2018 Turner Classic Film Festival (#TCMFF) Day 2

Friday the 27th was the first full day of the TCM Film Festival. It started early, with screenings starting at 9 a.m. There were three good choices: The Merry Widow (1934), Strangers on a Train (1951), and Intruder in the Dust (1949).

I would have liked to have seen The Merry Widow, since I really enjoyed Maurice Chevalier and Jeanette MacDonald in One Hour with You (1932) at last year’s festival. I’ve seen Strangers on a Train numerous times, but you can never watch a Hitchcock film too many times, right? However, I decided to see Intruder in the Dust, a movie I hadn’t seen in decades. Based on a novel by William Faulkner, the movie features a great cast headed by David Brian, Claude Jarman Jr, and Juano Hernandez. Directed by M-G-M’s top director, Clarence Brown, the movie concerns a black man threatened with lynching when he’s accused of murder. The movie was filmed entirely on location in Oxford, Mississippi, using locals as extras. The other standout in this perfectly cast movie is Elizabeth Patterson—immortalized as Mrs. Trumbull on I Love Lucy—as an elderly woman who helps lawyer Brian and teenager Jarman prove Hernandez’s innocence. Film historian Donald Bogle introduced the movie. He interviewed star, Claude Jarman Jr., which was a great treat.

Next up starting at 11:30 a.m. were some more great movies to choose from: Witness for the Prosecution (1957), My Brilliant Career (1979), The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936), and The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek (1944). All of these movies are worth watching, in my opinion, but I decided I wanted to laugh so I went to see The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek. Preston Sturges was a huge hit last year with The Palm Beach Story (1942) at the Chinese. I was sure The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek would be just as big a hit this year. And indeed it was. Even though I’ve seen this film numerous times, I was laughing out loud and actually crying at the end from laughing so long. It was the prefect film to see with an audience that thoroughly enjoyed this timeless classic.

At 2 p.m., another round of great films were screened: Sounder (1972), The Set Up (1949), A Hatful of Rain (1957), Blessed Event (1932), and How to Marry a Millionaire (1953). Out of all these great films, I chose How to Marry a Millionaire because I’ve never seen it from beginning to end. The digital presentation was flawless. The Technicolor was eye-poppingly beautiful. The interplay between the three stars: Betty Grable, Marilyn Monroe, and Lauren Bacall was terrific. Bacall’s characterization was the most fleshed out, I thought. The Cinemascope classic featured great support from David Wayne, Rory Calhoun, Cameron Mitchell, and the legendary William Powell.

Deanna Durbin, Barbara Read, Charles Winninger, and Nan Grey in Three Smart Girls

At 5 p.m. it was no contest. As soon as I saw that they scheduled Three Smart Girls (1936), I planned on seeing this gem on the big screen no matter what. The movie that launched the career of Deana Durbin was a hoot and featured a young Ray Milland, alongside veteran character actors Binnie Barnes, Charles Winninger, Alice Brady, and Mischa Auer. Bob Koster, director Henry Koster’s son, introduced the film. Universal Studios was on the verge of bankruptcy when Three Smart Girls was released. The film was such a huge success—it was even nominated for Best Picture—that it’s attributed with saving the studio from disaster. Durbin went on the make more hits for Universal until she abruptly retired from the movies and left Hollywood in 1949 at the ripe old age of 28.

As it got later in the evening, there was another easy choice for me, even though the other films in competition—The Exorcist (1973), Romeo and Juliet (1968), Point Blank (1967), and Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957)—were all worth seeing.

 

The Technicolor wonder that is Leave Her to Heaven (1945) was my choice from the beginning. The opportunity to see this film in a nitrate print at The Egyptian Theatre was a rare treat. The melodrama starring Gene Tierney, Cornell Wilde, and Jeanne Crain is based on Ben Ames Williams’s best-selling novel of the same name. It was Twentieth Century-Fox’s biggest box office success until The Robe (1953). The supporting cast featured a pre-horror Vincent Price and Ray Collins. Tierney—looking amazing in Technicolor—playing  the insane Ellen Berent was nominated for Best Actress, but lost to sentimental favorite Joan Crawford.

After the first full day, I was ready for bed so I could start all over again on Saturday. Saturday morning was one of the toughest of choices: His Girl Friday (1940), The Ox-Bow Incident (1943), Kiss Me Deadly (1955), Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938), and A Letter to Three Wives (1949). Decisions, decisions!

Classic Movie Man’s Favorite Christmas Movies: 2016 Edition

It’s getting harder and harder to find classic movies that I haven’t featured before, but I was able to come up with some “new” ones. Not all of the movies I picked this year are Christmas movies, but all have scenes set during the holidays. For a list of more holiday movie classics, see the links below. Please feel free to share your Christmas favorites in the comments section. Merry Christmas!

The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek—1944 Preston Sturges’s satirical masterpiece a Christmas movie? The comedy classic spends a lot of time tearing down and building up some sacred cows, including marriage and the military. Featuring breakout performances by Betty Hutton and Eddie Bracken, the “miracle” takes place on Christmas day!

Backstory: Considered mild stuff by today’s standards, The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek was thought to be borderline offensive (and to many moviegoers in 1944 it crossed the border) in its day.

The Lemon Drop Kid—1951 Based on a Damon Runyon short story, The Lemon Drop Kid features Bob Hope (the Kid) as a racetrack tout who gets on the bad side of gangster Moose Moran (Fred Clark) when a bet placed by the gangster’s moll goes south. If the Kid doesn’t come up with $10,000 by Christmas Eve, he “won’t make it to New Year’s,” according to Moran. The film features a great supporting cast that includes Marilyn Maxwell, Lloyd Nolan, Jane Darwell, and William Frawley.

Backstory: The song “Silver Bells” was introduced in The Lemon Drop Kid and sung by Hope and Maxwell. William Frawley also appeared in the 1934 version of The Lemon Drop Kid.

Stalag 17—1953 You wouldn’t necessarily associate this movie with Christmas, but a major event takes place on the holiday. Set in a German prisoner of war camp during World War II, the film tells the story of American airmen held there, who come to suspect that one of them is an informant. Stalag 17 features an Academy Award winning performance by William Holden (Best Actor) and tight writing and direction from Billy Wilder. How could you go wrong?

Backstory: Charlton Heston and Kirk Douglas were first considered for the role that eventually went to William Holden.

We’re No Angels 1955—Just before Christmas, three convicts (Humphrey Bogart, Aldo Ray, and Peter Ustinov) escape from Devil’s Island. They wander into a French village nearby and end up helping the Ducotel family (Joan Bennett, Leo G. Carroll, and Gloria Talbott) managers of a store in financial trouble. Will the convicts be successful in helping the Ducotels hold onto their store or will they make a break for it, which was their plan all along? The film also features Basil Rathbone as absentee store owner, Andre Trochard.

Backstory: Released by Paramount, this rare Bogart comedy was directed by Michael Curtiz who also directed Bogart in the classic Casablanca (1942) when both were under contract at Warner Bros.

Babes in Toyland 1961—This Disney musical is based on the Victor Herbert operetta, but takes many liberties with the plot. The Technicolor production stars Ray Bolger as the evil Barnaby, Tommy Sands as Tom Piper, and Annette Funicello as Mary Contrary. Part of the plot surrounds the efforts of the Toymaker in Toyland (Ed Wynn) and his efforts and those of his apprentice, Grumio (Tommy Kirk) to make enough toys for Christmas. Will they be successful or will Barnaby foil their plans and ruin the lives of Tom and Mary?

Backstory: The movie was a financial failure and Disney didn’t make another musical on this scale again until Mary Poppins (1964), which became one of the studio’s biggest box office hits during Walt Disney’s lifetime. This was the first film in which Ray Bolger played an evil character.

Classic Movie Man's Favorite Christmas Movies: 2010 Edition
Classic Movie Man's Favorite Christmas Movies: 2011 Edition

Classic Movie Man's Favorite Christmas Movies: 2012 Edition

Classic Movie Man's Favorite Christmas Movies: 2013 Edition

Classic Movie Man's Favorite Christmas Movies: 2014 Edition

Classic Movie Man's Favorite Christmas Movies: 2015 Edition

Preston Sturges series: Screening of “The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek” August 16 at Daystar Center

Preston Sturges series: The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek
Where: The Venue 1550 at the Daystar Center, 1550 S. State Street, Chicago, IL
When: August 16, 2016
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Hosted by Stephen Reginald

The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek (1944) stars Betty Hutton as Trudy Kockenlocker, a small-town girl who goes a little bit wild at party for soldiers going overseas. After dancing the night away and drinking too much “victory lemonade,” Trudy finds herself with a headache and a wedding ring on her finger. She has no recollection of getting married so she sets out to marry childhood friend Norval Jones (Eddie Bracken) who has adored her his entire life. This classic screwball comedy was nominated for a 1944 Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

The film features a standout performances from Diana Lynn who plays Trudy’s younger sister and Sturges stock company regulars William Demarest and Porter Hall.

Backstory: Preston Sturges was so impressed with Eddie Bracken’s performance in The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek that he wrote Hail The Conquering Hero for him. Both films were released in 1944.

Have some Joe and Enjoy the Show!
Before the movie, grab a cup of coffee from Overflow Coffee Bar, located within the Daystar Center. You can bring food and beverages into the auditorium; we even have small tables set up next to some of the seats. General Admission: $5 Students and Senior Citizens: $3.

Join the Chicago Film club; join the discussion
Twice a month we screen classic films and have a brief discussion afterward. For more information, including how to join (it’s free), click here. The Venue 1550 is easily accessible by the CTA. Please visit Transit Chicago for more information on transportation options.

Stephen Reginald is a freelance writer and editor. He has worked at various positions within the publishing industry for over 25 years. Most recently he was executive editor for McGraw-Hill’s The Learning Group Division. A long-time amateur student of film, Reginald hosts “Chicago Film Club,” a monthly movie event held in the South Loop, for the past two years. Reginald has also taught several adult education film classes at Facets Film School, Chicago.


Daystar Center located at 1550 S. State St. works through a grassroots network of collaborations and partnerships with individuals and other nonprofit organizations. Through this web, they’re able to provide educational, cultural, and civic activities that enrich and empower their clients, guests, and community members. To learn more about classes and events offered at the Daystar Center, please visit their Web site.

Preston Sturges: Master of the Cockeyed Caravan, Part 3

A writer-director is born
As the story goes, Sturges sold the screenplay for The Great McGinty to Paramount for $10, under the condition that he would also be allowed to direct. Since this seemed like a fairly reasonable risk for the studio, they acquiesced.

The Great McGinty (1940) didn't have big stars to pack the movie palaces, but it did have good reviews from some of the top critics of the day. New York Times film critic Bosley Crowther said this: "In the trade they call them 'sleepers'—these pictures which come drifting in without benefit of much advance publicity and which turn out delightful surprises." And a delightful surprise it was, and with its success, Sturges was on his way to the big leagues. At the 1941 Academy Awards, Sturges took home the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.

Without taking a breath, it seems, Paramount released another film in 1940 written and directed by Sturges,  Christmas in July. Again, the film had no big stars, and again, Crowther called the film "another of those one-man creations by Preston Sturges for Paramount, is just about as cunning and carefree a comedy as any one could possibly preordain . . . ." Crowther ended his review by saying,  "As a creator of rich and human comedy Mr. Sturges is closing fast on the heels of Frank Capra."

The lady is a champ
It wasn't too long for the folks at Paramount to realize that Sturges as a writer-director was turning into a goldmine. Armed with a big budget and top-flight movie stars, Sturges jumped into production of The Lady Eve (1941) with Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda, both turning in brilliant performances under his direction. Sturges was at his peak. At the end of 1941, The New York Times named The Lady Eve the best picture of the year, beating Citizen Kane!

Veronica Lake is on the Take
More hits followed in the financial success of The Lady Eve: Sullivan's Travels (1942), The Palm Beach Story (1942), The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (1944) , and Hail the Conquering Hero (1944). In a span of roughly four years, Sturges wrote and directed seven classic films! If you count The Great Moment (1944), a film that Sturges fan Crowther praised, you can make it an even eight classics in four years. It appeared that Sturges could do nothing wrong.

The shooting star crashes to earth
Almost overnight it seemed, things started going south for Sturges. At the height of his fame, he left Paramount and formed California Pictures Corporation with Howard Hughes. Nothing much came from this venture and eventually Hughes shut things down, bought RKO, and left Sturges without a home studio or any projects on the horizon.

Phoenix rising at Fox?
It would be four years before Sturges would release another film. Darryl Zanuck, at Twentieth Century Fox, hired Sturges to write and direct Unfaithfully Yours (1948) starring Rex Harrison and Linda Darnell. The film, although popular in the eyes of some critics (yes, Crowther was still a fan), didn't fare as well with the public at large. The humor, gags, and amazingly complicated narrative were all there, but as Crowther noted, "... a shade of something fatal to a champion may be perceived in his new picture at the Roxy. That's a slip in his timing and his speed. Like a boxer who takes too long a lay-off, Mr. Sturges has slowed up a bit. And this is something which his public will be the first to note and deplore." And the public did take notice and Unfaithfully Yours didn't turn out to be the next great Sturges hit. Sturges had one more chance at Fox with The Beautiful Blonde From Bashful Bend (1949) starring Betty Grable. But by then, the magic had completely rubbed off. The film was a disaster for Sturges and the studio. Sturges fan and supporter, Crowther ended his review of the film with this zinger: "Put out in Technicolor, The Beautiful Blonde looks good. But, to paraphrase the theme song, it looks pretty well shot in the end."

A lasting legacy
Although Sturges's film career basically ended with The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend, his legacy lives on in the ground-breaking comedies he wrote and directed at Paramount. The body of work he produced in those four short years is a feat that has yet to be matched.

Preston Sturges was a man of uncommon intelligence and one of the most talented writer-directors to come out of Hollywood. He paved the for other writer-directors like Joseph L. Mankiewicz and Billy Wilder, and most importantly, he left us his wonderful films that still amaze, surprise, and delight us to this day.