[Janson Jinnistan]

I've never quite forgiven myself for missing TCM's showing of Stanley Kubrick's Fear and Desire late last year, so I've become obsessed with scouring their schedule for other odd and rare appearances, and they usually never disappoint with a couple a week. (Luckily, Fear and Desire should finally be released on disc this fall!)

I've noticed that a number of posts appear about films that have recently screened on TCM, including last week's Possession, and there are so many other films discussed here that have shown recently, like King of Marvin Gardens, Band of Outsiders, and there was that great night a couple weeks back which was a marathon of Ishiro Honda's classics like Gojira, Mothra, and Rodan culminating in the early morning hours with Hausu and Oshima's In the Realm of Passion. So I thought I'd start an ongoing thread to give reminders and discussion of some of these films.

Starting tonight, we get a Samuel Fuller marathon, starting with I Shot Jesse James and Park Row and ending with cult faves Shock Corridor and The Naked Kiss. Every Friday night (actually early Saturday morning) brings some obscure horror films, and this week there's a couple that I haven't seen or know much about: Fright, with lovely starlets Susan George and Honor Blackman, and What's the Matter with Helen with Debbie Reynolds and Shelly Winters.

Outside of TCM, there are a couple of other films for DVR addicts. Saturday night, Sundance will be showing some interesting French films like A l'aventure, Melanie Laurent in Room of Death, and Sophie Marceau's directing effort Trivial. Saturday will also have The Movie Channel showing a variety of Magnolia/Magnet films, but the real curio is early that morning (10:45 AM Eastern) with the acclaimed Australian film Tomorrow When the War Began.

Let me know if anyone knows of any other DVR-worthy obscurities playing on cable, or if there are some upcoming TCM films worth noting. Also, anyone who gets a chance to see these films this weekend, feel free to leave some thoughts.

[Master King Sexington]

Good thread. I'm DVRing Naked Kiss. I own many of the movies that you brought up or will own them shortly but I wish I hadn't missed Possession... It's what spurred me to see what's playing and DVR Naked Kiss.

[Janson Jinnistan]

I'm looking forward to all of the Fuller, but especially the latter two. I've only seen Pickup on South Street and The Big Red One. I was thinking he had made The Defiant Ones but I obviously got him confused with Stanley Kramer on that.

[Master King Sexington]

Originally Posted by Janson J.

I'm looking forward to all of the Fuller, but especially the latter two. I've only seen Pickup on South Street and The Big Red One. I was thinking he had made The Defiant Ones but I obviously got him confused with Stanley Kramer on that.

As you know from my thread, I've only seen Shock Corridor and found it to be a very mixed bag, but it made me want to see his other stuff.

[Janson Jinnistan]

Actually, I skipped your write-up because I haven't seen it yet. I remember dreiser, I think, recommending Naked Kiss. I'll go back and read it later.

[Matt the Hat]

I'm licking my lips at the films you have mentioned but unfortunately TCM in the UK doesn't appear to be as good. Many of the films seem to be repeats and the schedules are being clogged up by old TV shows like Gunsmoke, High Chaparral and Raw Hide. They still show the odd gem now and then.

[Ed]

TCM fills up the greatest portion of my own DVR by far. Definitely try to catch Fear and Desire the next time you can, it's a pretty neat flick--almost resembles an early Apocalypse Now.

[Ed]

Originally Posted by Janson J.

Starting tonight, we get a Samuel Fuller marathon,

Oh snap! Thanks for the heads up. *sets DVR*

[Nathaniel]

Most of my DVR is TCM. Recently recorded Possession (without knowing what it was), Sunrise, and Mr Smith Goes to Washington.

Good idea for a thread.

[dreiser]

Originally Posted by Janson J.

I remember dreiser, I think, recommending Naked Kiss.

Enthusiastically, yes.

[Master King Sexington]

Originally Posted by Janson J.

Oshima's In the Realm of Passion.

Were they showing an edited cut of this? I assume this is another translation of In the Realm of the Senses right? That's basically a porno in terms of subject material. Lots of real penetration and not just by penises.

[Ed]

Originally Posted by Nathaniel

Most of my DVR is TCM. Recently recorded Possession (without knowing what it was), Sunrise, and Mr Smith Goes to Washington.

Good idea for a thread.

Yeah, glad I recorded & kept that. The DVD is currently out of print and insanely expensive.

[Janson Jinnistan]

I haven't even gotten a chance to watch anything yet, as I had other social things last night (hence the DVR).

Originally Posted by Ed

Definitely try to catch Fear and Desire the next time you can, it's a pretty neat flick--almost resembles an early Apocalypse Now.

Ha! Well, then. That's pretty high praise.

Originally Posted by Ed

Yeah, glad I recorded & kept that. The DVD is currently out of print and insanely expensive.

I had only seen the 90 minute version from VHS, which I thought was odd and boring. This extended version works better, no doubt, and at least puts the bizarre performances into a better perspective.

Originally Posted by Master King Sexington

Were they showing an edited cut of this? I assume this is another translation of In the Realm of the Senses right? That's basically a porno in terms of subject material. Lots of real penetration and not just by penises.

Honestly don't know. It's a different film from Senses, and has also been called Empire of Passion and Phantom Love. It was pretty hard core, and it was like 4 in the morning when it aired. But I'm honestly not knowledgable enough to tell you what specific cut it was.

[katie with the helmet]

The Princess Comes Across is on tonight at 9:45. It's a short, fun movie with Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray, a really under-appreciated pairing.

Tuesday looks amazing. All day it's films by director Jack Conway. I would particularly recommend these:

• Our Modern Maidens (7:45am)
• Untamed (9:15am)
• The Easiest Way (12:30pm)
• But the Flesh is Weak (1:45pm)

And then in the evening there are three Norma Shearer movies. I don't recommend Romeo and Juliet, but I very much recommend A Free Soul (10:15pm) and Smilin' Through (12am)


Early in the morning on Thursday is pretty awesome. Ladies They Talk About (6am), which has a fantastic Barbara Stanwyck performance, and The House on 56th Street (7:15am), a wonderfully tawdry pre-code with the always wonderful Kay Francis.


Friday night is all Barbara Stanwyck pre-code.

• Shopworn (8pm)
• Ten Cents a Dance (9:15pm)
• Illicit (10:45pm)
• Forbidden (12:15pm)

[Master King Sexington]

Originally Posted by Janson J.

Honestly don't know. It's a different film from Senses, and has also been called Empire of Passion and Phantom Love. It was pretty hard core, and it was like 4 in the morning when it aired. But I'm honestly not knowledgable enough to tell you what specific cut it was.

Oh okay, it seems to be known primarily as "Empire of Passion" in the US so I got confused. I haven't seen that one, but Senses would be virtually impossible to air on TV. Even HBO probably.

[Janson Jinnistan]

Kicking myself again this morning for not checking the Sunday listings before my busy weekend.

Luckily, I got up early enough this morning, nursing a pleasantly subtle hangover with niacin, a bowl of blueberry, and espresso, to catch the bulk of Sidney Lumet's version of Chekhov's The Sea Gull with James Mason, Denholm Elliott, Simone Signoret, Vanessa Regrave and David Warner. I wish I had given a heads up on Lumet's naturalistic adaptation, very much influenced by Bergman, and comparable to other like play adaptations of the time such as Peter Brooks' Marat/Sade or Peter Hill's Midsummer Night's Dream. It's also the first film version of the Chekhov play I've seen so far (maybe the only one ever made?)

Also, this morning saw Jules Dassin's Night and the City and Max Ophuls' The Reckless Moment which I managed to DVR so I could catch up on other things.

And a heads up for tonight: the Sunday Silents features a collection of Melies, one of my very favorites, and highly recommended, especially for Hugo fans. Also, late after that (2 AM eastern) is a lesser known Bergman Sawdust and Tinsel.

Thanks katie with a helmet for the recommendations. After I saw your post, I caught a little bit of Princess Comes Across (unfortunately wasn't able to record it) last night, and could barely recognize Carole Lombard. I then read this morning that she was doing a parody of Greta Garbo for that role.

As much as I love Lombard, I have to admit that I don't have very much experience with Norma Shearer or Kay Francis, and my Stanwyck is limited to the more obvious (Double Indemnity, Lady Eve, Clash by Night), so I'll try some (probably not all - for sheer time demands) of these.

[Janson Jinnistan]

Well, the good news is that TCM has an HD channel finally available!

Other than that, I wanted to give a head's up on some stuff this weekend.

Tonight's late night (early morning) horror double feature is a couple of must see films for those who haven't - Katherine Bigalow's Near Dark and Roman Polanski's The Fearless Vampire Hunters.

Also on Sunday, there's a Steve McQueen double feature (starting at 8 eastern) with The Great Escape and The Blob.


My main recommendation is for early Monday morning (2AM eastern) for Luciano Visconti's brilliant The Leopard with Burt Lancaster. Get this chance to watch the uncut, letterbox version in HD. (Warning: HD eats up A LOT of DVR space)

Also some good matinee stuff on Saturday: Rollerball, Magnificent Seven and Bogart's To Have and Have Not.

As always in this crazy world, take care out there.

[Justin Scott]

Is there anyway to pay TCM to print Fear and Desire for you on a dvd? I know a lot of other companies offer this service for out of print films.

[Master King Sexington]

I might try to DVR The Great Escape and the Blob. Recently watched Bullitt and thought it was pretty damn cool. Need to see some more McQueen.

I own the Leopard on bluray and have yet to watch it. I plan on changing that very soon.

You watch Shock Corridor yet?

[Justin Scott]

Originally Posted by Master King Sexington

I might try to DVR The Great Escape and the Blob. Recently watched Bullitt and thought it was pretty damn cool. Need to see some more McQueen.

I own the Leopard on bluray and have yet to watch it. I plan on changing that very soon.

You watch Shock Corridor yet?

Pretty damn cool is an understatement. Right up there with Le Samourai and Le Cercle Rougein terms of cool.

I really need to see the Leopard.

[Master King Sexington]

Originally Posted by Justin Scott

Pretty damn cool is an understatement. Right up there with Le Samourai and Le Cercle Rougein terms of cool.

I really need to see the Leopard.

I thought it was mostly great. I only wish the theme of him becoming as cold as those he hunts was more fully explored.

[Justin Scott]

Originally Posted by Master King Sexington

I thought it was mostly great. I only wish the theme of him becoming as cold as those he hunts was more fully explored.

No offense mks, but sometimes you need to just need to accept a movie for what it is. Not every film can be Through a Glass Darkly

[Master King Sexington]

Originally Posted by Justin Scott

No offense mks, but sometimes you need to just need to accept a movie for what it is. Not every film can be Through a Glass Darkly

I will always notice issues about films. Just the way I am, which bothers a lot of people. I don't, however, let it stop me in my adoration of those films.

[Justin Scott]

Originally Posted by Master King Sexington

I will always notice issues about films. Just the way I am, which bothers a lot of people. I don't, however, let it stop me in my adoration of those films.

As I get older I've learnedly to let things go.

[mikeytee]

Originally Posted by Master King Sexington

I might try to DVR The Great Escape and the Blob. Recently watched Bullitt and thought it was pretty damn cool. Need to see some more McQueen.

I own the Leopard on bluray and have yet to watch it. I plan on changing that very soon.

You watch Shock Corridor yet?

The Great Escape is outstanding. If you get a chance to catch it, he's fantastic in The Sand Pebbles, as is Richard Crenna.

[Janson Jinnistan]

Originally Posted by Justin Scott

Is there anyway to pay TCM to print Fear and Desire for you on a dvd? I know a lot of other companies offer this service for out of print films.

It's coming out in the fall on Kino I believe. I've waited this long, you know...

Originally Posted by Master King Sexington

You watch Shock Corridor yet?

Not yet. Actually I didn't get to much of last week's booty (or even Sunday's Metalocalypse either) due to being preoccupied with some drought related work. Luckily we're finally getting some rain, and the TCM movies I've mentioned are ones I've seen/own this week, so hopefully I'll have time soon. STRONGrecommend on Great Escape and The Leopard.

[furious wanker]

We should expand this thread to include upcoming Sundance and IFC movies as well as the incredible documentary channel, now my main source of entertainment.

If you love documentaries and don't already get this channel then call and order it.

Most recently I've grabbed:

Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story
It Came From Kuchar
Ramones Raw
The John Lee Hooker Story

Also they show tons and tons of docs from Canada for some reason. Old stuff and new.

[Justin Scott]

Originally Posted by Janson J.

It's coming out in the fall on Kino I believe. I've waited this long, you know...

Holy shit!

[Janson Jinnistan]

Originally Posted by furious wanker

We should expand this thread to include upcoming Sundance and IFC movies as well as the incredible documentary channel, now my main source of entertainment.

If you love documentaries and don't already get this channel then call and order it.

Most recently I've grabbed:

Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story
It Came From Kuchar
Ramones Raw
The John Lee Hooker Story

Also they show tons and tons of docs from Canada for some reason. Old stuff and new.

Good suggestion!

I also check these channels (less so for IFC since they've started adding commercials to their movies), and I watched the John Lee Hooker about a year ago. Please feel free to use the thread for upcoming movies from any of them. Thanks!

[Janson Jinnistan]

Let's pick it back up this week (Sorry Gamma People).

Tonight, there's plenty of classic Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan movies, and if that isn't enough, they dip into some of JW's more cheesy later films too.

The Asphalt Jungle (6AM Sat. Eastern) is a must see film however, discussed many times on these threads. Check it if you haven't. Followed by Fritz Lang's Clash By Night, an essential noir.

After that, Saturday is filled with Marilyn Monroe films. I'm not actually much of a fan (more of a Hayworth-Bardot man myself), but my recommendation is the Billy Wilder classic Some Like it Hot at 8PM.

Sunday sees some Claude Rains appreciation (NOT the first time on TCM either), so you can check for a selection of some of his work with Now Voyager, The Wolf Man, The Invisible Man and The Unsuspected.

Sundance has Robert Redford introducing Domino (???) on Saturday night, followed by the Korean The Housemaid and a couple good lesbian films, Eloise's Lover and Room in Rome.

For fans of The Documentary Channel, keep your eyes out for a repeat of The War on Kids, an excellent doc I saw this week that goes a long way into looking at the problems with the anxieties of millennialphobia. Meanwhile, on Saturday, they're premiering Brutal Beauty: Tales of the Rose City Rollers a doc about a local roller derby team, for all the Whip It fans out there.