Monday, October 29, 2018

Quick Preview of TCM in January

Turner Classics Movies has released its tentative January schedule!

Kathryn Grayson is the January Star of the Month. 15 of the MGM singing star's movies will be shown on Tuesdays beginning January 8th.

Grayson was last honored by TCM 22 years ago, in October 1996.

January's Noir Alley films are HIS KIND OF WOMAN (1951), LURED (1947), and MURDER, MY SWEET (1944).

There's currently not a Noir Alley film on the schedule for the last Saturday of the month, yet TCM's Noir Alley microsite lists TALK ABOUT A STRANGER (1952) for that weekend; I also note none of the usual Saturday morning programming of "B" Westerns and cartoons is listed for that date so am a bit curious about that change from the norm.

Also receiving extended attention on TCM in January: Elia Kazan and gladiator movies. Saturday mornings will feature John Wayne's early '30s "B" Westerns and POPEYE cartoons, with a FLASH GORDON serial starting on the 12th.

New Year's Day will be focused on comedies of the '30s and '40s, with a prime time tribute to Carole Landis. Also receiving multifilm tributes in January: Laurel and Hardy, Marion Davies, Jose Ferrer, Anthony Mann, Paul Henreid, Maureen O'Hara, and Margaret O'Brien.

January themes include '70s Westerns, letters, prison breaks, WWII, princesses, "B" Westerns, and "Young" biographies (YOUNG MR. LINCOLN, etc.). There's also a day of "numbered" movies, beginning with ONE WAY PASSAGE and going up to 8-1/2.

I'm particularly curious about a 2017 documentary, JAMES STEWART, ROBERT MITCHUM: THE TWO FACES OF AMERICA.

There seem to be a significant number of films dated from the '70s and beyond on this schedule, including a tribute to Denzel Washington. Joel Williams provides an invaluable service calculating the films TCM shows from each decade month by month -- here's his look at November -- so hopefully we'll see how the final numbers actually shake out in due course.

I'll have much more on the January schedule posted here around New Year's Eve! In the meantime, Glenda Farrell is coming up as TCM's November Star of the Month, with Dick Powell scheduled for December.

Update: For more on TCM in January 2018, please visit TCM in January: Highlights and TCM Star of the Month: Kathryn Grayson.

3 Comments:

Blogger Lady American said...

Nice!!!! 22 years is a LONG time to be a SOTM again!!! See they are airing The Kissing Bandit which I bet it hasn’t shown on TCM is a while!!! I wonder what Laur’s thoughts are about the film if she ever saw it!!!! Thanks Laura for what you always do!!!

11:49 AM  
Blogger Lady American said...

BTW, regarding that documentary on Stewart/Mitchum, I think you like on how each of those men are so different and their roles in American Cinema!! It is on FilmStruck as I write this!!!

3:47 PM  
Blogger Laura said...

I'm looking forward to the documentary, thank you!

I agree, I have most of Grayson's films but I'm very happy she's being recognized by TCM. I particularly recommend everyone see the little-known THE VANISHING VIRGINIAN which is an absolutely charming piece of Americana in the same vein as MGM's THE HUMAN COMEDY or OUR VINES HAVE TENDER GRAPES.

I haven't written about THE KISSING BANDIT here -- it's been a long time since I last saw it. I love the Montalban/Charisse/Miller dance!

Thank you so much for the encouragement, I appreciate you taking the time to let me know you enjoy reading here!

11:47 PM  

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