TCM in September: Highlights

It's time for a detailed look at the September schedule on Turner Classic Movies!

Lauren Bacall is the September Star of the Month. September 16th marks the centennial of Bacall's birth. Her films will be shown on Monday evenings. Some of the highlights from the Star of the Month schedule are noted below.

The September Noir Alley films are OUT OF THE PAST (1947) on September 7th and 8th, A LADY WITHOUT PASSPORT (1950) on the 14th and 15th, SPLIT SECOND (1953) on September 21st and 22nd, and HIGH WALL (1947) on the 28th-29th.

September's TCM Spotlight will focus on "Studio Directors," with 52 movies shown across Wednesday evenings.

The "Special Theme" on Friday nights is "Making Change: The Most Significant Political Films of All Time." This is a two-month series which will run until November 1st. Mike Barnes of The Hollywood Reporter recently shared details. ALL THE KING'S MEN (1949) is among the titles being shown on the first evening, September 6th.

Below are a handful of additional September highlights. Please click on any hyperlinked title to read an extended review which includes complete cast info and much more.

..Sunday evening, September 1st, features a double bill of "Big Band" films: THE GLENN MILLER STORY (1954) and THE BENNY GOODMAN STORY (1956). I've not seen the Goodman film yet, but THE GLENN MILLER STORY is one I've seen many times, going back to early childhood memories. James Stewart and June Allyson star.

...The Lauren Bacall Star of the Month films kick off on Labor Day with five films including the delightful HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE (1953), costarring Betty Grable and Marilyn Monroe.

...September 3rd will feature a seven-film tribute to one of my all-time favorite actors, Alan Ladd. While none of the films I've seen from the schedule are particularly noteworthy in his career, they're all enjoyable. Titles include THE DEEP SIX (1958) and DRUM BEAT (1954).

...A Memorial Tribute to the late Barbara Rush later on September 3rd will include the TCM premiere of WORLD IN MY CORNER (1956), starring Audie Murphy.

...Only on TCM will you find a seven-film lineup of musicals featuring Xavier Cugat! On September 5th TCM will show a lineup of MGM favorites including A DATE WITH JUDY (1948).

...September 6th features a tribute to Virginia Mayo. The titles include the underrated THE GIRL FROM JONES BEACH (1949) and PAINTING THE CLOUDS WITH SUNSHINE (1951). Both films are highly entertaining.

...The Musical Matinee on September 7th is THAT NIGHT IN RIO (1941) starring Don Ameche (in a dual role!), Alice Faye, and Carmen Miranda. I revisited this film a few weeks ago for the first time in years and enjoyed it very much. And Faye is absolutely gorgeous!

...A double bill of Helen Morgan musicals on the evening of September 8th includes SHOW BOAT (1936), starring Irene Dunne, Allan Jones, and Paul Robeson.

...The September 9th Lauren Bacall films include the wonderfully soapy Douglas Sirk film WRITTEN ON THE WIND (1957).

...A birthday tribute to director Robert Wise on September 10th includes minor but quite enjoyable "B" films MYSTERY IN MEXICO (1948) and CRIMINAL COURT (1946) along with excellent better-known titles.

...Sissy Spacek stars in MARIE: A TRUE STORY (1985) on September 12th. This title was just released on Blu-ray by the Warner Archive Collection, and I will be reviewing it soon. Attorney and future senator (1994-2003) Fred Thompson plays himself in the film. It was the start of a notable acting career which next included NO WAY OUT (1987), reviewed here just a few days ago.

...Val Lewton receives a tribute on Friday, September 13th. There are a number of notable titles on the schedule, including CAT PEOPLE (1942).

...It's hard to beat a Saturday night double bill of my two favorite James Stewart-Anthony Mann Westerns, BEND OF THE RIVER (1952) and WINCHESTER '73 (1950). See them on September 14th.

...I remember my dad liking HERO AT LARGE (1980) when it came out but don't think I've ever seen it. John Ritter and Anne Archer star on September 15th.

...On Lauren Bacall's September 16th centennial the lineup consists of the four films she made with Humphrey Bogart, along with the documentary BACALL ON BOGART (1988). All of the films are good; TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT (1944) holds a special place in my heart as a key film hooking me on classic movies when I was young.

...September 17th is another "only on TCM" kind of day. The daytime schedule features actresses named Margaret: Lindsay, Hamilton, Dumont, Rutherford, Lockwood, Sullavan, and O'Brien. Then the evening celebrates the work of the great character actor Joseph Calleia, including TOUCH OF EVIL (1958).

...One of my favorite Barbara Stanwyck films, MY REPUTATION (1946), airs on September 18th as part of the "Studio Directors" series. It was directed by Curtis Bernhardt.

...A day of animal movies on the 19th includes CHALLENGE TO LASSIE (1949) starring Donald Crisp, Edmund Gwenn, Geraldine Brooks, and Ross Ford. Brooks and Ford are pictured at left.

...One of the best days on the schedule, in my opinion, is September 20th, featuring "train movies"! I've seen seven of the nine films on the schedule, and they're all worthwhile, including favorites like SHANGHAI EXPRESS (1932), THE TALL TARGET (1941), and THE NARROW MARGIN (1952).

...The Musical Matinee on September 21st is the musical biopic DEEP IN MY HEART (1954), with Jose Ferrer as composer Sigmund Romberg. The film is uneven but has some wonderful musical numbers, including Gene Kelly dancing with his brother Fred; the highlight is the steamy dance "One Alone" featuring Cyd Charisse and James Mitchell. It still blows my mind it made it past the censors.

...A birthday tribute to Mickey Rooney on September 23rd includes the superb MGM Americana THE HUMAN COMEDY (1943). Rooney was never better, and he's backed by a top cast.

...Barbara Stanwyck and Geraldine Brooks are on the schedule again in CRY WOLF (1947), also starring Errol Flynn. It's a film I really like, despite the fact that its parts are better than the whole. It's being shown on September 24th.

...September 25th there's a rare back-to-back showing of a pair of Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, OKLAHOMA! (1955) and SOUTH PACIFIC (1958). An evening of great music!

...There are more musicals the next day, the 26th, with films set on Broadway including two great MGM Fred Astaire films, EASTER PARADE (1948) and THE BAND WAGON (1953), seen here with costar Cyd Charisse.

...National Silent Movie Day will be celebrated on September 29th with titles including the TCM premiere of THE ENCHANTED COTTAGE (1924) and Harold Lloyd's HOT WATER (1924).

...The month wraps up with a September 30th birthday tribute to Deborah Kerr, including VACATION FROM MARRIAGE (1945), costarring Robert Donat and Glynis Johns.

TCM has posted its September promotional video on Twitter.

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

Happy September movie viewing!

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