TCM in November: Highlights

Happy November!

The year is moving right along, and it's time for a look at the November lineup on Turner Classic Movies.

Burt Lancaster will be the November Star of the Month, with 31 of his films screening spread across Tuesday evenings. I'll be highlighting some of the titles below.

 The November Noir Alley films will be BREAKDOWN (1952) on November 7th and 8th, SLANDER (1957) November 14th-15th, NORA PRENTISS (1947) on the 21st and 22nd, and THE GREAT FLAMARION (1945) on November 28th and 29th.

BREAKDOWN, starring William Bishop, is a TCM premiere.

The November TCM Spotlight is "Leaders of the Band," featuring big band leaders every Monday evening. Other highlights this month are "Gems from the Selznick Library," "Thanksgiving With Carol Burnett," and a centennial tribute to Terry Kilburn, Tiny Tim of the MGM version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1938).

Below are just a few of the highlights from this month's TCM programming. Please click on any hyperlinked title to read an extended review.

...On November 2nd TCM celebrates Ann Rutherford with a nine-film tribute. I've seen most of the movies airing that day, and I especially love the "B" film TWO O'CLOCK COURAGE (1945), costarring Tom Conway and directed by Anthony Mann.

...Burt Lancaster's Star of the Month movies begin with some adventure films airing during daytime hours on November 3rd. In the evening there's a killer (sorry) crime/noir lineup including two of the all-time greats, THE KILLERS (1946) and CRISS CROSS (1949). There's more on a special screening I attended of CRISS CROSS, at one of its Los Angeles locations, here.

...On November 4th the daytime lineup features Warner Bros. films starring various combinations of James Cagney, Joan Blondell, Dick Powell, and Ruby Keeler. Among the films is A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (1935), which I recently revisited and thoroughly enjoyed.

...Only on TCM will we find a tribute to director Edward Sedgwick. A whopping 10 of his films will be shown on November 6th, including the enjoyable DEATH ON THE DIAMOND (1934) starring Robert Young and Madge Evans.

...One of the screenings I wish I'd been able to attend at last month's TCM Classic Cruise was THE LAST OF SHEILA (1973) with Dyan Cannon present. (I did get to see her at HEAVEN CAN WAIT, in which she's hilarious.) It's on TCM November 7th.

...The first of two evenings of "Gems From the Selznick Library " on November 8th honors Jennifer Jones, with showings of GONE TO EARTH (1950) and DUEL IN THE SUN (1946).

..."Leaders of the Band" on November 9th spotlights a pair of favorite films from 20th Century-Fox, SUN VALLEY SERENADE (1941) and ORCHESTRA WIVES (1942). They're followed by the TCM premiere of BIRTH OF THE BLUES (1941).

...The second day of Burt Lancaster films, on November 10th, includes SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS (1957). I revisited it for the first time in years at the 2026 Noir City Film Festival. It's terrific.

...Veterans Day programming on November 11th includes TILL THE END OF TIME (1946), starring Guy Madison, Dorothy McGuire, and Robert Mitchum.

...A Grace Kelly birthday tribute on November 12th includes HIGH SOCIETY (1956), which I confessed last year I probably like more than THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (1940). Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra costar.

...Saturday, November 14th, includes MGM's interesting sailing drama, ALL THE BROTHERS WERE VALIANT (1953). It stars Robert Taylor, Ann Blyth, and Stewart Granger, with a wonderful musical score by Mikos Rozsa.

...The second night of Selznick films, on November 15th, features two films in which Alfred Hitchcock directed Gregory Peck, SPELLBOUND (1945) and THE PARADINE CASE (1947). While SPELLBOUND always ends up disappointing me somewhat, I thought THE PARADINE CASE was better than rumored.

...The November 17th "Leaders of the Band" lineup includes Cab Calloway in HI DE HO (1947), a film I compared to "turning on a nonstop jukebox!" I found it very enjoyable.

...The thriller EDGE OF ETERNITY (1959), filmed at the Grand Canyon, stars Cornel Wilde and was directed by Don Siegel.  It makes its TCM premiere on November 18th.

...TCM pays tribute to the wonderful Diane Baker on November 19th with a lineup which includes Hitchcock's MARNIE (1964). It's always a delight to see Diane out and about at Southern California classic movie screenings!

...A November 20th tribute to director Gregory La Cava includes a fairly rare TCM showing of SHE MARRIED HER BOSS (1935), starring Melvyn Douglas and Claudette Colbert.

...It's a good month for Preston Sturges fans on TCM, including a showing of the hilarious THE MIRACLE OF MORGAN'S CREEK (1944) on November 22nd. Keep reading for the date of a six-film Sturges marathon!

..."Leaders of the Band" features HOLLYWOOD HOTEL (1937) and several other fun films on November 23rd. The music, including Benny Goodman and his band, is incredible.

...The (almost) annual airing of PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE (1952) will take place on November 24th. I wish it were a better film, but I do appreciate its rarity as a film appropriate to air Thanksgiving week. Spencer Tracy, Gene Tierney, and Van Johnson star.

...British actor Terry Kilburn turns 100 on November 25th. He was born in London in 1926 and, following the passing of June Lockhart last year, he's the only surviving cast member of A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1938). Eight of Kilburn's films air on the 25th, including GOODBYE, MR. CHIPS (1939). The inclusion of A CHRISTMAS CAROL is particularly nice given that it airs exactly a month before Christmas!

...Thanksgiving Day on November 26th has a perfect lineup of seven MGM musicals, including my two favorites, SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS (1954) and MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (1944). What a great day of family viewing! In the evening Carol Burnett and Dave Karger host a trio of Burnett's films, including ANNIE (1982).

..."Black Friday" on November 27th features a day of hilarity with six Preston Sturges movies, including the always-hilarious THE PALM BEACH STORY (1942), which I just revisited a couple of months ago.

...The Warner Bros. "B" film THE HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET (1949), with a great cast headed by Wayne Morris and Janis Paige, airs on November 29th.

...The month wraps up with a birthday tribute to Virginia Mayo on November 30th, including the wonderful Western FORT DOBBS (1958), opposite Clint Walker. It deserves to be better known. I've seen every film in the lineup, some multiple times. As it's "Cyber Monday," why not stay home from work, do a little online shopping and watch some great movies?!

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

Best wishes to all for a very happy November and a wonderful Thanksgiving.

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