TCM in November: Highlights

November's here and that means it's time for a look at the November schedule for Turner Classic Movies!

The November Star of the Month is Bette Davis, the third time she has been so honored. Davis's career will be celebrated with 24-hour marathons every Tuesday this November.

I'll have a post up early next week taking a closer look at the November Star of the Month schedule. (Update: Please visit TCM Star of the Month: Bette Davis.)

The November Noir Alley titles are SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS (1957) November 2nd and 3rd, JOHNNY EAGER (1942) on November 9th and 10th, THE HITCH-HIKER (1953) on the 16th and 17th, KANSAS CITY CONFIDENTIAL (1952) on November 23rd-24th, and THE MASK OF DIMITRIOS (1944) the weekend of November 30th-December 1st.

On Wednesdays this month the TCM Spotlight will focus on the centennial of the American Society of Cinematographers.

The ASE tribute will include a new documentary by Daniel Raim, THE IMAGE MAKERS (2019). Raim also wrote and directed a very interesting documentary I watched last year, IN SEARCH OF OZU (2018).

Below are some of the additional interesting titles being shown on TCM this month. Please click any hyperlinked title to read the corresponding film review.

...The MGM musical LADY BE GOOD (1941) will be shown on November 3rd. Be sure to catch Eleanor Powell's dance with a dog! She trained the dog for the number herself. Ann Sothern, Robert Young, and Red Skelton costar.

...The late Nancy Gates will be celebrated on Monday evening, November 4th, with several titles including MASTERSON OF KANSAS (1954), SUDDENLY (1954), and SOME CAME RUNNING (1958). Gates is seen here in MASTERSON OF KANSAS with George Montgomery and James Griffith. It's this kind of programming, honoring a lesser-known actress who had a wonderful career, which makes me appreciate TCM the most.

...The first evening of the tribute to the American Society of Cinematographers on November 6th includes THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS (1942), filmed by Stanley Cortez, SUNRISE (1927), filmed by Charles Rosher and Karl Struss, and THE SEARCHERS (1956), filmed by Winton C. Hoch.

...A day of pre-Codes starring James Cagney includes PICTURE SNATCHER (1933), along with several other interesting titles. They air on November 7th.

...November 8th features a wonderful collection of films teaming Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland, including DODGE CITY (1939), CAPTAIN BLOOD (1935), and THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (1938).

...I highly recommended last year's release of a beautiful Blu-ray of MERRILY WE LIVE (1938), a screwball comedy with Constance Bennett and Brian Aherne leading a great cast. It will be shown on TCM November 10th.

...The Veterans Day schedule on November 11th includes a couple good-looking movies on my "to watch" list, DIVE BOMBER (1941) with Errol Flynn and Fred MacMurray, and GOD IS MY CO-PILOT (1945) with Dennis Morgan and Dane Clark.

...The November 13th evening honoring the American Society of Cinematographers includes two visually stunning Powell-Pressburger films shot by Jack Cardiff, BLACK NARCISSUS (1947) and THE RED SHOES (1948).

...Dick Powell receives an eight-film birthday tribute on November 14th. There's a wonderful variety of titles -- musicals, pre-Codes, a Western, even Shakespeare! Be sure to catch THE TALL TARGET (1951) and STATION WEST (1948), but the entire lineup is worthwhile.

...The Saturday morning lineup on November 16th including Dennis Morgan and John Payne in TEAR GAS SQUAD (1940). It may not be great art, but it's 55 minutes of fun for fans of Bs or the lead actors. It's even got musical numbers!

...Alan Ladd receives a prime time double bill tribute on Sunday, November 17th, with showings of two classics, SHANE (1953) and THIS GUN FOR HIRE (1942).

...November 18th features romances set in New York. I like HAVING WONDERFUL TIME (1938), which is admittedly a minor film but has Ginger Rogers and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. leading a great cast.

...Films featuring ballet on November 21st include Leslie Caron in THE GLASS SLIPPER (1955), a telling of the Cinderella story. Estelle Winwood is marvelous as Cinderella's Fairy Godmother, while Michael Wilding plays Prince Charming.

...On Sunday evening, November 24th, there's a wonderful double bill of films featuring "incognito princesses," ROMAN HOLIDAY (1953) and PRINCESS O'ROURKE (1943). ROMAN HOLIDAY stars Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, while PRINCESS O'ROURKE stars Olivia de Havilland and Robert Cummings.

...I haven't seen GREEN FOR DANGER (1946) in a few years and really need to revisit it! It's a delightful British mystery which holds up well to repeat viewings. The great cast includes a show-stealing Alastair Sim along with Trevor Howard, Leo Genn, Sally Gray, and Rosamund John. The air date is November 25th.

...As usual, there's a terrific lineup of family films on Thanksgiving Day, November 28th, including THE SECRET GARDEN (1949), HEIDI (1937), NATIONAL VELVET (1944), ROOM FOR ONE MORE (1952), and SITTING PRETTY (1948). SITTING PRETTY, a 20th Century-Fox comedy starring Maureen O'Hara, Robert Young, and Clifton Webb (seen here), receives a rare TCM showing.

...November concludes with Ann Blyth, Howard Keel, and Vic Damone starring in the MGM musical KISMET (1955) on November 30th.

Please visit the online schedule as well as my Quick Preview of TCM in November and TCM Star of the Month: Bette Davis for more information on TCM in November 2019.

Happy November movie viewing, and best wishes for a very happy Thanksgiving to all my readers!