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Staph

(6,245 posts)
Wed Aug 27, 2014, 11:47 PM Aug 2014

TCM Schedule for Saturday, August 30, 2014 -- Summer Under The Stars - Betty Grable

Today's Star is Betty Grable, she of the famous legs and pin-up poster of WWII.



Betty's famous pin-up pose (in bathing suit, back to the camera, smiling over her right shoulder) was taken that way because she was pregnant and it showed. They felt that showing her from the front would not be in good taste. Enjoy!




6:00 AM -- The Gay Divorcee (1934)
An unhappily married woman mistakes a suitor for the gigolo hired to end her marriage.
Dir: Mark Sandrich
Cast: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Alice Brady
BW-105 mins, CC,

Won an Oscar for Best Music, Original Song -- Con Conrad (music) and Herb Magidson (lyrics) for the song "The Continental"

Nominated for Oscars for Best Art Direction -- Van Nest Polglase and Carroll Clark, Best Sound, Recording -- Carl Dreher (sound director), Best Music, Score -- Max Steiner (head of department) and score by Kenneth S. Webb and Samuel Hoffenstein, and Best Picture

The bugle call at the beginning of the "Don't Let It Bother You" dance was developed from clowning during rehearsals, and became an in-joke in future Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers films.



8:00 AM -- The Nitwits (1935)
Two cigar-stand attendants get mixed up in a murder investigation.
Dir: George Stevens
Cast: Bert Wheeler, Robert Woolsey, Fred Keating
BW-82 mins,

One of 21 movies made by popular comedy duo Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey between 1929 and 1937, before Woolsey died in 1938. It is also the last minor feature directed by film luminary George Stevens before he broke through with Alice Adams (1935).


9:30 AM -- Follow the Fleet (1936)
Two sailors on leave romance a dance-hall hostess and her prim sister.
Dir: Mark Sandrich
Cast: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Randolph Scott
BW-110 mins, CC,

This is the feature film debut of Harriet Hilliard -- best remembered as Harriet Nelson of the television series The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952-1966). A natural blond, she wears a brunette wig so as not to distract from fellow blond actress and, more importantly, the film's star Ginger Rogers. Ironically, Rogers was naturally dark-haired but had already established herself in movies as a blonde.


11:30 AM -- Old Man Rhythm (1935)
A business leader goes back to college to keep an eye on his playboy son.
Dir: Edward Ludwig
Cast: Charles Buddy Rogers, George Barbier, Barbara Kent
BW-75 mins, CC,

Based on a story by Lewis Gensler, Don Hartman and Sig Herzig.


1:00 PM -- Give Me a Sailor (1938)
A series of romantic complications ensue between two brothers in the U.S. Navy and two sisters.
Dir: Elliott Nugent
Cast: Martha Raye, Bob Hope, Betty Grable
BW-77 mins, CC,

Martha Raye and Betty Grable as sisters!


2:30 PM -- Meet Me After the Show (1951)
The star of a Broadway show suspects her husband may be having an affair with the show's backer.
Dir: Richard Sale
Cast: Betty Grable, MacDonald Carey, Rory Calhoun
C-86 mins, CC,

Remake of He Married His Wife (1940), starring Joel McCrea and Nancy Kelly.


4:00 PM -- The Dolly Sisters (1945)
Two sisters from Hungary become famous entertainers in the early 20th century.
Dir: Irving Cummings
Cast: Betty Grable, John Payne, June Haver
C-114 mins, CC,

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Music, Original Song -- James V. Monaco (music) and Mack Gordon (lyrics) for the song "I Can't Begin to Tell You"

Twentieth Century-Fox originally planned to have Alice Faye and Betty Grable star in this movie. However, Miss Faye, becoming weary of musical roles, declined to team again with her "sister" from Tin Pan Alley (1940).



6:00 PM -- Mother Wore Tights (1947)
A married vaudeville team struggles to raise a family while touring the nation.
Dir: Walter Lang
Cast: Betty Grable, Dan Dailey, Mona Freeman
C-107 mins, CC,

Won an Oscar for Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture -- Alfred Newman

Nominated for Oscars for Best Cinematography, Color -- Harry Jackson, and Best Music, Original Song -- Josef Myrow (music) and Mack Gordon (lyrics) for the song "You Do"

Twentieth Century-Fox had wanted either James Cagney or Fred Astaire to play the role of song-and-dance man Frank Burt. After negotiations with Mr. Astaire fell through, Betty Grable requested John Payne, who already had appeared with her in Tin Pan Alley (1940), Footlight Serenade (1942), Springtime in the Rockies (1942) and The Dolly Sisters (1945).




TCM PRIMETIME - WHAT'S ON TONIGHT: THE ESSENTIALS: BETTY GRABLE



8:00 PM -- How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)
Three models pool their resources to rent a posh penthouse in hopes of snaring rich husbands.
Dir: Jean Negulesco
Cast: Betty Grable, Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall
C-96 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Costume Design, Color -- Charles Le Maire and Travilla

Hollywood legend has it that Marilyn Monroe, then rocketing to major stardom, was befriended during filming by Betty Grable, who offered Marilyn this encouragement: "Honey, I've had mine. Go get yours."



10:00 PM -- Down Argentine Way (1940)
Love and horse racing spice up an American girl's South American vacation.
Dir: Irving Cummings
Cast: Don Ameche, Betty Grable, Carmen Miranda
C-89 mins, CC,

Nominated for Oscars for Best Cinematography, Color -- Leon Shamroy and Ray Rennahan, Best Art Direction, Color -- Richard Day and Joseph C. Wright, and Best Music, Original Song -- Harry Warren (music) and Mack Gordon (lyrics) for the song "Down Argentine Way"

Alice Faye was set to play the role of Glenda, but she fell ill with appendicitis and was replaced by Betty Grable. Although Miss Grable was making films for 10 years, this was the role that made her a star. Cesar Romero contracted para-typhoid and was replaced by Leonid Kinskey.



11:45 PM -- I Wake Up Screaming (1941)
A celebrity promoter is accused of murdering one of his clients.
Dir: Bruce Humberstone
Cast: Betty Grable, Victor Mature, Carole Landis
BW-82 mins, CC,

Immediately before shooting, a bottle of silver nitrate was accidentally spilled onto Carole Landis' lips by her dentist. As a result, her lips were blue for more than three weeks, posing an added challenge for the makeup crew.


1:15 AM -- Coney Island (1943)
A con man fast-talks his way into managing a Coney Island nightclub with a temperamental star.
Dir: Walter Lang
Cast: Betty Grable, George Montgomery, Cesar Romero
C-96 mins, CC,

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture -- Alfred Newman

Betty Grable starred in this as well as its 1950 remake, Wabash Avenue (1950).



3:00 AM -- The Day the Bookies Wept (1939)
A taxi driver buys a beer-drinking race horse.
Dir: Leslie Goodwins
Cast: Joe Penner, Betty Grable, Richard Lane
BW-63 mins,

Based on a story by Daniel Fuchs.


4:30 AM -- Don't Turn 'Em Loose (1936)
A ruthless convict threatens to reveal that the head of the parole board is his father.
Dir: Ben Stoloff
Cast: Lewis Stone, James Gleason, Bruce Cabot
BW-65 mins,

Suggested by story "Homecoming" by Thomas Walsh.


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