TCM in October: Highlights

Happy October!

It's hard to believe the spooky season has rolled around once more, but here we are! And it's time for a look at the October schedule on Turner Classic Movies.

Bela Lugosi is the October Star of the Month. Over two dozen of his films will be featured on Wednesday evenings.

The TCM Spotlight will focus on period costume dramas, with a whopping 53 films being shown on Tuesday evenings.

Thursdays will feature Creepy Cinema, guest hosted by Mario Cantone, and on Fridays the two-month series "Making Change: The Most Important Political Films of All Time," which began in September, will continue for a second month. More details on the "Making Change" series were covered in an article at The Hollywood Reporter.

The October Noir Alley films are DETOUR (1945) on October 5th and 6th, THE CROOKED WAY (1949) on October 12th and 13th, TOO LATE FOR TEARS (1949) on October 19th-20th, and I WALK ALONE (1947) the weekend of October 26th and 27th.

I've enjoyed the last three films on the Noir Alley list and especially love TOO LATE FOR TEARS, which I've seen multiple times and find great fun. Lizabeth Scott and Dan Duryea star, ably supported by Don DeFore and Kristine Miller.

TCM premieres in October will include DELIGHTFULLY DANGEROUS (1945) with Jane Powell on October 14th; the sci-fi classic INVADERS FROM MARS (1953) on the 3rd; THE FAN (1981) with James Garner and Lauren Bacall on the 17th; and MYSTIC PIZZA (1988) with Julia Roberts on October 19th.

Below are a few more highlights from TCM's October schedule. Please click on any hyperlinked title to read a full-length review.

...The daytime theme on Wednesday, October 2nd, is twins. Titles include TWICE BLESSED (1945), a forerunner of THE PARENT TRAP (1961) starring twins Lyn and Lee Wilde, with Preston Foster and Gail Patrick as their estranged parents.

...A day of '50s sci-fi and horror films on October 3rd includes a big favorite of mine, THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS (1953). Lee Van Cleef as an army sharpshooter trying to take down the fearsome beast at an amusement park is unforgettable.

...October 4th features lesser-known '50s MGM musicals, including TEN THOUSAND BEDROOMS (1956) and RICH, YOUNG AND PRETTY (1951). My favorite of the day is LOVELY TO LOOK AT (1952), which among other things has a couple of amazing dances by Marge and Gower Champion.

...October is a great month for Jane Powell fans. In addition to DELIGHTFULLY DANGEROUS and RICH, YOUNG AND PRETTY, NANCY GOES TO RIO (1950) will be shown on October 6th.

...There's more from MGM on October 7th, when TCM celebrates the birthday of studio director Robert Z. Leonard. The titles that day include a couple Jeanette MacDonald-Nelson Eddy films, MAYTIME (1937) and THE GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST (1938).

...There's a fantastic day of period films on October 8th; along with older films the schedule includes one of my favorite films of more recent decades, THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS (1992). One of these days I need to give it a full-length review here! Daniel Day-Lewis and Madeleine Stowe star.

...Agnes Moorehead is celebrated on the 10th with a very interesting lineup which includes a lesser-known favorite, SCANDAL AT SCOURIE (1953). Moorehead plays a small but key role alongside Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, and Donna Corcoran. I especially recommend this film to anyone who's fond of ANNE OF GREEN GABLES.

...I really enjoyed Barry Sullivan in NO QUESTIONS ASKED (1951), opposite Arlene Dahl and Jean Hagen. It's showing on October 11th.

...The Musical Matinee on October 12th is TOO MANY GIRLS (1940), which features a great cast: Richard Carlson, Lucille Ball, Ann Miller, Desi Arnaz, Harry James, and Frances Langford, to name a few. Van Johnson can even be spotted in the chorus!

...TCM celebrates Ricardo Montalban in prime time on October 14th with a lineup including favorites such as BATTLEGROUND (1949), MYSTERY STREET (1950), and NEPTUNE'S DAUGHTER (1949). And don't miss his hot dance with Cyd Charisse in ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU (1948)! They were an underrated dance team at MGM in the '40s.

...October 15th will feature William Wyler's WUTHERING HEIGHTS, starring Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon, as part of the day of period films. That evening will include the premiere of a brand-new documentary on Merchant Ivory films.

...The spooky movies on October 20th include the ghostly comedy BLITHE SPIRIT (1945), starring Rex Harrison and Constance Cummings.

...October 21st features a day of romances including SYLVIA AND THE PHANTOM (1946), also known as SYLVIE ET LE FANTOME, which I've been wanting to see. I've heard good things. Then, that evening, Bill Murray cohosts!

...There's even more Jane Powell on October 23rd with a screening of LUXURY LINER (1948), costarring George Brent. (Interesting trivia: A couple years later Brent is said to have named his daughter Suzanne after Powell; Suzanne was Powell's birth name.)

...There's an entire day of Dennis Morgan films on October 24th. The schedule includes two of my favorite discoveries, THE VERY THOUGHT OF YOU (1944) and THE DESERT SONG (1944). Highly recommended!

...The entertaining airline disaster film THE CROWDED SKY (1960) is part of a day of disaster films on October 25th. Dana Andrews stars.

...A pair of seasonally appropriate Val Lewton classics will be shown on October 27th, CAT PEOPLE (1952) and I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE (1943).

...Choreographer Jack Cole is honored on October 28th with several films including KISMET (1955), starring Howard Keel and Ann Blyth.

...On October 29th the lineup of period films includes a rare TCM showing of the 20th Century-Fox costumer FOREVER AMBER (1947) starring Linda Darnell (seen here).

...The month closes with a "Halloween Terror-Thon" on October 30th and 31st. Details are here.

For more on TCM in October 2024, please visit my Quick Preview of TCM in October along with TCM's online schedule.

Tweet