TCM - Shadows of Russia Film Showcase
[Press Release - Released by TCM]
From the last days of the Tsars and the Russian Revolution to the intrigue of the Cold War, from student demonstrations to anti-communist fervor, cinema has provided an ideal canvas on which to paint the story of Russia and its effect on the world. This winter, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will present the 20-film festival Shadows of Russia, showcasing a rich array of movies from and about the era. The festival will air Wednesdays in primetime throughout January.
Mission to Moscow, which will be receiving a rare prime-time TCM showing as part of the series, is a unique $2 million pro-Soviet propaganda epic. Made by Warner Bros. at the personal request of President Franklin D. Roosevelt to generate American support for Russia in World War II, the film was directed by Michael Curtiz (Casablanca ) and stars Walter Huston as a U.S. ambassador who praises Dictator Josef Stalin. After the war, Mission to Moscow was cited as evidence of Communist infiltration of Hollywood during the House Un-American Activities Committee hearings.
TCM's Shadows of Russia event was conceived and created by New York Post critic Lou Lumenick and film blogger Self-Styled Siren (Farran Smith Nehme). They brought the idea to TCM after writing in-depth about TCM's February 2009 presentation of Mission to Moscow. "The showcase is a fascinating opportunity to see how cinema has depicted the rise of communism in Russia and the country's relationship to the world," said Charles Tabesh, senior vice president of programming for TCM.
Among the outstanding titles featured in TCM's Shadows of Russia are The Scarlet Empress (1934), Reds (1981), Ninotchka (1939) and The Way We Were
(1973). In addition, TCM will present three infrequently seen movies making their first appearances on the network: The North Star (1943), starring Huston and Dana Andrews as Russian villagers battling Nazi invaders, directed by Lewis Milestone (All Quiet on the Western Front) from an Oscarr-nominated script by Lillian Hellman; My Son John (1952), about a young man (Robert Walker in his final film) whose parents suspect him of being a communist, directed by Leo McCarey; and I Was a Communist for the FBI (1951), with Frank Lovejoy in a documentary-like spy thriller.
Each night of TCM's Shadows of Russia will focus on two themes, beginning with Twilight of the Tsars and Red Romance on Jan. 6; The Lighter Side of the Revolution and The Left on Campus on Jan. 13; Our Red Army Pals and Diplomatic Immunity on Jan. 20; Spies Among Us and The Height of the Cold War on Jan. 27. The following is a complete schedule:
Wednesday, Jan. 6
Part One: Twilight of the Tsars
8 p.m. The Scarlet Empress (1934) - starring Marlene Dietrich and John Lodge.
10 p.m. Rasputin and the Empress (1932) - starring John, Ethel and Lionel Barrymore.
Part Two: Red Romance
12:15 a.m. Red Danube (1949) - starring Walter Pidgeon and Ethel Barrymore.
2:30 a.m. Reds (1981) - starring Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton, Jack Nicholson and Maureen Stapleton.
Wednesday, Jan. 13
Part Three: The Lighter Side of the Revolution
8 p.m. Comrade X (1940) - starring Clark Gable and Hedy Lamarr.
10 p.m. Ninotchka (1939) - starring Greta Garbo and Melvyn Douglas.
Part Four: The Left on Campus
Midnight The Way We Were (1973) - starring Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford.
2:15 a.m. Spring Madness (1938) - starring Maureen O'Sullivan, Lew Ayres, Ruth Hussey and Burgess Meredith.
Overnight Feature
3:30 a.m. The Strawberry Statement (1970) - starring Bruce Davison, Kim Darby and Bob Balaban.
Wednesday, Jan. 20
Part Five: Our Red Army Pals
8 p.m. The North Star (1943) - starring Anne Baxter, Dana Andrews and Walter Huston.
10 p.m. Mission to Moscow (1943) -starring Walter Huston, Ann Harding and Oscar Homolka.
Part Six: Diplomatic Immunity
12:15 a.m. The Kremlin Letter (1970) - starring Bibi Andersson, Richard Boone, Max von Sydow and Orson Welles.
2:15 a.m. Conspirator (1949) - starring Robert Taylor and Elizabeth Taylor.
Overnight Feature
4 a.m. Counter-Attack (1945) - starring Paul Muni and Marguerite Chapman.
Wednesday, Jan. 27
Part Seven: Spies Among Us
8 p.m. My Son John (1952) - starring Helen Hayes, Robert Walker and Dean Jagger.
10:15 p.m. I Was a Communist for the FBI (1951) - starring Frank Lovejoy and Dorothy Hart.
Part Eight: The Height of the Cold War
Midnight The Manchurian Candidate (1962) - starring Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey and Angela Lansbury.
2:15 a.m. The Bedford Incident (1965)
- starring Richard Widmark and Sidney Poitier.
Overnight Features
4:15 a.m. Scarlet Dawn (1932) - starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Nancy Carroll.
5:15 a.m. The Doughgirls (1944) - starring Jane Wyman, Ann Sheridan, Alexis Smith and Eve Arden.
TCM Classic Film Festival Announced For April 2010
[Press Release - Released by TCM]
Turner Classic Movies (TCM), the authority in classic film, will stage the network's first film festival April 22-25, 2010, in the heart of Hollywood . The TCM Classic Film Festival will be a landmark celebration of the history of Hollywood and its movies, presented in a way that only TCM can, with major events, celebrity appearances and screenings of classic movies. The network is inviting fans from around the country to join this new festival and share their passion for classic film.
All screenings - more than 50 in all - will include special introductions to provide context about each film. Specific details about TCM's unique, interactive fan experience will be announced in the weeks and months ahead, including appearances by actors, actresses, directors, producers and other key figures.
Robert Osborne, TCM's primetime host, will be the official host of the festival. "Classic movies are something that link the past to the present and form a vital part of our culture," Osborne said. "This new festival will give those who love movies a way to connect with each other. It is a first-of-its-kind chance for TCM fans to experience the network in-person, meet others with the same interests and immerse themselves in a wide array of classic films."
Hollywood and its history will be celebrated throughout the TCM Classic Film Festival. In addition to screening classic films, from newly restored masterpieces to silent classics and undiscovered gems, the festival will tell the story of Hollywood through films, guests and special events throughout the weekend.
TCM will be partnering with Vanity Fair magazine - creator of the Penguin book Vanity Fair's Tales of Hollywood, edited by Graydon Carter - to bring the book to life. Writers from the magazine, along with actors and filmmakers, will tell behind-the-scenes stories of many of Hollywood 's greatest films.
In addition, the TCM Classic Film Festival will honor the nation's pre-eminent organization devoted to preserving Hollywood 's legacy, The Film Foundation, which will be celebrating its 20th year of preserving and restoring classic films. Several films restored by The Film Foundation will be showcased at the festival.
Hollywood has put its own spin on the movie industry over the years, from escapist musicals to downbeat film noirs. Because there has been no greater subject for Hollywood to explore than Hollywood itself, the festival will highlight some of the best films from this category.
As TCM examines Hollywood 's history, the influence of foreign-language films on American filmmaking also will be explored. The festival will screen important film imports that have had an unquestionable impact on the direction Hollywood has taken. TCM also is proud to offer a sneak peek into the network's most ambitious original programming effort to date, Moguls and Movie Stars, a multi-part documentary about the history of the Hollywood film industry. The project, co-produced by Bill Haber's Ostar Productions, is slated to premiere on the network in fall 2010.
The TCM Classic Film Festival will be held Thursday, April 22, through Sunday, April 25, 2010, in Hollywood . Festival passes will go on sale Wednesday, Nov. 18, at www.tcm.com/festival. Prices will range from $500 to $1,200 for four-day passes.
The festival will involve several venues in a central area of Hollywood , including screenings at Grauman's Chinese Theatre and the Egyptian Theatre. The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, which has a longstanding role in movie history and was the site of the first Oscarr ceremony, will be the official hotel for the festival as well as a key venue for festival passholders.
TCM, the producer of the festival, has brought onboard as consultants Bill and Stella Pence, a couple well-known in industry circles as co-founders of the Telluride Film Festival. "As dedicated fans of TCM, we think a destination film festival for network devotees is a logical and welcome step," Bill Pence said.
Stella Pence said the TCM Classic Film Festival will be a unique proposition. "There are a great many film festivals around the world, but only TCM is so perfectly poised to do something truly original when it comes to classic movies," she said.
TCM Pays Tribute to Grace Kelly in November
[Press Release - Released by TCM]
Turner Classic Movies Pays Tribute to Grace Kelly in November To Celebrate the Beloved Actress' 80th Birthday
Film Salute Airs Each Thursday in November, Beginning at 8 p.m. (ET)
Model, stage actress, film star and princess: Grace Kelly is fondly remembered as one of the most beautiful and dignified performers ever to grace the Silver Screen. This November, in honor of what would have been the actress' 80th birthday, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will celebrate her life and work by presenting all of her feature films, as well as a television special. TCM host and film historian Robert Osborne will guide viewers through her fascinating career and outstanding performances each Thursday night in November, beginning at 8 p.m. (ET).
Within TCM's STAR OF THE MONTH: GRACE KELLY collection is the actress' Oscar®-winning performance as the plain and resentful wife of an alcoholic in The Country Girl (1954 – Nov. 12 at midnight), as well as the three consecutive films directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starting with Dial M for Murder (1954 – Nov. 12 at 8 p.m.). Hitchcock unintentionally played matchmaker when he cast Kelly in To Catch a Thief (1955 – Nov. 26 at 8 p.m.), which was set on the French Riviera, where she met her husband, Prince Rainier of Monaco. After starring as a princess in The Swan (1956 – Nov. 26 at midnight), Kelly retired to take on her new role as Princess Grace of Monaco, although she did serve on the board of directors for 20th Century-Fox from 1976 to 1981. Kelly died in a car accident in 1982.
TCM Announces 15 Favorite Fashion Trendsetting Films
[Press Release - Released by TCM]
From Pandora's Box (1929) to Rebel Without a Cause (1955) to Flashdance (1983), TCM Chooses Films with Widespread Impact on the World of Fashion
Just in time for Fashion Week in New York, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is unveiling the network's 15 Favorite Fashion Trendsetting Films.
Movies have long had a pivotal role in setting new fashion trends, while also serving as inspirations to legions of designers. To assemble its list, TCM's experts used guidance from two great contemporary designers, Manolo Blahnik and Todd Oldham.
TCM – which is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year – chose a list that includes such iconic films as Rebel Without a Cause (1955), which featured James Dean setting a new standard in cool. "Even I had his red biker jacket," Blahnik said.
Other films made the cut because of the work of someone behind the scenes, such as Edith Head, one of Hollywood's greatest costume designers. "Edith Head was the first at so many things," Oldham said. "She could change a national hemline with her influential designs."
Oldham also points out that a movie's impact on fashion trends isn't always immediate, using as an example the exuberant comedy Auntie Mame (1958). "While not as influential at the time of its opening, it features one of the most fashionably daring wardrobes on screen, always worn perfectly by Rosalind Russell. Every fashion designer knows Auntie Mame."
TCM host Robert Osborne said fashion remains an integral part of the images of many stars. "The greatest leading men and leading ladies all had distinctive styles," Osborne said. "Today, we remember not just the acting skills of someone like Cary Grant – we also know him for his indelible fashion sense."
TCM is revealing its list of 15 Favorite Fashion Trendsetting Films in advance of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, which is scheduled for Sept. 10-17 in New York. TCM's extensive ties to fashion also include an ongoing promotion with Bloomingdale's. TCM's 15 Favorite Fashion Trendsetting Films will be included in the network's ongoing selection of Dailies. This feature, which can be found at http://www.tcm.com/dailies/, provides a new ranking each day.
Here are TCM's 15 Favorite Fashion Trendsetting Films, listed in chronological order:
Anthony Hopkins TCM November Guest Programmer
[Press Release - Released by TCM]
Oscar®-winning actor Anthony Hopkins, one of the most respected thespians, is coming to Turner Classic Movies (TCM) Monday, Nov. 30, to present a collection of favorite films in the latest edition of the network's GUEST PROGRAMMER series. Each month on this movie showcase, TCM invites a celebrity to exchange star status for a role as a devoted fan of classic film by picking a few favorite movies and sharing with viewers what he or she has come to love about each one. In addition to Hopkins, upcoming GUEST PROGRAMMERS include actor/comedian Richard Lewis (Sept. 21), Emmy®-winning comedian/commentator Dennis Miller (Oct. 21) and alternative singer/songwriter Neko Case (Dec. 8).
Hopkins will join TCM host Robert Osborne in introducing four memorable films:
8 p.m. Orson Welles' The Lady from Shanghai (1948), an offbeat thriller starring Rita Hayworth, Everett Sloane and Welles, featuring the famed hall-of-mirrors climax.
9:45 p.m. John Huston's The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948), starring Humphrey Bogart, Walter Huston and Tim Holt in the gripping story of greed among a trio of prospectors.
Midnight John Ford's adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath (1940), with Henry Fonda leading his family to California during the Great Depression.
2:15 a.m. Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window (1954), starring James Stewart as a man who witnesses a murder he can do nothing to prevent.
Hopkins received the Academy Award® for his memorable work in Jonathan Demme's Silence of the Lambs. He has subsequently been nominated for his performances in The Remains of the Day, Nixon and Amistad. He also earned acclaim for his performances in the drama Shadowlands, Julie Taymor's adaptation of Titus, the Merchant Ivory production of Howard's End and Francis Coppola's adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula. Other credits include The Mask of Zorro, Legends of the Fall, Beowolf, Alexander, Meet Joe Black, The World's Fastest Indian, The Road to Wellville, August, Surviving Picasso, The Human Stain, The Edge, Fracture, Bobby and Harry and the Butler. He reprised his role from Silence of the Lambs in the films Hannibal and Red Dragon.
Hopkins made his film debut opposite Katharine Hepburn and Peter O'Toole in the acclaimed historical drama The Lion in Winter. His early credits include Magic, The Bounty, A Bridge Too Far, Desperate Hours, 84 Charing Cross Road and The Elephant Man. He has earned two Emmys for his television work, one for his performance as Bruno Hauptmann in The Lindberg Kidnapping Case and the other for his role as Adolph Hitler in The Bunker. He has also received numerous accolades for his theatrical work for the National Theatre and other prominent theatrical companies.
Turner Classic Movies is a Peabody Award-winning network celebrating 15 years of presenting great films, uncut and commercial-free, from the largest film libraries in the world. Currently seen in more than 80 million homes, TCM features the insights of veteran primetime host Robert Osborne and weekend daytime host Ben Mankiewicz, plus interviews with a wide range of special guests. As the foremost authority in classic films, TCM offers critically acclaimed original documentaries and specials, along with regular programming events that include The Essentials, 31 Days of Oscar and Summer Under the Stars. TCM also produces a wide range of media about classic film, including books and DVDs, along with hosting a wealth of materials at its Web site, www.tcm.com. TCM is part of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company.
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.
Clint Eastwood Presents JOHNNY MERCER: THE DREAM'S ON ME
[Press Release - Released by TCM]
"Hooray for Hollywood"; "Jeepers Creepers"; "That Old Black Magic"; "On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe"; "Skylark"; "Blues in the Night"; "Moon River"; "The Days of Wine and Roses." Some of the most beloved songs of the 20th century came from the pen of a gap-toothed, Georgia-born lyricist, singer and composer named Johnny Mercer, whose solo and collaborative efforts have kept the world singing for more than eight decades.
This November, commemorating the 100th anniversary of his birth, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will celebrate the extraordinary music of this legendary personality with JOHNNY MERCER: THE DREAM'S ON ME, executive-produced by Oscar®-winning filmmaker Clint Eastwood. The 100-minute special, which premieres Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 8 p.m. (ET), features countless performances of Mercer's work and an abundance of new and archival interviews detailing his life and career. Produced by Rhapsody Productions in association with TCM, Arena/BBC and Warner Home Video and commissioned by the Johnny Mercer Foundation, the special is produced and directed by Bruce Ricker (Tony Bennett: The Music Never Ends).
TCM will complement the premiere of JOHNNY MERCER: THE DREAM'S ON ME with presentations of several classic films on which he worked every Wednesday night in November. Titles include Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954), Blues in the Night (1941), Hollywood Hotel (1937), The Harvey Girls (1946), Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), The Days of Wine and Roses (1962), The Americanization of Emily (1964), Li'l Abner (1959) and The Belle of New York (1952). On Nov. 18, the anniversary of Mercer's birth, TCM will devote the entire day's schedule to his work.
JOHNNY MERCER: THE DREAM'S ON ME opens with Eastwood and award-winning film composer John Williams sitting at a piano reminiscing about what makes Mercer's songs so memorable. That touchstone begins a loving portrait of the immensely talented songwriter, told by the many collaborators and performers who have helped bring his songs to life. New and archival interviews join with memorable clips of Mercer's songs by such legendary performers as Ella Fitzgerald, Pearl Bailey, Fred Astaire, Andy Williams, Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, Dinah Shore, Barbra Streisand, Rosemary Clooney, Lena Horne, Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, Audrey Hepburn and the Mills Brothers. In addition, new renditions of Mercer's work are created by singers Audra McDonald (with Williams accompanying on piano), Dr. John, Michael Feinstein, Maude Maggart, Jamie Cullum and Morgan Eastwood.
Giveaway: TCM's Robert Osborne Bobble Head Doll
I recently wrote about TCM's great summer event Summer Under the Stars, during which TCM dedicates each day of August to one of Hollywood's most enduring personalities. You can take a look at some of the great posters that TCM came up with for the event below.
In celebration of the event, we have 3 official Robert Osborne Bobble Head Dolls to give away.
For a chance to win, it's an easy 2 step process:
Read more
TCM Q4 2009 Highlights
[Press Release - Released by TCM]
October
A NIGHT AT THE MOVIES: THE SUSPENSEFUL WORLD OF THRILLERS – Original documentary premiering Friday, Oct. 2, at 8 p.m.; Primetime film festival Fridays throughout October
TCM launches its new series of one-hour specials that will provide a Film Studies 101 look at top cinematic genres. First up is a look at the thriller genre from all sides, including different types of thrillers and the stylistic tools filmmakers use to give their audiences a shot of adrenaline. The special features interviews with such figures as TCM host Robert Osborne; Ken Follett, author of Eye of the Needle; Bryan Singer, writer and director of The Usual Suspects and Valkyrie; Diablo Cody, writer and producer of the upcoming film Jennifer's Body; Kenneth Branagh, director and star of Dead Again; Mel Brooks, writer, director and star of the Hitchcock spoof High Anxiety; David Koepp, writer-director of Stir of Echoes; Norman Lloyd, star of Hitchcock's Saboteur and producer and director for the Alfred Hitchcock television series; Martin Landau, co-star of Hitchcock's North by Northwest; and many more. THE SUSPENSEFUL WORLD OF THRILLERS comes to TCM from DreamWorks Television, with Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey (Las Vegas, TNT's Into the West) serving as executive producers. The special was written, produced and directed by award-winning filmmaker and author Laurent Bouzereau.
MOVIES FROM THE REVOLUTION – Primetime marathon of revolutionary films from the '60s and '70s Wednesday, Oct. 28, beginning at 8 p.m.
In the 1960s and '70s, young filmmakers were breaking free with bold new visions and counter-cultural stories. TCM celebrates their revolutionary work with an evening of seminal films of the era, including Peter Bogdanovich's unique thriller Targets (1968), Hal Ashby's off-kilter romance Harold and Maude (1968), Dennis Hopper's groundbreaking Easy Rider (1969) and Bob Rafelson's memorable character study Five Easy Pieces (1970). The night will also include the TCM premiere of the 2003 documentary Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex, Drugs, Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood, based on Peter Biskind's book about the rise and subsequent fall of several revolutionary filmmakers.
LIFE DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION: 80th ANNIVERSARY OF THE STOCK MARKET CRASH – Thursdays beginning at 8 p.m.
Eight decades after Variety touted the stock market crash with the words, "Wall Street Lays an Egg," TCM looks back on the Great Depression with a month of films depicting what became one of the defining moments for an entire generation. Titles include Bound for Glory (1976), The Grapes of Wrath (1940), Sullivan's Travels (1941), Paper Moon (1973) and the TCM premieres of O Brother, Where Art Thou (2000) and Hallelujah, I'm a Bum (1933).
HALLOWEEN HORRORS – Movie marathons throughout October
Various days throughout October, TCM is going to be sending tingles down the spines of movie fans with a variety of horror movie marathons. Offerings include a night of films by gimmick master William Castle (Oct. 20), sci-fi horror films (Oct. 25), movies involving psychic power (Oct. 27) and a collection starring Boris Karloff (Oct. 30). Finally, TCM will celebrate Halloween with an all-day marathon of monsters, ghouls, ghosts and mad scientists.
TCM Summer Under the Stars
TCM has launched a new event called SUMMER UNDER THE STARS during which they will dedicate each day of August to one of Hollywood's most enduring personalities.
TCM will show over 5,000 films, assembled from its library, which will allow you to enjoy quite a few movies from each star's body of work. Even better, the films will be uncut and commercial free.
You can check out the full schedule of movies below. Titles in bold denote TCM premieres. All times shown are Eastern.
TCM's A Night At The Movies: The Suspenseful World of Thrillers
TCM is going to launch a new series, A NIGHT AT THE MOVIES, which are one-hour specials that will provide a Film Studies 101 look at top cinematic genres.
The first episode, "The Suspenseful World of Thrillers," will premiere on October 2 at 8pm.
Other episodes will look at other genres, including a December special on epic cinema.
This is a great chance to discover movies that you hadn't heard of before and learn more about them. I would call the cheap "film school."
The special will feature interviews with such figures as TCM host Robert Osborne; Ken Follett, author of Eye of the Needle; Bryan Singer, writer and director of The Usual Suspects and Valkyrie; Diablo Cody, writer and producer of the upcoming film Jennifer's Body; Kenneth Branagh, director and star of Dead Again; Mel Brooks, writer, director and star of the Hitchcock spoof High Anxiety; David Koepp, writer-director of Stir of Echoes; Norman Lloyd, star of Hitchcock's Saboteur and producer and director for the Alfred Hitchcock television series; Martin Landau, co-star of Hitchcock's North by Northwest; Ileanna Douglas, co-star of Cape Fear and Stir of Echoes; Scott Frank, screenwriter of Minority Report and director of The Lookout; Heywood Gould, screenwriter of The Boys from Brazil; Paul Hirsch, editor of Brian De Palma's Obsession and Blow Out; Hawk Koch, assistant director on Marathon Man and The Parallax View, and producer of Untraceable; Guy Hendrix Dyas, production designer for Indiana Jones & The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull; and John McCarty, author of the books Thrillers and Bullets Over Hollywood.
You can see the complete schedule of A Night at the Movies: The Suspensful Wordl of Thrillers, which premieres in October, below:
