TCM in January: Highlights

Happiest New Year wishes to all for a wonderful 2024!

It's time for a detailed look at the January 2024 schedule for Turner Classic Movies.

Robert Mitchum will be the January Star of the Month, with over 40 of his films shown on Tuesday evenings and Wednesday mornings. I'll be posting the complete Star of the Month schedule with review links here on January 2nd.  (Update: Here is my post!)

The January Noir Alley titles will be PICKUP (1951) on the 6th and 7th, I DIED A THOUSAND TIMES (1955) on January 13th-14th, STAGE FRIGHT (1950) on January 20th and 21st, and WOMAN IN HIDING (1950) on the 27th and 28th.

The TCM Spotlight will focus on the centennial of Columbia Pictures every Wednesday, while this month's Special Theme, on Thursdays, is The Power of Film.

It should be noted that as I write this there are still a handful of "TBA" blanks on the schedule, so there may be a surprise or two in store as the month goes on.

Here's a look at some of the many interesting movies being shown on TCM this month. Please click any hyperlinked title for a full-length review.

...TCM's celebration of the Columbia Pictures centennial kicks off on January 3rd with titles including the Oscar-winning Frank Capra films IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934) and YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU (1938).

...A Jane Wyman birthday tribute on January 4th includes THE DOUGHGIRLS (1944), costarring Ann Sheridan, Alexis Smith, and Eve Arden.

...January 5th brings us "Movies on Ice," including three films starring Belita: SILVER SKATES (1943), costarring fave Patricia Morison; SUSPENSE (1946) with Barry Sullivan and Bonita Granville; and THE HUNTED (1948) with Preston Foster.

...Speaking of wintry movies, don't miss the very fun SNOWED UNDER (1936) on January 7th. George Brent, Genevieve Tobin, and a great cast make for perfect January viewing.

...Sunday evening on the 7th there's a terrific Charles Boyer double bill consisting of HISTORY IS MADE AT NIGHT (1937) and CLUNY BROWN (1946). Both are gems. Recommended!

...I'm excited about January 8th, when TCM will show two films for the first time, the newly restored THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD (1926), starring George O'Brien and Janet Gaynor, who would later costar in the classic SUNRISE (1927), and ANNIE LAURIE (1927), starring Lillian Gish.

...The second evening of Columbia Pictures films, on January 10th, includes the classic Rita Hayworth-Glenn Ford film GILDA (1946) and the "Ranown" Western RIDE LONESOME (1959), my favorite of the films Randolph Scott and Budd Boetticher made together.

...January 11th is Rod Taylor's birthday, which will be celebrated with a seven-film Taylor lineup on TCM. I especially recommend one of my favorite romantic comedies, SUNDAY IN NEW YORK (1963). I'll always be grateful I got to see Robert Osborne introduce it at the TCM Classic Film Festival -- on a Sunday, no less!

...Eight SAINT mysteries (1938-43) are playing on January 12th. I believe I've seen all of them, and I find it a most enjoyable series.

...BABY BOOM (1987) is playing on TCM in prime time on January 14th. It's a film I especially love, as I wrote about here; this Diane Keaton comedy is a "newer" film with a classic film sensibility, while also being a fascinating '80s time capsule.

...There are several very good, underrated 1950s musicals playing on January 16th, including KISMET (1955), LOVELY TO LOOK AT (1952), TWO WEEKS WITH LOVE (1950), and EASY TO LOVE (1953). This is a particularly great day to relax on the sofa and enjoy TCM!

...HOMECOMING (1948) is an excellent, underrated film about wartime relationships which stars Clark Gable, Lana Turner, and Anne Baxter. It airs on January 18th.

...George O'Brien and a young Laraine Day, billed as Laraine Johnson, star in the "B" Western ARIZONA LEGION (1939) on the 20th.

...I KNOW WHERE I'M GOING (1945) is a movie which offers pure joy no matter how many times you've seen it. It will be shown January 21st.

...A day of films set on California's Catalina Island, airing January 23rd, includes Doris Day and Rod Taylor in THE GLASS BOTTOM BOAT (1966). TCM's creative theming never disappoints!

...TCM will celebrate the birthday of Joan Leslie on January 26th with a seven-film lineup. I've seen most of the films and they're all worthwhile, but I'll particularly highlight THE SKY'S THE LIMIT (1943), the underrated musical she made with Fred Astaire. It has a wonderful Mercer-Arlen score including "One For My Baby" and "My Shining Hour."

...TCM will celebrate the January 28th birthday of Colleen Moore in prime time with a lineup which includes the TCM premiere of THE SCARLET LETTER (1934).

...There are several fun little movies about artists airing on January 29th, including THE GIRL FROM JONES BEACH (1949) starring Ronald Reagan and Virginia Mayo. I found it quite entertaining.

...The Columbia Pictures series ends on January 31st with a collection of "newer" films all being shown on TCM for the first time ever, including CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON (2000).

For more on TCM in January 2024, please check out Quick Preview of TCM in January and TCM Star of the Month: Robert Mitchum, along with TCM's online schedule.

Happy New Year!

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