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July Movies to Watch For
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
It's time once again for my monthly picks of a few films on Fox Movies, TCM, and Sundance for the coming month of July that you may be interested in. All times Eastern.
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SUNDANCE
Recently, I've realized a lot of Sundance films are in pan and scan, so be warned that you might be better off just renting some of these. I also note some R-rated films are listed as rated G, which may mean they show edited versions. Or it could just be an error on their webpage. (If someone knows for sure, let me know.) Basically, if you record The Piano and get an edited pan and scan version, well, you've been warned.
This is Not a Robbery (2008)
July 1 6:30 AM. Also on twice more on July 1, and again on July 7 and July 16.
Documentary about 91-year-old JL "Red" Rountree who, at age 87, began a 4-year crime spree until his arrest at age 91.
Marie Antoinette (2008)
July 7, 10:00 PM. Also on at 3:30 AM that morning, as well as twice on July 17.
Sophia Coppola's glamorous pseudo-biopic. If this one is in pan and scan, I will plotz.
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007)
July 8, 10:00 PM. Also on at 3:30 AM that morning, as well as twice on July 16.
Sydney Lumet film about a robbery of a jewel store and the escalating effects it has on a family.
Who the #$&% Is Jackson Pollock? (2006)
July 13, 9:40 AM. Also on July 18 and July 28.
Documentary on a retired truck driver who purchased a painting at a thrift store and later discovered it might be a Pollock.
Hotel Gramercy Park (2008)
July 8, 7:05 AM. Also on twice more July 8, as well as July 17, 20, and 26.
Documentary on NYC's famous Gramercy Park Hotel, its history, and its recent remodel.
FOX MOVIE CHANNEL
Around the World in 80 Days (1988)
July 2, 11:30 AM
The 1988 version starring Pierce Brosnan and a cast that includes Eric Idle, Roddy Mcdowall, Jack Klugman, Peter Ustinov, Darren McGavin, Robert Morley, Jill St. John, Robert Wagner, Lee Remick, Christopher Lee, Patrick Macnee, Pernell Roberts, John Hillerman, John Mills, Henry Gibson, Anna Massey, and James B. Sikking. Dang.
Batman (1966)
July 2, 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM
The campy 1966 version based on the Adam West television show. It's on several times during July, so check listings.
Compelling special effects!Bird of Paradise (1932)
July 5, 6:00 AM
Dolores Del Rio plays a native girl about to be sacrificed to a volcano god until she falls in love with Joel McCrea. Must be a documentary.
Visiting Hours (1982)
July 5/morning of July 6 at 1:15 AM
William Shatner and Lee Grant star in this B-grade horror flick about a reporter being stalked by a psychopath. It's out of print on DVD, so if this is in widescreen, it's a keeper. This is followed by...
Frankenstein Unbound (1990)
July 5/morning of July 6 at 3:00 AM
Directed by Roger Corman and starring John Hurt and Raul Julia. I saw this shortly after it was released to VHS rental and thought it was very interesting; it definitely needs another watch, this time in the proper aspect ratio. I'm a little obsessed with aspect ratios today. This film is on again the morning of July 11 and on July 22.
Call Her Savage (1932)
July 6, 6:00 AM
The July SBBN "What The Shit Is This" runner up. This is an absolutely batshit insane pre-code with an unbelievably hot Clara Bow. It's creaky in acting and pace, but progressive (so to speak) in sexuality and adult themes. You will be horrified and entertained. I suggest bringing a bucket for all the drool from seeing Clara in her barely-there shirts and painted on riding pants.
The Virgin Queen (1955)
July 8, 8:00 AM
Bette's second movie as Queen Elizabeth I.
The Detective (1968)
July 8, 4:00 PM
Frank Sinatra as a detective who investigates the murder of the gay son of a rich businessman.
Kiss of Death (1947)
July 11, 9:30 AM
Richard Widmark's debut as a psychopath out to get a man who turned State's evidence against him.
St. Valentine's Day Massacre (1967)
July 21, 8:00 PM
Roger Corman's version of the gangster wars of the 1920s, starring Jason Robards as Capone. It's followed by the Ben Gazzara Capone and both will be re-shown again later the night of the 21st.
July 27/morning of the 28th, 2:00 AM and again on the 28th
An eccentric millionaire hires a jeweler to rob a diamond clearinghouse in London. Starring James Mason, Candice Bergen, Trevor Howard, Charles Grodin, and Sir John Gielgud. Why was I not informed of this movie? I am a huge Charles Grodin fan, and if The Great Muppet Caper is any indication, I am totally his kind of girl.
TCM
July 1: Charles Laughton marathon in the morning with an afternoon Farley Granger marathon.
Quatermass and the Pit (a.k.a. Five Million Years to Earth) (1986)
July 2, 1:30 PM
Hammer studios pits Professor Quatermass against aliens, or possibly devils, in this campy but effective sci-fi flick. Highly recommended.
That Forsyte Woman (1949)
July 6, noon
Slightly campy melodrama with Errol Flynn and Greer Garson. I shamefully admit to really liking this movie. I watch it every time it's on, even though it's not exactly high art.
The Spiral Staircase (1945)
July 6, midnight
Dorothy McGuire and George Brent in a really effective thriller. Don't miss this one, it's a little hidden gem of a film.
Monday, July 11: Pre-Code Festival in the morning resulting in two Marie Prevost movies being shown in a row, a first on TCM and probably any other movie channel. Go Marie! Regardless of Marie, these are some fine pre-codes:
6:00 AM The Woman Racket (1930)
7:15 AM Gentleman's Fate (1931)
9:00 AM Sporting Blood (1931)
10:30 AM Night Court (1932)
12:15 PM The Mayor Of Hell (1933)
More crime dramas from 1934 and 1935 show the rest of the day until prime time.
Torch Song (1953)
July 15, 4:45 PM
Delightfully campy Joan Crawford musical with a few WTF moments to keep things from getting boring.
Topkapi (1941)
July 16, 3:00 PM
The first Jules Dassin film I ever saw, and since it's a spoof of his own Rififi, things were a little confusing for me, but I got over it. I remember actually squealing when a character on the 1990s TV show "Anything But Love" referenced this film.
July 16, 12:15 AM (early morning the 17th)
The official SBBN "What The Shit Is This" selection for July. You can tell because of the sad and confused kitten who doesn't know how to process all the WTFery in this film. If any of you jerks who think I'm an idiot for hating racism in movies wants to know where it all started, here it is. The very first movie review I ever wrote (posted to Usenet) was when I unfortunately caught Band of Angels on TNT a year or so before TCM even existed. I plan to watch this and rip it to shreds on the blog. Stay tuned.
Daybreak (1931)
July 21, 7:15 AM
Precode romance with Ramon Navarro and Helen Chandler.
Secrets (1933)
July 21, 8:45 AM
Mary Pickford talkie and her final film.
The Night is Young (1935)
July 22, 7:30 AM
Ramon Navarro film I'm including because of Leonard Maltin's hysterical review which ends not with a star rating but with a tiny picture of a bomb!
Sanjuro (1962)
July 24, 2:15 AM (morning of the 25th)
Kurosawa flick starring Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura.
Two-Gun Man from Harlem (1938)
July 29, 10:30 PM
Herb Jeffries in a dual role as both a gangster and the minister who looks just like him.
Harlem Rides the Range (1939)
July 29, 11:45 PM
Sequel to Two-Gun shown immediately prior, also stars the Four Tones singing group.
As always, feel free to add your own suggestions in comments below!
Posted by Stacia at 4:00 AM 21 comments
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21 comments:
Thanks for all the choices!
I see "Pre-Code Festival" and my eyes light up.
Great list of films. And 11 Harrowhouse is one of the great unsung heist films and very much worth catching. BTW, it was released in 1974, not 1941.
Who the #$&% Is Jackson Pollock? I'd watch this one for the title alone.
11 Harrowhouse I can get this one for you if you want (I wondered why you didn't ask me about it--I thought you already had a copy. By the way, Grodin is in the funniest of the Muppet movies, The Great Muppet Caper...not Manhattan.)
These are some great suggestions! Several of these are on my to-record list if we ever get the Tivo thing straightened out. I would definitely record the Clara Bow movie if our cable provider provided Fox Movie Channel. There aren't enough Clara Bow movies on DVD.
Fortunately, 11 Harrowhouse is on Netflix, so it's at the top of my queue.
I was basing my Grodin Muppet comment on remembering the movie I saw in the theater when I was 9, so I apologize for nothing! I think I must have seen both Caper and Manhattan in the theater and had the two conflated.
For a while, a greymarket company had Clara Bow DVDs, professional sorts of releases they sold online, but I don't see them anymore. Which sucks because I want to see Hula.
That Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One (1968) on the 29th sounds like a freak-out. Read Soderbergh's comment about it in Wikipedia.
I see THE TALL TARGET is coming on TCM in a day or two... it's the Anthony Mann movie where Dick Powell saves Abe Lincoln! Hey, my "catchpa" is "decrepop" which sounds like the most awesome thing I have ever heard of.
I do too, MJ, but I just finished watching a pre-code that makes me question my own commitment to pre-codes. Zzzzzzzzzzz...
KG, I saw "Symbiopsychotaxiplasm" listed in the schedule and thought it was a short. Thanks for the heads up, I think I'll grab that one.
Thanks Jack, I had no idea Dick saved Lincoln! Well, I kinda did, but not in that way.
Hey KG, I hate to ask but when is it on? TCM seems to have no page for it at all, and it's not listed under William Greaves' page.
Never mind, I found it -- July 29, 2 AM Eastern.
Sheesh, that was an ORDEAL. TCM's new site needs some improving.
Thanks Leopard13. Now you know what date is in the template I use to write these posts up!
A great month for strange. I'll be recording like crazy... and that kinda fits. 11 Harrowhouse is quirky fun, and fits well in Queer Blogathon.
If you want pre-Code, try this:
http://www.filmforum.org/films/essentialprecode.html
They have stuff that TCM has never played, The Story of Temple Drake for one.
I am going to have to check out The Super Cops (since I read the book and saw the movie when I was 13, and have not seen it since), Cops and Robbers, and Every Little Crook And Nanny--what a cast it has! Even Austin Pendleton for you, Stacia!
I just saw Call Her Savage at our local art house last month. It was awesome beyond belief.
I haven't seen Band of Angels, but now I'm curious.
Hey KG, TCM will be showing "Story of Temple Drake" in a month or two. I'm pretty excited, because I THINK the copy I eventually got is an edited version for later TV release in the 1950s. I want to compare to find out.
Call Her Savage is amazing. It's a WTSIT Selection runner up because of the almost dog sex and the breast grabbing in the cat fight and everything else.
Band of Angels is a WTSIT Selection because it's from the 1950s and borrows a lot from GWTW, but manages to be more racist, sexist, and classist than anything from decades earlier. And the heavy-handed visual metaphors are hysterical. But it has Rex Reason, so there is that.
I just didn't want you to think BoA was as beautifully screwed up as CHS!
Dang it, I need to get cable. If for no other reason, to see "This is Not a Robbery".
The Story of Temple Drake is on Sept. 14 (8pm EDT), unless somebody notable other than Kirk Douglas croaks--he's already the SOTM (rut roh!)
The Story of Temple Drake is on Sept. 14 (8pm EDT), unless somebody notable other than Kirk Douglas croaks
Hang in there, Mickey Rooney!
Thank you for all your comments Stacia. Brian was indeed a great pro and he gave me plenty of room to shine which is not always the case. We became great friend after that show.
I was just looking at your July film picks. Kiss of death is up next on my list but one, I have been listening to Richard Widmarks laugh since I was about 10. I just watched TTDKYD, what an underrated pic.
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