TCM in April: 31 Days of Oscar Highlights
This year the annual 31 Days of Oscar festival runs from April 1st to May 1st. TCM has a special microsite with the schedule.
Every film shown during the festival was nominated for or won the Academy Award. This year all films included in the festival will be shown in alphabetical order, from A to Z!
I'm a bit behind with this post due to a heavy work schedule, so we'll start off with a look at April 3rd. Below are just a few of this month's highlights.
Please click any hyperlinked title to read my complete review, including more detailed plot descriptions and cast lists.
...There's back-to-back musical joy on Saturday, April 3rd, with Doris Day and Howard Keel in CALAMITY JANE (1953), followed by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in CAREFREE (1938), one of my top favorites of their 10 films together.
...When pressed to name one favorite film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, I usually land on FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT (1940), starring Joel McCrea, Laraine Day, and George Sanders. It's on April 6th.
...I haven't seen GREEN DOLPHIN STREET (1947) for many years and am looking forward to revisiting it soon thanks to a brand-new Warner Archive Blu-ray coming out later this month. It's also on TCM on April 8th. Lana Turner, Richard Hart, Van Heflin, and Donna Reed star, and there are some fabulous special effects.
...On New Year's Eve I had the delight of revisiting a favorite MGM musical, THE HARVEY GIRLS (1946). It's on TCM on April 9th. Judy Garland leads a wonderful deep cast.
...Dana Andrews and Dorothy McGuire star in I WANT YOU (1951) on April 11th. This Korean War film also stars Farley Granger and Peggy Dow. It's been nice to see this title turn up a couple times on TCM recently, as it's a very good film.
...April 12th is an excellent day on the schedule! I could have gone many directions with a recommendation but chose one of my favorite '40s romantic comedies, IT HAPPENED TOMORROW (1944), starring Dick Powell and Linda Darnell. It's a fantasy which is both funny and charming.
...I had the pleasure of seeing KISMET (1944) for the first time last year, starring Ronald Colman, Marlene Dietrich, James Craig, and Joy Page. It's on April 13th. Wonderful escapist entertainment.
...I have a very nice memory of a rainy Sunday afternoon at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood seeing Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, and William Powell in MANHATTAN MELODRAMA (1934). Hard to believe that next fall it will have been 10 years since that day. It's on TCM on April 16th.
...On the 17th I highly recommend another film from 1934, THE MERRY WIDOW (1934), starring Jeanette MacDonald and Maurice Chevalier, directed by Ernst Lubitsch. This film brought me such happiness at the 2018 TCM Classic Film Festival that I teared up at the end. Given the past year, I'm grateful that I have so many very special theatrical screenings to remember!
...Last September I revisited PAT AND MIKE (1952) for the first time in decades and was pleased to rediscover what a good movie it is. Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn star, directed by George Cukor. The air date is April 20th.
...I've revisited a number of MGM musicals in recent months thanks to new Warner Archive Blu-ray releases. One of them was THE PIRATE (1948) starring Gene Kelly and Judy Garland, directed by Vincente Minnelli. It would be worth watching if only for the stunning Technicolor visuals! It will be shown April 21st.
...PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (1940) was another old favorite revisited in 2020, and seeing it again was an absolute joy. It was perfect timing to revisit a special film like this one during the pandemic. Greer Garson and Laurence Olivier lead a marvelous cast. TCM is showing it on April 22nd.
...One of my top most favorite movies, SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS (1954), will be shown on April 24th. Some of the best dancing ever put on screen! Jane Powell and Howard Keel head the talented cast.
...One of the most recent MGM musical Blu-rays I've reviewed is SHOW BOAT (1951). It's my favorite version of the musical, showing on TCM April 25th.
...I haven't mentioned a non-musical Western yet this month, and they don't come any better than STAGECOACH (1939) on April 26th.
...SWING TIME (1936) is one of a few Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers movies showing this month, and it's also one of their very best. It's showing the 28th.
...The Ernst Lubitsch gem TO BE OR NOT TO BE (1942) is on April 29th, starring Jack Benny and Carole Lombard.
...Roy Rogers' first big film was UNDER WESTERN STARS (1938), which I saw at the 2018 Lone Pine Film Festival. It's showing on April 30th. The score includes "Listen to the Rhythm of the Range" and the Oscar-nominated "Dust."
For more on TCM in April 2021, please visit my Quick Preview of TCM in April or TCM's online schedule.
For those who may be interested, this year the Academy Awards ceremony is Sunday, April 25th.
Happy movie viewing!
posted by Laura @ 9:27 PM
4 Comments:
We are not at a loss for great movies to watch in April.
I'm a huge fan of CAREFREE as well. A bit closer to screwball comedy than most of the Fred and Ginger movies.
MYSTERY STREET is a neat little crime flick.
Now you've got me really interested in seeing KISMET. I had no idea Marlene Dietrich was in it. And it's on DVD. The last thing I should be doing at the moment is buying more DVDs but I'll probably buy it anyway.
I so enjoyed your wonderful review of movies coming to TCM in April! It's great to see 'Easter Parade' with Fred Astaire and Judy Garland is playing on Easter Sunday and other wonderful movies this month with Fred and Ginger Rogers, plus Doris Day in 'Calamity Jane!'
Have a blessed, Happy Easter Weekend! Net
Definitely tons of good stuff, Caftan Woman!
DforDoom, as much as I love Fred and Ginger's musicals, the main reason I love CAREFREE is that it's such a great screwball comedy! It's just so much fun. Also, I definitely agree about MYSTERY STREET! I was previously only familiar with the musical version of KISMET and found the '44 version a real treat. I hope you'll enjoy it!
Net, thank you so much for reading and for the nice feedback. It's great they were able to work the alphabetical choices out perfectly for EASTER PARADE to air in its usual slot on Easter! Happy Easter to you!
Best wishes,
Laura
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