TCM Schedule for Tuesday, June 29th: Frank Loesser's 100th Birthday

[CBHagman]

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Tuesday, June 29th, 2010

1:00 AM Brainstorm (1983)
A scientist battles the military for control of a machine that records sensory experiences-including death. Cast: Natalie Wood, Christopher Walken, Louise Fletcher. Dir: Douglas Trumbull. C-106 mins, TV-14, CC, Letterbox Format

3:00 AM Penelope (1966)
A neglected wife turns to bank robbery to get her husband's attention. Cast: Natalie Wood, Dick Shawn, Peter Falk. Dir: Arthur Hiller. C-98 mins, TV-PG, CC, Letterbox Format

4:45 AM Loved One, The (1965)
An Englishman in Hollywood moves into the funeral business. Cast: Robert Morse, Jonathan Winters, Rod Steiger. Dir: Tony Richardson. BW-121 mins, TV-PG, CC, Letterbox Format

5:32 AM Short Film: Weekend In Hollywood (1960)
BW-10 mins,

7:00 AM Forsaking All Others (1934)
A woman pursues the wrong man for almost twenty years. Cast: Clark Gable, Joan Crawford, Robert Montgomery. Dir: W.S. Van Dyke II. BW-83 mins, TV-PG, CC

8:30 AM Double Wedding (1937)
A dress designer tries to break her sister's engagement to a free-living artist, only to discover the man is falling for her instead. Cast: William Powell, Myrna Loy, Florence Rice. Dir: Richard Thorpe. BW-87 mins, TV-G, CC

10:00 AM Theodora Goes Wild (1936)
A woman's two lives as small-town innocent and author of torrid romances collide. Cast: Irene Dunne, Melvyn Douglas, Thomas Mitchell. Dir: Richard Boleslawski. BW-94 mins, TV-G, CC



12:00 PM Too Many Husbands (1940)
When her long lost husband returns after her re-marriage, a woman decides to try life with two mates. Cast: Jean Arthur, Fred MacMurray, Melvyn Douglas. Dir: Wesley Ruggles. BW-81 mins, TV-G, CC

1:30 PM Rosalie (1937)
A West Point cadet falls for a European princess. Cast: Eleanor Powell, Nelson Eddy, Ray Bolger. Dir: W.S. Van Dyke II. BW-123 mins, TV-G, CC

3:45 PM Maytime (1937)
An opera star's manager tries to stop her romance with a penniless singer. Cast: Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy, John Barrymore. Dir: Robert Z. Leonard. BW-132 mins, TV-G, CC



6:00 PM Sweethearts (1938)
Bickering husband-and-wife stage stars are manipulated into a break-up for publicity purposes. Cast: Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy, Frank Morgan. Dir: W.S. Van Dyke II. C-114 mins, TV-G, CC



What's On Tonight: TCM PRIME TIME FEATURE: FRANK LOESSER'S 100TH BIRTHDAY



8:00pm How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying (1967)
With the help of his handy guidebook, a window washer talks his way into the executive suite.
Cast: Robert Morse, Michele Lee, Rudy Vallee, Anthony Teague Dir: David Swift C-121 mins, TV-PG



10:15pm Heart & Soul: The Life and Music of Frank Loesser (2006)

12:00am Neptune's Daughter (1949)
Mistaken identity complicates a polo player's romance with a bathing suit designer.
Cast: Esther Williams, Red Skelton, Ricardo Montalban, Betty Garrett Dir: Edward Buzzell C-93 mins, TV-G

1:45am Red, Hot And Blue (1949)
An actress's rising career is threatened when she finds a dead gangster in her apartment.
Cast: Betty Hutton, Victor Mature, William Demarest, June Havoc Dir: John Farrow C-84 mins, TV-G

3:15am Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943)
An Eddie Cantor look-alike organizes an all-star show to help the war effort.
Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Eddie Cantor, Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland Dir: David Butler BW-127 mins, TV-G

[Matilda]

1. "Sweethearts" is quite a lot of fun.

I note that TCM is marking Nelson Eddy's birthday with three offerings. I've written about "Maytime" before, and "Rosalie" never appealed to me very much – pairing a dancer who couldn't sing with a singer who couldn't dance doesn't seem to me to be inspired casting. And the ending was dreadfully over-produced, as only Hollywood on steroids can do it.

But "Sweethearts" has quite a bit to recommend it – the original score by Victor Herbert, which has some lovely melodies (and the usual stirring marching song for Nelson), and a very witty script by Dorothy Parker and Alan Campbell, for starters. Add to that some delightful supporting performances by the always-lovable Frank Morgan and Herman Bing, gorgeous gowns by Adrian, and it's heaven.

Lots of fun, beautiful music and Nelson and Jeanette still at their peak – I love it!

[CBHagman]

2. You know, I should have looked up N.E.'s birthday...

Generally there is a method to TCM's schedule, and I really should have thought about Loesser and Eddy sharing the great day.

Thanks for your input. I almost did a shout-out to you because of the Nelson Eddy elements of the schedule!

[Matilda]

3. I have it locked away in my brain.

And I never forget Jeanette's birthday, because my son shares the same date (which doesn't impress him at all). It's also Paul McCartney's birthday – June 18th. Just so you know.

[CBHagman]

4. Now I'm really going to scare you...

...because I knew June 18th was Paul McCartney's reason. I think the only reason I knew that was because one of my friends in high school was a major fan. Then again, I can remember John Lennon's birthday too (October 9th).

Yet I'll forget to make an appointment for an eye check-up or watch the Tony Awards. The brain is a funny old thing. :shrug:

[Matilda]

5. Paul was my favourite Beatle.

I liked John's wit, but he always had a hard edge that was just a bit scary at times.