TCM Schedule for Friday, January 8, 2016 -- What's On Tonight: Ex-Cons

[Staph]

During the daylight hours, TCM is celebrating the birth of Elvis Presley, and, in prime time, it's a celebration of ex-cons. A coincidence, or something more sinister? You decide, and then enjoy!


6:30 AM -- Sadie Thompson (1928)
A South Seas prostitute runs afoul of a fire-and-brimstone preacher.
Dir: Raoul Walsh
Cast: Gloria Swanson, Lionel Barrymore, Raoul Walsh
BW-94 mins,

Nominated for Oscars for Best Actress in a Leading Role -- Gloria Swanson, and Best Cinematography -- George Barnes

Gloria Swanson (as Sadie) swore several times on screen, but as the title cards don't reflect this and the film is silent, it was released without censorship.


8:15 AM -- Coquette (1929)
A Southern belle's flirtation with a working man leads to tragedy.
Dir: Sam Taylor
Cast: Mary Pickford, John Mack Brown, Matt Moore
BW-76 mins,

Won an Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role -- Mary Pickford

Mary Pickford's performance received universally negative reviews but she secured winning the Oscar by inviting members of the Academy's judging committee to her Pickfair mansion for luncheons. Outrage over her being given the award forced the Academy to change its procedures for selecting the winners.


9:45 AM -- Live A Little, Love A Little (1968)
A photographer tries to keep his conservative boss from learning that he's moonlighting for a girlie magazine.
Dir: Norman Taurog
Cast: Elvis Presley, Michele Carey, Don Porter
C-89 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

While filming on location in Los Angeles, Elvis was knocked to the ground by several old women in an attempt to get Rudy Vallee's autograph.


11:15 AM -- Kissin' Cousins (1964)
A singing military officer gets mixed up with his look-alike hillbilly cousin.
Dir: Gene Nelson
Cast: Elvis Presley, Arthur O'Connell, Glenda Farrell
C-96 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Elvis Presley supposedly loathed the "strawberry blond" wig he had to wear as the hillbilly cousin in this film, in part because it made him look as he had before deciding to dye his hair black in the mid-fifties.


1:00 PM -- Jailhouse Rock (1957)
After learning to play the guitar in prison, a young man becomes a rock 'n roll sensation.
Dir: Richard Thorpe
Cast: Elvis Presley, Judy Tyler, Mickey Shaughnessy
BW-97 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Originally the choreographer, Alex Romero, created a dance for the song "Jailhouse Rock" that was in a style that was apropos for a more classically trained dancer than Elvis. When Mr. Romero realized that his plans for the number were never going to work, he asked Elvis how would he normally move to the song; thus, this is how Elvis became the uncredited choreographer for what could be considered his most famous dance number in all of his movies.


2:45 PM -- Viva Las Vegas (1964)
A race-car driver falls for a pretty swimming instructor who wants him to slow down his career.
Dir: George Sidney
Cast: Elvis Presley, Ann-Margret, Cesare Danova
C-85 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

The Japanese cartoon character Speed Racer's appearance was partly based on the character Lucky Jackson, complete with a pompadour hairstyle and gadget filled car.


4:15 PM -- Elvis: That's The Way It Is (1970)
Restored version of the King's classic Vegas concert film.
C-95 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

The following celebrities were greeted as they walked into the International Hotel in the film: Juliet Prowse, Charo, Xavier Cugat, Rona Barrett, Norm Crosby, and Dale Robertson. Seen at the showroom tables were Sammy Davis, Jr. and Cary Grant.


6:00 PM -- This Is Elvis (1981)
Staged scenes and vintage clips re-create Elvis Presley's life.
Dir: Malcolm Leo
Cast: David Wark Scott, Paul Boensch, Johnny Harra
C-102 mins, CC,

At the time of its release the film included lots of very rare and never-before-seen footage of Elvis Presley.


TCM PRIMETIME - WHAT'S ON TONIGHT: EX-CONS



8:00 PM -- Cape Fear (1962)
An ex-convict plots to destroy the district attorney who sent him to prison.
Dir: J. Lee Thompson
Cast: Gregory Peck, Robert Mitchum, Polly Bergen
BW-106 mins, CC,

According to Robert Mitchum, during the filming of the final fight scene between him and Gregory Peck, Peck once accidentally punched him for real. Mitchum, knowing that Peck didn't mean to and ever the professional, refused to break character and continued filming the scene. However, upon entering his trailer, Mitchum said he "literally collapsed" due to the impact of the punch and said that he felt it for days after wards. According to Mitchum: "I don't feel sorry for anyone dumb enough who picks a fight with him (Peck)."


10:00 PM -- The Kiss of Death (1947)
An ex-con trying to go straight must face a crazed criminal out for revenge.
Dir: Henry Hathaway
Cast: Victor Mature, Brian Donlevy, Coleen Gray
BW-99 mins, CC,

Nominated for Oscars for Best Actor in a Supporting Role -- Richard Widmark, and Best Writing, Original Story -- Eleazar Lipsky

Film debuts of Richard Widmark, Susan Cabot, Jesse White, and composer Earle Hagen.


11:50 PM -- What's Your I.Q.? (1940)
This short film tests the I.Q. of the audience by posing several questions.
BW-9 mins,


12:00 AM -- Invisible Stripes (1940)
On his release from prison, a crook tries to stop his brother from following in his footsteps.
Dir: Lloyd Bacon
Cast: George Raft, Jane Bryan, William Holden
BW-81 mins, CC,

Although Flora Robson played George Raft's mother, she was actually six years younger than he was.


1:30 AM -- Straight Time (1978)
An ex-con struggles to go straight despite his malevolent parole officer.
Dir: Ulu Grosbard
Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Theresa Russell, Gary Busey
C-114 mins, CC,

Michael Mann was one of three writers who worked on the script for the film. Mann wrote the original draft with Edward Bunker, who was an ex-convict and served as the film's technical consultant. Mann worked with Bunker for three months, during which time he visited Folsom prison and interviewed a number of inmates who had known Bunker during his time there. Mann's draft of the script was written when Dustin Hoffman was slated to direct the film. When Ulu Grosbard took over directorial duties, he hired Alvin Sargent and Jeffrey Boam to rewrite Mann's script. Sargent, Boam and Bunker all received writing credits, but Mann did not.


3:30 AM -- Shockproof (1949)
A beautiful ex-con falls for her parole officer while still dating the crook who landed her in prison.
Dir: Douglas Sirk
Cast: Cornel Wilde, Patricia Knight, John Baragrey
BW-80 mins,

Director Douglas Sirk signed to make this film on the basis of Sam Fuller's original screenplay, which was called "The Lovers" and ended in a shoot-out. Co-producer Helen Deutsch rewrote the script and added a cop-out ending Sirk disliked. Sirk later said Deutsch's script changes ruined the film by depriving it of the sense of doom in Fuller's original story.


5:00 AM -- The Long Memory (1952)
After doing time for a crime he didn't commit, a man must choose between revenge and building a new life.
Dir: Robert Hamer
Cast: John Mills, John McCallum, Elizabeth Sellars
BW-93 mins,

The first film of Denis Shaw.