Television

Rare Musicals on TCM – June 2014

Some interesting pics this month, thanks to some fun theme days and nights over on TCM—including a couple selections that exist in my archives, which always makes me feel productive. Not a ton of must-sees for me this month, which is probably good as I’m still catching up from the salute to MGM last month and a few remaining not-on-DVD Gene Kelly dramas from the month before. But let me know if there are any favorites in here that I should be taping!

Tuesday June 5
11:00am / Jupiter’s Darling (1955)

Esther William goes Roman as she tries to halt Hannibal’s (Howard Keel) attack on Rome using her romantic wiles. Marge and Gower Champion also featured.

robinandthesevenhoods
Martin, Crosby, Sinatra in “Robin and the Seven Hoods”

Saturday June 7
8:00am / Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964)

Modern retelling of Robin Hood featuring the Rat Pack. Full review here.

Tuesday June 10
8:00am / Everybody Sing (1938)

Maltin describes this as a “shrill musical with a stupid plot and unmemorable songs,” but it features Judy Garland in one of her first starring roles, and she’s alongside vaudeville vet Fanny Brice, if you’re into that sort of thing.

9:45am / Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937)

That’s Entertainment entry, featuring (of course) Eleanor Powell in a fabulous tuxedo get-up. Baby Judy Garland sings “Dear Mr. Gable.”

3:45am / Deep in My Heart (1954)

Biopic of composer Sigmund Romberg, played by Jose Ferrer, in a musical directed by Stanley Donen and featuring guest appearances by Gene Kelly, Jane Powell, Ann Miller, Cyd Charisse, and more.

Saturday June 14
6:15pm / A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966)

Classic Ancient Roman musical comedy starring Zero Mostel, with Phil Silvers and Buster Keaton.

reluctantdebutanteSunday June 15
9:45am / The Reluctant Debutante (1958)

One of my first posts! Starring Sandra Dee and hunky young John Saxon, with Rex Harrison and Kay Kendall as her meddling parents. This was remade 50 years later with Amanda Bynes as What a Girl Wants.

Tuesday June 17
10:15pm / The Merry Widow (1934)

One of Gene Wilder’s picks, this Lubitsch operetta stars Maurice Chevalier as a prince and TCM-favorite Jeanette MacDonald as the titular widow.

Monday June 23
3:45am / She’s Working Her Way Through College (1952)

A burlesque star (Virginia Mayo) attempts to hide her past as she pursues her education, aided by a professor (Ronald Reagan).

Tuesday June 24
7:00am / Summer Holiday (1948)

Mickey Rooney is a small-town boy coming of age in this Technicolor musical remake of Ah, Wilderness!.

thatgirlfromparis
Mischa Auer, Lucille Ball, and Lily Pons between takes of “That Girl from Paris”

Wednesday June 25
9:00am / That Girl From Paris (1936)

Lily Pons as a French opera star in hiding among a swing band, later remade as Four Jacks and a Jill.

10:45am / Maytime (1937)

MacDonald and Eddy again, this time as a married opera diva tragically in love with a poor singer. John Barrymore plays her husband.

1:00pm / Music for Madame (1937)

Rounding out opera day with Nino Martini as an Italian singer trying to make it in Hollywood who gets mixed up in a jewel heist.

Friday June 27
12:30pm / Cairo (1942)

They’ve been playing this one a lot over the past couple months! A WW2 comedy in which a screen star played by Jeanette MacDonald is suspected of being a spy.

thecoolonesSaturday June 28
3:45am / The Cool Ones (1967)

A rock promoter (Roddy MacDowell) tries to make the Next Big Thing by pairing together a go-go dancer and a has-been pop singer.

Saturday June 29
6:00am / Night and Day (1946)

Biopic of songwriter Cole Porter, played by Cary Grant, featuring the tunes that made him famous.

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