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2017 in Films: 365 Days, 628 Films, and a Year Full of Cinema!
2017 was quite the film (and TV!) watching year for me. I got really obsessed with a lot of things and I watched more films this year than I have in a few years. After the cut you can see all 628 new-to-me films I watched (and you can read my monthly breakdowns here). This year was filled with a lot highlights both in terms of what I watched, but also places I visited and people I met. Here’s hoping 2018 will be even better!
TCM’s Summer Under the Stars is Back!
I haven’t had TCM for Summer Under the Stars since 2010, but that was a good year. That was basically how I became a classic film addict and someday I will be able to afford television again if only for TCM *insert Scarlet O’Hara voice here). Anyways, there’s some great new names being celebrated this year.
Turner Classic Movies’s ultimate movie star showcase – Summer Under the Stars – returns this August for its 11th year as TCM pays tribute to 31 different stars in 31 days. Sixteen of this year’s stars are being celebrated for the first time during Summer Under the Stars, including Oscar® winners Joan Fontaine (Aug. 6), Mickey Rooney (Aug. 13), Wallace Beery (Aug. 17), Hattie McDaniel (Aug. 20), Downton Abbey star Maggie Smith (Aug. 22), Charles Coburn (Aug. 24), Martin Balsam (Aug. 27), Shirley Jones (Aug. 28) and Rex Harrison (Aug. 31). Also featured for the first time will be silent heartthrob Ramón Novarro (Aug. 8); legendary French actress Catherine Deneuve (Aug. 12), whose day features six films making their TCM debuts; Ann Blyth (Aug. 16), whose marathon will air on her 85th birthday; and Mary Boland (Aug. 4) and Glenda Farrell (Aug. 29), two outstanding character actresses who never received the recognition they deserved. They will join 15 returning favorites, including Humphrey Bogart (Aug. 1), Doris Day (Aug. 2), Charlton Heston (Aug. 5), Steve McQueen (Aug. 9), Bette Davis (Aug. 14), Elizabeth Taylor (Aug. 23) and Clark Gable (Aug. 25).
In all, more than 30 films will be making their first appearances on TCM during the 2013 edition of Summer Under the Stars, including Anatole Litvak’s poignant wartime romance This Above All (1942), starring Joan Fontaine on Aug. 6; Luis Buñuel’s steamy Belle de Jour (1968), starring Catherine Deneuve on Aug. 12; Otto Preminger’s witty The Fan (1949), starring Jeanne Crain on Aug. 26; and Burt Kennedy’s boisterous The Good Guys and the Bad Guys (1969), starring Martin Balsam on Aug. 27.
TCM’s popular franchises The Essentials, co-hosted by TCM’s Robert Osborne and Drew Barrymore, and The Essentials Jr., hosted by Bill Hader, will continue throughout Summer Under the Stars. The Essentials will feature presentations of Lawrence of Arabia (1962) on Aug. 3, The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) on Aug. 10, Grand Hotel (1932) on Aug. 17, The Lady Eve (1941) on Aug. 24 and Anna and the King of Siam (1946) on Aug. 31. TCM Essentials Jr. will include the family-friendly movies Ruggles of Red Gap (1935) on Aug. 4, The Grapes of Wrath (1940) on Aug. 11, The Great Race (1965) on Aug. 18 and It Happened One Night (1934) on Aug. 25.
The following is the roster of stars who will be celebrated during TCM’s 2013 edition of Summer Under the Stars. Names in bold indicate newcomers to the month-long programming event.
- Aug. 1 – Humphrey Bogart
- Aug. 2 – Doris Day
- Aug. 3 – Alec Guinness
- Aug 4 – Mary Boland
- Aug. 5 – Charlton Heston
- Aug. 6 – Joan Fontaine
- Aug. 7 – Fred MacMurray
- Aug. 8 – Ramón Novarro
- Aug. 9 – Steve McQueen
- Aug. 10 – Lana Turner
- Aug. 11 – Henry Fonda
- Aug. 12 – Catherine Deneuve
- Aug. 13 – Mickey Rooney
- Aug. 14 – Bette Davis
- Aug. 15 – Gregory Peck
- Aug. 16 – Ann Blyth (85th birthday)
- Aug. 17 – Wallace Beery
- Aug. 18 – Natalie Wood
- Aug. 19 – Randolph Scott
- Aug. 20 – Hattie McDaniel
- Aug. 21 – William Holden
- Aug. 22 – Maggie Smith
- Aug. 23 – Elizabeth Taylor
- Aug. 24 – Charles Coburn
- Aug. 25 – Clark Gable
- Aug. 26 – Jeanne Crain
- Aug. 27 – Martin Balsam
- Aug. 28 – Shirley Jones
- Aug. 29 – Glenda Farrell
- Aug. 30 – Kirk Douglas
- Aug. 31 – Rex Harrison
A complete schedule for Summer Under the Stars is available at http://summer.tcm.com.
Conan O’Brien To Host Carson On TCM This July
This is some exciting news. Makes me wish I still had TCM!!! The full press release is below. You can explore the website for the series here.
TCM To Honor Jane Fonda At 2013 Film Festival
The first year I attended they honored Peter O’Toole (oh god I will never forget 2011 O’Toole-fest) and last year they honored Kim Novak. This year Ms. Jane Fonda will be getting her hands in the cement. Her choice of film to present is On Golden Pond, the film in which she was able to work with her father, legend Henry Fonda, who finally won an Academy Award after five decades in the industry. I’ll post the full press release below. I hope Jane is as sassy as I imagine!
TCM To Release Three Early Lombard Classics On DVD
All three of these films are coming to DVD for the first time. I haven’t seen them, but I do so love Carole Lombard. It’s great to see more of her filmography becoming available. I’ve included the press release below.
Carole Lombard, who delighted audiences in some of the greatest screwball comedies ever made, spent the early part of her all-too-brief career playing dramatic roles and romantic ingénues. In January, fans of the beloved actress will have the chance to enjoy three of those rarely seen performances when TCM home entertainment release the Carole Lombard in the ’30s DVD set.
Carole Lombard in the ’30s will be available exclusively through TCM’s online store as part of the TCM Vault Collection, beginning Monday, Jan. 21. The set includes fully restored and re-mastered editions of No More Orchids (1932), Brief Moment (1933) and Lady By Choice (1934). The collection also features an introduction by TCM’s Ben Mankiewicz and extensive on-screen digital bonus materials, including production stills, behind-the-scenes photos, lobby cards, movie posters and more.
Lombard, whose life was cut short by a tragic plane accident in 1942, demonstrated a sparkling presence and sharp timing from the very beginning of her career. Those talents would eventually establish her as the screwball comedienne in such films as Twentieth Century (1934), My Man Godfrey (1936) and Nothing Sacred (1937). Prior to those classics, Lombard’s comedic talents were already in evidence in two films featured in the Carole Lombard in the ’30s collection – No More Orchids (1932), which successfully combines comedy and drama, and Lady by Choice (1934), a raucous farce starring Lombard and May Robson. Rounding out the vision of Lombard’s rare talents is the drama Brief Moment (1933), which a reviewer from The New York Times declared “definitely a tribute to the talents of Carole Lombard and [costar] Gene Raymond.”
Carol Lombard in the ’30s
No More Orchids (1932) – In this romantic drama, Carole Lombard plays a spoiled heiress who falls in love with a struggling lawyer despite her arranged marriage to a European prince.
Brief Moment (1933) – The class conscious formula is reversed as Lombard plays a nightclub singer trying to convince her rich playboy finance to abandon his party going lifestyle in favor of a respectable livelihood.
Lady by Choice (1934) – Released the same year as Lombard’s breakout role in the screwball classic Twentieth Century, this touching drama casts the actress as a fan dancer who adopts a feisty elderly woman with a police record. Lombard shines in one of her best early roles.
Film Noir Treasures from the 1940s Coming to DVD From TCM and Universal Studios Home Entertainment
This news comes just in time for Noirvember! How perfect. I’ve seen all three of the films coming out on this set and I can’t recommend them enough. Also included in this press release is the five films that Film Noir Foundation founder and president Eddie Muller will be showing during his stint as guest hot with Robert Osborne on TCM in January. Two of the five films I’ve seen and the other two are ones I’ve been dying to see. Actually, the two films that Eddie has picked that I have seen I saw because of him! One at TCMFF12 and the other during Noir City X. I see a pattern emerging.
Coming To The TCM Vault Collection: Joan Crawford in the Fifties
I just got this press release in the mail and am SO excited for this new DVD set. Three of them are films never before available on DVD and all four of them are newly remastered. After the cut I’ve included all the details, including special features.
TCM To Celebrate Politics In Film In October
Each Friday in October, TCM will show a series of films depicting American politics in film leading up to the election in November. On top of that, they will be premiering a new one-hour documentary special entitled: A Night at the Movies: Hollywood Goes to Washington. The documentary is produced by Amblin Television and Laurent Bouzereau. It is set to premiere Friday, Oct. 5, at 8 p.m. (ET) and will “provide an in-depth look at the treatment of politics in cinema. Beginning with the genre’s most defining movies, the special will explore how filmmakers have approached politics in their storytelling. A Night at the Movies: Hollywood Goes to Washingtonwill examine films about political campaigns and political conspiracies, and the portrayal of American presidents in the movies.” A Night at the Movies: Hollywood Goes to Washingtonwill examine films about political campaigns and political conspiracies, and the portrayal of American presidents in the movies.” Various filmmakers and performers have been interviewed for the special including Oliver Stone (JFK, Nixon, W.), Rob Reiner (The American President), Gary Ross (Dave), Rod Lurie (The Contender), Illeana Douglas, James Cromwell, Fred Thompson, producer Marc Frydman (The Contender), political consultant and commentator James Carville (The War Room), screenwriter Bob Gale (Back to the Future), author and film critic Julie Salamon (The Devil’s Candy), and Projecting Hollywood co-author Terry Christensen.
After cut is the full schedule of films.
Regis Philbin Set To Be TCM’s September Guest Programmer
Regis Philbin will be TCM’s Guest Programer for September. His four picks will air on Tuesday, Sept. 4, beginning at 8 p.m. I loved three of the four films he chose. Can you guess which won I don’t like?
His picks are after the cut.
TCM To Release Five Early Frank Capra Classics
I’ve actually only seen two of these five films, but I loved both of them. So. Much. Stanwyck. TCM is partnering with Sony (aka Columbia) and Martin Scorsese’s The Film Foundation to release these films in a box set called Frank Capra: The Early Collection, which will be released on Monday, Sept. 3. The releases will include introductions by Robert Osborne, Martin Scorsese, Ron Howard and Michel Gondry, as well as audio commentaries by film historians Jeanine Basinger and Jeremy Arnold. More information after the cut.
the diary of a film history fanatic 