*Tonight, TCM

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8:00 PM -- The Miracle Worker (1962)
1h 47m | Drama | TV-PG
True story of the determined teacher who helped Helen Keller overcome deafness and blindness to learn to communicate.
Director: Arthur Penn
Cast: Anne Bancroft, Patty Duke, Victor Jory

Winner of Oscars for Best Actress in a Leading Role -- Anne Bancroft (Anne Bancroft was not present at the awards ceremony. Joan Crawford accepted the award on her behalf.), and Best Actress in a Supporting Role -- Patty Duke

Nominee for Oscars for Best Director -- Arthur Penn, Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium -- William Gibson, and Best Costume Design, Black-and-White -- Ruth Morley

Although Patty Duke had been playing Helen Keller in the play for more than a year, she almost didn't get the part in the film adaptation. The studio felt that being a teenager, she looked too old to play a seven-year-old. However, they decided to use Duke after deciding to use Anne Bancroft, who played Duke's original Annie Sullivan in the play.


10:00 PM -- Mister Roberts (1955)
2h 3m | Comedy | TV-PG
A naval officer longing for active duty clashes with his vainglorious captain.
Director: John Ford
Cast: Henry Fonda, James Cagney, William Powell

Winner of an Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role -- Jack Lemmon

Nominee for Oscars for Best Sound, Recording -- William A. Mueller (Warner Bros.), and Best Picture

Jack Lemmon started a long-time friendship with James Cagney which lasted until Cagney's death in 1986. Prior to his appearance in his first film, years before, he started in live television. In one particular performance, Lemmon decided to play his character differently. He decided to play the character left-handed, which is opposite to his own way of movement. With much practice, he pulled off the performance without anyone noticing the change. This change even fooled Lemmon's wife at the time. A few years went by and Jack met Cagney on their way to Midway Island to film this movie. They introduced themselves, and Cagney chimed in, "Are you still fooling people into believing you're left handed?" They had a great laugh and a strong friendship was born.

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1. 8:00 PM -- The Miracle Worker (1962)

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