TCM schedule Saturday 12-16-23 -- Hitchcock, Cary Grant, Judy Garland, Sean Connery, Robert Mitchum, Margaret O'Brien.

[ificandream]

TCM schedule Saturday 12-16-23 -- Hitchcock, Cary Grant, Judy Garland, Sean Connery, Robert Mitchum, Margaret O'Brien.



12-16-23 At a Glance
STAR OF THE MONTH: CARY GRANT
- SCREWBALL CARY
Topper (1937)
- CARY AFTER DARK
Suspicion (1941)
North by Northwest (1959)
TCM DAYTIME
WEEKEND FEATURES
Honolulu (1939) (6:30 am ET)
MGM Cartoons: Alias St. Nick (1935)
Joy Scouts (1939) (short)
Rocky Mountain Grandeur (1937) (short)
Easy to Love (1934)
Buck Rogers Ch. 7: Primitive Urge (1939)
Popeye: The Hyp-Nut-Tist (1935)
Clipped Wings (1953)
- CHRISTMAS
Star in the Night (1945) (short)
Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) (Musical Matinee)
Little Women (1949)
Shop Around the Corner, The (1940)
Holiday Affair (1949)
- TCM PRIMETIME
SEAN CONNERY
Great Train Robbery, The (1979)
Robin and Marian (1976)
- NOIR ALLEY
Beware, My Lovely (1952)
- TCM LATE NIGHT
Mame (1974)
Travels With My Aunt (1972)

12:00 AM Topper (1937)

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A fun-loving couple returns from the dead to help a henpecked husband.
Dir: Norman Z. McLeod Cast: Constance Bennett, Cary Grant, Roland Young
Runtime: 97 mins Genre: Comedy Rating: TV-G CC: Y

Oscar nominations:
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE -- Roland Young {"Cosmo Topper"}
SOUND RECORDING -- Hal Roach Studio Sound Department, Elmer A. Raguse, Sound Director

Trivia: The easiest part of the shoot for Cary Grant and Constance Bennett was the many special effects scenes, which only required them to record their lines while special effects artists made the various items they moved, from fountain pens to a pair of frilly lace panties, appear to move on their own.

Trivia: Arthur Lake, the elevator boy/bellhop, went on to star as Dagwood Bumstead in the "Blondie" movies and TV series.


2:00 AM Suspicion (1941)

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A young woman marries a charming man after a brief romance but then comes to believe that he is only after her money and will do anything to get it.
Dir: Alfred Hitchcock Cast: Cary Grant, Joan Fontaine, Sir Cedric Hardwicke
Runtime: 99 mins Genre: Suspense/Mystery Rating: TV-PG CC: Y

Oscar nominations: ACTRESS -- Joan Fontaine {"Lina McLaidlaw"} (WINNER)
MUSIC (Music Score of a Dramatic Picture) -- Franz Waxman
OUTSTANDING MOTION PICTURE -- RKO Radio

Trivia: In interviews, Sir Alfred Hitchcock said that an RKO executive ordered that all scenes in which Cary Grant appeared menacing be excised from the movie. When the cutting was completed, the movie ran only fifty-five minutes. The scenes were later restored, Hitchcock said, because he shot each piece of film so that there was only one way to edit them together properly. This is a technique called 'in-camera editing', a trick Hitchcock had already employed a year before during filming of Rebecca (1940), to prevent producer David O. Selznick from interfering with the final cut of the movie.


4:00 AM North by Northwest (1959)

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A suave, successful New York advertising executive finds himself, through a case of mistaken identity, embroiled in a web of intrigue and murder that takes him across the country to prove his innocence to the police.
Dir: Alfred Hitchcock Cast: Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason
Runtime: 136 mins Genre: Suspense/Mystery Rating: TV-PG CC: Y

Oscar nominations:
ART DIRECTION (Color) -- Art Direction: William A. Horning, Robert Boyle, Merrill Pye; Set Decoration: Henry Grace, Frank McKelvy
FILM EDITING -- George Tomasini
WRITING (Story and Screenplay--written directly for the screen) -- Ernest Lehman

Trivia: While filming Vertigo (1958), Sir Alfred Hitchcock described some of the plot of this project to frequent Hitchcock leading man and "Vertigo" star James Stewart, who naturally assumed that Hitchcock meant to cast him in the Roger Thornhill role, and was eager to play it. Actually, Hitchcock wanted Cary Grant to play the role. By the time Hitchcock realized the misunderstanding, Stewart was so anxious to play Thornhill that rejecting him would have caused a great deal of disappointment. So Hitchcock delayed production on this movie until Stewart was already safely committed to filming Otto Preminger's "Anatomy of a Murder (1959)" before "officially" offering him the role in this movie. Stewart had no choice but to turn down the offer, allowing Hitchcock to cast Grant, the actor he had wanted all along.


6:30 AM Honolulu (1939)

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Even in Hawaii, movie star Brooks Mason still can't escape the crowds of his adoring fans, until he discovers he is an exact double for plantation owner George Smith. The two agree to trade lives for a few days. But in that short time, Mason, as Young, falls in love with Dorothy March and faces the consequences for his ...
Dir: Edward Buzzell Cast: Eleanor Powell, Robert Young, George Burns
Runtime: 83 mins Genre: Musical Rating: TV-G CC: Y

Trivia: MGM screen tested Abbott and Costello for the comedic support roles.

Trivia: Final film appearance of George Burns and Gracie Allen together.

Trivia: Sammy Lee took over as dance director after Bobby Connolly got involved as dance director in The Wizard of Oz (1939).


8:00 AM Cartoon: Alias St. Nick (1935)
A cat, dressed up as Santa Claus, tries to fool Mrs. Mouse and her family of mice on Christmas Eve but Little Cheeser doesn't believe in St. Nick and has doubts about the impostor.
Dir: Rudolf Ising Cast: Non-Speaking Role, Bernice Hansen
Runtime: 10 mins Genre: Short Rating: TV-G CC: Y


8:11 AM Short: Joy Scouts (1939)
In this comedic short, a gang of children decide to head off on an unsupervised camping adventure.
Dir: Edward L. Cahn Cast: Eugene Lee, Leonard Landy, Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer
Runtime: 10 mins Genre: Comedy Rating: TV-G CC: N


8:22 AM Short: Rocky Mountain Grandeur (1937)
The magnificent scenery of the Rocky Mountains is the star of this.
Dir: James H Smith Cast: James A. Fitzpatrick, Winton Hoch
Runtime: 8 mins Genre: Short Rating: TV-G CC: N


8:30 AM Easy to Love (1934)

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When she thinks her husband has been unfaithful, a woman claims to be having an affair of her own.
Dir: William Keighley Cast: Genevieve Tobin, Adolphe Menjou, Mary Astor
Runtime: 61 mins Genre: Comedy Rating: TV-G CC: Y

Trivia: Esther Williams was pregnant during the filming of this movie.

Trivia: Cypress Gardens was a popular tourist attraction for decades, drawing thousands of visitors to its lushly landscaped grounds. In 2011, however, it was replaced by LegoLand, and now only exists in memories and in films like this.

Trivia: Film debut of Carroll Baker.


9:30 AM Serial: Buck Rogers, Chapter 7: Primitive Urge (1939)



In Chapter Seven of Buck Rogers, brainwashed primitives attack Buck.
Dir: Ford Beebe, Ray Trampe Cast: Buster Crabbe, Constance Moore, Jackie Moran
Runtime: 19 mins Genre: Horror/Science-Fiction Rating: TV-G CC: N


10:00 AM Cartoon: The Hyp-Nut-Tist (1935)
Popeye and Olive enter a theater where Bluto, the Great Hypnotist is playing. Bluto uses a hypnotic spell to draw Olive on stage and transforms her into a chicken, But Popeye goes to the rescue. Bluto successfully hypnotizes him as well. Popeye snaps out of it and turns the tables on Bluto.
Dir: Dave Fleischer, Seymour Kneitel Cast: Gus Wickie, William Costello, William Pennell
Runtime: 6 mins Genre: Animation Rating: TV-PG CC: Y

Trivia: Last cartoon with William Pennell as Bluto.


10:08 AM Clipped Wings (1953)
The Bowery Boys join the air force and almost turn it into a fly-by-night organization.
Dir: Edward Bernds Cast: Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, Bernard Gorcey
Runtime: 65 mins Genre: Comedy Rating: TV-G CC: Y


11:30 AM Short: Star in the Night (1945)
Three cowboys see a bright light in the distance and decide to investigate on Christmas Eve.
Dir: Don Siegel Cast: J. Carrol Naish, Lynne Baggett, Anthony Caruso
Runtime: 21 mins Genre: Short Rating: TV-G CC: N


12:00 PM Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

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Young love and childish fears highlight a year in the life of a turn-of-the-century family.
Dir: Vincente Minnelli Cast: Judy Garland, Margaret O'Brien, Mary Astor
Runtime: 113 mins Genre: Musical Rating: TV-G CC: Y

Oscar nominations:
CINEMATOGRAPHY (Color) -- George Folsey
MUSIC (Scoring of a Musical Picture) -- Georgie Stoll
MUSIC (Song) -- "The Trolley Song," Music and Lyrics by Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin
WRITING (Screenplay) -- Irving Brecher, Fred F. Finklehoffe

Trivia: This film was a box-office smash, grossing more money than any prior MGM release in 20 years with the exception of David O. Selznick's Gone with the Wind (1939).

Trivia: Following Margaret O'Brien's rapid ascent to stardom, her mother believed they were entitled to a significant raise, and she used this film as leverage, realizing how integral the role of Tootie was to the story. MGM raised the ante by announcing the casting of Sharon McManus in O'Brien's place. McManus was the daughter of a studio electrician and the brass went so far as to fit her with costumes, assuming this would pressure O'Brien's mother into accepting their terms. But she held fast, and MGM was ultimately forced to concede to her demands for the salary increase. Once production was underway, O'Brien was filming a scene when McManus' father, who was employed on the film, intentionally dropped a heavy lighting instrument from the catwalk to the sound stage floor, narrowly missing the pint-sized star. He was taken away and briefly admitted to a mental institution for his deed.


2:00 PM Little Women (1949)

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The four daughters of a New England family fight for happiness during and after the Civil War.
Dir: Mervyn Leroy Cast: June Allyson, Peter Lawford, Margaret O'Brien
Runtime: 121 mins Genre: Drama Rating: TV-G CC: Y

Oscar nominations:
ART DIRECTION (Color) -- Art Direction: Cedric Gibbons, Paul Groesse; Set Decoration: Edwin B. Willis, Jack D. Moore (WINNER)
CINEMATOGRAPHY (Color) -- Robert Planck, Charles Schoenbaum

Trivia: The basket that Margaret O'Brien carries around in this movie is the same basket that her Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) co-star Judy Garland carried in The Wizard of Oz (1939). Both films were produced by Mervyn LeRoy.

Trivia: All of the sisters (June Allyson, Margaret O'Brien, Dame Elizabeth Taylor, and Janet Leigh) reportedly got along terrifically, like a real sorority. Allyson, who was several years older than most of her co-stars, managed to relate to the younger women and form strong bonds with them.

Trivia: Olin Howland, who played Mr. Davis, the school teacher who could not bring himself to punish Amy, also had the same role in Little Women (1933) and apparently in the same outfit. In both movies, he holds up Amy's slate with the same writing and cartoon drawing of the teacher, with a huge nose, with cartoon balloon stating, "YOUNG LADIES MY EYES ARE UPON YOU".

4:15 PM The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

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Feuding co-workers do not realize they are secret romantic pen pals.
Dir: Ernst Lubitsch Cast: Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart, Frank Morgan
Runtime: 97 mins Genre: Romance Rating: TV-G CC: Y

Trivia: Even though Margaret Sullavan was infamous for her quick temper and disdainful attitude towards Hollywood, James Stewart counted working with her as one of the great joys of his professional career. And because he knew her personally, he was more equipped than most of the cast and crew members to deal with her frequent and volatile emotional outbursts.


6:15 PM Holiday Affair (1949)

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A young widow is torn between a boring businessman and a romantic ne'er-do-well.
Dir: Don Hartman Cast: Robert Mitchum, Janet Leigh, Wendell Corey
Runtime: 87 mins Genre: Romance Rating: TV-G CC: Y

Trivia: The film was intended to soften Robert Mitchum's screen persona after his prison sentence in 1949.

8:00 PM The Great Train Robbery (1979)

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Three crooks plot to steal a fortune in gold from a moving train.
Dir: Michael Crichton Cast: Sean Connery, Donald Sutherland, Lesley-Anne Down
Runtime: 111 mins Genre: Adventure Rating: TV-MA CC: Y

Trivia: Sir Sean Connery spent several days running on top of a moving train. The train was supposed to be travelling at thirty-five miles per hour; Connery argued it was going faster. The train driver was counting telegraph poles to measure the speed. A helicopter pilot confirmed Connery's suspicion. The train was travelling at over fifty-five miles per hour.


10:00 PM Robin And Marian (1976)



An aging Robin Hood comes home to resume his relationship with Maid Marian and his battles against the Sheriff of Nottingham.
Dir: Richard Lester Cast: Sean Connery, Audrey Hepburn, Kenneth Haigh
Runtime: 112 mins Genre: Adventure Rating: TV-14 CC: Y

Trivia: Audrey Hepburn was persuaded to take the role of Marian, in part, from the insistence of her sons, Sean Hepburn Ferrer and Luca Dotti. Once the boys learned that Sir Sean Connery had been cast as Robin Hood, they begged their mother to take the part, so she could act with "James Bond". She happily complied.

Trivia: This movie could not be shot in England because some of the major principals were tax exiles.

12:00 AM NOIR ALLEY: Beware, My Lovely (1952)

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A widow discovers her handyman is an escaped mental patient.
Dir: Harry Horner Cast: Ida Lupino, Robert Ryan, Taylor Holmes
Runtime: 77 mins Genre: Suspense/Mystery Rating: TV-PG CC:

Trivia: Howard Hughes, then the head of RKO Pictures, held the film from release for a year. Robert Ryan felt Hughes, known for his right-wing politics, tried to bury the film because Ryan was publicly active in left-wing politics.

Trivia: The photo of Mrs. Gordon's (Ida Lupino) deceased husband is actually William Talman, who later played Hamilton Burger in Perry Mason (1957).

Trivia: This story was originally broadcast on the CBS radio show Suspense as "To Find Help" on 18 January 1945 with Frank Sinatra as Howard and Agnes Moorehead as Mrs. Gillis (Mrs. Gordon in the film). This was Sinatra's dramatic debut on radio. It was successful enough to get a second production in 1949 with Gene Kelly, Ethel Barrymore and William Conrad.

1:30 AM Mame (1974)

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A wealthy eccentric takes in her orphaned nephew.
Dir: Gene Saks Cast: Lucille Ball, Bea Arthur, Robert Preston
Runtime: 132 mins Genre: Musical Rating: TV-G CC: N

Trivia: Even though she played Auntie Mame on stage, a part originally performed by Rosalind Russell, and had won a Tony award for her performance in the Broadway production in 1966, Angela Lansbury was passed over for the role of Mame. Jerry Herman went to Warner Brothers executives and begged them to reconsider, explaining the reasons why he considered Lucille Ball to be wrong for the part. Lansbury recalled when she was playing Mame on Broadway, she was visited by Lucille Ball who told her she was amazing in the part, deserved all the honors she was receiving and was a shoo-in for the film version. Lansbury was very touched by this until she noticed Ball in the wings during her performance, taking notes. It was then that she realized that she was never going to play the part in the film. Lansbury later admitted in a 2009 interview with The Wall Street Journal that she never forgave Warner Bros. for passing her over.

Trivia: In later years, Bea Arthur admitted that she was wrong to take part in the film as it was a "tremendous embarrassment". Although she enjoyed working with Lucille Ball, she had to concede that the older actress was "terribly miscast".


3:45 AM Travels with My Aunt (1972)

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A stodgy young man gets caught up in his free-living aunt's shady schemes.
Dir: George Cukor Cast: Maggie Smith, Alec McCowen, Lou Gossett
Runtime: 109 mins Genre: Comedy Rating: TV-14 CC: Y

Oscar nominations:
ACTRESS -- Maggie Smith {"Aunt Augusta"}
ART DIRECTION -- Art Direction: John Box, Gil Parrondo, Robert W. Laing
CINEMATOGRAPHY -- Douglas Slocombe
COSTUME DESIGN -- Anthony Powell (WINNER)

Trivia: Katharine Hepburn was initially approached by her friend, director George Cukor, to star in this movie. She read the book by Graham Greene, but since it was a series of short stories, she didn't think it could be adapted into a movie. However, she agreed to star in it after reading the book a few times. Jay Presson Allen wrote the screenplay, but when Hepburn was unhappy with the result, Allen suggested that she re-write it. Hepburn worked on the script for three months, but when she submitted it, MGM studio head James T. Aubrey felt that her script was missing the charm of the book. Also, Aubrey felt that Hepburn was too old to play Aunt Augusta in flashback scenes. Aubrey called Hepburn to tell her that the project had been postponed, but the next day, Hepburn's agent called to report that she had been released by MGM for "failing to report to work." Hepburn considered suing MGM for payment for her script work, but decided against it. According to Jay Presson Allen, one speech from Hepburn's script was included in this movie, but Hepburn was not given screen credit, because she wasn't a member of the Screen Writer's Guild.

[Dem2theMax]

1. Yay! Great movies coming up.

And another fantastic job! I'm loving the trivia!
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻