TCM in July: Highlights

Happy summer movie viewing!

It's time for a close look at the July schedule on Turner Classic Movies.

The July Star of the Month will be Elvis Presley. I believe he was last a TCM Star of the Month two decades ago, in January 2001. His movies will be shown on Thursday evenings this month. Please note there will not be a separate Star of the Month post for July.

The July Noir Alley films are GUILTY BYSTANDER (1950) on July 3rd and 4th, THE BRIBE (1949) on the 10th and 11th, THE BITTER STEMS (1956), aka LOS TALLOS AMARGOS, July 17th and 18th, and CAUSE FOR ALARM! (1950) on July 24th-25th.

All of this month's Noir Alley films are worthwhile. I especially like THE BRIBE, which has a fantastic cast including Robert Taylor, Ava Gardner, John Hodiak, Charles Laughton, and Vincent Price -- not to mention a spectacular fireworks finale.

"Neo-Noir" will be the theme on Friday evenings, co-hosted by Eddie Muller and Ben Mankiewicz. Titles will include CHINATOWN (1974), BODY HEAT (1981), and TEQULIA SUNRISE (1988), to give an idea of the kinds of films which will be part of the series.

Wednesdays the TCM Spotlight will feature films From Hollywood to the Heartland. And on July 19th there's a unique day, 100 Years of Olympic Films.

Below are some additional highlights from among the many great viewing options on TCM this month. Please click on any hyperlinked title to read a full-length review.

...July 1st is a tribute to the great William Wyler, with half a dozen films including MRS. MINIVER (1942) and THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946). Can't ever go wrong watching those movies. I'd also note that BEST YEARS repeats on July 25th, and Wyler's classic Western THE BIG COUNTRY (1958) can be found on July 10th.

...The theme on July 2nd is troubled children. I recommend BOYS' RANCH (1946), a nicely done MGM family film starring James Craig, Dorothy Patrick, and Jackie "Butch" Jenkins. Craig plays a former baseball player running a ranch for orphaned and troubled boys, who include Darryl Hickman and Skip Homeier.

...Saturday morning films on July 3rd include the "B" film LADY GANGSTER (1942) with Faye Emerson, a brisk 62-minute remake of LADIES THEY TALK ABOUT (1932) which starred Barbara Stanwyck.

...Independence Day kicks off with AH, WILDERNESS (1935) and its MGM musical remake SUMMER HOLIDAY (1948), seen here with Mickey Rooney and Gloria DeHaven. That day I especially recommend Nelson Eddy in LET FREEDOM RING (1939), a lesser-known MGM musical which I really enjoyed. As is often the case, the evening's entertainment includes THE MUSIC MAN (1962), YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942), and 1776 (1972).

...July 5th features a lineup of fun romances including A GIRL, A GUY, AND A GOB (1941) starring Lucille Ball, George Murphy, and Edmond O'Brien.

...WHEN LADIES MEET (1941) stars the wonderful quartet of Greer Garson, Robert Taylor, Joan Crawford, and Herbert Marshall. It's a remake of a 1933 version which starred Ann Harding, Robert Montgomery, Myrna Loy, and Frank Morgan. It's on July 6th.

...The entertaining aviation disaster film THE CROWDED SKY (1960) airs on July 8th, starring Dana Andrews, Rhonda Fleming, and Efrem Zimbalist Jr. Years later Andrews and Zimbalist were involved in another mid-sky collision in AIRPORT 1975 (1974)!

...A day of films with "sun" in the title on July 9th includes Jeanette MacDonald in her last film, the moving THE SUN COMES UP (1949). Lloyd Nolan, Claude Jarman Jr., and Lassie costar.

...July 11th features back-to-back screenings of MGM's THE WOMEN (1939) and THE OPPOSITE SEX (1956), both made with all-star casts. Unlike the original film, the remake does include men in the cast.

...Two superb 1948 Westerns recently restored by the Warner Archive air early on July 14th: BLOOD ON THE MOON (1948) and RACHEL AND THE STRANGER (1948). BLOOD ON THE MOON stars Robert Mitchum, Barbara Bel Geddes, Robert Preston and Walter Brennan; its previously murky print is now hugely improved. As for RACHEL AND THE STRANGER, with Mitchum joining Loretta Young and William Holden as leads, 12 minutes were restored to the film for the first time in decades.

...There's an absolutely marvelous day of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy films on July 15th. I've seen all but one and especially recommend SWEETHEARTS (1938), seen here, and NEW MOON (1940), but they're all good.

...Barbara Stanwyck's birthday is celebrated on July 16th with a lineup of nine films. I've again seen most of that day's movies and want to mention an enjoyable, short little film, THE SECRET BRIDE (1936), costarring Warren William and Glenda Farrell.

...The British murder mystery GREEN FOR DANGER (1946) is also great "movie comfort viewing"; indeed, it was a film I turned to to revisit early in last year's lockdown. Alastair Sim plays the investigator, with Trevor Howard, Leo Genn, and Sally Gray among the suspects. It's on July 17th.

...On July 19th, Silent Sunday Nights features Harold Lloyd in THE KID BROTHER (1927), costarring the wonderful Jobyna Ralston.

...July 22nd is an especially wonderful day on the calendar, leading off with Joyce Reynolds as JANIE (1944), seen in this photo, followed by the Lane Sisters in FOUR DAUGHTERS (1938) and eight Irene Dunne films! A really wonderful day of movies.

...A day of "Sinbad" films on July 23rd includes Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Maureen O'Hara in the colorful SINBAD THE SAILOR (1947).

...You can't find a better movie for a relaxing summer Saturday afternoon than THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (1938), being shown on July 24th.

...Aline MacMahon, Ann Dvorak and Preston Foster star in the engrossing desert drama HEAT LIGHTNING (1934), showing on July 26th.

...AS THE EARTH TURNS (1934) is a fine filming of the Pulitzer Prize nominated novel by Gladys Hasty Carroll, a favorite of mine since high school days. Jean Muir heads an excellent cast. The air date is July 28th.

...William Powell fans rejoice! His July 29th birthday will be celebrated with a lineup of nine films including LAWYER MAN (1932) with Joan Blondell, FASHIONS OF 1934 (1934) with Bette Davis (and the "Hall of Human Harps"!), and DOUBLE WEDDING (1937) with Myrna Loy.

...A day of spy films on July 30th includes Paul Henreid and Hedy Lamarr in THE CONSPIRATORS (1944).

...The month closes out July 31st with one of the best "B" films ever made, RKO's FIVE CAME BACK (1939). It's amazing how much tension can be created in 75 minutes mostly spent in a soundstage jungle. Chester Morris, Lucille Ball, Kent Taylor, and Wendy Barrie head the cast.

For more on TCM in July 2021, please check out my Quick Preview of TCM in July along with TCM's online schedule, which will be available beginning July 1st.

Happy summer!

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