TCM in November: Highlights

Happy November! It's time for a look at this month's schedule on Turner Classic Movies.

James Mason is the November Star of the Month. Mason was previously honored by TCM in 2003.

Over two dozen of Mason's films will be shown on Thursday evenings. Please note there will not be a separate Star of the Month post for November.

The November Noir Alley films are CITY OF FEAR (1959) on November 5th-6th, TENSION (1947) November 12th and 13th, THE UNFAITHFUL (1947) on the 19th and 20th, and DEATH OF A CYCLIST (1955) the 26th and 27th.

I particularly love TENSION, which has a marvelous cast including Barry Sullivan, Audrey Totter, Richard Basehart, and Cyd Charisse.

The Wednesday TCM Spotlight focuses on "royalty" this month. Also of note in November is the start of the TCM Musical Matinee franchise on Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time/noon Eastern. The musicals kick off with Dave Karger hosting AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (1951) on November 5th.

There are a number of additional programming themes of interest this month which are included among the highlights below. Please click on any hyperlinked title to read the corresponding review. Happy viewing!

...November kicks off with a seven-film tribute to director George Cukor on November 1st. I'd like to particularly call attention to the excellent drama A LIFE OF HER OWN (1950), starring Lana Turner, Ray Milland, and Barry Sullivan.

...This month's only showing of PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE (1952) will be on November 3rd. It's admittedly not an especially good film, but the theme is particularly fitting for November, and it has a wonderful cast including Spencer Tracy, Gene Tierney, and Van Johnson.

...James Mason's Star of the Month films begin on the evening of November 3rd. The lineup includes an MGM favorite, EAST SIDE, WEST SIDE (1949), which has an all-star cast including Barbara Stanwyck, Van Heflin, Ava Gardner, and Cyd Charisse (seen here).

...A November 4th evening of films set in Egypt includes THE MUMMY (1932), which was filmed at Red Rock Canyon, which I visited this past summer.

...Silent Sunday Nights on November 6th features OUR DANCING DAUGHTERS (1928) starring Joan Crawford and Johnny Mack Brown.

...Great opening title sequences are highlighted on the evenings of November 7th and 14th. Titles on the 7th include CHARADE (1963), starring Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn.

...There's a fantastic day of Robert Ryan films on November 8th, including one of my favorites, ON DANGEROUS GROUND (1952), costarring Ida Lupino.

...November 9th features a birthday tribute to another favorite, Hedy Lamarr. The seven films shown that day include EXPERIMENT PERILOUS (1944), costarring George Brent and Paul Lukas.

...On November 10th the theme is jewel thieves, including one of my favorite "B" films, DOUBLE DANGER (1938), starring Preston Foster and Whitney Bourne.

...Veterans Day will be commemorated on Friday, November 11th, with a lineup of five films about World War II including THE LONGEST DAY (1962).

...Another very fun "B" film, CRASHING HOLLYWOOD (1938), will be shown late on November 12th. Lee Tracy stars.

...There's a seven-film birthday tribute to Dick Powell on November 14th. I've seen every film and they're all good or great; I'll particularly recommend Anthony Mann's 1860s suspense film THE TALL TARGET (1951).

..."Sibling Rivalry" is the theme on November 15th, with the lineup including the very good EAST OF THE RIVER (1940) starring John Garfield, Brenda Marshall, and William Lundigan.

...November 16th features a lineup of terrific films based on classic literature, including LITTLE WOMEN (1933) and PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (1940).

...TCM celebrates Christmas early on November 18th with a new CNN documentary, 'TIS THE SEASON (2022), and a trio of Christmas classics: CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT (1945), THE BISHOP'S WIFE (1947), and MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (1944).

...THE BARKLEYS OF BROADWAY (1949), the last of ten films costarring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, will be shown on November 20th.

...The 24-hour memorial tribute to Angela Lansbury takes place on Monday, November 21st. A dozen films will be shown including her second film, the wonderful NATIONAL VELVET (1944). Lansbury is seen here in that movie with Elizabeth Taylor and Juanita Quigley. 

...The theme on November 22nd is "The Automat," featuring the recent documentary I reviewed a few days ago. The evening will also feature films with scenes set at the Automat, including THIRTY DAY PRINCESS (1934) and EASY LIVING (1937).

...A rare TCM showing of THE KING AND I (1956) takes place on Thanksgiving Eve, November 23rd, as part of this month's "royalty" theme.

...Thanksgiving Day features a great lineup of family films including THE SECRET GARDEN (1949), seen here with Dean Stockwell and Margaret O'Brien, and the colorful MGM version of LITTLE WOMEN (1949). O'Brienn is again featured in that film, although with June Allyson, Janet Leigh, and Elizabeth Taylor.

...The 70th anniversary of Cinerama will be marked the evening of November 25th with the films THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF THE BROTHERS GRIMM (1962) and HOW THE WEST WAS WON (1962), as well as a 2021 documentary on the restoration of THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF THE BROTHERS GRIMM.

...The excellent Howard Hawks film ONLY ANGELS HAVE WINGS (1939), with Cary Grant and Jean Arthur leading a top cast, will air on Sunday, November 27th.

...SNOWED UNDER (1936) is a fun comedy which stands up to repeat viewings. George Brent, Genevieve Tobin, and Glenda Farrell star on November 28th.

...The marvelous Western BLOOD ON THE MOON (1948) will be shown November 29th. Robert Mitchum and Barbara Bel Geddes star. Halloween 2022, incidentally, was the centennial of Bel Geddes's birth.

...November concludes with a birthday tribute to Virginia Mayo on November 30th. The lineup includes a favorite Western, FORT DOBBS (1958), costarring Clint Walker and Brian Keith.

For more on TCM in November 2022, please visit my Quick Preview of TCM in November along with TCM's online schedule.

Happy November, and early wishes for a happy Thanksgiving!

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