TCM Star of the Month: Myrna Loy

The December Star of the Month on Turner Classic Movies is Myrna Loy.

Over 60 Myrna Loy films will be shown on Fridays this month, begin on Friday morning, December 2nd.

11 early Loy movies are showing on the 2nd, along with the documentary MYRNA LOY: SO NICE TO COME HOME TO (1991). Loy's roles in these films are of varying sizes, providing a good look at the bit roles and "exotic" parts she played at the outset of her career.

Titles on the 2nd include ARROWSMITH (1931) with Ronald Colman and A CONNECTICUT YANKEE (1931) with Will Rogers. Of particular interest is NOAH'S ARK (1928), a part talkie, part silent movie starring George O'Brien and Dolores Costello, directed by Michael Curtiz.

December 9th features 14 films from the heart of Loy's pre-Code work, including the superb musical LOVE ME TONIGHT (1932), directed by Rouben Mamoulian. Loy appears in a supporting role, but her giddy countess nearly steals the show; when she's asked "Could you go for a doctor?" her response is "Certainly, bring him right in!"

The other gem of the evening is the witty crime drama PENTHOUSE (1933), which led to her casting in THE THIN MAN (1934) the following year. Loy plays a high-class call girl (this is a pre-Code) who helps a society lawyer (Warner Baxter) solve a mystery.

Also on the schedule are NIGHT FLIGHT (1933), THIRTEEN WOMEN (1932), NEW MORALS FOR OLD (1932), and many more.

December 16th there are a baker's dozen of Loy's films from 1934 on, featuring a who's who of great MGM leading men: TEST PILOT (1938) with Clark Gable, MAN-PROOF (1938) (also here) with Franchot Tone, PETTICOAT FEVER (1936) with Robert Montgomery, MEN IN WHITE (1934) with Gable, LUCKY NIGHT (1939) with Robert Taylor, TOO HOT TO HANDLE (1938) with Gable again; and THIRD FINGER, LEFT HAND (1940) with Melvyn Douglas. Plus a primetime showing of the multi Oscar winner THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946)!

Every one of the 13 films shown on December 23rd costars Loy's good friend William Powell, including their first film, MANHATTAN MELODRAMA (1934); DOUBLE WEDDING (1937); and my favorite of their costarring films, the hilarious LIBELED LADY (1936), costarring Spencer Tracy and Jean Harlow. Half a dozen THIN MAN films are also included on the schedule. Perfect holiday weekend viewing!

The series wraps up on December 30th with a variety of titles including the pre-Code WHEN LADIES MEET (1933); THE RAINS CAME (1939) with Tyrone Power; a pair of Cary Grant classics, MR. BLANDINGS BUILDS HIS DREAM HOUSE (1948) and THE BACHELOR AND THE BOBBY-SOXER (1947); and the Fox film CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN (1950), costarring Clifton Webb and Jeanne Crain.

It's a wonderful month which will delight Loy's countless fans and provide a wonderful introduction for those just getting to know her work.

For more on TCM in December, please visit TCM in December: Highlights and TCM in December: Christmas Movies, along with the complete online schedule.