TV and Movies

[Oznell]

Coming into the home stretch of  TCM "Oscar" month-- I'm going to miss the non-stop string of goodies they send us:

4:00 p.m. Eastern--  "Dark Victory"--   Here's another one of those Bette Davis/George Brent romances-- one of their most engrossing, I think.  Bette's a madcap heiress (Long Island horsey set, maybe?) who does anything and everything she wants to.

But there are these blindiing headaches that almost fell her in her tracks.  Her new brain specialist soon has more than one reason for wanting to save her...

This movie is jam-packed with all the Warner Brothers stalwarts, and some notable newbies, like sweet, loyal, gal pal Geraldine Fitzgerald, and gently tipsy playboy, Ronnie Reagan.  Even Humphrey Bogart shows up, in one of his most improbable and mystifying tiny roles-- that of an Irish stable boy. (?)

Bette surmounts the absurdities, and  pulls out all the stops in this glossy, absorbing sudser.

P.S.  These others have been on recently, but in case you missed:

Noon-- "The Talk of the Town:   Jean Arthur, Cary Grant, Ronald Colman in an unusual romantic triangle...

2:00 p.m. --"Libeled Lady"--   Myrna Loy, Spencer Tracy, Jean Harlow.  The far-fetched plot hardly matters-- enjoy the hijinks with these light comic experts... .

[Sweet_Serenity]

[StephaniM]

I wanted to thank you for posting information about these old classics.  I just love them and am happy when you give us a heads up that they will be on.  You are so nice to do this.

[Jamma]

@StephaniM

My feelings exactly.  I look forward to your post Oznell----thanks so much

Jamma

[Oznell]

@StephaniMand @Jamma, thank you.  It's a pleasure to have such a nice little group here who know and love vintage film!

[GingerPeach]

I don't subscribe to any of the Turner channels, but I do appreciate @Oznell bringing us reminders of these favorite old classics.  

I particularly remember when movies such as these were actually shown on basic television, and as a kid seeing "Dark Victory" for the first time that way.  I've seen it as an adult a number of times since and it's still one of my favorites.  

Bravery, horses, estates, Bette Davis.  What more could one want?

[Oznell]

@GingerPeach, you put it so well!   I was another of those kids in front of the screen when networks and local channels filled up time with all the old greats!   My earliest impressions of movies were lying on the floor in my p.j.'s., while black and white Forties heroines like Roz Russell strode around on screen trying to get a newspaper scoop and capture the leading man as well....

[GingerPeach]

Those days were sweet and untroubled (for me, anyway).   I hope today's kids will have sweet memories, too, @Oznell .

[cimeranrose]

I agree @Oznell, I'm going to miss the "string of goodies" TCM gives us in February. (August Under the Stars or some such title is usually good too).

I'm looking forward to "The Best Years of Our Lives" tonight at 8:00. Great cast and great story. It's hard to believe that Harold Russell, who played Homer, was not a professional actor. He did a great job. I think this was one of Myrna Loy's best movies. Even though Roman Bohnen didn't have a large role in the film, his portrayal of Dana Andrews father was touching and believable (especially when he read the letter about his son's service). You couldn't see him "acting" - it seemed genuine.

[Shelbelle]

Dark Victory, another Davis/Geo Brent classic love story.

There is also a TV remake from 1976 with Eliz Montgomery and Anthony Hopkins, also very good. Hopkins was vitrually an unknown here.