Quick Preview of TCM in April

This week Turner Classic Movies posted its tentative April schedule online.

Judy Garland is the April Star of the Month. Friday nights in April will be filled with "the sound of music" as Garland's films are screened.

This is Garland's third time as Star of the Month; she was previously Star of the Month in July 2000 and April 2004.

I'm personally thrilled by the inclusion on the schedule of two of George O'Brien's RKO Westerns which I've never seen, LAWLESS VALLEY (1939) and TROUBLE IN SUNDOWN (1939). (Update: The O'Brien Westerns did not make the final schedule.) It's a good month for "B" Westerns on TCM, with other B films starring O'Brien, Tim Holt, Dick Foran, Tom Keene, and John Wayne on the schedule.

April will also feature LIVE FROM THE TCM CLASSIC FILM FESTIVAL: SOPHIA LOREN (2016), filmed at last year's TCM Classic Film Festival. Curiously, the guide currently says she discusses her career with Robert Osborne, but as we all remember, Mr. Osborne was unable to attend the 2015 festival, and Sophia was interviewed by her son, Edoardo Ponti.

Monday nights will be devoted to the Barrymore family, and there's a 24-hour centennial tribute to Gregory Peck on April 5th. There's a Sunday evening with a Paulette Goddard double bill, and another Sunday evening with a CINDERELLA theme.

April will also feature multi-film tributes to Charles Butterworth (how can you not love a channel that would do that?!), Anthony Perkins, Ella Raines (8 films!), Ida Lupino, Ann Miller, Stanley Donen, Val Lewton, Harold Lloyd, John Ford, Blake Edwards, and Ann-Margret.

April themes include jungle adventure, newspapers, Torchy Blane, and boxing. (I had to roll my eyes at the inclusion of 1979's THE MAIN EVENT in that lineup, though. Seriously?)

I'll have more information on TCM's April schedule around the end of March.

Fred MacMurray is currently the Star of the Month for January, and February is devoted to the annual 31 Days of Oscar festival. Merle Oberon will be the March Star of the Month.

Update: For more information, please visit TCM in April: Highlights.