TCM in June: Highlights

Summertime is right around the corner, and it's time to take a look at the June schedule on Turner Classic Movies!

Marie Dressler, seen below, is the June Star of the Month beginning on Monday, June 6th. This month some Star of the Month information will be incorporated into this post, rather than being posted separately.

There are a couple other interesting series in June. On Wednesday and Thursday nights the TCM Spotlight series is From Stage to Screen, hosted by the husband-wife duo of Annette O'Toole and Michael McKean; Wednesdays will focus on dramas and comedies, with Thursdays devoted to musicals.

Every Friday night in June will be devoted to the films of writer-director Billy Wilder, and for good measure, there's another great evening of Treasures from the Disney Vault on June 28th!

Here's a look at just a few highlights for what promises to be a great month on TCM! Click on any hyperlinked title for the related review.

...I'm setting my DVR for Sonja Henie and Michael O'Shea in IT'S A PLEASURE (1945) on June 1st.

...The "Stage to Screen" movies on June 2nd include wonderful titles like SHOW BOAT (1936) with Irene Dunne, GOOD NEWS (1947) with June Allyson and Peter Lawford, and CABIN IN THE SKY (1943) with Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, Ethel Waters, and Lena Horne, plus several more. Be sure to check each Thursday evening on the schedule for lots of great musicals.

...The first evening of Billy Wilder films on June 3rd includes an all-time favorite comedy, THE MAJOR AND THE MINOR (1942) with Ginger Rogers and Ray Milland.

...CROSS-COUNTRY ROMANCE (1940) is a little-known but very enjoyable romantic comedy starring Gene Raymond andWendy Barrie. It's on Saturday, June 4th.

...The first night of Marie Dressler films on June 6th features five movies, including THE PATSY (1928) with Marion Davies.

...I love creative programming such as "A Night in Brighton" on June 7th. The four titles include Richard Attenborough in BRIGHTON ROCK (1947), Fred and Ginger in THE GAY DIVORCEE (1934), and Margaret Lockwood in BANK HOLIDAY (1938).

...There's an amusing daytime theme on June 8th, "What About Bob?," featuring two films apiece starring Robert Ryan, Robert Montgomery Robert Mitchum, and Robert Taylor. Lots of watchable movies that day, with BORN TO BE BAD (1950) a particular favorite. BORN TO BE BAD stars Robert Ryan, Joan Fontaine, Zachary Scott, and Joan Leslie.

...The classic film noir THE BIG COMBO (1955), starring Cornel Wilde and Richard Conte, shows on June 9th. Don't miss this one, directed by Joseph Lewis and filmed in black and white by the great John Alton. The photo at the left gives just a hint of how great the movie looks.

...GIANT (1956) will be shown on June 11th. It's an excellent opportunity for those who aren't in traveling distance of the 60th Anniversary screening of the movie at the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater on June 23rd. Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, and James Dean star.

...Also on the 11th, right after GIANT stay tuned for two of the best movies ever made, RIO BRAVO (1959) and MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (1944).

...Veronica Lake and Alan Ladd are the stars of the evening on Sunday, June 12th, with a terrific double bill of THE GLASS KEY (1942) and THE BLUE DAHLIA (1946).

...The second evening of Marie Dressler movies, airing June 13th, features four films, including Greta Garbo in ANNA CHRISTIE (1930).

...Only on TCM: An eight-film MEXICAN SPITFIRE marathon on June 16th. Lupe Velez, Leon Errol, and Donald Woods star; Woods was later replaced by Charles "Buddy" Rogers and then Walter Reed.

...Burt Lancaster, Yvonne DeCarlo, Dan Duryea, and Stephen McNally star in the great film noir CRISS CROSS (1949) on June 18th. Robert Siodmak directed.

...Father's Day is June 19th, and TCM celebrates with THE COURTSHIP OF EDDIE'S FATHER (1963), LIFE WITH FATHER (1947), and FATHER OF THE BRIDE (1950).

...Four more Marie Dressler films will be shown on June 20th, including MIN AND BILL (1930) with Wallace Beery and a pair of films with Polly Moran, REDUCING (1931) and POLITICS (1931).

...I'm especially pleased with a couple of "Bob's Picks" on June 21st. SONG OF THE ISLANDS (1942) is a favorite Fox musical with Betty Grable and Victor Mature, and YOU WERE NEVER LOVELIER (1942) is probably my favorite film starring either Fred Astaire or Rita Hayworth. It's one of those "old favorites" I've been hoping to finally write about before too long!

...Brazil is the theme of the day on June 23rd, with titles including FLYING DOWN TO RIO (1933), NANCY GOES TO RIO (1950), and LATIN LOVERS (1953).

...Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Paulette Goddard, Janet Gaynor, and Richard Carlson star in the delightful THE YOUNG IN HEART (1938) on June 25th.

...The final evening with Star of the Month Marie Dressler is June 27th, featuring four films, including DINNER AT EIGHT (1932) and TUGBOAT ANNIE (1933).

...The latest edition of Treasures From the Disney Vault is on Tuesday, June 28th. It's the seventh installment in this wonderful series, with Leonard Maltin returning as host. The evening includes one of my very favorite live-action Disney films, THE PARENT TRAP (1962), starring Hayley Mills; the great Donald Duck cartoon AN ADVENTURE IN COLOR: MATHMAGIC LAND (1961); more outstanding cartoons including Mickey Mouse in THE BAND CONCERT (1935) and the Oscar-winning Silly Symphony FLOWERS AND TREES (1932); and the documentary WAKING SLEEPING BEAUTY (2009), along with several more titles. Set the DVR!

...Regular readers know how much I've enjoyed revisiting the films of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy in recent months, thanks to wonderful sets from the Warner Archive. There's an entire day of seven MacDonald-Eddy films on June 29th; a couple of the films feature Eddy solo, since it's his birthday. Titles include favorites such as NAUGHTY MARIETTA (1935), ROSE-MARIE (1936), and SWEETHEARTS (1938).

...As the month draws to a close, one of my favorite Esther Williams films, DUCHESS OF IDAHO (1950), will be shown on June 30th.

For more on TCM in June, please visit the online schedule.

Also, members of the new TCM Backlot club can page through and search the Now Playing guide online.

Happy viewing, and happy summer!