Dish of the Day (A Long Good Friday Edition)
Just some film musings of a more succinct, spontaneous and sometimes seditious nature:
Friday, April 5, 2024
Today on TCM:
In my review of Casablanca (1942), I made some criticism regarding its emotionally underwhelming Parisian flashback. Prior to this film, however, Casablanca's producer Hal Wallis and one of its contributing writers, Casey Robinson, made Now, Voyager (1942) where the romance witnessed from start to finish comes alive with fervour, maturity and elegance. Previously reviewed here, Now, Voyager will set sail Friday, April 5 at 1 pm PDT.
If I was in charge of choosing a single film noir for someone only willing to see one in the entire canon, I would select Double Indemnity (1944) as its most fulfilling and accomplished representative. It has been previously reviewed in Opening Up a Treasure: Double Indemnity. Thoughts of adultery, greed and murder will manifest themselves on TCM Friday, April 5 at 5 pm PDT.
Saturday on TCM:
Just missing out on my list of Top Ten Westerns (in favour of another Bud Boetticher directed/Burt Kennedy scripted film The Tall T) was Ride Lonesome (1959), a highly distinctive and concise story told with a strong sense of purpose and sophistication. This must-see film starring Randolph Scott was previously reviewed here and will arrive on TCM Saturday, April 6 at 1:15 pm PDT.
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) has Humphrey Bogart portraying perhaps his darkest and most psychologically troubled character. Watching his slow transformation from an honest and idealistic adventurer to a tormented, paranoid psychotic is one of the art's most stunning, dramatically forceful experiences, perfectly matched to a magnificent and fatalistically ironic conclusion. My further thoughts on this film are here. This cinematic treasure can be discovered Saturday, April 6 at 2:45 pm PDT.
TCM's current monthly schedule can be confirmed by clicking on any of the above images. For those who live in parts of the U.S. other than the western region, the time zone can be adjusted in the upper right-hand corner of TCM's programme.
All responses are not only welcomed but encouraged in the comments section below.
Hope to see you Monday, April 8.
A.G.