Quick Preview of TCM in April

This week Turner Classic Movies posted a preview of the channel's April 2018 schedule.

A great month is on tap, beginning with a centennial celebration of the life and career of actor William Holden, the April Star of the Month.

Holden was previously the Star of the Month in September 2006. The centennial of his birth falls on April 17th.

Actress Stefanie Powers, who knew Holden well, will be on hand to discuss his life with Ben Mankiewicz. Photos from her TCM shoot may be seen here and here.

A nice cross-section of Holden films are scheduled, including the not-on-DVD DEAR RUTH (1947), costarring Joan Caulfield and Mona Freeman, and another relatively early Holden favorite of mine, APARTMENT FOR PEGGY (1948), with Jeanne Crain.

Additional excellent news is that the TCM Spotlight series will be focused on director Michael Curtiz, with 24-hour Curtiz marathons each Wednesday. Curtiz is also currently being honored with a retrospective at UCLA hosted by his biographer, Alan K. Rode. Hopefully TCM has invited Rode to speak about Curtiz, given the recent publication of his Curtiz book, but I don't have confirmation of that. (Update: Just a couple hours after posting this I received the latest Film Noir Foundation newsletter, which says "UPDATE: Look for Alan to appear as a guest programmer with Ben Mankiewicz during TCM's month-long 'Spotlight' tribute to director Michael Curtiz, coming this April!")

The TCM Classic Film Festival will take place in Hollywood from April 26th to 29th, and as has been the case in the last few years, the LIVE FROM THE TCM CLASSIC FILM FESTIVAL special filmed the previous year will air during the festival month. Last year's interview was with Michael Douglas.

Easter Sunday features not only the annual showing of EASTER PARADE (1948) but, for good measure, HOLIDAY INN (1942)! (A still from that film's Easter sequence is seen at left, with Marjorie Reynolds, Bing Crosby, and Fred Astaire.) Other April themes include gothic crime, newspapers, beach movies, India, biographical films, and Washington politics.

Filmmakers receiving multifilm salutes in April include Doris Day, Jane Fonda, Bette Davis, Jane Powell, Peggy Cummins, Harold Lloyd, and Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy.

Plus look for prewar Tim Holt Westerns every Saturday morning! And there's a terrific lineup of Noir Alley films; I've seen and recommend them all.

I'll have much more information on TCM in April posted here around the end of March. In the meantime, 31 Days of Oscar continues as the February theme, and Elizabeth Taylor will be the Star of the Month in March.

Happy viewing!

Update: For more on TCM in April 2018, please visit TCM in April: Highlights and TCM Star of the Month: William Holden.