brevities (1938-1939) #13: The Knight Is Young.


11:30 AM -- GYPSY NIGHT (1935)
In this short film, gypsies sing and dance around the fire while their children dream.
Dir: Josef Berne
Cast: Mary Jo Matthews, Perry Askam, Ilia Khmara
C-18 mins,


12:00 PM -- RIDE, VAQUERO! (1953)
Ranchers in New Mexico have to face Indians and bandits.
Dir: John Farrow
Cast: Robert Taylor, Ava Gardner, Howard Keel
C-90 mins, CC,

According to Mia Farrow's book, "What Falls Away", her father John Farrow and Ava Gardner were having an affair during filming in 1953. Mia married Ava Gardner's ex-husband Frank Sinatra in 1966.


1:39 PM -- SHOW KIDS (1934)
In this short film, a troubled theater owner hands over his business to his son who has an idea for a show that will surely fill the seats. Vitaphone Release 1706-1707.
Dir: Ralph Staub
Cast: Arthur Aylesworth, Tad Alexander, George Ernest
C-20 mins,

This film preceded 6 Day Bike Rider (1934) in some theaters during its original theatrical release.


2:00 PM -- SHOW BOAT (1951)
Riverboat entertainers find love, laughs and hardships as they sail along "Old Man River."
Dir: George Sidney
Cast: Kathryn Grayson, Ava Gardner, Howard Keel
C-108 mins, CC,

Nominee for Oscars for Best Cinematography, Color -- Charles Rosher, and Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture -- Adolph Deutsch and Conrad Salinger

Director George Sidney was forced to leave for a few days because of illness, so uncredited associate producer Roger Edens directed the beautifully shot, fog-enshrouded "departure" sequence, including the performance by William Warfield of "Ol' Man River." It is the one scene in the film that has been praised even by critics who detest this version of "Show Boat."


4:00 PM -- KISS ME KATE (1953)
Feuding co-stars reunite for a musical version of Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew."
Dir: George Sidney
Cast: Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel, Ann Miller
C-110 mins, CC,

Nominee for an Oscar for Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture -- André Previn and Saul Chaplin

In supplemental information on the DVD mention is made that Keenan Wynn and James Whitmore neglected to rehearse their "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" number more than once or twice because they thought it was silly. When it came time to shoot it they made numerous fumbles and mistakes which the director thought was on purpose. He later complimented them on making it look like something a couple of thugs would perform. They never told him the truth.


6:00 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 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

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

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

For the famous barn raising dance sequence, the cast rehearsed for three weeks in order to get the intricate choreography down. It was during one of these rehearsals that Russ Tamblyn wandered over to the set along with Jeff Richards to see how the scene was coming along. "Michael Kidd called me over and said, 'Rusty, somebody told me that you're a good tumbler, that you can do some flips'," said Tamblyn in a 2004 interview. "So I did a back flip for him. 'Fantastic!' he said. 'We'll put it in a number.' I told him I really wasn't a dancer, except for some tap dancing. But he said, 'Listen, this is just like square dancing. All you have to do is lift your legs high. You can do a lot of acrobatic stuff. It's perfect.' That's how I became a dancer in Seven Brides."


7:48 PM -- IT LOOKS LIKE RAIN (1945)
This short film takes a look at the tools and methods used to forecast the weather.
Dir: Paul Burnford
Narrator: John Nesbitt
BW-10 mins,

Number 51 in the Passing Parade series.



TCM PRIMETIME - WHAT'S ON TONIGHT: BEST OF THE ESSENTIALS



8:00 PM -- SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952)
A silent-screen swashbuckler finds love while trying to adjust to the coming of sound.
Dir: Gene Kelly
Cast: Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds
C-103 mins, CC,

Nominee for Oscars for Best Actress in a Supporting Role -- Jean Hagen, and Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture -- Lennie Hayton

Debbie Reynolds remarked many years later that making this movie and surviving childbirth were the two hardest things she's ever had to do.


10:00 PM -- MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939)
An idealistic Senate replacement takes on political corruption.
Dir: Frank Capra
Cast: Jean Arthur, James Stewart, Claude Rains
BW-130 mins, CC,

Winner of an Oscar for Best Writing, Original Story -- Lewis R. Foster

Nominee for Oscars for Best Actor in a Leading Role -- James Stewart, Best Actor in a Supporting Role -- Harry Carey, Best Actor in a Supporting Role -- Claude Rains, Best Director -- Frank Capra, Best Writing, Screenplay -- Sidney Buchman, Best Art Direction -- Lionel Banks, Best Sound, Recording -- John P. Livadary (Columbia SSD), Best Film Editing -- Gene Havlick and Al Clark, Best Music, Scoring -- Dimitri Tiomkin, and Best Picture

In his autobiography, Frank Capra states that after the film's general release, he and Harry Cohn received a cablegram from U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain Joseph P. Kennedy saying that he felt the film would damage "America's prestige in Europe" and should therefore be withdrawn from European distribution. In response, they mailed favorable reviews of the film to Kennedy, which persuaded him not pursue the matter any further, even though he still maintained his doubts.


12:30 AM -- NOBODY LIVES FOREVER (1946)
A con artist falls for the rich widow he's trying to fleece.
Dir: Jean Negulesco
Cast: John Garfield, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Walter Brennan
BW-100 mins, CC,

When Nick leaves the hospital at the beginning of the film, the patch on his uniform's left shoulder indicates he was a member of the U.S. Army's First Infantry Division, nicknamed "The Big Red One". Later in the film Nick mentions seeing destroyed churches in Italy. The 1st Inf. Division saw action in Sicily, as well as North Africa, the D-Day invasion at Omaha Beach, the Battle of the Bulge and through the heart of Germany, ending up in Czechoslovakia by the end of the war.


2:30 AM -- SOLDIERS THREE (1951)
Three British officers look for adventure in 19th-century India.
Dir: Tay Garnett
Cast: Stewart Granger, Walter Pidgeon, David Niven
BW-92 mins, CC,

Robert Newton plays Private Bill Sykes. He memorably played the Charles Dickens villain Bill Sykes in the David Lean adaptation of Oliver Twist (1948). The characters Sykes, Malloy, and Ackroyd are loosely adapted from characters named Learoyd, Mulvaney and Ortheris in the Rudyard Kipling stories.


4:07 AM -- THE LITTLEST DIPLOMAT (1937)
In this short film, a young girl helps negotiate a diplomatic truce in India. Vitaphone Release 7948-7949.
Dir: Bobby Connolly
Cast: Sidney Bracy, Sybil Jason, Carlyle Moore Jr.
C-19 mins,

Actors Patric Knowles and Jean Muir appear in photograph form as Sybil's parents. They do not, however, appear on screen in person.


4:30 AM -- ELEPHANT BOY (1937)
A boy promises to lead trackers to an elusive heard of wild elephants.
Dir: Robert Flaherty
Cast: Sabu, W. E. Holloway, Walter Hudd
BW-82 mins, CC,

Sabu Dastagir (or Selar Shaik Sabu, depending on your resource) was born on January 27, 1924, in the little town of Mysore, India, which is nestled in the jungles of Karapur. The son of an elephant driver (mahout) in service for the Maharajah of his town, the young stable boy learned responsibility early in life when, at age 9, his father died and Sabu immediately became the ward of the royal elephant stables. As with many Hollywood success stories, good timing, and dumb luck allowed the impoverished youth a chance for a better life. By sheer chance the timid 12-year-old orphan was discovered by a British location crew while searching for a youth to play the title role (an elephant driver!) in their upcoming feature Elephant Boy (1937). Quite taken aback by his earnest looks, engaging naturalness and adaptability to wild animals and their natural habitat, the studio handed the boy a film career on a sterling silver platter and was placed under exclusive contract by the mogul Alexander Korda himself.