TCM in April: Highlights

It's time for a look at the April schedule on Turner Classic Movies!

The April Star of the Month is Errol Flynn. Over 40 Flynn films will be shown on Mondays beginning on April 4th. I'll have a post with the Star of the Month schedule and review links up prior to the start of that series. (Update: Please visit my post TCM Star of the Month: Errol Flynn.)

With the conclusion of March's 31 Days of Oscar schedule, the usual monthly franchises return to TCM in April, including Noir Alley. This month's Noir Alley titles will be PITFALL (1948) on April 2nd and 3rd, BOB LE FLAMBEUR (1956) April 9th-10th, NIGHT AND THE CITY (1950) April 16th and 17th, THE WINDOW (1949) April 23rd-24th, and JOHNNY ANGEL (1945) on April 30th and May 1st.

The TCM Spotlight on Thursday evenings is focused on "Time," and the Special Theme on Wednesdays looks at films on "Addiction and Recovery." There's another special them on April 8th and 15th focused on baseball.

Additional special events in May include a centennial tribute to Doris Day on April 3rd, a two-night tribute to the late Peter Bogdanovich on April 22nd and 23rd, and two evenings of British classics with special guest Juliet Mills, on April 19th and 26th.

Below are just a few of the many interesting things airing on TCM this month. Please click on any hyperlinked title to read a complete review.

...A birthday tribute to Debbie Reynolds on April 1st includes the delightful GIVE A GIRL A BREAK (1953), costarring Bob Fosse and Marge and Gower Champion.  It's one of those "little" films which always delights me and I wish were better known.

...The Saturday morning lineup on April 2nd includes George O'Brien and Virginia Vale in the RKO "B" Western LEGION OF THE LAWLESS (1940).

...The Doris Day centennial tribute on April 3rd will include favorite films such as ON MOONLIGHT BAY (1951) and CALAMITY JANE (1953), along with some Doris Day TV programs.

...Later in the evening on April 3rd, there's a film directed by Yasujiro Ozu I've never seen before, AN INN IN TOKYO (1935).

...April 5th Alicia Malone will celebrate her new book GIRLS ON FILM with a lineup which includes THE BAD AND THE BEAUTIFUL (1952) and GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES (1953).

...A day of '60s films on April 6th includes the very enjoyable COME FLY WITH ME (1962), focusing on the romantic adventures of a trio of stewardesses, and the mavelous French musical THE YOUNG GIRLS OF ROCHEFORT (1967).

...I love that TCM is devoting a day to Virginia O'Brien on April 8th. (She was born April 18th, 1919.) TCM is showing seven films, including THE HARVEY GIRLS (1946).

...April 9th and 10th the theme is "Weekend in Paris." There are some great titles that weekend but the best news, as far as I'm concerned, is that TCM is showing the delightful comedy MIDNIGHT (1939) on April 10th. MIDNIGHT stars Claudette Colbert, Don Ameche, John Barrymore, Mary Astor, and Francis Lederer.

...The theme on April 11th is "On the Run," including Stewart Granger, Cyd Charisse, and Wendell Corey in THE WILD NORTH (1952).

...On April 12th TCM's Scott McGee will be the guest for a night on stuntmen, tying in with his brand-new book DANGER ON THE SILVER SCREEN. Films shown will include STAGECOACH (1939).

...April 13th is a birthday tribute to Howard Keel. The entire lineup is great, including KISS ME KATE (1953) and SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS (1954).

...Another great day of musicals is on April 15th, when TCM celebrates director Charles Walters. Films will include favorites such as GOOD NEWS (1947) and SUMMER STOCK (1950). GOOD NEWS stars June Allyson and Peter Lawford, with Gene Kelly and Judy Garland starring in SUMMER STOCK.

...There's more Judy Garland on Easter Sunday, April 17th, when TCM will host its usual screening of EASTER PARADE (1948). Fred Astaire and Ann Miller costar.

...A lineup of Robert Mitchum films on April 20th includes the very funny JOHNNY DOESN'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE (1944), starring Simone Simon. The little film deserves to be better known.

...The time travel theme on April 21st includes Dick Powell and Linda Darnell in Rene Clair's delightful IT HAPPENED TOMORROW (1944).

...April 22nd is a day of Westerns! Films will include the excellent ROUGHSHOD (1949), starring Robert Sterling, Gloria Grahame, and Claude Jarman Jr.

...The British films guest hosted by Juliet Mills on April 26th will include Hitchcock's great THE LADY VANISHES (1938).

...A birthday tribute to Lionel Barrymore on April 28th will include YOUNG DR. KILDARE (1938).

...The month wraps up on Saturday, April 30th, with INDIAN AGENT (1948), starring Tim Holt and Nan Leslie (seen together at left). I saw it at the 2019 Lone Pine Film Festival.

As a reminder, the TCM Classic Film Festival returns to Hollywood from April 21st through the 24th. The schedule went live this week, and I'll have a detailed look at it here in the near future.  (Update: Here are my picks from the festival schedule!)

For more on TCM in April 2022, please visit my Quick Preview of TCM in April, TCM Star of the Month: Errol Flynn, and TCM's online schedule.

Happy movie viewing!

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