Quick Preview of TCM in March

A few days ago I previewed the February schedule for Turner Classic Movies, and now the channel's March schedule is available as well!

As usual, the first days of March are actually the conclusion of February's "31 Days of Oscar." The March schedule then gets underway on March 3rd, a day earlier than usual due to Leap Day.

The March Star of the Month is Joe E. Brown. Over 20 Brown films will be shown on Wednesday evenings.

I'm not a particular fan of the actor but I admire TCM providing a "deep dive" into Brown's career. Even better news is that the Brown lineup will include Betty's Grable's 20th Century-Fox musical PIN UP GIRL (1944). It's been shown on TCM in the past, but Fox musicals don't make it onto the schedule on a regular basis so that's great news.

As a matter of fact, there's a second Betty Grable Fox musical airing on TCM in March, THE SHOCKING MISS PILGRIM (1947), shown as part of a centennial celebration of the 19th Amendment. And there's even more Fox musical goodness with the delightful THREE LITTLE GIRLS IN BLUE (1946), starring June Haver, Vera-Ellen, Vivian Blaine, and George Montgomery.

Also of particular note: TCM is showing the very good Universal Pictures Western RAILS INTO LARAMIE (1954), starring John Payne and Dan Duryea. (February 29th Update: RAILS INTO LARAMIE dropped off the final March schedule. Let's hope it is shown on TCM in the future!) (March 19th Update: RAILS INTO LARAMIE is now back on the 3/31 late night schedule!)

The TCM Spotlight for March is "Life at Sea," focusing on all kinds of movies set on ships and submarines. I've seen many of the films in this series, and it's a terrific lineup.

After taking February off for Oscar month, Noir Alley returns on March 7th with Robert Montgomery's RIDE THE PINK HORSE (1947) from Universal Pictures. It's a terrific Noir Alley month which also features yet another Betty Grable film, Fox's I WAKE UP SCREAMING (1941) plus ELEVATOR TO THE GALLOWS (1958) and one of my all-time favorites, CRIME WAVE (1954). CRIME WAVE is seen here with Sterling Hayden and Gene Nelson.

Also of interest is a screening of the documentary BE NATURAL: THE UNTOLD STORY OF ALICE GUY-BLACHE (2018), recently released on DVD by Kino Lorber.

Filmmakers receiving multifilm tributes next March include Bette Davis, Troy Donahue, Steve McQueen, Maureen O'Hara, Sterling Hayden, Charlton Heston, and Reginald Denny, who receives a prime time salute. "A Mankiewicz Weekend" is also on the schedule.

Although the films are scattered throughout the schedule, it's a particularly good month for Robert Montgomery's many fans, as TCM is showing a number of his movies.

March themes include war nurses, crime sprees, Wyatt Earp, gambling, and baseball.

As usual, there's an Irish-themed lineup for St. Patrick's Day including three films directed by John Ford.

Please click any hyperlinked title in this post for my detailed review. I'll be posting more on the March schedule here around March 1st!

Joan Blondell is currently the December Star of the Month, with Patricia Neal scheduled for January and 31 Days of Oscar in February.

Update: For more on TCM in March 2020, please visit TCM in March: Highlights.