TCM in April: Highlights

April is a special month on Turner Classic Movies, as the channel celebrates the centennial of Warner Bros.

The studio was founded April 4, 1923.

The entire TCM schedule will be devoted to Warner Bros. films in April, along with shorts and cartoons from the studio.

Documentaries on Warner Bros. are also on the schedule, including CINEMA FINDS ITS VOICE (2023) and THE BROTHERS WARNER (2007) on April 1st and JACK L. WARNER: THE LAST MOGUL (1993) on April 2nd.

Over the course of the month TCM will premiere restorations of 10 Warner Bros. films, with introductions by filmmakers and other experts. These films are as follows:

*SAFE IN HELL (1931) - HD Blu-ray remaster introduced by Alexander Payne (April 3rd)

*ONE WAY PASSAGE (1932) - HD Blu-ray remaster (April 2nd)

*THE STRAWBERRY BLONDE (1941) - HD Blu-ray remaster introduced by Wes Anderson (April 11th)

*STORM WARNING (1951) - HD Blu-ray remaster introduced by Martin Scorsese (April 7th)

*A LION IS IN THE STREETS (1953) - HD Blu-ray remaster introduced by Daphne Dentz and Robyn Sklaren of the Warner Bros.-Discovery Library (April 9th)

*LAND OF THE PHAROAHS (1955) - HD Blu-ray remaster introduced by Martin Scorsese (April 14th)

*EAST OF EDEN (1955) - 4K restoration introduced by Wes Anderson and Joanna Hogg (April 26th)

*HELEN OF TROY (1956) - HD Blu-ray remaster (April 3rd)

*RIO BRAVO (1959) - 5K restoration introduced by Martin Scorsese (April 17th)

RACHEL, RACHEL (1968) - HD Blu-ray remaster introduced by Ethan Hawke (April 21st)

As mentioned in my preview, Mondays and Thursdays will celebrate directors, while the studio's contract actors will be honored with two films apiece on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Other films are grouped thematically, starting on April 1st with "Early Years" and "How It Started and the Dawn of Sound," then moving into the studio's legendary crime films, pre-Codes, Busby Berkeley musicals, and on into the future from there.

TCM has a special schedule available which breaks the month down in extensive detail, including listing all the actors and directors to be honored and even the shorts and cartoons appearing in between the movies.

This month is a wonderful opportunity for all film fans to immerse themselves in the history and productions of a single studio and appreciate Warner Bros. as a whole.

Instead of my usual pattern of picking films to highlight by calendar day, this month I've selected 10 favorite Warner Bros. films to recommend from varied genres. They're listed in chronological order:

*BLESSED EVENT (1932) - April 1st - This comedy is a marvelous example of the pre-Code era; various scenes were censored all over the country.

*GOLD DIGGERS OF 1933 (1933) - April 4th - A Depression-era classic with amazing Busby Berkeley production numbers.

*G-MEN (1935) - April 2nd - After a spate of pre-Code gangster films, Warner Bros. actors switched to the right side of the law in the post-Code era. I love this one.

*THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (1938) - April 6th - One of my all-time favorite films. A perfect movie, including actors, script, and the Korngold score.

*FOUR DAUGHTERS (1938) - April 27th - Marvelous example of the studio system, with a deep cast populating every role.

*CONFESSIONS OF A NAZI SPY (1938) - April 7th - Excellent example of Warner Bros. leading Hollywood's charge against the Nazis years prior to our entry in WWII.

*CASABLANCA (1942) - April 8th - What can be said about the greatness of this film? If I had to pick a single movie to represent Warner Bros. at its peak, it would be this one.

*ROMANCE ON THE HIGH SEAS (1948) - April 25th - Doris Day's film debut: "It's Magic."

*THEM! (1954) - April 15th - Classic of the sci-fi genre.

*SUPERMAN (1978) - April 23rd - I've included a favorite "newer" film here, though it's a bit sobering to realize this movie is now 45 years old! The John Williams score never fails to thrill.

The above titles are just a sampling of the incredible riches to be found on this month's TCM schedule. Please dive in and enjoy!

For anyone who may be wondering, TCM's regular franchises such as Noir Alley and Silent Sunday Nights will return in May.

For more on TCM in April 2023, please visit the complete schedule along with my Quick Preview of TCM in April.

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