TCM Star of the Month: Ruth Roman

Actress Ruth Roman is the November Star of the Month on Turner Classic Movies!

Roughly 20 of Roman's films will be shown on Tuesday evenings this month. The list includes two TCM premieres, noted below.

The complete Star of the Month schedule is below. It's an entertaining collection of movies. I particularly recommend THE WINDOW (1949), TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY (1951), and DOWN THREE DARK STREETS (1954).

Of course, Hitchcock's STRANGERS ON A TRAIN (1951) is always worth seeing as well!

Please click any hyperlinked title to read my extended review.

November 5th

BELLE STARR'S DAUGHTER (1948) (TCM Premiere)

CHAMPION (1949)

THE WINDOW (1949)

INVITATION (1952)

ALWAYS LEAVE THEM LAUGHING (1949)

STARLIFT (1951)

November 12th

STRANGERS ON A TRAIN (1951)

TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY (1951)

DOWN THREE DARK STREETS (1954)

LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE (1951)

YOUNG MAN WITH IDEAS (1952)

November 19th

DALLAS (1950)

GREAT DAY IN THE MORNING (1956)

BARRICADE (1950)

COLT .45 (1950)

November 26th

5 STEPS TO DANGER (1947)

JOE MACBETH (1955)

THE SHANGHAI STORY (1954) (TCM Premiere)

MARA MARU (1952)

LOOK IN ANY WINDOW (1961)

For more on TCM in November 2024, please visit my posts TCM in November: Highlights and Quick Preview of TCM in November, along with TCM's online schedule.

Related post: Book Review: Ruth Roman: A Career Portrait.

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Tonight's Movie: Bathing Beauty (1944) - A Warner Archive Blu-ray Review

MGM's delightful BATHING BEAUTY (1944) has just been released on Blu-ray by the Warner Archive Collection.

This Blu-ray release of the film which made Esther Williams a star is an absolute treat, starting with the print, a 1080p master from a new 4K scan of the original nitrate Technicolor camera negatives. When Esther climbs onto a diving board in a bright pink swimsuit early in the film, it's hard not to swoon over how incredible both she and the entire movie look.

Esther plays Caroline, a college gym teacher visiting California, where she plans to marry her fiance, a songwriter named Steve (Red Skelton, reviewed yesterday in THREE LITTLE WORDS).

Steve's colleague George (Basil Rathbone) deviously breaks up the wedding for reasons of his own, prompting broken-hearted Caroline to return to her old job in the East. Steve follows her, hoping to reconcile, and in desperation ends up enrolling at Caroline's school in order to be near her. The only problem with that plan is it's an all-girls college...!

The silly story is simply an excuse for a string of wonderfully colorful musical numbers featuring the likes of Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra with Lina Romay, Harry James and His Orchestra with Helen Forrest, organist Ethel Smith, and singer Carlos Ramirez.

The movie also gives Jean Porter and Janis Paige, who play students, the chance to shine in a musical number. I'll add here to watch for future Western leading ladies Karin Booth and Beverly Tyler as students in other scenes.

Watching this film, it's very easy to see why Williams became a star. She's confident, funny, and very beautiful. The finale is one of her best swim numbers, featuring fountains and swimmers in kaleidoscopic patterns; I first knew it thanks to THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT! (1974) and have loved it ever since.

I like Red Skelton in very limited doses, and he's kept under fairly good control here by director George Sidney. The nice supporting cast includes Nana Bryant, Donald Meek, Margaret Dumont, Ann Codee, Bill Goodwin, Dorothy Adams, and Jacqueline Dalya.

The movie's gorgeous settings and colorful scenes, filmed by Harry Stradling Sr., must have been wonderful escapism for World War II audiences when this film was released in the summer of 1944. A closing card informs viewers that men and women serving in combat zones would be seeing the film free of charge.

I smiled for most of the movie's 101 minutes and very much recommend this disc for anyone who loves MGM musicals and/or Esther Williams movies.

Disc extras include the TCM PRIVATE SCREENINGS interview of Esther Williams with Robert Osborne; a trailer; the Tom and Jerry cartoon MOUSE TROUBLE (1944); the short MAIN STREET TODAY (1944; 20m) featuring Ray Collins and Henry O'Neill, directed by Edward L. Cahn.

The disc also includes a song selection menu.

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray. Warner Archive Blu-rays may be ordered from Movie Zyng, Amazon, and other online retailers.

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Tonight's Movie: Three Little Words (1950) - A Warner Archive Blu-ray Review

The delightful MGM musical THREE LITTLE WORDS (1950) has recently been released on Blu-ray by the Warner Archive Collection.

I've shared here in the past that MGM musicals were among the key films which made me a lifelong classic movie fan.  THREE LITTLE WORDS is a relatively unsung yet thoroughly enjoyable film I especially enjoyed as I was growing up.

In fact, a favorite memory of mine is my parents pulling me out of school just before Thanksgiving to see a matinee of this film at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's Leo S. Bing Theater. Watching Fred Astaire and Vera-Ellen dancing instead of being in class is a near-lifelong fond memory.

The plot is fairly basic, chronicling the long and sometimes contentious teaming of songwriters Bert Kalmar (Astaire) and Harry Ruby (Red Skelton). Vera-Ellen plays Jessie, Bert's vaudeville partner and later his wife, while lovely Arlene Dahl plays actress Eileen Percy, who falls for Harry after he gets over the inconstant Terry (Gale Robbins).

Besides the beautiful women in their lives, Bert has an obsession with performing magic tricks, while Harry adores baseball.

First and foremost, the movie provides the chance to hear a wonderful catalogue of Kalmar-Ruby songs. Highlights include:

*Astaire and Vera-Ellen's dances "Mr. and Mrs. Hoofer at Home" and Thinking of You," choreographed by Hermes Pan; to my thinking Vera-Ellen was one of Astaire's finest partners, in both this and THE BELLE OF NEW YORK (1952), which I hope to see on Blu-ray one day.

*Gloria DeHaven portraying her own mother, Mrs. Carter DeHaven, singing "Who's Sorry Now?"

*Debbie Reynolds singing "I Wanna Be Loved By You," dubbed by the actress she was portraying, Helen Kane.

*Gloriously gowned and coiffed Arlene Dahl singing "I Love You So Much."

The movie, filmed by Harry Jackson in Technicolor, is a visual treat, with beautiful set designs and stunning gowns by MGM's great costume designer, Helen Rose.

It also sounds great, with Oscar-nominated scoring by music director Andre Previn; the distinctive "MGM" sound is heard in orchestrations by Conrad Salinger and others.

Astaire and Skelton are both moving at times as they contend with personal and partnership issues; they were each fine actors along with their better-known talents for dancing and comedy. 

When not performing musical numbers, Vera-Ellen and Dahl's functions are mostly portraying supportive spouses, but they're quite charming and nicely convey the way they "get" their husbands in few words.

The supporting cast includes Keenan Wynn, Carleton Carpenter, Phil Regan, Paul Harvey, and, in a tiny role, Beverly Michaels (WICKED WOMAN).

THREE LITTLE WORDS run a well-paced 102 minutes. It was directed by Richard Thorpe and scripted by George Wells.

The Warner Archive Collection Blu-ray print is superb. It's from a new 1080p HD master of 4K scans from the original nitrate Technicolor negatives. I've owned the 2006 DVD since it came out, and while it looked fine, my sense without doing a shot-by-shot comparison is that this Blu-ray is even better. That comes as no surprise given the consistent quality of Warner Archive Blu-rays.

Disc extras include the featurette "Two Swell Guys," imported from the DVD; the Tex Avery cartoon VENTRILOQUIST CAT (1950); the nine-minute Traveltalk short ROAMING THROUGH MICHIGAN (1950); the trailer; and a 15-minute radio promo from PAULA STONE'S HOLLYWOOD.

Like other Warner Archive MGM musical Blu-rays, the disc also includes a song selection menu, which is probably my favorite feature; the menu makes it easy to replay favorite musical numbers at will.

Recommended.

A closing note: The Warner Archive Collection also recently released MGM's Rodgers and Hart biopic WORDS AND MUSIC (1948), which I'll be reviewing in the near future.

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray. Warner Archive Blu-rays may be ordered from Movie Zyng, Amazon, and other online retailers.

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Around the Blogosphere This Week

Miscellaneous bits of news and fun stuff from around the Internet...

...The annual November Barnes & Noble Criterion Collection half-price sale is now underway! The sale ends December 2nd.

...Coming to Blu-ray soon from Kino Lorber: HOUSEBOAT (1958) starring Cary Grant and Sophia Loren. It will be from a 6K scan of the original 35mm VistaVision camera negative.

...I'm interested in seeing a couple new releases: CONCLAVE (2024), recently reviewed by Leonard Maltin, and JUROR NO. 2 (2024), the latest film directed by Clint Eastwood. Given Eastwood's age (94!), every additional film released by him is a wonder. Unfortunately Warner Bros. is not giving JUROR NO. 2 a wide release.

...Concerning news last week, as the Academy laid off a significant number of archivists, librarians, and film preservationists. The Academy seems to have skewed priorities of late, pouring money into the Academy Museum - which has made very questionable decisions on the history it's chosen to cover - while laying off actual preservationists and historians. Coverage: IndieWire, Deadline, and Variety.

...James L. Neibaur reviews David C. Tucker's new book on actor John Hodiak, published by McFarland.

...Coming to Blu-ray in December from the Warner Archive Collection: MR. LUCKY (1943), THE SPANISH MAIN (1945), NORA PRENTISS (1947), and THE TALL TARGET (1951).

...Next year Francis Ford Coppola will receive the AFI Life Achievement Award. He will be the 50th recipient.

...New later this month for fall cookbook season: MARTHA: THE COOKBOOK: 100 FAVORITE RECIPES, WITH LESSONS AND STORIES FROM MY KITCHEN by Martha Stewart.

...Tom Cruise is considering a sequel to his film DAYS OF THUNDER (1990).

...Some of the latest Blu-ray reviews from CineSavant Glenn Erickson at Trailers from Hell: I REMEMBER MAMA (1948) from the Warner Archive Collection and MADE IN ENGLAND: THE FILMS OF POWELL & PRESSBURGER (2024) from Kino Lorber. Look for reviews here at a future date.

...Colin offers musings on director William Dieterle and three Joseph Cotten films at Riding the High Country.

...A fundraiser is underway to install a memorial cenotaph for actress Veronica Lake at Valhalla Memorial Park in North Hollywood. I shared photos from a visit to Valhalla in 2020.

...Notable Passings: Actress Teri Garr has passed on at the age of 79...Alan Rachins of L.A. LAW has died at 82. He's survived by his wife, actress Joanna Frank...Artist Greg Hildebrandt, who created a famed STAR WARS (1977) poster with his twin brother Tim, has passed away at 85.

...Remembering the late Ann Rutherford on her November 2nd birthday...and there's a little more on Ann in this 2019 Western RoundUp column for Classic Movie Hub.

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my October 26th column.

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TCM in November: Highlights

Happy November!

It's time for a close look at all the good things coming to viewers this month on Turner Classic Movies.

Ruth Roman will be the November Star of the Month, with 20 films shown spread across Tuesday evenings.

The lineup will include the TCM premieres of two of Roman's films, BELLE STARR'S DAUGHTER (1948) and THE SHANGHAI STORY (1954).

I'll have a separate post up early next week with the complete schedule of Roman's films, as well as review links for many of her movies. I've previously reviewed roughly 2/3 of the Ruth Roman titles on this month's schedule.  (Update: Please visit TCM Star of the Month: Ruth Roman.)

The Noir Alley schedule in November consists of NOBODY LIVES FOREVER (1946) on November 2nd-3rd, LE DEUXIEME SOUFFLE (1966) on the 9th and 10th, TRAPPED (1949) November 23rd-24th, and NAKED ALIBI (1954) on November 30th and December 1st. I like all three of the titles I've previously seen and recommend checking them out. John Garfield and Geraldine Fitzgerald are seen at the right in NOBODY LIVES FOREVER.

The TCM Spotlight on Wednesdays is titled "Could Have Been Hitchcock?" The lineup features 20 suspense films including titles such as NIAGARA (1953) and A KISS BEFORE DYING (1956).

TCM will also feature Powell and Pressburger films on Thursday evenings, including the TCM premiere of the new documentary MADE IN ENGLAND: THE FILMS OF POWELL AND PRESSBURGER (2024). Incidentally, that documentary was just released on Blu-ray by Kino Lorber and I will be reviewing it here.

Here are additional highlights from the November schedule. Please click on any hyperlinked title to read my full-length review.

...The Musical Matinee on Saturday, November 2nd, is ANNIE GET YOUR GUN (1950). I revisited that film for the first time in years in 2021 and found it considerably better than I'd recommended; check it out. Howard Keel and Betty Hutton head the cast, filmed in some amazing Technicolor...Then stick around for a primetime double bill of two more Technicolor wonders, Danny Kaye and Virginia Mayo in THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY (1947) and A SONG IS BORN (1948).

...One of the movies which made me a Joan Crawford fan was the crime melodrama THE DAMNED DON'T CRY (1950), which I was fortunate to see on a big screen at the L.A. County Museum of Art's late, lamented Leo S. Bing Theater a dozen years ago. David Brian and Steve Cochran costar. It's on November 3rd.

...A memorial tribute to actress Gena Rowlands on November 4th will include GLORIA (1980), which I saw for the first time last year and really enjoyed.

...A day of Esther Williams films on November 6th includes two top favorites, THRILL OF A ROMANCE (1945) and DUCHESS OF IDAHO (1950). Van Johnson is Esther's costar in both.

...The Powell and Pressburger films on November 7th include the masterpiece THE RED SHOES (1948). When I revisited it last year at the TCM Classic Film Festival I found myself emotionally overcome, it's that beautiful. As I wrote at the time, few things on film have ever been as lovely as Moira Shearer in that movie. Highly recommended.

...One of my favorite discoveries last year was LITTLE MISS MARKER (1934), starring Shirley Temple, Adolphe Menjou, and Dorothy Dell. It's a very good film with considerable depth and great mood. It's part of an evening of Damon Runyon adaptations on November 8th.

...You can't go wrong spending a Saturday afternoon with John Wayne in Howard Hawks' RIO BRAVO (1959), showing on November 9th.

...November 10th TCM is showing FOUL PLAY (1978), a Goldie Hawn-Chevy Chase film from my teenaged years I'd like to revisit. I fondly recall the movie's theme song, "Ready to Take a Chance Again."

...TCM will feature war films on Veterans Day, November 11th, including Gary Cooper as SERGEANT YORK (1941).

...The "Could Have Been Hitchcock?" lineup on November 13th includes CHARADE (1963) and MIRAGE (1965), among other titles.

...One of my favorite Powell and Pressburger films is the strange yet wonderful A CANTERBURY TALE (1944). It's a movie which rather defies description, about everything and nothing, and it leaves the viewer feeling better for having seen it. A perfect film for Thanksgiving month. It's on November 14th.

...Margaret O'Brien's in several good films on TCM this month, including THE CANTERVILLE GHOST (1944) with Charles Laughton and Robert Young. It's part of a day of "ghost" films on November 15th. Another title airing that day, SYLVIE AND THE PHANTOM (1946), has been highly recommended to me and I look forward to seeing it.

...The Musical Matinee on the 16th is THE GLASS SLIPPER (1955), a Cinderella tale starring Leslie Caron. I wrote about my special feelings for this Charles Walter film in 2016 and also shared a gallery of stills from my personal collection.

...Silent Sunday Nights on November 17th features Ernst Lubitsch's crazy, inventive THE DOLL (1919).

...A day of films set in San Francisco on the 19th includes Bette Davis in the minor yet enjoyable FOG OVER FRISCO (1934).

...November 20th features an entire day of MAISIE films starring Ann Sothern.  Nine films released between 1939 and 1947 will be shown.

...There are more great Powell and Pressburger on November 21st, including one of my all-time favorite films, I KNOW WHERE I'M GOING! (1945).

...FUGITIVE LOVERS (1934) is a wonderful IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934) type film starring Robert Montgomery and Madge Evans which is shown on TCM relatively rarely. Montgomery and Evans, who were longtime friends offscreen, have wonderful chemistry.  Make it a point to catch this one on November 22nd.

...PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE (1952), which was not shown in November 2023, returns to the schedule this year on November 23rd, the Saturday before Thanksgiving. It may not be the greatest film, but there aren't a great many movies featuring the Pilgrims, and it has a wonderful cast including Spencer Tracy, Gene Tierney, and Van Johnson. The score by Miklos Rosza is another plus.

...Sunday, November 24th, TCM will show MGM's lovely Technicolor version of LITTLE WOMEN (1949), a great way to begin Thanksgiving week. June Allyson, Janet Leigh, Margaret O'Brien, and Elizabeth Taylor play the March sisters, with a great supporting cast.

...The films of director Fred M. Wilcox will be spotlights on November 26th, with titles including MGM's excellent version of THE SECRET GARDEN (1949) starring Margaret O'Brien and Dean Stockwell, seen here with costar Brian Roper.

...Thanksgiving Day, November 28th, will be spent with seven Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movies, including SWING TIME (1936), SHALL WE DANCE (1937), and one of my particular favorites, CAREFREE (1938).

...Then on Thanksgiving evening TCM will feature an evening of movies about "Big Families." Ben Mankiewicz will be joined by guest host Kate Flannery, a "friend of TCM." (I saw Flannery introduced HIGH SOCIETY at the 2019 TCM Classic Film Festival and was impressed with her knowledge of and love for the movie.) The titles will be CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN (1950), YOURS, MINE AND OURS (1968), PLEASE DON'T EAT THE DAISIES (1960), LIFE WITH FATHER (1947), and SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS (1954).

...On November 29th there's a terrific lineup of films celebrating their 75th anniversary this year, including John Ford's SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON (1949), which I just revisited in October at the Lone Pine Film Festival. John Wayne heads a great cast (seen here with Joanne Dru and Mildred Natwick) in one of my all-time favorite films; I can't recommend it highly enough. The rest of the lineup is terrific as well.

...I mentioned HIGH SOCIETY (1956) a couple paragraphs above, and as it happens it's the Musical Matinee title on November 30th. Dare I say that I might enjoy this remake of THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (1940) more than the original?! Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Celeste Holm, and John Lund star.

For more on TCM in November 2024, please visit my posts Quick Preview of TCM in November and TCM Star of the Month: Ruth Roman along with TCM's online schedule.

Best wishes to all for a very happy Thanksgiving!

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