TCM in September: Highlights

It's time for a close look at the September movie schedule on Turner Classic Movies!

As I shared in my June preview, it's become increasingly challenging to obtain TCM schedule information much in advance of a month, so it's also become difficult to write my longtime "Quick Preview" posts of advance peeks at TCM schedules.

In the case of September, by the time I had information a few days ago, it seemed more sensible to simply write a single post focused on the month's highlights.

We'll see what the future holds in this regard!

The September Star of the Month is Ricardo Montalban.

Over two dozen of Montalban's films will be shown on Monday evenings starting on September 7th.

A separate Star of the Month post listing Montalban's films will appear here later this week.

This month's Noir Alley lineup consists of THE YELLOW CANARY (1963) on September 5th and 6th, JEOPARDY on the 12th and 13th, THE LONG NIGHT (1947) on September 19th-20th, and ACE IN THE HOLE (1951) on September 26th and 27th.

THE YELLOW CANARY, which stars Pat Boone and Barbara Eden, was shown at the Noir City Hollywood festival earlier this year, and I'm delighted it will be making its TCM premiere. While it's not a classic, it's definitely entertaining, and Los Angeles locations are an added plus.

The TCM Spotlight theme this month is "Swashbucklers," with a fantastic lineup.

September is also the launch month for TCM's new "Films on Film" franchise. On Friday evenings a documentary on some aspect of film history will be followed by related films.

Below are just a few of this month's highlights. Please click on any hyperlinked title to read my extended review.

...The Swashbucklers series starts on Monday evening, September 1st, leading off with the best of them all: THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (1938). The rest of the lineup is great, including THE PRISONER OF ZENDA (1937).

...There's a "Bachelor Party" theme on September 2nd, including the colorful BACHELOR IN PARADISE (1961) with Bob Hope, Lana Turner, and Paula Prentiss.

...On Thursday, September 3rd, TCM anticipates Labor Day a few days later with a lineup of films focused on workers. I especially recommend two relatively lesser-seen films, MILLIONS LIKE US (1943), about life on the British homefront during World War II, and THE WHISTLE AT EATON FALLS (1951), about an attempt to save a factory at the heart of a town's economic life. Both films are dramas with documentary overtones and quite interesting.

...The late Mitzi Gaynor is honored with a primetime birthday tribute on September 4th featuring a double bill of LES GIRLS (1957) and SOUTH PACIFIC (1958).

...Dave Karger's Musical Matinee on September 5th features one of my very favorite films, SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS (1954). It's a great way to spend part of the holiday weekend!

...I love how the wekened titles on TCM are fairly random. One of the movies being shown September 6th is ALL THIS, AND HEAVEN TOO (1940) which I revisited for the first time in decades at the 2025 TCM Classic Film Festival. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Bette Davis and Charles Boyer star, with a nice group of child actors including June Lockhart, Virginia Weidler, and Ann E. Todd.

...The second evening of Swashbucklers on September 8th features another of my all-time favorite films, THE MARK OF ZORRO (1940) starring Tyrone Power. In addition to my review, be sure to check out the gallery of stills from the film which I compiled for a post. Tower's THE BLACK SWAN (1942) is on that evening as well; kudos to TCM for licensing some films from 20th Century-Fox for this lineup.

...On September 9th Eddie Muller hosts a lineup of films featuring dogs in honor of the Doris Day Animal Foundation. One of the movies is the delightful murder mystery/fantasy YOU NEVER CAN TELL (1951), which seems like a perfect film for Eddie to introduce. Dick Powell and Peggy Dow star.

...TCM hosts an eight-film birthday tribute to the great director Robert Wise on September 10th.  The excellent lineup includes a favorite Western, BLOOD ON THE MOON (1948), and a favorite film noir, BORN TO KILL (1947). Robert Mitchum and Barbara Bel Geddes star in BLOOD ON THE MOON, with Lawrence Tierney and Claire Trevor in BORN TO KILL.

...September 11th features a day of New York City musicals -- perhaps a way to think of New York on that date in a bit happier fashion than we've experienced for the last quarter century. I've seen all the movies showing that day, and it's a great lineup. Titles include GOLD DIGGERS OF 1933 (1933).

...September 12th's weekend lineup includes Humphrey Bogart and Raymond Massey in the very good, suspenseful ACTION IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC (1943), about the Merchant Marine during World War II.

...Dave Karger has a new book coming out in September, 50 MOVIE NIGHTS: CONTEMPORARY STARS ON THEIR FAVORITE CLASSIC FILMS, which I'll be reviewing here. On September 13th and 20th, TCM turns the evening programming over to Dave in celebration of his book. One of the films he'll be showing on the 13th is THE WOMEN (1939), with Norma Shearer leading a deep cast.

...It's back to school season, and on September 14th TCM features a day of college-themed films including GIRL CRAZY (1943), starring Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland.

...TCM honors Leo Carrillo with a nine-film marathon on September 15th. I invite readers to visit (or revisit!) my tribute to Carrillo, who was a significant figure in California state history in addition to his acting career. Carrillo films on the schedule include THE GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST (1938).

...Director Richard Fleischer is celebrated on September 17th. There's a great lineup including the underrated family film BANJO (1947) along with several of his better-known short film noir and crime titles. BANJO features the fine child actress Sharyn Moffett and a good supporting cast.

...On September 18th it's Greta Garbo's birthday, and the lineup will include the Lubitsch classic NINOTCHKA (1939).

...I DIED A THOUSAND TIMES (1955), scheduled on September 19th, is an interesting remake of HIGH SIERRA (1941) starring Jack Palance. Check out my review for a number of photos from my visits to the movie's locations in and around Lone Pine, California.

...Dave Karger's second evening celebrating his new book 50 MOVIE NIGHTS, on September 20th, features an "out of season" showing of Fred Astaire and Judy Garland in EASTER PARADE (1948).

...A LIFE OF HER OWN (1950) is an underrated Lana Turner drama showing on September 21st. Ray Milland and Barry Sullivan costar.

...A great day of films directed by Vincent Sherman will run on September 22nd, ranging from the hardboiled Joan Crawford film THE DAMNED DON'T CRY (1950) to the delightful World War II Ida Lupino comedy PILLOW TO POST (1945).

...I love Walter Pidgeon, featured in a September 23rd birthday tribute. It includes MRS. MINIVER (1942), which many -- including myself -- consider to be his finest hour alongside Greer Garson.  William Wyler directed.

...There's another great day of programming on September 24th, which features several films starring Leslie Caron. Titles include the Cinderella musical THE GLASS SLIPPER (1955). For more on THE GLASS SLIPPER, check out my photo gallery.

...I love the "Crazy or Not?" theme on September 25th, which includes Jacques Tourneur's beautiful EXPERIMENT PERILOUS (1944) starring Hedy Lamarr and George Brent. The day's entire lineup is excellent.

...Clark Gable and Jean Harlow were at the top of their games in HOLD YOUR MAN (1933), showing on September 26th.

...It's very exciting that on September 27th TCM is featuring a pair of Maria Montez movies in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month: ARABIAN NIGHTS (1942) and the TCM premiere of COBRA WOMAN (1944), which was shown at this year's TCM Classic Film Festival.  Both of these Universal Pictures films costar Jon Hall and are delightful Technicolor escapism.

...The month wraps up August 31st with a tribute to director George Sidney, including a favorite Judy Garland musical, THE HARVEY GIRLS (1946).  A great cast and, like the Maria Montez films, it features glorious Technicolor.

For more on TCM in September 2026, please visit TCM's online schedule.

Happy September movie viewing!

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