TCM Schedule for Friday, July 15 -- Star of the Month -- Singing Cowboys

[Staph]

Happy birthday to William Dieterle, born on this day in 1893 in Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany. And happy birthday to Marjorie Rambeau, born on this day in 1889 in San Francisco. TCM is showing his films in the morning and hers in the afternoon. And in the evening, it's more singing cowboys, including Tex Ritter, Fuzzy Knight, and Jimmy Wakely. Enjoy!



6:00 AM -- Her Majesty Love (1931)
A circus entertainer fights snobbery in her search for romance.
Dir: William Dieterle
Cast: Marilyn Miller, Ben Lyon, W. C. Fields.
75 min, TV-G

Marilyn Miller's final film.


7:30 AM -- Grand Slam (1933)
A hat-check girl's skill with cards lands her a wealthy bridge champion.
Dir: William Dieterle
Cast: Paul Lukas, Loretta Young, Frank McHugh.
67 min, TV-G

Based on B. Russell Herts' novel "Grand Slam: The Rise and Fall of a Bridge Wizard"


8:45 AM -- A Dispatch From Reuters (1940)
An entrepreneur builds an international news agency.
Dir: William Dieterle
Cast: Edward G. Robinson, Edna Best, Eddie Albert.
90 min, TV-G , CC

The life of Paul Julius Freiherr von Reuter (Baron De Reuter), founder of the Reuters News Agency.


10:15 AM -- Boots Malone (1952)
A broken-down sports agent tries to use a promising jockey as his ticket back to the top.
Dir: William Dieterle
Cast: William Holden, Stanley Clements, Basil Ruysdael.
104 min, TV-PG

Filmed at the Iverson Ranch, Chatsworth, California.


12:00 PM -- Salome (1953)
Herod's stepdaughter discovers Christianity through her love for a Roman centurion.
Dir: William Dieterle
Cast: Rita Hayworth, Stewart Granger, Charles Laughton.
C-103 min, TV-PG

The first full length feature for Alan Badel.


1:45 PM -- Slander (1957)
A TV star almost loses his career and his marriage over a tabloid story.
Dir: Roy Rowland
Cast: Van Johnson, Ann Blyth, Steve Cochran.
81 min, TV-G

Puppets in movie were designed and operated (except in long shots) by Bil and Cora Baird, who were also responsible for the very similar-looking puppets in The Lonely Goatherd number in The Sound Of Music.


3:15 PM -- Bad for Each Other (1954)
A doctor returned from the Korean War must choose between setting up a glamorous practice and helping the poor.
Dir: Irving Rapper
Cast: Charlton Heston, Lizabeth Scott, Dianne Foster.
82 min, TV-PG

Written in part by Irving Wallace.


4:45 PM -- Torch Song (1953)
A tempestuous musical theatre star falls for a blind pianist.
Dir: Charles Walters
Cast: Joan Crawford, Michael Wilding, Gig Young.
C-90 min, TV-G

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role -- Marjorie Rambeau

The music used for the opening dance sequence between Joan Crawford and Chuck Walters was recycled from the previous MGM film Royal Wedding. It was Fred Astaire's dance music for "You're All the World to Me" (i.e., the "dancing-on-the-walls-and-ceiling" sequence).


6:30 PM -- Three Sons O'Guns (1941)
Three reckless brothers dodge the draft then sign up and become men.
Dir: Ben Stoloff
Cast: Wayne Morris, Marjorie Rambeau, Irene Rich.
65 min, TV-G

Based on Fred Niblo Jr.'s story Mother's Boys.


TCM PRIMETIME - WHAT'S ON TONIGHT: STAR OF THE MONTH: SINGING COWBOYS



8:00 PM -- Song of the Gringo (1936)
A U.S. Marshal poses as an outlaw to find his missing father.
Dir: John McCarthy Jr.
Cast: Tex Ritter, Joan Woodbury, Fuzzy Knight.
61 min,

Just prior to start of filming this, his first movie, Tex Ritter went to a barber shop for a haircut. He fell asleep in the barber's chair and too much hair was cut off. This is why in most of this movie he keeps his hat clamped tightly on his head, and when he does remove it he's wearing a very obvious wig.


9:15 PM -- The Old Chisholm Trail (1942)
A cattle driver gets caught in the battle between a ruthless female rancher and the woman running a trading post.
Dir: Elmer Clifton
Cast: Johnny Mack Brown, Tex Ritter, Fuzzy Knight.
60 min, TV-G

Fuzzy Knight attended my alma mater, West Virginia University, and wrote the fight song, Fight, Mountaineers.


10:30 PM -- Cowboy Canteen (1944)
A rancher turns his spread into a dude ranch for soldiers during World War II.
Dir: Lew Landers
Cast: Charles Starrett, Jane Frazee, Vera Vague.
72 min, TV-G

On September 1st, 1943, columnist Sheila Graham announced the casting of Shirley Ross, marking Ross' first film appearance in over two years. Less than two weeks later, Ross was forced to withdraw due to illness; she was replaced by Jane Frazee. It was another two years before Ross' next and final film role, A Song For Miss Julie (1945).


11:45 PM -- Oklahoma Blues (1948)
A state official tries to clean up a town being considered for the county seat.
Dir: Lambert Hillyer
Cast: Jimmy Wakely, "Cannonball" Taylor, Virginia Belmont.
56 min,

Remake of The Pocatello Kid (1931), starring Ken Maynard.


12:45 AM -- Brand of Fear (1949)
Two cowboys try to help the new schoolteacher when she's accosted by bandits.
Dir: Oliver Drake
Cast: Jimmy Wakely, "Cannonball" Taylor, Tom London.
56 min,

Filmed at the Melody Ranch, Newhall, California.


2:00 AM -- Bloody Birthday (1980)
Three children born at the height of a total eclipse become heartless killers.
Dir: Ted G Vujovich
Cast: Susan Strasberg, Jose Ferrer, Lori Lethin.
C-85 min, TV-14

The house depicted in the films colorful German poster is the same house from the mini-series Salem's Lot.


3:30 AM -- The Bad Seed (1956)
A woman suspects that her perfect little girl is a ruthless killer.
Dir: Mervyn LeRoy
Cast: Gage Clarke, Jesse White, Joan Croyden.
C-129 min, TV-PG , CC

Nominated for Oscars for Best Actress in a Leading Role -- Nancy Kelly, Best Actress in a Supporting Role -- Eileen Heckart, Best Actress in a Supporting Role -- Patty McCormack, and Best Cinematography, Black-and-White -- Harold Rosson

Warner Bros. production notes for the film reported that three endings were shot. According to a Nov 1955 Los Angeles Times, the end of the film was kept secret and the last five pages of the script were not distributed until ready to shoot.


5:45 AM -- Holiday From Rules (1959)
In this educational film, a group of young children understand why rules are important.
11 min, TV-G

Filmed in Walled Lake, Michigan