TCM Schedule for Saturday, 1/20/24 - Blackboard Jungle, Rock 'n' Roll High School, Stage Fright, Fury

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Last edited Sat Jan 20, 2024, 04:04 PM - Edit history (2)

Saturday, January 20 At a Glance

SHOW DOGS
It's a Dog's Life (1955)
Black Marble, The (1980) (TCM Premiere)
Hold That Kiss (1938)
My Pal, Wolf (1944
- TCM DAYTIME
WEEKEND FEATURES
City for Conquest (1940)
MGM Cartoons: Officer Pooch (1941)
Believe It or Not #3 (1931) (short)
Egypt Speaks (1951) (short)
Arizona Legion (1939)
Buck Rogers Ch. 11: A Prince in Bondage (1939)
Popeye: The Spinach Overture (1935)
After Office Hours (1935)
Double or Nothing (1939) (short)
Rock 'n' Roll High School (1979) (Musical Matinee)
Blackboard Jungle (1955)
Every Which Way but Loose (1978)
Late Show, The (1977)
- TCM PRIMETIME
DEBORAH KERR
Tea and Sympathy (1956)
Gypsy Moths, The (1969)
- NOIR ALLEY
Stage Fright (1950)
- TCM LATE NIGHT: DIRECTOR FRITZ LANG
Hangmen Also Die (1943)
Fury (1936)

Saturday January 20 - full schedule (all times Eastern & Pacific)

11:15 PM It's a Dog's Life (1955)

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A bull terrier rises from rags to riches.
Dir: Herman Hoffman Cast: Jeff Richards, Jarma Lewis, Edmund Gwenn
Runtime: 86 mins Genre: Comedy Rating: TV-G CC: Y

Trivia: This film bombed at the box office, resulting in a loss to MGM of $848,000 (about $9.7 M in 2023) according to studio records. It did not even make back its negative cost, let alone advertising, duplication and distribution costs.


1:00 AM The Black Marble (1980)

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Alcoholic police sergeant A.M. Valnikov is transferred from a homicide case to a burglary detail. Valnikov and his new partner Natalie are opposites, and initially do not get along. But as they overcome their differences to help solve the case, they find that they are attracted to each other.
Dir: Harold Becker Cast: Robert Foxworth, Paula Prentiss, James Woods, Harry Dean Stanton
Runtime: 113 mins Genre: Comedy Rating: TV-PG CC:

Trivia: After the way his novel was adapted for its film version The Choirboys (1977), Author Joseph Wambaugh decided to take more control of his literary works, having a much larger influence on the production of this movie and The Onion Field (1979). Joseph Wambaugh was credited sole screenwriter on both films. Wambaugh won the 1981 Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for his screenplay for this movie.


3:00 AM Hold That Kiss (1938)
Romance blossoms when a man and woman each think the other is rich.
Dir: Edwin L. Marin Cast: Maureen O'Sullivan, Dennis O'Keefe, Mickey Rooney
Runtime: 75 mins Genre: Comedy Rating: TV-G CC: Y

Trivia: Fay Holden, who plays Mickey Rooney's mother in this film, played Mrs. Hardy, the mother of Andy Hardy (played by Mickey Rooney) in 15 of the 16 Andy Hardy movies.


4:30 AM My Pal Wolf (1944)
A little girl fights to keep her dog over her nanny's objections.
Dir: Alfred Werker Cast: Sharyn Moffett, Jill Esmond, Una O'Connor
Runtime: 75 mins Genre: Drama Rating: TV-G CC: Y

6:00 AM City for Conquest (1940)

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A truck driver risks his eyesight when he boxes to pay for his brother's education.
Dir: Anatole Litvak Cast: James Cagney, Ann Sheridan, Frank Craven
Runtime: 101 mins Genre: Drama Rating: TV-G CC: Y

Trivia: James Cagney did not need boxing training for the film, as in his youth he was an amateur boxer - good enough to be runner-up in the New York State lightweight division.

8:00 AM Cartoon: Officer Pooch (1941)
Officer Pooch tries to rescue a cute stray kitten from a rowdy mutt.
Dir: Joseph Barbera Cast: Frank Bingman, Pinto Colvig
Runtime: 8 mins Genre: Animation Rating: TV-G CC: Y


8:09 AM Short: Believe It or Not #3 (1931)
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.
Dir: Murray Roth Cast: Clarence E Willard, James Dunn, Robert L Ripley, Murray Roth
Runtime: 7 mins Genre: Short Rating: TV-G CC: N


8:17 AM Short: Egypt Speaks (1951)
This film takes the viewer to Alexandria, Egypt
Dir: James A. Fitzpatrick Cast: Ibrahim Mustafa, James A. Fitzpatrick, James A. Fitzpatrick
Runtime: 8 mins Genre: Short Rating: TV-G CC: N


8:27 AM Arizona Legion (1939)
A federal agent infiltrates an outlaw band that's taken over a western town.
Dir: David Howard Cast: George O'Brien, Laraine Johnson, Carlyle Moore Jr.
Runtime: 58 mins Genre: Western Rating: TV-G CC: Y

Trivia: The film loosely represents the real Arizona Rangers which was formed on 21 March 1901 and modeled after the Texas Rangers. They were disbanded in 1909 for political reasons shortly before Arizona became the 48th state in 1912. They were reconstituted in 1957 and as of 2021 continue to serve as a civilian auxiliary police force in the state.


9:30 AM Serial: Buck Rogers, Chapter 11: A Prince in Bondage (1939)
In Chapter 11 of Buck Rogers, Killer Kane launches an aerial attack on Buck's forces.
Dir: Ford Beebe, Ray Trampe Cast: Buster Crabbe, Constance Moore, Jackie Moran
Runtime: 21 mins Genre: Horror/Science-Fiction Rating: TV-G CC: N


10:00 AM Cartoon: The Spinach Overture (1935)
Popeye turns his talents to music and is seen conducting an orchestra.
Dir: Dave Fleischer, Seymour Kneitel Cast: Jack Mercer, Mae Questel, Gus Wickie
Runtime: 8 mins Genre: Animation Rating: TV-PG CC: Y


10:09 AM After Office Hours (1935)



A society newspaperwoman tries to prove to her editor that she can crack a murder case.
Dir: Robert Z. Leonard Cast: Constance Bennett, Clark Gable, Stuart Erwin
Runtime: 75 mins Genre: Suspense/Mystery Rating: TV-G CC:

Trivia: Only screen pairing of MGM stars Constance Bennett and Clark Gable - although Gable had a supporting role in Bennett's The Easiest Way (1931).

11:30 AM Short: Double or Nothing (1939)
In this short film, a stunt double loses consciousness and imagines himself in a series of scenes with doubles for many other famous actors including Bing Crosby, Tyrone Power, and Greta Garbo.
Dir: Roy Mack Cast: Lee Dixon, John Elliott, Tom Herbert
Runtime: 18 mins Genre: Short Rating: TV-G CC: N


12:00 PM Rock 'N' Roll High School (1979)

A high-school hellcat will stop at nothing to meet her favorite band-The Ramones.
Dir: Allan Arkush Cast: P.j. Soles, Vince Van Patten, Clint Howard
Runtime: 93 mins Genre: Musical Rating: TV-14 CC: Y

Trivia: Originally, Todd Rundgren was to star as the musical act, but both sides could not come to an agreement. Next, Cheap Trick was contacted, but a similar situation happened. After that, talks were conducted with Warner Bros. Records, where Allan Arkush had a connection, to decide on which band they should use in the film. The first suggestion was Devo, but Arkush decided that they had too much of their own concept. Another band considered for the movie was Van Halen, but Warner execs warned Arkush that they were raucous and would be difficult to handle. Finally, an exec name-dropped the Ramones, who recorded for Sire Records, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Records. Arkush, being a huge fan of the band, agreed. To this day, Rundgren regrets passing up the role he was offered.

Trivia: Dee Dee Ramone was such a bad actor that his lines were cut from seven down to two, in the dressing room after the concert: "Hey, pizza!" and "Hey, pizza! It's great! Let's dig in!"

Trivia: The romantic theme song heard under the credits, "Did We Meet Somewhere Before?" is sung by Paul McCartney and Wings. McCartney wrote it as the theme to Heaven Can Wait (1978), but Warren Beatty decided not to use it. Allan Arkush, the director, then swung a deal whereby he was able to use the song for only $500 provided McCartney did not receive screen credit.

2:00 PM Blackboard Jungle (1955)

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An idealistic teacher confronts the realities of juvenile delinquency.
Dir: Richard Brooks Cast: Glenn Ford, Anne Francis, Louis Calhern
Runtime: 101 mins Genre: Drama Rating: TV-14 CC: Y

Oscar nominations:
ART DIRECTION (Black-and-White) -- Art Direction: Cedric Gibbons, Randall Duell; Set Decoration: Edwin B. Willis, Henry Grace
CINEMATOGRAPHY (Black-and-White) -- Russell Harlan
FILM EDITING -- Ferris Webster
WRITING (Screenplay) -- Richard Brooks

Trivia: This film launched the rock'n'roll era, especially in American movies, by using "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley and the Comets as its theme. The song was chosen for the theme song after it was heard among records owned by Peter Ford, son of the film's star, Glenn Ford (a story that the producer's daughter had discovered the song is not true). "Rock Around the Clock" had been largely ignored until it was heard in the movie, after which it soon shot to #1 around the world, and eventually sold an estimated 25 million copies. In an embarrassing miscalculation, MGM could have owned the complete rights to the song, but it ignored writer/director Richard Brooks' advice to buy it outright; instead, the studio went penny-wise and pound-foolish and merely purchased, for only a few dollars, the film-use rights to the mega-hit song.

Trivia: When Sidney Poitier showed up to start work on this film, he was called to the front office by a studio lawyer. Told they were concerned about his activism and association with blacklisted actors Paul Robeson and Canada Lee, he was asked to sign a loyalty oath to the American government. Poitier thought that was ridiculous and director Richard Brooks agreed, so they simply started shooting. He never heard from the studio lawyer again.

Trivia: Paul McCartney has stated that when he was 15 and George Harrison was 14 they had a great desire to see the film because "Rock Around The Clock" was its theme, but they needed to be 16 to gain entrance. Because George looked so young, Paul took some dirt and rubbed it on his upper lip for a mustache. The ruse worked and they both were admitted but, as Paul stated, they were disappointed and bored because the film was all acting and talking, and not anything salacious as they had hoped.

Trivia: Film debuts of Vic Morrow and Jamie Farr.


4:00 PM Every Which Way but Loose (1978)

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Philo Beddoe is a bare-knuckle boxer who travels to his fights with his friend Orville, and Clyde, an orangutan who has a good right hook of his own. In one town, Philo meets an aspiring country western singer named Lynn and falls in love with her. Philo has a problem when Lynn decides to break up with him, and before long, ...
Dir: James Fargo Cast: Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Geoffrey Lewis
Runtime: 114 mins Genre: Comedy Rating: TV-14 CC: Y

Trivia: Eastwood called Clyde the Orangutan "one of the most natural actors I ever worked with. But you had to get him on the first take because his boredom level was very limited."


6:00 PM The Late Show (1977)

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An aging private eye hooks up with a Hollywood eccentric to investigate his partner's murder.
Dir: Robert Benton Cast: Art Carney, Lily Tomlin, Bill Macy
Runtime: 94 mins Genre: Comedy Rating: TV-PG CC: Y

Oscar nominations
WRITING (Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen--based on factual material or on story material not previously published or produced) -- Robert Benton

Trivia The only non-Best Picture nominee for the year to be nominated for Best Original Screenplay.


8:00 PM Tea and Sympathy (1956)

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A faculty wife risks her marriage to help a troubled teen tormented by his fellow students.
Dir: Vincente Minnelli Cast: Deborah Kerr, John Kerr, Leif Erickson
Runtime: 122 mins Genre: Drama Rating: TV-PG CC: Y

Trivia: Bringing the play to the screen resulted in a years-long struggle with the production code office and the Catholic National Legion of Decency because of the play's inclusion of homosexuality, adultery and prostitution. At one point there was consideration that the film be produced by an independent production company outside of the studio system.


10:15 PM The Gypsy Moths (1969)

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A trio of barnstorming skydivers finds love and heartache at one small-town stop.
Dir: John Frankenheimer Cast: Burt Lancaster, Deborah Kerr, Gene Hackman
Runtime: 110 mins Genre: Drama Rating: TV-MA CC: Y

Trivia: Skydivers, most with several thousand jumps to their credit, were brought in from California to double for the actors


12:15 AM Stage Fright (1950)

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When witnesses see Jonathan Cooper fleeing the scene of a murder, Cooper asks his former girlfriend, Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts student Eve Gill, for help. Believing him innocent, she uses her skills at stagecraft to prove the real murderer is chanteuse Charlotte Inwood. Now, as Eve plays a game of cat and mouse with ...
Dir: Alfred Hitchcock Cast: Jane Wyman, Marlene Dietrich, Michael Wilding
Runtime: 110 mins Genre: Suspense/Mystery Rating: TV-PG CC: Y

Trivia: In an extraordinary move for the normally controlling director, Sir Alfred Hitchcock allowed Marlene Dietrich an exceptional amount of creative control for this movie, particularly in how she chose to light her scenes. Hitchcock knew that Dietrich had learned a great deal of the art of cinematography from Josef von Sternberg and Günther Rittau and let her work with Cinematographer Wilkie Cooper to light and set her scenes the way that she wished.


2:15 AM Hangmen Also Die! (1943)

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When a Nazi officer is assassinated, Czech patriots band together to protect his killer.
Dir: Fritz Lang Cast: H. H. V. Twardowski, Brian Donlevy, Walter Brennan
Runtime: 131 mins Genre: War Rating: TV-14 CC: Y


4:30 AM Fury (1936)

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An innocent man escapes a lynch mob then returns for revenge.
Dir: Fritz Lang Cast: Sylvia Sidney, Spencer Tracy, Walter Abel
Runtime: 94 mins Genre: Drama Rating: TV-G CC: Y

Oscar nominations:
WRITING (Original Story) -- Norman Krasna

Trivia: Terry, better known as Toto from The Wizard of Oz (1939), appears in this film as Rainbow, the dog that Joe Wilson takes in from the rain.

Trivia; This was Fritz Lang's first film in Hollywood, and he wasn't accustomed to labor laws that require meal breaks. Shortly after filming began, Lang ate a quick lunch between set-ups and resumed filming. Some of the crew members wondering about their lunch break asked Spencer Tracy, who in turn pointed out to Lang that it was "1:30 pm and the crew had yet to take their break". Lang replied that it was his set and that "I will call lunch when I think it should be called." Tracy then smeared his make-up with his hand, knowing that it would take at least 90 minutes to fix it, yelled "Lunch!" and promptly walked off the set with the crew.