TCM in February: Highlights

January is now behind us, and it's time for a close-up look at the February schedule for Turner Classic Movies!

Rita Moreno will be TCM's February Star of the Month. 17 Moreno films will be shown spread across Thursday evenings this coming month.

The Star of the Month schedule will include the TCM premieres of THE FABULOUS SENORITA (1952), with Estelita Rodriguez in the lead, and THE VAGABOND KING (1956) starring Kathryn Grayson. The films will be shown on February 2nd and 9th, respectively.

Additional information on this month's Star of the Month schedule may be found below.

The February Noir Alley films will be HANGOVER SQUARE (1945) on February 4th and 5th, KISS THE BLOOD OFF MY HANDS (1948) on the 11th-12th, LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE (1951) on the 18th and 19th, and HUNT THE MAN DOWN (1950) on February 25th and 26th.

It's a particularly good month on TCM, with some interesting premieres and a few more films shown which don't turn up on the network with great frequency. I especially love this month's TCM Spotlight, which focuses on screwball comedies every Tuesday evening. Additional "Special Themes" in February include Black History Month and Piano Players.

Below are additional highlights for the coming month. Please click on any hyperlinked title to read my complete review.

...February 1st starts off with a disaster theme featuring earthquakes, shipwrecks, and plane crashes. Favorites on the schedule include SAN FRANCISCO (1936) starring Clark Gable, Jeanette MacDonald, and Spencer Tracy.

...A day of nine Dr. Kildare and Dr. Gillespie films will be featured on February 2nd. I found this series thoroughly entertaining, with many fun guest stars and supporting players.

...The first night of Rita Moreno films on the 2nd. features several '50s films in which she played a supporting role. Movies include SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952), in which she had a small but memorable part as Zelda Zanders, and LATIN LOVERS (1952), in which she dances the samba with Ricardo Montalban.

...A pair of films directed by Ida Lupino are featured on February 5th. I recommend both NEVER FEAR (1949), with Sally Forrest as a young dancer struck down by polio and Keefe Brasselle as her fiance, and THE HITCH-HIKER (1953), a terrifying thriller. For more info on the latter film, here's an article I wrote last file on one of the movie's locations.

...Monday, February 6th, is a slice of Joel McCrea heaven! 10 films will be shown featuring the actor, including several pre-Codes and THE OKLAHOMAN (1957).

...I've seen all five films airing on the first night of screwball comedies on February 7th. They all star Cary Grant, and they're all terrific. I particularly recommend MY FAVORITE WIFE (194) which might possibly be the least known of the movies shown that night. Irene Dunne, Randolph Scott, and Gail Patrick costar.

...February 9th features a day of Alexis Smith films, including ANY NUMBER CAN PLAY (1949) with Clark Gable and an all-star cast. I liked that one a lot.

...The second night of Rita Moreno films, on the 9th, includes a rare TCM showing of THE KING AND I (1956), in which she played Tuptim.

...John Ford's SERGEANT RUTLEDGE (1960) will be shown on February 11th as part of the series in honor of Black History Month. Woody Strode, Jeffrey Hunter, and Constance Towers star.

...Shirley Temple films are not shown very frequently on TCM, but February 12th features a Temple double bill of CURLY TOP (1935) and John Ford's WEE WILLIE WINKIE (1937).

...Valentine's Day features a variety of romances during the daytime hours, followed by the second night of screwball comedies. The half-dozen titles that night include one of the greatest screwball comedies of them all, MY MAN GODFREY (1936), starring Carole Lombard and William Powell.

...An evening of films featuring pianists on February 15th features another film not shown on TCM often, THE EDDY DUCHIN STORY (1956), starring Tyrone Power and Kim Novak.

...The February 16th theme is Los Angeles location filming, including ANCHORS AWEIGH (1945) with Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and Kathryn Grayson. The Technicolor shots of the Hollywood Bowl are beautiful!

...I love the daytime theme on the 17th: Gowns by Adrian. The seven-film lineup includes MADAM SATAN (1930) and ZIEGFELD GIRL (1941).

...There's another '30s comedy on Sunday, February 19th: JOY OF LIVING (1938) starring Irene Dunne and Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

...President's Day on February 20th starts off with nine MAISIE films starring Ann Sothern, followed by several Presidential biographies. My favorite of the bios is YOUNG MR. LINCOLN (1939), with John Ford directing Henry Fonda. It's a beautiful film.

...There are more screwball comedies on the 21st including THE LADY EVE (1941) starring Henry Fonda and Barbara Stanwyck. Watching the Fonda films on back-to-back evenings will give the viewer looks at two very different characters!

...The beautiful film SUNRISE (1927), starring George O'Brien and Janet Gaynor, is being shown in primetime on February 22nd. Highly recommended.

...A birthday tribute to Marjorie Main on February 24th includes a pair of excellent "B" pictures, THE AFFAIRS OF MARTHA (1942) and GENTLE ANNIE (1944). Both films have excellent casts and are well worth checking out.

...There are some top-notice films on Sunday, February 26th, including LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA (1962) starring Olivia de Havilland and Yvette Mimieux.

...I'm very fond of CYNTHIA (1947), a minor yet entertaining film being shown as part of a February 27th birthday tribute to Elizabeth Taylor. I watched it many times as a child. Mary Astor and George Murphy play Taylor's parents.

...February ends on a great note with a day of "1930s Westerns" on February 28th, including GUN LAW (1938) starring George O'Brien and Rita Oehmen, who was the mother of Charmian Carr of THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965). Then it's time for half a dozen more screwball comedies including two of the best, THE PALM BEACH STORY (1942) and THE MAJOR AND THE MINOR (1942).

For more on TCM in February 2023, please visit my Quick Preview of TCM in February as well as TCM's online schedule.

Enjoy all the great movies on TCM this month!

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