TCM Schedule for Thursday, February 18, 2015 -- What's On Tonight: 31 Days of Oscar: Day 18

[Staph]

It's day eighteen of 31 Days of Oscar. Enjoy!



The link to the next film -- Elijah Cook, Jr.


6:30 AM -- Dillinger (1945)
The legendary gunman plots a series of daring heists.
Dir: Max Nosseck
Cast: Lawrence Tierney, Edmund Lowe, Anne Jeffreys
BW-70 mins, CC,

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Writing, Original Screenplay -- Philip Yordan

Many conservative social and religious groups demanded that the film be withdrawn or banned outright because of what they considered its "brutal and sensational" subject matter. The Chicago Censorship Board banned the film from being shown in Chicago for two years. The film finally opened on May 30, 1947, at the Oriental Theater in downtown Chicago and at the Biograph Theater on the north side, where the real John Dillinger had just seen a movie--Manhattan Melodrama (1934)--the night he was ambushed and shot dead by the FBI.

The link to the next film -- Anne Jeffreys


7:48 AM -- The House I Live In (1945)
Singer Frank Sinatra explains the importance of racial tolerance to a group of tough kids in this short film.
Dir: Mervyn LeRoy
Cast: Teddy Infuhr, Ronnie Ralph
BW-10 mins,

Won an Oscar Honorary Award for Frank Ross, Mervyn LeRoy, Albert Maltz, Earl Robinson, Lewis Allan and Frank Sinatra, fFor tolerance short subject; produced by Frank Ross and Mervyn LeRoy; directed by Mervyn LeRoy; screenplay by Albert Maltz; song "The House I Live In" music by Earl Robinson, lyrics by Lewis Allan; starring Frank Sinatra; released by RKO Radio.

Lewis Allen, lyricist for the title song, is the pseudonym of Abel Meeropol (1903-1986), best known for the anti-lynching poem and later song 'Strange Fruit'.


8:00 AM -- Sing Your Way Home (1945)
A war correspondent assembles young European entertainers to put on a show for the troops.
Dir: Anthony Mann
Cast: Jack Haley, Marcy McGuire, Glenn Vernon
BW-72 mins, CC,

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Music, Original Song -- Allie Wrubel (music) and Herb Magidson (lyrics) for the song "I'll Buy That Dream"

Though Anne Jeffreys had only eight musical roles in her more than 80 film and television appearances, she trained for an opera career and made her debut in 1940 in La Boheme. She went on to perform in musicals on Broadway and in regional theatre between filml and soap opera performances.

The link to the next film -- Jack Haley


9:15 AM -- Higher and Higher (1943)
Servants pass off one of their own as an heiress in hopes of winning her a wealthy husband.
Dir: Tim Whelan
Cast: Michèle Morgan, Jack Haley, Frank Sinatra
BW-90 mins, CC,

Nominated for Oscars for Best Music, Original Song -- Jimmy McHugh (music) and Harold Adamson (lyrics) for the song "I Couldn't Sleep a Wink Last Night", and Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture -- C. Bakaleinikoff

Mel Tormé's film debut.

The link to the next film -- Frank Sinatra


10:47 AM -- Kings Of The Turf (1941)
This short film focuses on Mortimer Standardbred horse undergoing training for harness racing. Vitaphone Release 572A.
Dir: Del Frazier
C-10 mins,

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Short Subject, One-reel


11:00 AM -- On the Town (1949)
Three sailors wreak havoc as they search for love during a whirlwind 24-hour leave in New York City.
Dir: Gene Kelly
Cast: Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Betty Garrett
C-98 mins, CC,

Won an Oscar for Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture -- Roger Edens and Lennie Hayton

Frank Sinatra, who was very thin, had to wear prosthetic padding to fill out the seat of his uniform. In a TCM interview, Ann Miller said that Sinatra was extremely sensitive about his padding and did not appreciate the usual movie set horseplay involving his lower half.

The link to the next film -- Florence Bates


12:38 PM -- Main Street Today (1944)
This short film promotes the U.S. war effort at home in a small town.
Dir: Edward L. Cahn
Cast: Ruth Lee, Larry Wheat, Walter Soderling
BW-20 mins,

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Short Subject, Two-reel -- Jerry Bresler


1:00 PM -- Kismet (1944)
In the classic Arabian Nights tale king of the beggars enters high society to help his daughter marry a handsome prince.
Dir: William Dieterle
Cast: Ronald Colman, Marlene Dietrich, James Craig
C-100 mins, CC,

Nominated for Oscars for Best Cinematography, Color -- Charles Rosher, Best Art Direction-Interior Decoration, Color -- Cedric Gibbons, Daniel B. Cathcart, Edwin B. Willis and Richard Pefferle, Best Sound, Recording -- Douglas Shearer (M-G-M SSD), and Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture -- Herbert Stothart

The decision to paint Dietrich's legs gold was a last resort. Initially, they had made fine mesh "tights" for her, like chain-mail. It took several hours to close the links up the back using jeweler's pliers. However, after she was encased in the mesh, it was discovered she couldn't move, so they undid the tights and resorted to gold paint.

The link to the next film -- Edward Arnold


2:41 PM -- Jammin' The Blues (1944)
In this short film, prominent jazz musicians of the 1940s get together for a rare filming of a jam session. Vitaphone Release 1315A.
BW-11 mins,

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Short Subject, One-reel -- Gordon Hollingshead

Guitarist Barney Kessel is the only white performer in this film. He was seated in the shadows to shade his skin, and for close-ups, his hands were stained with berry juice.


3:00 PM -- The War Against Mrs. Hadley (1942)
A Washington matron tries to ignore the effects of World War II.
Dir: Harold S. Bucquet
Cast: Edward Arnold, Fay Bainter, Richard Ney
BW-86 mins, CC,

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Writing, Original Screenplay -- George Oppenheimer

In the film, Mrs. Hadley's birthday is December 7th and she is dismayed that the events at Pearl Harbor ruin her party. Ironically Fay Bainter who played the title character was born on December 7th.

The link to the next film -- Van Johnson


4:30 PM -- Too Young to Kiss (1951)
A grown woman poses as a child prodigy to advance her career as a concert pianist.
Dir: Robert Z. Leonard
Cast: June Allyson, Van Johnson, Gig Young
BW-89 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White -- Cedric Gibbons, Paul Groesse, Edwin B. Willis and Jack D. Moore

Fifth of six movies that paired June Allyson and Van Johnson, (although "Till the Clouds Roll By" was an ensemble cast).

The link to the next film -- June Allyson


6:00 PM -- Executive Suite (1954)
When a business magnate dies, his board of directors fights over who should run the company.
Dir: Robert Wise
Cast: William Holden, June Allyson, Barbara Stanwyck
BW-105 mins, CC,

Nominated for Oscars for Best Actress in a Supporting Role -- Nina Foch, Best Cinematography, Black-and-White -- George J. Folsey, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White -- Cedric Gibbons, Edward C. Carfagno, Edwin B. Willis and Emile Kuri, and Best Costume Design, Black-and-White -- Helen Rose

While the practice of including a large, all-star cast had been popular in the 1930s, particularly with films such as Grand Hotel (1932) and Dinner at Eight (1933), it was a relatively rare occurrence in the 1950s. Producer John Houseman admitted many years after the film's production that the decision to cast so many recognizable stars was part of an effort by MGM to compete with the soaring popularity of television.

The link to the next film -- Nina Foch



TCM PRIMETIME - WHAT'S ON TONIGHT: 31 DAYS OF OSCAR: DAY 18



8:00 PM -- An American in Paris (1951)
An American artist finds love in Paris but almost loses it to conflicting loyalties.
Dir: Vincente Minnelli
Cast: Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, Oscar Levant
BW-114 mins, CC,

Won Oscars for Best Writing, Story and Screenplay -- Alan Jay Lerner, Best Cinematography, Color -- Alfred Gilks and John Alton, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color -- Cedric Gibbons, E. Preston Ames, Edwin B. Willis and F. Keogh Gleason, Best Costume Design, Color -- Orry-Kelly, Walter Plunkett and Irene Sharaff, Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture -- Johnny Green and Saul Chaplin, and Best Picture

Nominated for Oscars for Best Director -- Vincente Minnelli, and Best Film Editing -- Adrienne Fazan

The film's most famous sequence - the climactic ballet - was not conceived until midway through production and was largely brought about due to Nina Foch's unavailability (the actress was out of the film for three days due to contracting chicken pox). Alan Jay Lerner came up with the idea for the ballet, and wrote it, in those three days.

The link to the next film -- Oscar Levant


10:00 PM -- The Band Wagon (1953)
A Broadway artiste turns a faded film star's comeback vehicle into an artsy flop.
Dir: Vincente Minnelli
Cast: Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Oscar Levant
C-112 mins, CC,

Nominated for Oscars for Best Writing, Story and Screenplay -- Betty Comden and Adolph Green, Best Costume Design, Color -- Mary Ann Nyberg, and Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture -- Adolph Deutsch

The characters reflect real life. Fred Astaire was indeed considering retirement as his career was at a standstill, just like his character in the movie. The characters played by Nanette Fabray and Oscar Levant are based on the film's screenwriters, Betty Comden and Adolph Green. Jack Buchanan's character is based on José Ferrer, who at the time was producing four Broadway shows and starring in a fifth.

The link to the next film -- Robert Gist


12:00 AM -- Strangers on a Train (1951)
A man's joking suggestion that he and a chance acquaintance trade murders turns deadly.
Dir: Alfred Hitchcock
Cast: Farley Granger, Ruth Roman, Robert Walker
BW-101 mins, CC,

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Cinematography, Black-and-White -- Robert Burks

The stunt where the man crawled under the carousel was not done with trick photography. Alfred Hitchcock claimed that this was the most dangerous stunt ever performed under his direction, and would never allow it to be done again.

The link to the next film -- Robert Walker


1:45 AM -- You Can't Win (1948)
In this comedic short series of mishaps happen to a homeowner while he takes a day off from the office.
Dir: Dave O'Brien
Cast: Dave O'Brien ,
BW-8 mins, CC,

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Short Subject, One-reel -- Pete Smith


2:00 AM -- Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944)
General Jimmy Doolittle trains American troops for the first airborne attacks on Japan.
Dir: Mervyn LeRoy
Cast: Van Johnson, Robert Walker, Tim Murdock
BW-138 mins, CC,

Won an Oscar for Best Effects, Special Effects -- A. Arnold Gillespie (photographic), Donald Jahraus (photographic), Warren Newcombe (photographic) and Douglas Shearer (sound)

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Cinematography, Black-and-White -- Robert Surtees and Harold Rosson

Twice while the Ruptured Duck is flying over Japan the crew spots Japanese fighter planes and tenses for an attack, but both times the fighters ignore them. This is factual. In an unbelievable coincidence, the Japanese had planned a major air raid drill for the same time in Tokyo, and the fighters thought the American B-25s were part of the drill until the bombs started exploding. Also, according to the book upon which the movie is based the planes' crews were told prior to the mission that there was a slight chance that the Japanese would not recognize them and react because the Japanese air force had a bomber very similar to the B-25.

The link to the next film -- Robert Mitchum


4:30 AM -- Crossfire (1947)
A crusading district attorney investigates the murder of a Jewish man.
Dir: Edward Dmytryk
Cast: Robert Young, Robert Mitchum, Robert Ryan
BW-86 mins, CC,

Nominated for Oscars for Best Actor in a Supporting Role -- Robert Ryan, Best Actress in a Supporting Role -- Gloria Grahame, Best Director -- Edward Dmytryk, Best Writing, Screenplay -- John Paxton, and Best Picture

The focus of the novel dealt with homophobia, but the subject was changed to anti-Semitism for the film. In 1947, anti-Semitism was a hot topic (Gentlemen's Agreement would be released three months later), but a movie with a sympathetic view of homosexuality was impossible for mainstream films in 1947.

The link to the next film -- Jacqueline White