TCM Bob Schedule for July

For TCM US - check your local listings for the exact time - these are Eastern times.

Saturday 21

3:30 a.m.
Private Lives (1931)
A divorced couple rekindles the spark after landing in adjoining honeymoon suites with new mates. Cast: Norma Shearer, Robert Montgomery, Una Merkel. Dir: Sidney Franklin

Also of interest...

5 a.m.
Complicated Women (2003)
Documentary that looks at the phenomenon of "pre-code women" during the years 1929-1934. Cast: Narrated by Jane Fonda. Dir: Hugh Munro Neely

Monday 23

3:30 a.m.
Three Loves Has Nancy (1938)
A country girl follows the man who jilted her to the big city, where she finds two new suitors. Cast: Janet Gaynor, Robert Montgomery, Franchot Tone. Dir: Richard Thorpe

Joan Crawford Q&A

Alternative Film Blog has an interview with Neil Maciejewski, keeper of LegendaryJoanCrawford.com and co-author of an upcoming book on Joan (note: I believe this book has been put on hold pending a new publisher).

He Particularly Despises Pretentiousness...

Slick copy from a 1950 Williams Shaving Products ad:

Here are 10 Robert Montgomerys. Don't be misled by that easy-going look -- it disguises one of the most versatile dynamos of our time. Stump speaking for his chosen candidates . . . and an allergy for syndicated gambling, blackmailers, and insolence . . . have kept the Montgomery blood circulating nicely. Stubborn, he has a formidable reputation for getting his man. He particularly despises pretentiousness. And his wit can be devastating.

View full ad image

How the ad copy goes from this to how Williams Lectric Shave, Aqua Velva, and misc shaving products can make you look younger...well, that's another post.

Photo Friday - Joan, 1933

Joan Crawford in a 1933 Hurrell photo.

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Twelve O'Clock High

Two things related to the film Twelve O'Clock High recently caught my eye.

First, there's a new book out on the film and the television show of the same name (The 12 O'Clock High Logbook). Talk about detail. I've only read a bit of one of the chapters, but it's interesting stuff - if you're into the little production & promotion details of a movie.

If I can add a side-note, the book did mention Robert Montgomery was considered for the role of Gen. Frank Savage (along with 1/2 of Hollywood: James Cagney, Dana Andrews, Ralph Bellamy, Van Heflin, Burt Lancaster, Lloyd Nolan, Edmund O'Brien, Robert Preston, and Robert Young). As much as I love Bob, I just don't think it would have been his style - which also was the thought of the studio given who they chose. Gregory Peck truly nailed the role of Gen. Savage.

Second, Fox reissued Twelve O'Clock High on DVD as a "Special Edition." To be honest, I think the only thing that makes this edition "special" is that they seem to have shaved 10 years off of Gregory Peck's face in the box artwork. Oh, and there's cool little postcard-like reproductions of lobby cards in the box too.

Photo Saturday - LOOK, More Joan

Look Magazine cover from March 12, 1940.

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Dreaming of 1939

I'm slightly off topic today - but I saw this PT Cruiser at a recent car show and snapped this shot. That PT Cruiser owner gets an "A" for creativity & imagination. I'm kinda wishing one of our cars had whitewalls now...

This is War - Radio Style

This is War was a 13 episode series of radio programs that ran in 1942 on 4 networks simultaneously. Each week a new Hollywood personality narrated the half hour show. Such names included Tyrone Power, Fredric March, James Stewart, James Cagney, and more.

This particular episode is the first of the series, from February 14. The narrator for the evening is Lt. Robert Montgomery.

5 MB MP3 - 30 Minutes

Powerful writing with a powerful message.

A tip of the hat to Bantaskin for digging this one up.

Photo Friday - Yellow Jack

Leave it to Hollywood to promote Yellow Fever as "Thrilling!" Title card for 1938's Yellow Jack:

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Aviation Film Overload

I've got a few news items on classic aviation films, so I'll squish them all together in one post:

I don't live in the LA area, so I won't (can't) be attending, but AMPAS is showing The Right Stuff as part of their "Great to be Nominated" film series on June 11. There will also be a panel discussion with a few who were in the film or were part of the production. Awesome, awesome film - great characters & beautifully filmed scenes. Still chasing that demon...

EAA's AirVenture airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin will be showing aviation-themed films again at their outdoor Fly-In Theater:

Sunday, July 22: Wings (1927)
Monday, July 23: Twelve O’Clock High (1949)
Tuesday, July 24: Top Gun (1986)
Wednesday, July 25: Spirit of St. Louis (1957)
Thursday, July 26: Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944)
Friday, July 27: Apollo 13 (1995) - Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell will introduce the film
Saturday, July 28: Flying Tigers (1942)

Finally, TCM is saluting aviation films in July. Five days throughout July will show 70, count 'em, 70 aviation-themed films. My TiVo will be burned out by the end of July...

June 6th - D-Day on Satellite

Argh, moments like this make me wish I had satellite radio:

Listeners to XM Satellite Radio's 1940s music channel on June 6 will find themselves transported back in time -- more than usual, that is.
Sixty-three years have passed since Allied forces landed on France's Normandy coast, but World War ll will seem like it's happening in real time on XM-4. Beginning at 12:41 a.m. June 6, the station will broadcast the original NBC radio news bulletins heard by listeners two generations ago.