Fox Movie Channel in June: Highlights

Here's a preview of some of the interesting titles airing on Fox Movie Channel in June.

As always, keep in mind that Fox typically shows films multiple times over several weeks; in most cases, I've only listed one air date per film. Check the schedule for alternate air dates.

...On June 1st, James Mason plays Rommel, THE DESERT FOX (1951). I saw the end of this film a few months ago; it was quite disturbing, but that said, Mason's always worth watching.

...Jeanne Crain fans will want to catch one of her earliest films, IN THE MEANTIME, DARLING (1944), on June 3rd. Not a great film, but an interesting artifact of the WWII era, and a rather unlikely film for director Otto Preminger.

...Later on the 3rd, Crain can be seen in an excellent film, PEOPLE WILL TALK (1951), also starring Cary Grant. It's an unusual movie, directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, which is one of my family's favorites. My favorite scene: Grant and Walter Slezak running a model train set. There's also a memorable long discussion between Grant and Crain that's rather remarkable for the amount of emotional territory it covers regarding the prospect of having a child.

...On June 4th there's another film directed by Mankiewicz, HOUSE OF STRANGERS (1949). It's a film noir starring Edward G. Robinson, Richard Conte, and Susan Hayward. Look for a young Efrem Zimbalist Jr., too.

...DESTINATION GOBI (1953) was part of my Memorial Day Weekend viewing. It's an unusual WWII story starring Richard Widmark which I found enjoyable. It was directed by Robert Wise. The film airs on Fox on June 6th.

...The pre-Code BORN TO BE BAD (1934) is one of the less appealing films ever made by Cary Grant and Loretta Young. Still, it's worth taking a look at these wonderful stars many years before they were teamed in the Christmas classic THE BISHOP'S WIFE (1947). BORN TO BE BAD airs on June 7th.

...SHOCK (1946) is another movie I saw recently. It's not a perfect film but it was nonetheless quite enjoyable. It airs on both June 9th and June 16th. The stars are Vincent Price and Lynn Bari.

...On June 13th, Gene Tierney, George Montgomery, and Lynn Bari star in CHINA GIRL (1942), directed by Henry Hathaway.

...June 14th ANNA AND THE KING OF SIAM (1946) will be shown. This is a straight dramatic version of the same story which later became the famous Rodgers and Hammerstein musical THE KING AND I. Rex Harrison and Irene Dunne are perfectly cast as the King and Anna, with Linda Darnell as Tuptim and Gale Sondergaard as Lady Thiang.

...On June 16th Jeanne Crain is back on FMC in her Oscar-nominated role in Elia Kazan's PINKY (1949).

...It seems to be "Jeanne Crain Month," as CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN (1950) airs on June 24th. Crain plays the eldest daughter of Clifton Webb and Myrna Loy in this family classic.

...Richard Widmark was Oscar nominated for his very first film, Henry Hathaway's KISS OF DEATH (1947). It's on June 26th.

...On June 27th James Stewart and Maureen O'Hara star in MR. HOBBS TAKES A VACATION (1962). I haven't seen that one since I was a teenager!

...One of Gene Tierney's very earliest film roles was in HUDSON'S BAY (1941), costarring Paul Muni and Laird Cregar. (Cregar has quite a following, if his unofficial fan club on Twitter is any indication!) It's on June 28th.

A reminder: Fox Movie Channel tends to show titles in several-month cycles, and there are many other good films which have been highlighted here in the last few months which are still currently in the rotation on Fox. There's a box to search titles on the upper right of the main Fox Movie Channel web page.

Happy June movie viewing!