TCM Schedule for Saturday, November 24, 2018 -- What's On Tonight: Blind Ambition

[Staph]

Tonight, TCM's non-essential Essentials has nothing to do with the 1976 John Dean book about the Nixon White House. It is, instead, a pair of films about dramatic types whose ambition outshines their talent. Enjoy!



6:15 AM -- THE MORTAL STORM (1940)
The Third Reich's rise tears apart a German family.
Dir: Frank Borzage
Cast: Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart, Robert Young
BW-100 mins, CC,

When this movie was made, America was not part of World War II. Most of the heads of the major studios in Hollywood were for American involvement in the war. This movie is one of a number made during the late 1930s and early 1940s that represented this belief. These films include A Yank in the R.A.F. (1941), Man Hunt (1941), Foreign Correspondent (1940), Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939) and Sergeant York (1941).


8:00 AM -- MGM CARTOONS: GRIN AND SHARE IT (1957)
Butch tries to get rid of Droopy after striking gold in their shared mine.
Dir: Michael Lah
Cast: Bill Thompson
C-7 mins, CC,

The title comes from the daily one panel cartoon "Grin and Bear It" created by George Lichtenstein under the pen-name George Lichty that was published from March 1932 to May 2015.


8:08 AM -- THE SHIP THAT DIED (1938)
This short film looks at the mystery of the Mary Celeste, a ship that was discovered abandoned for no discernible reason.
Dir: Jacques Tourneur
Cast: Leonard Penn, Rhea Mitchell, Charles Sullivan
BW-10 mins,

Episode 1.4 of MGM Parade.


8:18 AM -- THE OPRY HOUSE (1929)
The Mound City Blue Blowers and Doris Walker perform such songs as "My Gal Sal" and "I Ain't Got Nobody" in this musical short film. Vitaphone Release 834.
Dir: Murray Roth (uncredited)
Cast: Lew Hearn, Doris Walker, The Mound City Blue Blowers
BW-9 mins,


8:28 AM -- WYOMING ROUNDUP (1952)
Whip Wilson and his friend gain local attention in a small Western town after breaking up a saloon fight.
Dir: Thomas Carr
Cast: Whip Wilson, Tommy Farrell, Phyllis Coates
BW-53 mins, CC,

In this, his last of 22 starring roles for Monogram Pictures, Whip Wilson didn't even carry his trademark bullwhip. In later years, his co-star Tommy Farrell joked that the notoriously "frugal" company sold his whip to finance the picture.


9:30 AM -- MANDRAKE, THE MAGICIAN: GAMBLE FOR LIFE (1939)
The seventh installment of the Mandrake, the Magician series.
BW-17 mins,


10:00 AM -- POPEYE: I-SKI, LOVE-SKI, YOU-SKI (1933)
Bluto attempts to ruin Popeye's mountain climb with Olive Oyl.
Dir: Dave Fleischer, Willard Bowsky (uncredited)
Cast: Jack Mercer, Mae Questel, Gus Wickie
BW-6 mins, CC,

This cartoon makes use of Fleischer's Tabletop process, which animates the cels vertically between multi-plane set pieces in order to create the feeling of depth. Used here for the exterior scene of Bluto and Popeye walking together. The whole effect is lost in the color version, as the backgrounds is a flat redraw.


10:08 AM -- THE SAINT MEETS THE TIGER (1943)
The Saint infiltrates a small English village run by smugglers.
Dir: Paul Stein
Cast: Hugh Sinclair, Jean Gillie, Gordon McLeod
BW-69 mins, CC,

First and only film in RKO's Saint series to feature the character of Patricia Holm, who was Simon Templar's recurring partner and love interest in the novels, and who was introduced in the book upon which this film was based. Also the only film to feature Templar's butler, Horace (named Orace in the books), who also appeared in several of the early Saint novels.


11:30 AM -- FOOTBALL HEADLINERS (1955)
This short film highlights thirteen important college football games played during the 1955 season.
BW-16 mins,


12:00 PM -- MIGHTY JOE YOUNG (1949)
Showmen try to exploit a giant ape raised by an orphan.
Dir: Ernest B. Schoedsack
Cast: Terry Moore, Ben Johnson, Robert Armstrong
C-94 mins, CC,

Winner of an Oscar for Best Effects, Special Effects

Look for these unbilled stars of the future (and past): Ellen Corby (The Waltons (1971)) in the orphanage scene; William Schallert (The Patty Duke Show (1963)) as the gas station attendant; Kermit Maynard, singing cowboy, as Red in the roping scene; Jack Pennick, perennial John Ford extra, as the truck driver whose truck the heroes steal; and Irene Ryan (Granny in The Beverly Hillbillies (1962)) in the nightclub scene.


1:45 PM -- THE BLOB (1958)
A misunderstood teen fights to save his town from a gelatinous monster from outer space.
Dir: Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr.
Cast: Steven McQueen, Aneta Corseaut, Earl Rowe
C-83 mins, CC,

Since 2000, the town of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, one of the filming locations, has held an annual "Blobfest". Activities include a re-enactment of the scene in which moviegoers run screaming from the town's Colonial Theatre, which has recently been restored. Chef's Diner in Downingtown is also restored, and is open for business for photographs of the basement on weekday mornings only.


3:15 PM -- THE DIRTY DOZEN (1967)
A renegade officer trains a group of misfits for a crucial mission behind enemy lines.
Dir: Robert Aldrich
Cast: Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson
C-150 mins, CC,

Winner of an Oscar for Best Effects, Sound Effects -- John Poyner

Nominee for Oscars for Best Actor in a Supporting Role -- John Cassavetes, Best Sound, and Best Film Editing -- Michael Luciano

At a cocktail function in London, Lee Marvin got drunk and propositioned an old lady in the most vulgar manner possible. So slurred was his speech that she asked him to repeat it and he obliged. The woman turned out to be Sean Connery's aunt, and Connery was on his way to Marvin's general direction when producer Kenneth Hyman intervened. "Don't hit him in the face, Sean", he begged, "He's got his close-ups tomorrow". Fortunately, Connery saw the funny side and roared with laughter. "You fucking producers", he said as he left.


6:00 PM -- THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY (1979)
Three crooks plot to steal a fortune in gold from a moving train.
Dir: Michael Crichton
Cast: Sean Connery, Donald Sutherland, Lesley-Anne Down
C-111 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Sean Connery spent several days running on top of a moving train. The train was supposed to be traveling at 35 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 traveling at over 55 miles per hour.



TCM PRIMETIME - WHAT'S ON TONIGHT: BLIND AMBITION



8:00 PM -- ALL ABOUT EVE (1950)
An ambitious young actress tries to take over a star's career and love life.
Dir: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Cast: Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, George Sanders
BW-138 mins, CC,

Winner of Oscars for Best Actor in a Supporting Role -- George Sanders, Best Director -- Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Best Writing, Screenplay -- Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Best Costume Design, Black-and-White -- Edith Head and Charles Le Maire, Best Sound, Recording -- Thomas T. Moulton, and Best Picture

Nominee for Oscars for Best Actress in a Leading Role -- Anne Baxter, Best Actress in a Leading Role -- Bette Davis, Best Actress in a Supporting Role -- Celeste Holm, Best Actress in a Supporting Role -- Thelma Ritter, Best Cinematography, Black-and-White -- Milton R. Krasner, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White -- Lyle R. Wheeler, George W. Davis, Thomas Little and Walter M. Scott, Best Film Editing -- Barbara McLean, and Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture -- Alfred Newman

Upon learning that he had cast Bette Davis, one of her former directors, Edmund Goulding, rang up Joseph L. Mankiewicz and warned him that she would grind him down into a fine powder. This was a reference to her on-set behavior, not the least of which was rewriting her dialogue. The warning proved to be unnecessary, however, since Davis knew better than to mess with Mankiewicz's finely tuned screenplay. In fact, Mankiewicz found her to be one of the most professional and agreeable actresses he'd ever worked with.


10:30 PM -- THE PLAYER (1992)
A rising producer tries to cover up the accidental killing of a screenwriter who was stalking him.
Dir: Robert Altman
Cast: Tim Robbins, Greta Scacchi, Peter Falk
C-124 mins, Letterbox Format

Nominee for an Oscar for Best Director -- Robert Altman, Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published -- Michael Tolkin, and Best Film Editing -- Geraldine Peroni

The film has more Oscar winning actors and actresses in the cast than any other movie in history. There are twelve: Cher, James Coburn, Louise Fletcher, Whoopi Goldberg, Joel Grey, Anjelica Huston, Jack Lemmon, Marlee Matlin, Tim Robbins, Julia Roberts, Susan Sarandon, and Rod Steiger. Thirteen, when you count Oscar winning Producer and Director Sydney Pollack, who also makes a cameo appearance. Also includes thirteen other actors and actresses who received Oscar nominations: Karen Black, Dean Stockwell, Michael Tolkin, Gary Busey, Peter Falk, Teri Garr, Jeff Goldblum, Elliott Gould, Sally Kirkland, Buck Henry, Sally Kellerman, Burt Reynolds, Nick Nolte, and Lily Tomlin.


12:45 AM -- THE KILLING (1956)
A team of specialists plots a daring racetrack robbery, but they don't reckon with human frailty.
Dir: Stanley Kubrick
Cast: Sterling Hayden, Coleen Gray, Vince Edwards
BW-84 mins, CC,

Kirk Douglas was so impressed with this film that he sought out the director for his next project, Paths of Glory (1957).


2:30 AM -- MANHATTAN MURDER MYSTERY (1993)
A middle-aged couple suspects foul play when their neighbor's wife suddenly drops dead.
Dir: Woody Allen
Cast: Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Jerry Adler
C-108 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

"Manhattan Murder Mystery" was actually the generic working title during production--Woody Allen films usually have generic titles during production like "Woody Allen Fall Project"--but since no new title could be thought of, Allen decided to leave that as the title.


4:30 AM -- FAST AND LOOSE (1939)
Married book-dealers Joel and Garda Sloane investigate the killing of a noted collector.
Dir: Edwin L. Marin
Cast: Robert Montgomery, Rosalind Russell, Reginald Owen
BW-80 mins, CC,

This film is a sequel to the 1938 film Fast Company and was followed the same year by Fast and Furious. In each film, different actors played the crime-solving couple. In 1938, Joel and Garda were played by Melvyn Douglas and Florence Rice; in 1939's Fast and Furious, they were played by Franchot Tone and Ann Sothern.