Turner Classic Movies: Stewart Granger Month

Turner Classic Movies pays tribute to Star of the Month Stewart Granger with 22 films airing Tuesdays in July.

As I've mentioned here previously, Granger is one of my favorite actors; my favorite Granger film, KING SOLOMON'S MINES (1950), airs on July 7th. This is the film that made Granger a big star outside England. He is absolutely marvelous in a charismatic performance as safari guide Allan Quartermain. If you're unfamiliar with Granger's work, this movie is a great introduction.

One of his very best swashbucklers, the colorful, action-packed SCARAMOUCHE (1952), also airs on the 7th.

July 14th is devoted to Granger's Westerns. One might not expect a British actor to star in many Westerns, but Granger was very much at home in the genre. He plays a Canadian trapper in THE WILD NORTH (1952); it's not a great movie, but worth seeing for fans of Granger and Cyd Charisse. Cyd plays Granger's love interest, an Indian maiden.

GUN GLORY (1957) is a Western I enjoyed very much. The evening also includes THE LAST HUNT (1956) costarring Robert Taylor.

July 21st is a series of Granger crime films, including the very entertaining mystery THE WHOLE TRUTH (1958), costarring Donna Reed and George Sanders, with a score by John Dankworth. FOOTSTEPS IN THE FOG (1955), costarring Granger's wife, Jean Simmons, is a film I've not yet seen.

The final evening, July 28th, is devoted to "Romance and Adventure." One of Granger's best films, THE PRISONER OF ZENDA (1952), airs this evening. ZENDA reunited Granger with his KING SOLOMON'S MINES costar, Deborah Kerr.

I also liked ALL THE BROTHERS WERE VALIANT (1953), a sailing story with Robert Taylor and Ann Blyth, and GREEN FIRE (1954), a jungle adventure with Grace Kelly.

YOUNG BESS (1953) stars Granger with two of his favorite leading ladies -- his wife, Jean Simmons, and Deborah Kerr.

Two of Granger's films with Ava Gardner, BHOWANI JUNCTION (1956) and THE LITTLE HUT (1957), also air on the 28th.

There are a couple of Granger's films I wish they had included, such as ADAM AND EVELYNE (1949), which I just saw last weekend, or the comedic Western NORTH TO ALASKA (1960) with John Wayne, but all in all it's an excellent group of some of Granger's very best work which is a wonderful opportunity for film fans to become more acquainted with a terrific actor.

Update: Don't miss this great post on Granger coauthored by Moira Finnie and Peter Bosch at TCM's Movie Morlocks blog.