Quick Preview of TCM in March

Turner Classic Movies recently posted a preview of the channel's March 2018 schedule.

The first three days of the month are the conclusion of the 31 Days of Oscar series, which starts February 1st, so the March schedule actually begins on March 4th.

The March Star of the Month will be Elizabeth Taylor. TCM will utilize an infrequent format and show Taylor's movies every evening from a Monday through Friday, beginning March 12th, rather than one night per week. The Taylor films will actually begin each day in the afternoon, with key films then screening in prime time (5:00 Pacific/8:00 Eastern).

Another interesting change is that beginning in March Noir Alley will have two time slots per weekend. The same movie will be screened at 9:00 p.m. Pacific Time Saturday night (midnight Eastern), then again in the usual 7:00 a.m. Sunday slot (10:00 a.m. Eastern). This should help assuage complaints that the Sunday morning slot is too early for Pacific Time viewers who want to watch "live," and in the Pacific time zone the Saturday night option may also help out viewers who attend church Sunday mornings. (Personally, I just set it to record each week, so it doesn't matter!)

Beginning March 10th, Saturday mornings will feature an old-fashioned movie theater lineup with cartoons, shorts, a "B" Western, and a Tarzan movie.

The most exciting night of the month for me is the latest installment of Treasures from the Disney Vault, hosted by Leonard Maltin. Having shown Richard Todd in THE STORY OF ROBIN HOOD AND HIS MERRIE MEN (1952) last month, Maltin will show the rest of Todd's "Disney trilogy" in March, THE SWORD AND THE ROSE (1953) and ROB ROY: THE HIGHLAND ROGUE (1953). Both films costar Glynis Johns, who has terrific chemistry with Todd. I'm thrilled that this wonderful pair of films will have increased exposure thanks to TCM; I'm sure they'll be new to many viewers, and I hope they'll find them as nice a surprise as I did.

The March Disney lineup also includes IN SEARCH OF THE CASTAWAYS (1962) and THE ONE AND ONLY, GENUINE, ORIGINAL FAMILY BAND (1968).

Also of particular note: In March TCM is showing CHARLEY VARRICK (1973), an entertaining film I saw for the first time at last year's Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival in Palm Springs.

There's a wonderful multi-film prime time tribute to the late Anne Jeffreys. Other March tributes include Ben Johnson (seen below with Harry Carey Jr. in WAGON MASTER, screening March 27th), Edward G. Robinson, Anna May Wong, Dean Stockwell, Deborah Kerr, Rock Hudson, Phil Karlson, George Brent, Joan Crawford, and Diana Dors.

Psychology and "Great Movie Endings" are among the prominent themes in March. Baseball and St. Patrick's Day are also the subject of day-long lineups. Additional themes include poets, ballet, radiation, opera, and drinking. A slate of religious films plays on Easter Eve, March 31st.

I'll focus on the March schedule in greater detail here roundabout March 1st! In the meantime, Charles Boyer is currently the January Star of the Month, with 31 Days of Oscar coming to TCM in February.

Update: For more on TCM in March 2018, please visit TCM in March: Highlights.