TCM in July: Highlights

Happy July!

My look at the July highlights on Turner Classic Movies has been delayed due to my recent travels, but there's still lots of great viewing ahead this month!

There's not a regular July Star of the Month; instead there's a theme, celebrating "Ladies of the '80s" including Kathleen Turner, Debra Winger, Michelle Pfeiffer, Goldie Hawn, Sissy Spacek, Jessica Lange, and more.

The Star of the Month series begins on Tuesday, July 8th.

The July TCM Spotlight focuses on mythology, beginning on Wednesday, July 9th; and Alicia Malone continues to host a Summer Romance series every Sunday.

The July Noir Alley films will be THIS SIDE OF THE LAW (1950) on July 5th and 6th, THE GANGSTER (1947) on the 12th and 13th, INTRUDER IN THE DUST (1949) on July 19th and 20th, and the great heist film RIFIFI (1955) on July 26th-27th.

Here's a look at just a few of the fun things being shown on TCM in July. Please click any hyperlinked title to read my extended review.

...Late on Independence Day TCM is showing John Ford's DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK (1939). This is a favorite film which aired often on TV when I was young but which is rarely shown on TCM since it was released by 20th Century-Fox, and Fox films cost more for TCM to license. It has an engaging story and a great cast, seen in gorgeous Technicolor. Do tune in!

...Dave Karger's Musical Matinee on July 5th will be the delightful GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES (1953) starring Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell.

...The "summer romance" movie hosted by Alicia Malone on Sunday, July 6th, is the classic screwball comedy MY MAN GODFREY (1936) with William Powell, Carole Lombard, and a fantastic supporting cast.

...A day of "divorced couple" movies on July 7th includes WE WERE DANCING (1942) with Melvyn Douglas and Norma Shearer. Like MY MAN GODFREY, the top supporting cast is headed by the great Gail Patrick.

...Director Clarence Brown is honored with a seven-film lineup on July 8th, including COME LIVE WITH ME (1941) starring James Stewart and Hedy Lamarr.

...A July 9th day of films on troubled teens includes Jimmy Lydon in HOT ROD (1950). It's a minor film, but I enjoyed it.

...I'm very fond of AS THE EARTH TURNS (1934), airing on July 10th. Jean Muir leads an excellent cast in a film based on the Pulitzer Prize nominated book by Gladys Hasty Carroll.

...Actress Debra Winger is the guest on the Two For One series on July 12th. One of the films she chose is the fascinating PEOPLE WILL TALK (1951) starring Cary Grant and Jeanne Crain.

...One of my favorite days on the July schedule is July 14th, packed with eight Robert Montgomery pre-Codes. I've seen all but one of the films and highly recommend diving into the entire day's viewing. The movies kick off with the lovely LOVERS COURAGEOUS (1932), costarring Montgomery's frequent costar and longtime friend Madge Evans. Years ago I wrote in a Montgomery tribute that LOVERS COURAGEOUS is "a romance which conveys Montgomery's unique strengths as a leading man, vulnerable and connecting with Evans so intimately that the viewers feels that one is peeking in on something private, rather than simply watching a movie."

...A Barbara Stanwyck birthday tribute on July 16th continues several terrific movies, with my favorite being MY REPUTATION (1946), costarring George Brent.

... A day of movies with the word "strange" in the title include another Barbara Stanwyck film, THE STRANGE LOVE OF MARTHA IVERS (1946), costarring Van Heflin, Lizabeth Scott, and Kirk Douglas. The "strange" day on the schedule is July 17th.

...It's Doris Day Day on TCM July 18th!  The eight Day films showing including a number of favorites, such as ON MOONLIGHT BAY (1951), BY THE LIGHT OF THE SILVERY MOON (1953), and CALAMITY JANE (1953).

...The "summer romance" film on Sunday, July 20th, is Howard Hawks' HIS GIRL FRIDAY (1940) starring Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell.  Then stick around for the very cute (and very summery!) THE GIRL FROM JONES BEACH (1949) with Ronald Reagan and Virginia Mayo.

...THE VERY THOUGHT OF YOU (1944) receives one of its relatively infrequent TCM airings on July 22nd, as part of a lineup featuring character actor Henry Travers. Dennis Moran and Eleanor Parker star in this terrific World War II romance, supported by Dane Clark and Faye Emerson.

...Deanna Durbin stars in THREE SMART GIRLS (1937) on July 24th. It's part of a lineup of films featuring "studio saviors," also including Shirley Temple and Rin Tin Tin. Anything Deanna made is entertaining!

...The mystery lineup on July 25th is terrific, including lesser-known titles like SHADOW OF A WOMAN (1946), starring Andrea King, and THE ARNELO AFFAIR (1947) with Frances Gifford.

...There's more Robert Montgomery on July 26th, when Robert Townsend shows the classic comedic fantasy HERE COMES MR. JORDAN (1941) as part of the Two for One series.

...Don't miss Ray Milland and Jean Arthur in EASY LIVING (1937), another ultra-classic screwball comedy being shown by Alicia Malone as part of the "Summer Romance" series. It will be shown July 27th. I've seen this countless times, and it only gets funnier with repeat viewings.

...A day of Irving Berlin musicals on July 29th includes CAREFREE (1938). CAREFREE is one of my favorite Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movies, and it was a delight to see it on a big screen this year at the TCM Classic Film Festival.

...The month wraps up with a "young love" theme on July 31st, including Joyce Reynolds as JANIE (1944) and Elizabeth Taylor in CYNTHIA (1947). Like DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK, mentioned at the outset of this month's listings, CYNTHIA was on TV frequently when I was young.  It may not be a "great" film but I've always enjoyed it.

For more on TCM in July 2025, please visit my Quick Preview of TCM in July along with TCM's online schedule.

Happy Summer!

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