Quick Preview of TCM in October

Turner Classic Movies has released the channel's tentative October schedule.

Please note that when you click on the schedule link, the picture at the top of the schedule may not match up with the the month. Hopefully this is an issue TCM can tweak in the future, but for now look for "2017-10-01" at the end of the web address to confirm you're looking at the correct schedule.

Anthony Perkins will be the October Star of the Month. 17 Perkins films are currently planned to be shown on Friday nights in October, including FRIENDLY PERSUASION (1956), THE TIN STAR (1957), and PSYCHO (1960), to name a few.

I'm especially delighted to note that TCM will be honoring Marsha Hunt with an eight-film daytime tribute on October 17th, her centennial birthday. The titles will include favorites such as KID GLOVE KILLER (1942) and THE AFFAIRS OF MARTHA (1942).

I was also especially wowed to note that the following evening, October 18th, TCM will be showing all of Romy Schneider's SISSI (1955) movies, as well as THE STORY OF VICKIE (1954), a fanciful look at Queen Victoria's romance with Prince Albert. The SISSI films, about Empress Elisabeth of Austria, feel something like a mash-up of live-action Disney with THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965), filmed in color at gorgeous locations in Austria, and they're exceptionally entertaining movies.

Another great evening will include THE PUPPETOON MOVIE (1987), a compilation of George Pal shorts. Thanks to screenings at UCLA I've been entranced by Puppetoons such as THE SKY PRINCESS (1942) and RHYTHM IN THE RANKS (1941). Additional Pal films will air spread over two nights.

September tributes will also include Buster Keaton, Jacques Tourneur, June Allyson, George Hamilton, Mickey Rooney, Rita Hayworth, Norman Taurog, Edward Buzzell, Joan Fontaine, and Jack Carson.

September themes will include Westerns, Paris, hotels, disturbed children, large families, explorers, Broadway, Arizona, the Russian Revolution, Communism, and a day of "colors," everything from BLACK HAND (1950) to RED LIGHT (1949) to YELLOW CANARY (1943), plus several more "colorful" titles.

This being October, there are also plenty of horror films on the schedule, including an evening of Val Lewton films. Halloween Night's films include Bob Hope and Paulette Goddard in THE CAT AND THE CANARY (1939).

Currently TCM is celebrating Summer Under the Stars, with Jennifer Jones ahead as the Star of the Month in September. Look for more information on TCM in October posted here at the end of September.

Update: For more on TCM in October 2017, please visit TCM in October: Highlights.