TCM in August: Summer Under the Stars Highlights

It's August, which means it's time for the annual Summer Under the Stars month on Turner Classic Movies!

As always, TCM's August festival started today, on the 1st, and runs through the 31st. During this month the regular franchises, including Noir Alley, Silent Sunday Nights, and TCM Imports, will have the month off before returning in September.

As regular TCM viewers know, each day in August celebrates a different star. For a quick overview of the entire lineup, please visit my preview which has the list printed in an easy-to-read format.

TCM has also provided a printable .pdf schedule. I did note at least one change from that schedule; MAYBE IT'S LOVE (1930) on Joan Bennett's day has been switched to ELEVEN MEN AND A GIRL (1930) from the same year.

This year TCM's hosts each selected a star to honor: Eddie Muller chose Joan Bennett, Alicia Malone picked Barbara Stanwyck, Dave Karger chose Dana Andrews, and Jacqueline Stewart chose Hattie McDaniel. All great choices, and I especially appreciate the selection of Bennett, one of my all-time favorites.

A TCM article by Kim Luperi discusses the five actors making their debuts as a Star of the Month. I'm especially excited about Marie Windsor and Bonita Granville.

Below are just a few of this month's highlights. Please click on any film title hyperlink to read my extended review.

...Humphrey Bogart is the star of the day on August 2nd. One of his lesser-known films being shown is ACROSS THE PACIFIC (1942), costarring Mary Astor and Sydney Greenstreet. It's not a perfect film, but quite entertaining.

...TWO GIRLS AND A SAILOR (1944), starring June Allyson, is an absolute charmer. It's part of Allyson's day on August 3rd. Van Johnson, Gloria DeHaven, and Tom Drake costar.

...Where possible I'm calling attention to some lesser-known films this month, and TORPEDO RUN (1958), starring Glenn Ford, is one such film. It's a submarine movie, one of my favorite WWII subgenres, and something that makes it especially fun for me is British actor Robert Hardy (Siegfried on TV's original ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL) has a supporting role. It's on August 4th.

...I just saw Fritz Lang's MAN HUNT (1941) for the first time at this year's TCM Classic Film Festival and enjoyed it very much. Joan Bennett, who is celebrated on August 5th, costars with Walter Pidgeon and George Sanders.

...The delightful Diane Keaton is being honored for the first time during Summer Under the Stars. Her day on August 6th includes my favorite BABY BOOM (1987), but I also want to call attention to the lesser-known MANHATTAN MURDER MYSTERY (1993) which is quite fun.

...Basil Rathbone's day on August 7th contains Sherlock Holmes and swashbucklers, but I especially love it unexpectedly also features the Esther Williams film BATHING BEAUTY (1944), in which Rathbone costars.

...Gene Tierney is another of my all-time favorites being honored this month, on August 9th. Many of her best-known films will be shown that day, but I'm recommending a lesser-known favorite, NEVER LET ME GO (1953) with Clark Gable; it's both romantic and exciting And while I'm at it, I'll also put in a plug for DRAGONWYCK (1946); she's excellent in it opposite Vincent Price. (A postscript for those looking for LAURA on Tierney's day -- it's not being shown on the 9th but instead appears on Dana Andrews' day on August 24th.)

...George Hamilton appears in Summer Under the Stars for the first time on August 10th, and I'm sure regular readers of this blog won't be surprised that I strongly recommend the lovely film LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA (1962).

...I've seen all but one of the Barbara Stanwyck movies being shown on August 11th. My favorite is MY REPUTATION (1946), costarring George Brent.

...Susan Hayward will be honored on August 13th. The lineup includes THEY WON'T BELIEVE ME (1947) in which she's terrific as Robert Young's mistress.

...There are a number of top classics on Natalie Wood's day on August 15th, but it's also worth checking out a lesser film, BOMBERS B-52 (1957). The enjoyable supporting cast includes Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Karl Malden, and Marsha Hunt.

...I've seen every single one of the Cary Grant movies showing on August 16th! I particularly recommend checking out one of his lesser-known films, CRISIS (1950), which is quite interesting. He plays an arrogant doctor matching wits against a sick dictator (Jose Ferrer). I just rewatched this a couple years ago and really enjoyed it.

...So many greats this month! Rosalind Russell has a day on August 17th. One of her lesser-known films is THE VELVET TOUCH (1948), a murder tale set in the world of Broadway theater, costarring Leo Genn, Sydney Greenstreet, and Claire Trevor.

...Hattie McDaniel is being celebrated on August 19th. On her day I recommend the fun family comedy JANIE (1944), starring Joyce Reynolds.

...One of the very best days on the schedule is August 21st, featuring Marie Windsor. I've seen a majority of the films and they're all worth seeing. Instead of recommending her famous noir titles I'll suggest watching DOUBLE DEAL (1950) with Richard Denning, which I called "a model 'B' movie...nothing out of the ordinary yet a very entertaining film."

...I've seen all but a couple of the John Wayne movies being shown on August 22nd. For those intrigued by my recent review of the Joan Crawford film REUNION IN FRANCE (1942), in which Wayne plays a supporting role, this is a chance to see it. I also recommend JET PILOT (1957) with Janet Leigh, which actually began filming way back in 1949! I have felt since seeing it that JET PILOT was ahead of its time; it plays like a '60s suspense rom com and is quite delightful.

...Katharine Hepburn's day is August 23rd. STAGE DOOR (1937), with Ginger Rogers and a remarkable cast, is always worth seeing!

...August 24th is Dana Andrews Day! Lots of classics on that day, but check out the aviation disaster film THE CROWDED SKY (1960).

...I'm very excited about Bonita Granville Day on August 25th, and the title I most want to see in August is her MGM film DOWN IN SAN DIEGO (1941). The supporting cast includes an actress I especially like, Dorothy Morris (THE HUMAN COMEDY).

...I've seen all the James Stewart movies showing on August 26th. I've seen Alfred Hitchcock's ROPE (1948) twice in the past year or so and have been a bit surprised how much it's grown on me. It's quite fascinating.

...On Bette Davis Day on August 27th there are plenty of classics, but also check out BUREAU OF MISSING PERSONS (1933), a very fun Warner Bros. "B" pre-Code movie. Pat O'Brien costars, with a supporting cast including favorites Glenda Farrell and Ruth Donnelly.

...Rita Hayworth will be honored on August 29th, and I'll recommend one of the first Hayworth films I ever saw, COVER GIRL (1944), starring Gene Kelly. Rita looks stunning in Technicolor!

...As the month begins to wind down, Joel McCrea will be honored on August 30th. I'd like to mentiuon two favorites: My favorite Hitchcock movie, FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT (1940), costarring Laraine Day and George Sanders, and Jacques Tourneur's STARS IN MY CROWN (1950) opposite Ellen Drew and Dean Stockwell.

...A great month ends with Ava Gardner on the 31st. I'm calling attention to LONE STAR (1952) with Clark Gable, not because it's a great film -- it's a so-so Western -- but because I have many fond memories of it being on local television often when I was growing up. I loved Clark and Ava even if the movie wasn't top of the line. In my review a few years ago I wrote "It's kind of a humdrum movie but I still love watching Gable and Gardner." Some things never change!

Looking ahead to September, Ricardo Montalban will be the Star of the Month and TCM will introduce a new "Films on Film" documentary series. Details were published in The Hollywood Reporter.

Happy Summer Under the Stars month on Turner Classic Movies!

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Around the Blogosphere This Week

Miscellaneous bits of news and fun stuff from around the Internet...

...More good news from Kino Lorber Studio Classics: The Dark Side of Cinema XXVIII Blu-ray collection will be out in November! It will include the Dick Powell gem CRY DANGER (1951), which was previously released by the now-defunct Olive Films, and two rarities, the "B" CITADEL OF CRIME (1941) and Scott Brady in TERROR AT MIDNIGHT (1956). I'm very excited about the "deep dives" Kino Lorber has been including in these sets.

...Universal is releasing several more Bing Crosby films on Blu-ray: RHYTHM ON THE RANGE (1936), WAIKIKI WEDDING (1937), COLLEGE SWING (1938), and RHYTHM ON THE RIVER (1940). They're also also putting out a bare-bones edition of THUNDER BAY (1953), which was previously released on Blu-ray by Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

...Some reviews I've recently enjoyed: Jim Hemphill reviews the new Warner Archive Blu-ray release of LETTY LYNTON (1932) for IndieWire, calling it "top tier Crawford." I agree...Glenn Erickson loves the new Warner Archive Blu-ray release of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (1935), which I'll be reviewing soon myself...J.B. Kaufman's Movie of the Month is HER CARDBOARD LOVER (1928) starring Marion Davies. I participated in a recent Kickstarter for the film to be released on Blu-ray...Jim Neibaur reviews Barbara Stanwyck in THE MAVERICK QUEEN (1956), just released by Kino Lorber...and Kristina reviews THEY WON'T BELIEVE ME (1947) at Speakeasy.

...The Criterion Channel's August streaming lineup includes collections themed around "Southern Gothic" and "Desert Trips."

...Coming from TCM in September, a new franchise featuring documentaries called "Films on Film."

...Cinecon, which takes place in Los Angeles September 3rd through 7th, has released its complete schedule. I plan to share more on the festival here in the near future.

...New Disney books on the horizon: D-DAY TO DISNEY WORLD: THE REMARKABLE LIFE OF MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM E. "JOE" POTTER by Brian D. Laslie will be out from Naval Institute Press in February 2027, and David Bossert's WALT DISNEY WORLD WAR II: ANIMATION ON THE FRONT LINES is due out this November. Thanks to Keith Buczak for the info.

...Passes and location tour tickets for the Lone Pine Film Festival go on sale Monday, August 3rd. Here's an article from the Mammoth Times which includes quotes from a familiar name.

...Notable Passings: E.J. Peaker, best known as Minnie in HELLO, DOLLY! (1969), has died at 82...Scott Hylands, a busy working actor in TV for decades, has died at 83. I particularly remember him from CENTENNIAL (1978-79).

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my July 25th column.

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Tonight's Movie: Out of the Clouds (1955)

I especially enjoy films about aviation and airports, so last year when I heard about Indicator's Region A release of OUT OF THE CLOUDS (1955) I promptly ordered it, despite knowing nothing else about it.

A British film about an airport simply sounded good to me!

It took a few months for the movie to work its way out of my "watch" stack, but I've now seen and enjoyed it.

OUT OF THE CLOUDS is a bit like an early version of AIRPORT (1970) as it depicts a busy day at London Airport. London Airport would be renamed Heathrow Airport a little over a decade later.

Nick Millbourne (Robert Beatty) is the airport supervisor, a role somewhat akin to Burt Lancaster's in AIRPORT. He deals with weather delays, passenger and staff problems, and much more.

A main subplot finds a pair of Jewish airline passengers meeting and falling in love; Bill (David Knight) is an American engineer on his way to work on water projects in Israel, while Leah (Margo Lorenz), whose family died in the Holocaust, is headed to the U.S. for a marriage of convenience to an older military man who'd been kind to her.

The Indicator Blu-ray includes both an 89-minute UK cut and a 80-minute U.S. edit. Glenn Erickson wrote that the shorter version cuts out "shots of the workings of the airport and in-flight procedures," and since that's part of what interested me about the movie, I watched the UK version.

OUT OF THE CLOUDS was written by written John Eldridge and Michael Relph adapted from THE SPRINGBOARD by John Fores.

One of the things I wondered while watching the film: Were passengers ever truly coddled and nursed along by airport staff as closely as they are in this film? It's hard to know from this juncture if this was truly a bygone era of flying -- perhaps also more expensive and less accessible, to make such personal care possible -- or if it was a movie fantasy even in the '50s. The care taken of stranded passengers by Jean (Melissa Stribling) is remarkable. (Stribling, incidentally, was married to the film's director.)

This was the third film I've seen this year directed by Basil Dearden, following CAGE OF GOLD (1950) and ALL NIGHT LONG (1962). There's nothing especially noteworthy about this film, but Dearden keeps the cast moving along in congenial fashion.

Beatty is likeable as Nick, who is hoping he'll soon be cleared to return to flying. But perhaps he's meant to be running things from the ground instead? Eunice Gayson plays Penny, a flight attendant who's interested in Nick.

I especially enjoyed James Robertson Justice of Disney's THE SWORD AND THE ROSE (1953) as Captain Brent, a burly and somewhat cantankerous -- yet very professional -- pilot who pays close attention to engine noises; Captain Brent proves to have a very good sense of things based on what he's hearing. One of my favorite scenes finds Captain Brent guided by radar and the control tower to make an emergency landing in heavy fog.

Bernard Lee seems to turn up in my viewing regularly this year, and here he's a customs agent who suspects pilot Gus Randall (Anthony Steele) may be smuggling. It's also fun to see Megs Jenkins (GREEN FOR DANGER) in a small role as a landlady who gives Bill and Leah a pleasant dinner out in London.

The Bill and Leah storyline is pleasant if very milquetoast; they are nice people but the roles are blandly written and performed. It's a funny thing, given the American edit, but I would have shown less of them and much more of the workings of the airport!

All in all, this film is simply a nice "slice of life" looking at airplane travel in the mid '50s. It's the type of previously unknown-to-me film I love to discover.

The Indicator print looks good; the film has a pleasant color palette, shot by Paul Beeson.

Indicator has put together a fine package including a 40-page glossy booklet, a vintage 89-minute documentary interviewing Robert Beatty; a 42-minute featurette on James Robertson Justice; a 31-minute short on Edinburgh, WAVERLEY STEPS (1948); image galleries and more, plus reversible case cover art. Optional English-language captions are included.

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A Visit to Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills: Perry Mason Edition

This post focuses on three of the stars of the beloved TV series PERRY MASON (1957-66), who coincidentally are all buried at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills.

The great character actor Ray Collins, who among other things was a member of Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre, has the name of his PERRY MASON character, Lt. Tragg, on his gravestone.

On a visit to Forest Lawn last year we were surprised to realize that Collins and fellow PERRY MASON cast member William Talman, who died about three years apart, are buried steps away from one another the cemetery's Court of Liberty section. Talman, of course, played Hamilton Burger on the series.

Barbara Hale is also buried at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, in the Enduring Faith section.  As of my most recent visit she does not have a gravestone. She is buried with her husband, actor Bill Williams, born Herman Katt.

For the sake of completeness, William Hopper, who played Paul Drake, is buried at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California.

Series star Raymond Burr is interred with his family in New Westminster, British Columbia.

Related post: Earlier in 2026 I also shared the final resting places of Barbara Hale, Bill Williams, and William Talman in my Western Roundup column at Classic Movie Hub.

Additional photo posts on the final resting places of historic Hollywood figures: A Visit to Forest Lawn Glendale, Part 1, A Visit to Forest Lawn Glendale, Part 2, A Visit to the Forest Lawn Museum, A Visit to Hollywood Forever Cemetery (2014), A Visit to Westwood Village Memorial Park - The Musicians, A Visit to Westwood Village Memorial Park - The Comedians, A Visit to Westwood Village Memorial Park - The Actors, A Visit to Westwood Village Memorial Park - Writers, Directors, and More, A Visit to Holy Cross Cemetery, Part 1, A Visit to Holy Cross Cemetery, Part 2, A Visit to Holy Cross Cemetery, Part 3, A Visit to Desert Memorial Park, Los Angeles National Cemetery, A Visit to Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Part 1 (2017), A Visit to Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Part 2 (2017), A Visit to Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Part 3 (2019), A Visit to Forest Lawn Cathedral City, A Visit to Oakwood Memorial Park, A Visit to Hillside Memorial Park, Part 1, A Visit to Hillside Memorial Park, Part 2, A Visit to Hollywood Forever Cemetery (2019), A Visit to Woodlawn Cemetery, A Visit to Valley Oaks Memorial Park, A Visit to Valhalla Cemetery, A Visit to Pacific View Memorial Park, A Visit to Glen Haven Memorial Park, A Visit to Forest Lawn Glendale (2020), A Visit to Calvary Cemetery, A Visit to Home of Peace Memorial Park, Visits to Sedona and Las Vegas Cemeteries, A Visit to Forest Lawn Glendale (2022), Visits to Orange County Cemeteries (Holy Sepulcher Cemetery and El Toro Memorial Park), A Visit to Inglewood Park Cemetery, A Visit to Mt. Sinai Memorial Park, A Visit to Palm Springs (Coachella Valley Public Cemetery), A Visit to Marysvale Cemetery, A Visit to Holy Cross Cemetery, Part 1 (2022), A Visit to Holy Cross Cemetery, Part 2 (2022), A Visit to Rose Hills Memorial Park, A Visit to San Fernando Mission Cemetery, A Visit to Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Part 1 (2023), A Visit to Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Part 2 (2023), Memorial Service for Edmund Gwenn (2023), A Visit to Evergreen Cemetery, A Visit to Carpinteria Cemetery, and A Visit to Santa Barbara Cemetery.

Articles on the final resting places of Western stars and filmmakers from my Western RoundUp column at Classic Movie Hub: May 2019, February 2022, November 2, 2022, November 29, 2022, April 2023, November 2023, March 2024, July 2024, February 2025, November 2025, and April 2026.

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A Visit to Santa Barbara Cemetery

The second cemetery we visited on our May trip, following Carpinteria Cemetery, was the larger and nicely maintained Santa Barbara Cemetery. It has lovely seaside views.

This visit was particularly special to me as the cemetery is the final resting place of one of my favorite actresses, Jeanne Crain.

Santa Barbara is also where the great Ronald Colman has a remarkably beautiful and fitting tombstone:

Here is the reverse side of Ronald Colman's tombstone:

Santa Barbara Cemetery is also the final resting place of Republic Pictures actress Vera Hruba Ralston.

Tab Hunter is buried there as well:

Fess Parker, beloved as Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone, has a very appropriate coonskin cap on his grave marker.

Bradford Dillman and his longtime wife, actress-model Suzy Parker, are also at Santa Barbara Cemetery:

Finally for this visit, director Ivan Reitman is buried there:

Related Post: Photos From the Road: Carpinteria and Santa Barbara (2018).

Additional photo posts on the final resting places of historic Hollywood figures: A Visit to Forest Lawn Glendale, Part 1, A Visit to Forest Lawn Glendale, Part 2, A Visit to the Forest Lawn Museum, A Visit to Hollywood Forever Cemetery (2014), A Visit to Westwood Village Memorial Park - The Musicians, A Visit to Westwood Village Memorial Park - The Comedians, A Visit to Westwood Village Memorial Park - The Actors, A Visit to Westwood Village Memorial Park - Writers, Directors, and More, A Visit to Holy Cross Cemetery, Part 1, A Visit to Holy Cross Cemetery, Part 2, A Visit to Holy Cross Cemetery, Part 3, A Visit to Desert Memorial Park, Los Angeles National Cemetery, A Visit to Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Part 1 (2017), A Visit to Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Part 2 (2017), A Visit to Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Part 3 (2019), A Visit to Forest Lawn Cathedral City, A Visit to Oakwood Memorial Park, A Visit to Hillside Memorial Park, Part 1, A Visit to Hillside Memorial Park, Part 2, A Visit to Hollywood Forever Cemetery (2019), A Visit to Woodlawn Cemetery, A Visit to Valley Oaks Memorial Park, A Visit to Valhalla Cemetery, A Visit to Pacific View Memorial Park, A Visit to Glen Haven Memorial Park, A Visit to Forest Lawn Glendale (2020), A Visit to Calvary Cemetery, A Visit to Home of Peace Memorial Park, Visits to Sedona and Las Vegas Cemeteries, A Visit to Forest Lawn Glendale (2022), Visits to Orange County Cemeteries (Holy Sepulcher Cemetery and El Toro Memorial Park), A Visit to Inglewood Park Cemetery, A Visit to Mt. Sinai Memorial Park, A Visit to Palm Springs (Coachella Valley Public Cemetery), A Visit to Marysvale Cemetery, A Visit to Holy Cross Cemetery, Part 1 (2022), A Visit to Holy Cross Cemetery, Part 2 (2022), A Visit to Rose Hills Memorial Park, A Visit to San Fernando Mission Cemetery, A Visit to Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Part 1 (2023), A Visit to Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Part 2 (2023), Memorial Service for Edmund Gwenn (2023), A Visit to Evergreen Cemetery, and A Visit to Carpinteria Cemetery.

Articles on the final resting places of Western stars and filmmakers from my Western RoundUp column at Classic Movie Hub: May 2019, February 2022, November 2, 2022, November 29, 2022, April 2023, November 2023, March 2024, July 2024, February 2025, November 2025, and April 2026.

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A Blog Anniversary Celebration Giveaway

This month Laura's Miscellaneous Musings celebrates its 21st anniversary!

A couple times in the past I've hosted July giveaways in honor of my "bloggiversary," and I decided to revive that practice this year.

This year's giveaway has a theme honoring one of my favorite actors, James Garner, and my favorite TV series, MAVERICK (1957-62).

The package of items I'll be giving away consists of the first two seasons of MAVERICK on DVD, plus a DVD containing three of the show's most famous episodes: "Shady Deal at Sunny Acres," "Pappy," and "Gun-Shy."

I'm also giving away a spare copy of Ed Robertson's excellent guide to the series, and for good measure I'm rounding things off with a DVD of Garner's film SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL GUNFIGHTER (1971).

The entry format this year will be a little different. In keeping with the giveaway theme, there is a short online five-question MAVERICK quiz which may be found at this link.

To enter the giveaway drawing, simply complete the quiz on or before August 6th, including filling out the email address on the form so I can contact the winner to request a mailing address.

On Friday, August 7th, I will draw a winner from among those entries which correctly answered each question. If no one gets all five correct, then I'll move down to those who answered all but one correctly, and so on.  

I will cover Media Mail postage to the winner. With apologies to my greatly appreciated readers in Canada, Europe, and beyond, the drawing is limited to residents of the United States.

In closing, I'd like to express my deep gratitude to all my readers of the past 21 years. Here's to the next 21!

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Tonight's Movie: Night and Day (1946) - A Warner Archive Blu-ray Review

The Warner Bros. musical NIGHT AND DAY (1946), a biography of composer Cole Porter, has recently been released on Blu-ray by the Warner Archive Collection.

NIGHT AND DAY, like most '40s musical biopics -- including the previous year's Warner Bros. film RHAPSODY IN BLUE (1945) -- is a fictionalized telling of a composer's life.

In the case of this biography of Cole Porter, NIGHT AND DAY is even more fictionalized than most such films, spinning a story which has only tangential connections to Porter's real life. Anyone looking for a film vs. reality breakdown can easily find it online; I'll leave that to others, approaching NIGHT AND DAY here strictly as a movie.

The movie begins with Cole Porter (Cary Grant) as a student at Yale. Cole's lack of interest in his studies disappoints his grandfather (Henry Stephenson), who dreamed Cole would be a lawyer, but Cole is only interested in music.

Cole's developing career goes off track due to service in World War I, where he is injured, but over time he achieves success. However, his devotion to his career interferes with his romance with wealthy Linda Lee (Alexis Smith), even after their marriage.

There's not a great deal more to the story of this 128-minute film, which has plotting which can only be described as desultory, despite the participation of the usually quippy William Bowers as one of the screenwriters. Bowers wrote the screenplay along with Charles Hoffman and Leo Townsend.

Typically the musical numbers are what make composer biopics worthwhile, as was the case in the even longer RHAPSODY IN BLUE. However, while Ginny Simms provides some needed musical pep, as does a brief song by Mary Martin, some of the numbers are indifferently staged, which was a disappointment. This film had a lot of potential, given the cast and the Porter music, but it never quite comes together as it should have.

Cary Grant is one of my all-time favorite actors -- indeed, this was one of a very small handful of Grant films I'd not yet seen -- but there's no depth to his performance. He marches through much of the film with a frown on his face, partly due to serious injuries; he occasionally, as Linda notes, deigns to smile at her.

Similarly, Smith is lovely but doesn't have much to do other than be patient and try to support Cole's career, which isn't always appreciated by the man she loves.

All that said, one of the things which does make the film worthwhile is the supporting cast. Just as Oscar Levant played himself in RHAPSODY IN BLUE, NIGHT AND DAY features Cole Porter's friend Monty Woolley as himself.

The deep cast also includes Dorothy Malone, Jane Wyman, Eve Arden, Donald Woods, Selena Royle, Victor Francen, and Tom D'Andrea to name just a few, and it's fun watching the parade of great faces pass through the film.

The movie was directed by Michael Curtiz, who was often quite at home directing musicals, but this was one of this lesser efforts. It was filmed by J. Peverell Marley, William V. Skall, and the uncredited Bert Glennon.

The Warner Archive Blu-ray is from a 1080p HD master from 4K scans of the original nitrate Technicolor camera negatives. It looks absolutely fantastic. Although I found the movie slow going, I completely enjoyed the visuals and from that standpoint highly recommend this disc. Sound quality is also excellent.

Disc extras consist of the short MUSICAL MOVIELAND (1944), which runs 21 minutes; the 11-minute short DESI ARNAZ AND HIS ORCHESTRA (1946); a Bugs Bunny cartoon, THE BIG SNOOZE (1946); the trailer; and a song selection menu. As is always the case for Warner Archive Blu-rays, optional English captions are also provided.

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray. Warner Archive Blu-rays may be ordered from Movie Zyng, Amazon, and other online retailers.

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Around the Blogosphere This Week

Miscellaneous bits of news and fun stuff from around the Internet...

...Very good news this week: Hollywood's Cinerama Dome, which opened in 1963 and has been closed since 2020, will be reopened in 2026 by the Sony-owned Alamo Drafthouse chain. Alamo announced the Cinerama Dome will "retain its original name and branding." Particular kudos go to Ben Steinberg of Save Your Cinema, who has tirelessly campaigned for this iconic Hollywood venue to reopen. I wonder if the Cinerama Dome might become a TCM Classic Film Festival venue again? This photo was provided to the press by TCM during a past festival.

...Additional good news: The Bruin Theatre in Westwood, which opened in 1937 and closed in 2024, will reopen this fall. It's across the street from the Fox Westwood Village Theater, which was purchased by a consortium of filmmakers after its 2024 closure and will reopen in 2027, programmed by the American Cinematheque. (Photo via the Los Angeles Conservancy, where I just renewed my membership. I encourage those interested in preserving Los Angeles history and buildings to join -- it's tax deductible.) July 29th Update: There's more on the Bruin reopening from Variety.

...PRESSURE (2026), the D-Day movie which I enjoyed recently, will be out on Blu-ray and DVD on July 28, 2026. On a related note, I received a recommendation on Twitter and just purchased the book THE LIGHT OF BATTLE: EISENHOWER, D-DAY, AND THE BIRTH OF THE AMERICAN SUPERPOWER by Michel Paradis.

...Coming to Blu-ray and DVD in late August: THE SHEEP DETECTIVES (2026). My review may be read here.

...Last week I mentioned revisiting Jeanne Crain in DANGEROUS CROSSING (1953). This week I revisited another Crain film released that year, VICKI (1953). While not as good as the movie it remakes, I WAKE UP SCREAMING (1941), VICKI has its own pleasures, especially the performances of Crain and Jean Peters as her sister, and is worthwhile.

...Here's the final trailer for COYOTE VS. ACME (2026), due in theaters August 28th. This is the film which was infamously shelved by Warner Bros. in 2023, despite good advance buzz, in favor of taking a tax deduction.

...I love the packaging of the "Retro VHS" Blu-ray collection. MICKI AND MAUDE (1984), which I recall fondly despite not caring for Dudley Moore, will be released this week, and NADINE (1987) comes out in September. MICKI AND MAUDE costars Amy Irving and Ann Reinking; Kim Basinger and Jeff Bridges star in NADINE.

...Tom Holland as Fred Astaire? No, thank you...

...Since the passing of Jeff Arnold, Bud and RR have been doing a great job maintaining and updating the beloved and very informative site Jeff Arnold's West. Thanks to them the posts all now have search labels.

...Ruth of Silver Screenings has reviewed the Joan Fontaine version of JANE EYRE (1943). I like the film but enjoyed Ruth's insights into Jane's character in the book (which I haven't reread for many years) and film.

...Disney+ has a documentary on Julie Andrews in the works.

...Here's an interview with actress-author Illeana Douglas on her upcoming book JUNGLE RED! THE MAKING OF THE WOMEN from Lyons Press. I'm looking forward to it!

...And just a reminder that Alison Macor, who wrote the excellent book on the making of THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946), has a book on THE WOMEN coming in the future from the University of Texas Press. Update: Thanks to Alison Macor for sharing that her book will be titled HAIR DOWN, CLAWS OUT: GEORGE CUKOR AND THE MAKING OF THE WOMEN. It's due out in the spring of 2027.

...Glenn Erickson's latest reviews include Kino Lorber's WALK A TIGHTROPE (1963), which I just reviewed myself, and A MAN NAMED ROCCA (1961).

...Over at Riding the High Country, Colin has reviewed THE RAWHIDE YEARS (1956) starring Tony Curtis, Colleen Miller, and Arthur Kennedy.

...I've increasingly been delving into the work of Jack Hawkins, with a rewatch of NO HIGHWAY IN THE SKY (1951) among my upcoming Hawkins viewing. I so enjoyed him in THE LONG ARM (1956), aka THE THIRD KEY, that I decided it was time to see the somewhat similarly themed John Ford film he starred in, GIDEON'S DAY (1958), also known as GIDEON OF SCOTLAND YARD. Although I own the DVD in the TCM Vault John Ford: The Columbia Films collection, I decided to purchase the recent Powerhouse Indicator Blu-ray release, as unlike the TCM DVD it has captions, which I find especially helpful with British films. The TCM release has a brief introduction by Leonard Maltin, and the Indicator edition also has comments from Maltin, along with an alternate title sequence, a commentary track (by Charles Barr), and numerous extras, including a brief featurette on the movie's locations. GIDEON'S DAY is also available from Indicator in their John Ford at Columbia collection.

...I've booked a ticket for the 25th anniversary screening of THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS (2001) in late August...I've also got a ticket for a 10th anniversary screening of LA LA LAND (2016) next month.

...Attention Southern Californians: The American Cinematheque has a wonderful upcoming series of films directed by Douglas Sirk and filmed by Russell Metty. The series will be at the Los Feliz Theatre and runs from August 2nd to September 19th. Of particular note: Two screenings of the charming TAKE ME TO TOWN (1953), starring Sterling Hayden and Ann Sheridan; I thought it had influences of other films I love such as SADDLE TRAMP (1950) and I'D CLIMB THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN (1951). I'll be at the D23 Expo that weekend, but I hope that now that the movie has surfaced -- in a 35mm print! -- there is hope for other area screenings in the future.

...Notable Passing: Broadway and touring musical actress Anne Russell has passed away at the age of 103.

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my July 18th column.

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