Happy November! It's time for a look at this month's schedule on Turner Classic Movies.
The
November Star of the Month is
Sydney Greenstreet. All 22 of Greenstreet's movies will be shown on Wednesday evenings. I'll be highlighting some of his films below; please note there will not be a separate Star of the Month post for November.
The
TCM Spotlight will be focused on movies with great dance numbers. I love this idea!
Special themes this month include a continuation of October's New Wave series, along with '60s rom coms.
The November
Noir Alley titles are
5 STEPS TO DANGER (1957) on
November 6th and
7th, THE LINEUP (1958) on
November 13th-14th,
JOHNNY O'CLOCK (1947) on the
20th-21st, and TIGHT SPOT (1955)
November 27th-28th.
I've enjoyed 5 STEPS TO DANGER, which stars
Sterling Hayden and Ruth Roman, on multiple occasions, and JOHNNY O'CLOCK, with
Dick Powell headlining a top cast, is terrific.
Below are just a few of this month's highlights. Please click on any hyperlinked title to read an extended review.
...The daytime theme on
November 2nd is "Nevada," including films ranging from Richard Dix in
RENO (1939) to
THE WOMEN (1939) to
BORN TO KILL (1947). The latter, starring Claire Trevor and Lawrence Tierney, directed by Robert Wise, is one of my all-time favorite film noir titles.
...The first Star of the Month evening featuring Sydney Greenstreet is on
November 3rd. The lineup starts with THE MALTESE FALCON (1941) and includes a solid list of films including
ACROSS THE PACIFIC (1942) and
CONFLICT (1945), which like THE MALTESE FALCON starred Humphrey Bogart.
...The prime time schedule on
November 4th is inspired by the new book
HOLLYWOOD VICTORY by Christian Blauvelt, which I'll be reviewing here at a future date. Titles include
HOLD BACK THE DAWN (1941) starring Charles Boyer and
Olivia de Havilland, which I highly recommend.
...
November 5th is one of my favorite nights on the schedule: Leonard Maltin hosts an evening of "Musical Gems." The films shown that evening are START CHEERING (1938), REVEILLE WITH BEVERLY (1943), LADIES OF THE CHORUS (1949), and TIME OUT FOR RHYTHM (1941). I haven't yet seen any of them, despite some of the movies starring favorites like Ann Miller (see at the top of this post in REVEILLE WITH BEVERLY) and
Rosemary Lane. It should be a great evening!
...I really enjoyed LADY BE GOOD (1941) over a decade ago and am due for a rewatch. The top cast includes Ann Sothern, Eleanor Powell, Robert Young, and Red Skelton. It's got a terrific score, including the Oscar-winning "The Last Time I Saw Paris." It's being shown November 7th.
...I love the daytime theme on November 8th, "Stairsteps." The titles include ZIEGFELD GIRL (1941), in which stairs play a prominent role on stage and off. Judy Garland, Hedy Lamarr, and Lana Turner star...Later on the 8th, the evening of films with great dance numbers features my favorite movie dance of all time, the barn-raising dance in SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS (1954).
...On
November 9th the daytime theme is dogs. I particularly recommend
BANJO (1947), which I found to be a well-done family film starring the excellent child actress Sharyn Moffett (seen at right).
...November 10th is a day of Bulldog Drummond mystery films, including the TCM premiere of ARREST BULLDOG DRUMMOND (1939) starring John Howard.
...The second night of Sydney Greenstreet movies is also on November 10th; titles include the very enjoyable melodrama FLAMINGO ROAD (1949), from Greenstreet's last year in films. Joan Crawford, Zachary Scott, and David Brian also star.
...November 11th features a Veterans Day lineup of war films, including Gary Cooper in SERGEANT YORK (1941). That movie had quite an impact on me when I revisited it a year ago for the first time in many years. Joan Leslie costars. It was directed by Howard Hawks.
...The outstanding director Jacques Tourneur receives a birthday tribute on November 12th. The lineup begins with some of Tourneur's shorts and includes excellent films such as EXPERIMENT PERILOUS (1944) with George Brent and Hedy Lamarr; EASY LIVING (1949), a film about the football business with Victor Mature heading a top cast; and WICHITA (1955), starring Joel McCrea as Wyatt Earp.
...I'm delighted that TCM is honoring
Tim Holt on
November 15th. Eight films will be shown showcasing his career, franging from some of his RKO "B" Westerns to the all-time classics
THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS (1948) and THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE (1948).
...There's more Sydney Greenstreet goodness on Wednesday, November 17th; I particularly recommend the delightful romantic comedy PILLOW TO POST (1945), starring Ida Lupino. Greenstreet is terrific in it.
...A day of films "For Younger Viewers" on November 19th includes MGM's Cinderella musical THE GLASS SLIPPER (1955), starring Leslie Caron.
...The "dance numbers" movies on November 22nd include some of the all-time greats, starting with THE RED SHOES(1948) and AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (1951).
...November 23rd features the TCM premiere of
THE MAN IN GREY (1943) starring
Margaret Lockwood, James Mason, Stewart Granger, and Phyllis Calvert. It's part of the '40s cycle of British Gainsborough melodramas featuring various combinations of these four stars, along with actress Patricia Roc. The bad characters are very, very bad, and the good ones are saintly. And it's an awful lot of fun!
...It's a great month for Sharyn Moffett fans, with MY PAL, WOLF (1944) showing during the day on November 24th. It's a solid family film worth catching.
...Sydney Greenstreet films on Thanksgiving Eve include CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT (1945), which strikes me as perfect timing!
...Thanksgiving Day will feature a terrific lineup of family-centered comedies including ROOM FOR ONE MORE (1952), MR. BLANDINGS BUILDS HIS DREAM HOUSE (1948), and CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN (1950).
...Black Friday, November 26th, is a day of eight Ernst Lubitsch films! Titles include great films such as
THE MERRY WIDOW (1934) and
TROUBLE IN PARADISE (1932). A great day to lift the spirits!
...A day of mysteries on
November 29th includes the entertaining
WANTED! JANE TURNER (1936). Lee Tracy and Gloria Stuart (seen here) star. I really enjoyed this one and have watched it a couple of times.
...The month comes to a close with some excellent films including
FOUR DAUGHTERS (1938), with the Lane Sisters and Gale Page in the title roles.
Happy November movie viewing, and my best wishes as well for a happy Thanksgiving!
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