TCM in December: Highlights

Happy December! And welcome to what promises to be an especially wonderful month on Turner Classic Movies.

This year the December Star of the Month is Cary Grant; over 40 Grant films will be shown each Wednesday evening in December. I'll share more about this month's Grant films in a separate post in the near future.

The Friday Night Spotlight will be devoted to a favorite director, Charles Walters, who is also the subject of a brand-new biography by Brent Phillips. I'll also be devoting a separate post to this month's Walters films, which include numerous terrific MGM musicals and light comedies.

As always, I'll also be devoting a post to the many wonderful Christmas movies airing on TCM in December!

Here's a look at just a handful of the other highlights from TCM's December schedule!

...A day of Joan Crawford films on December 1st includes THE LAST OF MRS. CHEYNEY (1937). With Robert Montgomery and William Powell as Crawford's leading men, this is a most enjoyable film.

...December 2nd there's a multi-film celebration of everyone's favorite pre-Code cad, Warren William. I'm especially looking forward to THE DARK HORSE (1932) with Bette Davis.

...The evening of the 2nd features a tribute to the lovely Rhonda Fleming, including OUT OF THE PAST (1947), A CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN KING ARTHUR'S COURT (1949), and THE CROWDED SKY (1960).

...A day of crime films on the 3rd includes Andrew L. Stone's HIGHWAY 301 (1950) starring Steve Cochran and Virginia Grey. This one comes highly recommended by my fellow movie fan John Knight, who regularly comments here.

...December 4th it's a day of romantic comedies, including BEDTIME STORY (1941) with Loretta Young and Fredric March, plus a sterling supporting cast: Robert Benchley, Eve Arden, and Allyn Joslyn. The hotel finale is quite amusing.

...On December 6th TCM's series of Saturdays with Dr. Kildare and Dr. Gillespie wrap up with DARK DELUSION (1947), the very last film in the series. James Craig and Lucille Bremer costar.

...Pearl Harbor Day is observed on December 7th with Walter Huston in DECEMBER 7TH (1943) and the multi Oscar winner FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953).

...Monday the 8th Harold Lloyd stars in THE MILKY WAY (1936). I recently saw the Danny Kaye remake THE KID FROM BROOKLYN (1946) and am interested in checking out the original.

...It's Errol Flynn night on December 9th! 5 movies are showing, including one I've never seen, ROCKY MOUNTAIN (1950), with his wife Patrice Wymore.

...A day of Thomas Mitchell films on the 10th includes a favorite Priscilla Lane-Dennis Morgan film, THREE CHEERS FOR THE IRISH (1940). It would be hard to find a cuter couple!

...ISLAND OF LOST WOMEN (1959) on December 11th stars Jeff Richards (Benjamin in SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS) and Venetia Stevenson, daughter of director Robert Stevenson and actress Anna Lee.

...One of the very best Astaire-Rogers films, SWING TIME (1936), airs on December 14th. Entertainment doesn't come any better!

...The enjoyable "B" crime film DESTINATION MURDER (1950), starring Joyce McKenzie and Hurd Hatfield, plays on December 17th.

...THE AFFAIRS OF MARTHA (1942) is a favorite "B" film starring Marsha Hunt. The lovely and gracious Hunt is particularly dear to L.A. classic film fans who have had the chance to enjoy her appearances at many screenings around town. Hunt's costar in MARTHA is Richard Carlson. The movie airs on December 18th.

...SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON (1949), one of my favorite John Ford/John Wayne films, will be shown on December 20th. My posts on the movie's Monument Valley locations are here and here.

...December 21st will be the very first evening of the new series Treasures from the Disney Vault. TCM has a special page here listing the evening's lineup, which includes THE RELUCTANT DRAGON (1941), a unique blend of black and white and Technicolor, live action and animation, starring Robert Benchley, Frances Gifford, and Alan Ladd. For more on last week's announcement of joint TCM-Disney projects, please visit my post.

...A nine-film tribute to Ruth Roman on December 22nd includes LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE (1951) and TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY (1951). I've seen seven of the nine films airing that day; it's a great lineup!

...One of the best "weepers" of all time, DARK VICTORY (1939), airs on December 29th. Bette Davis, George Brent, and Geraldine Fitzgerald all give superb performances.

...A December 31st day of films paying tribute to filmmakers who died in 2014 includes BRIGHTON ROCK (1947) starring the late Richard Attenborough.

Stay tuned for additional information on more great stuff airing on TCM in December coming soon!

The complete December schedule is on the TCM website.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Happy TCM viewing!

Updates: Please also visit TCM Star of the Month: Cary Grant, TCM in December: Christmas Movies, and TCM Friday Night Spotlight: Charles Walters.