"Now Listen to Me..."
Just some thoughts on current happenings:
There are 5 recommended films to watch on Turner Classic Movies in the U.S. this month. Most of these are previous recommendations, the reviews for which will be linked.
The first is actor Charles Laughton's sole directorial feature film The Night of the Hunter. I am currently preparing a complete review of this mesmerising cinematic fable. It will be next in the series: "Opening Up a Treasure" and will be linked here within the next few days. The 'hunter' will arrive on TCM the night of Wednesday, November 11 at 5pm PST.
Next up is the wonderful Guys and Dolls, a previous TCM recommendation here. 'Both' will show at TCM Friday, November 13 at 12:30pm PST.
Then it's the pre-code charmer Blonde Crazy Hidden Gem #63, with James Cagney and Joan Blondell. The 'con' is on TCM Thursday (morning), November 19 at 4:30am PST.
It may seem a bit odd as this film was a TCM recommendation just last month, but I simply cannot let the scheduled Point Blank go by without mention. It's another chance to witness this explosive and stylish thriller. I find it fascinating that Lee Marvin's badass Walker, with the high body count he seems responsible for, doesn't directly kill anyone in the entire picture. "Was it a dream?"
Point Blank was first lauded here. It will 'hit' TCM Saturday, November 21 at 7:15pm PST.
My last suggested TCM showing is the Marx Brothers' Monkey Business. This is also a former TCM recommendation and was reviewed here. I have also posted 2 famous scenes from this film, the most recent being Capturing a Golden Moment #12. The shenanigans will commence at TCM Saturday (morning), November 28 at 4:45am PST.
TCM's current 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.
The November Soundtrack recommendation is Carmen Dragon's exceptional score to the 1956 Sci-Fi classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
This is a very limited release produced by La La Land Records of this complex and emotionally stirring score. More information including ordering is currently available from Intrada Records by clicking on the image.
A belated Happy Birthday shout-out to film composer John Scott who turned 85 on November 1st (my birthday as well). He's the amazing composer behind many films such as Wake in Fright, Antony and Cleopatra, The Final Countdown, Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan Lord of the Apes, The Shooting Party, Man on Fire (1987), and Shoot to Kill. I've never met a more humbly talented individual.
My Blu-ray recommendation this month is a bit of a cheat because it is also about to air on TCM and is recommended above. This Criterion issue of The Night of the Hunter is so excellent in every respect, (including extras) it deserves a special mention. The immaculate transfer contained within is one of the finest ever recorded to this medium.
The supplements include an in-depth commentary by Preston Neal Jones, one of our guest contributors here at the Cinema Cafe and the distinguished author of Heaven and Hell to Play With: The Filming of The Night of the Hunter.
More information including ordering from Amazon U.S. on both the Blu-ray above and book can be obtained by clicking on their respective images.
A.G.