Quick Preview of TCM in November

The Turner Classic Movies schedule for November is now up!

Bette Davis is the November Star of the Month. She will be honored with 24-hour marathons every Tuesday this November.

This is Davis's third turn as Star of the Month. She was previously honored in May 1999 and May 2006.

The November Noir Alley titles are SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS (1957), JOHNNY EAGER (1942), THE HITCH-HIKER (1953), KANSAS CITY CONFIDENTIAL (1952), and THE MASK OF DIMITRIOS (1944).

Saturday morning programming includes the serial JUNGLE QUEEN (1945) starring Ruth Roman, plus POPEYE cartoons, Traveltalk shorts, the Bowery Boys, and random "B" detective movies.

I'm especially delighted that the late Nancy Gates will be honored in November. Gates, who died in April, will receive a six-film prime time memorial tribute, including MASTERSON OF KANSAS (1954), shown here with George Montgomery and James Griffith, plus SUDDENLY (1954), SOME CAME RUNNING (1958), and more.

Additional filmmakers receiving multifilm tributes in November include Dick Powell, Gig Young, James Cagney, Errol Flynn, Mary Astor, John Ford, and Martin Scorsese. I'm excited about a prime time Alan Ladd double feature of SHANE (1953) and THIS GUN FOR HIRE (1942).

The TCM Spotlight celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the American Society of Cinematographers. November film themes include stuntmen, New York City, ballet, hospital mysteries, Kentucky, swashbucklers, and the Pink Panther. There's also an inspired prime time double bill on "princesses incognito," ROMAN HOLIDAY (1953) and PRINCESS O'ROURKE (1943).

There's a very interesting lineup all day on Veterans Day, November 11th, including William Wyler's documentary THE MEMPHIS BELLE (1944) and Dennis Morgan in GOD IS MY CO-PILOT (1945). And as usual, there's a wonderful lineup of family films on Thanksgiving Day, including THE SECRET GARDEN (1949), HEIDI (1937), NATIONAL VELVET (1944), and SITTING PRETTY (1948). SITTING PRETTY, a 20th Century-Fox comedy starring Maureen O'Hara, Robert Young, and Clifton Webb, receives a rare TCM showing.

I'll have a more detailed look at TCM in November posted here around Halloween.

In the meantime, Sidney Poitier is slated to be the September Star of the Month, with Paul Muni the Star of the Month for October.

And looking ahead to December, Joan Blondell beat out Joan Bennett in TCM Backlot voting to be the December Star of the Month. Both ladies are marvelous, and hopefully the "other" Joan will receive a Star of the Month tribute in the future!

November 2019 Update: For more on TCM in November 2019, please visit TCM in November: Highlights and TCM Star of the Month: Bette Davis.