TCM in March: Highlights

The 31 Days of Oscar schedule on Turner Classic Movies concludes on March 3rd, so it's time to take a look at the rest of the March schedule!

The March Star of the Month on Turner Classic Movies is Barbara Stanwyck! 46 Stanwyck films will be shown every Wednesday evening and on into the Thursday daytime hours.

I'll have a complete look at Stanwyck's Star of the Month schedule posted here on March 4th.

This month's Noir Alley films are THE VELVET TOUCH (1948) on March 8th and 9th, GUN CRAZY (1950) on the 15th and 16th, CLASH BY NIGHT (1952) on March 22 and 23rd, and finally COUNT THE HOURS! (1953) on March 29th and 30th.

The TCM Spotlight on Fridays will focus on "Movie Mix-Ups," with films like THE GAY DIVORCEE (1934), MY FAVORITE WIFE (1940), and NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959).

Here are just a few of this month's interesting titles. As always, please click on any hyperlinked title to read my full-length review.

...The month's regular schedule begins on Tuesday, March 4th, with a nine-film birthday tribute to John Garfield during the day, followed by an evening of films about "Western Widows." The latter lineup includes THE OUTRIDERS (1950), in which Arlene Dahl plays a widow opposite Joel McCrea, plus one of my very favorite films, WESTWARD THE WOMEN (1951).

...A day of horse racing films on March 7th includes Margaret O'Brien in GLORY (1956) and a film I recall fondly from my teen years, INTERNATIONAL VELVET (1979) with Tatum O'Neal, Christopher Plummer, Anthony Hopkins, and Nanette Newman.

...THE LAST OF SHEILA (1973), which loosely inspired GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY (2022), airs on Saturday, March 9th. The cast includes James Mason, James Coburn, Raquel Welch, and Dyan Cannon.

...There are some terrific pre-Codes on March 10th, including EMPLOYEES' ENTRANCE (1933) and FEMALE (1933). Was a pre-Code villain ever more hissable than Warren William?

...Following a day of Buster Keaton films on March 11th, TCM pays tribute to the late composer Quincy Jones with a five-film lineup including IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT (1967). I love TCM's diverse programming.

...You can't beat the lineup of Hitchcock films on March 12th, including one of my all-time favorites, THE LADY VANISHES (1938), starring Margaret Lockwood and Michael Redgrave.

...Friday, March 14th, will feature a day of Ann Miller musicals, including EASTER PARADE (1948) and ON THE TOWN (1949). Be there!

...You can't beat the Musical Matinee on March 15th: SWING TIME (1936), starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

...St. Patrick's Day on March 17th will be celebrated with a full lineup including THE DAUGHTER OF ROSIE O'GRADY (1950) and THE QUIET MAN (1952).

...March 18th will feature a birthday tribute to comedian Edward Everett Horton. I especially recommend ROAR OF THE DRAGON (1932). It's Horton as you've never seen him before! If you've always wanted to see him as an action hero, this is your movie.

...The "stage" is the theme on March 19th, with a good lineup including STAGE FRIGHT (1950), which I consider an underrated Hitchcock film, and STAGE DOOR (1937), starring Katharine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers, and a fantastic supporting cast. Who can forget Eve Arden lounging around the boardinghouse with her cat?

...The "Movie Mix-Ups" on March 21st include the wonderful comedy MY FAVORITE WIFE (1940) starring Cary Grant, Irene Dunne, Randolph Scott, and Gail Patrick.

...I've always found MGM's BRIGADOON (1954) underrated and am glad it will be shown at this year's TCM Classic Film Festival. If you can't make it there, Dave Karger will be showing it on the Musical Matinee on Saturday, March 22nd. Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse star.

...There will be a prime time two-film tribute to Deanna Durbin on March 23rd, featuring one of her very best, IT STARTED WITH EVE (1941), along with NICE GIRL? (1941).  I'm always thrilled when TCM shows Durbin films and hope others will discover her work.

...You have to love the "Spring" theme on March 26th, which throws SPRINGFIELD RIFLE (1952) in along with THE SAINT IN PALM SPRINGS (1941) and SPRING MADNESS (1938).

...Kim Novak and Guy Madison star in the heist film 5 AGAINST THE HOUSE (1955) on March 27th. A must-see even if only for the unique location filming in a garage where elevators transport cars to their parking spots.

...For pure joy I recommend another of this month's Musical Matinees, THE YOUNG GIRLS OF ROCHEFORT (1967). Beautiful pastel colors, Gene Kelly, George Chakiris, Catherine Deneuve, and pure happy. It's on March 29th.

...The month ends with a tribute to Warner Bros. director Lloyd Bacon on March 31st, including Kay Francis in MARY STEVENS, M.D. (1933).

For more on the TCM schedule in March 2025, please visit my Quick Preview of TCM in March and TCM's online schedule.

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