TCM Schedule for Thursday, September 29, 2016 -- TCM Memorial Tribute: Gene Wilder

[Staph]

Happy birthday to Greer Garson, who was born Eileen Evelyn Greer Garson on September 29, 1904, in London, England. TCM is showing a nice seletion of her lesser known films, ending with the political seasonally appropriate Sunrise at Campobello (1960). Then in prime time, TCM is remembering Gene Wilder. We will miss him so! Enjoy!



6:00 AM -- WHEN LADIES MEET (1941)
A female novelist doesn't realize her new friend is the wife whose husband she's trying to steal.
Dir: Robert Z. Leonard
Cast: Joan Crawford, Robert Taylor, Greer Garson
BW-105 mins, CC,

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Art Direction-Interior Decoration, Black-and-White -- Cedric Gibbons, Randall Duell, and Edwin B. Willis

Based on the play, "When Ladies Meet" by Rachel Crothers that was produced by John Golden and opened at the Royale Theatre in NYC on 6 October 1932 and closed 4 March 1933 (173 performances). Stage cast included Frieda Inescort, Walter Abel, Spring Byington, 'Herbert Rawlinson' and Selena Royle. Byington was also in the film version. The play was first made into a film of the same name in 1933, starring Ann Harding and Myrna Loy.


8:00 AM -- ADVENTURE (1945)
A rough-living sailor has trouble adjusting to domestic life when he marries a librarian.
Dir: Victor Fleming
Cast: Clark Gable, Greer Garson, Joan Blondell
BW-126 mins, CC,

This film was Clark Gable's first after he returned to Hollywood following his service in the Army Air Corps in World War II. He had joined in August 1942, following the death of his wife Carole Lombard. MGM hyped this film as Gable's big comeback, using the line, "Gable's Back and Garson's Got Him!" in the advertising. Audiences at first lined up to see the King back in action, but the novelty wore off and the film flopped. The failure of the film officially ended Gable's box office viability and his reign as the "King of Hollywood".


10:15 AM -- DESIRE ME (1947)
A war widow falls in love with the man who informed her of her husband's death.
Dir: George Cukor
Cast: Greer Garson, Robert Mitchum, Richard Hart
BW-91 mins, CC,

It took Greer Garson 125 takes to enunciate the word "No" to the director's satisfaction. Co-star Robert Mitchum claimed later that this incident was when he first stopped taking Hollywood seriously.


12:00 PM -- JULIA MISBEHAVES (1948)
A showgirl returns to her stuffy estranged husband when their daughter gets engaged.
Dir: Jack Conway
Cast: Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, Peter Lawford
BW-99 mins, CC,

Elizabeth Taylor had a crush on co-star, Peter Lawford. It was very obvious to the cast & crew. When filming a scene where Elizabeth and Peter had to kiss, the line she was supposed to say was "Oh Ritchie, what are we going to do?" Instead she said 'Oh Peter, what am I going to do?". The set was filled with laughter, leaving a young Taylor very embarrassed.


1:45 PM -- THE LAW AND THE LADY (1951)
A society jewel thief falls for one of her marks.
Dir: Edwin H. Knopf
Cast: Greer Garson, Michael Wilding, Fernando Lamas
BW-104 mins, CC,

From the play The Last of Mrs. Cheyney by Frederick Lonsdale. Also filmed as The Last of Mrs. Cheyney (1929 - starring Norma Shearer), The Last of Mrs. Cheyney (1937 - starring Joan Crawford), Broadway Television Theatre: The Last of Mrs. Cheyney (1953 - starring Vicki Cummings), The Alcoa Hour: The Original Miss Chase (1957 - starring Nanette Fabray), and Frau Cheneys Ende (1961 - starring Lilli Palmer).


3:30 PM -- STRANGE LADY IN TOWN (1955)
The arrival of a female doctor sets a Western town on its ear.
Dir: Mervyn LeRoy
Cast: Greer Garson, Dana Andrews, Cameron Mitchell
C-112 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Margaret O'Brien was originally considered for the role of Spurs O'Brien. The part was eventually played by Lois Smith.


5:30 PM -- SUNRISE AT CAMPOBELLO (1960)
After a bout with polio, future president Franklin Roosevelt fights to save his political career.
Dir: Vincent J. Donehue
Cast: Zina Bethune, Tim Considine, Alan Bunce
C-144 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Nominated for Oscars for Best Actress in a Leading Role -- Greer Garson, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color -- Edward Carrere and George James Hopkins, Best Costume Design, Color -- Marjorie Best, and Best Sound -- George Groves (Warner Bros. SSD)

Greer Garson wanted Marlon Brando star as FDR. He declined, saying that he was unwilling to be in a wheelchair again after The Men (1950). He also felt they'd be laughed off the screen, as he was too young and she was too hetero Republican for such a lesbian Democrat as Eleanor. (I didn't call Eleanor a lesbian -- that's a quote from IMDB's entry on this film. However, I've read some interesting books that make that assumption, though there is no way at this distance in time for a definitive answer.)



TCM PRIMETIME - WHAT'S ON TONIGHT: TCM MEMORIAL TRIBUTE: GENE WILDER



8:00 PM -- ROLE MODEL: GENE WILDER (2008)
Gene Wilder sits down with Alec Baldwin for an intimate conversation about Wilder's extensive career.
C-59 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Gene Wilder was born Jerome Silberman in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Jeanne (Baer) and William J. Silberman, who manufactured miniature whiskey and beer bottles. His father was a Russian Jewish immigrant, while his Illinois-born mother was of Russian Jewish descent.


9:15 PM -- YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (1974)
A descendant of Dr. Frankenstein sets out to make a man.
Dir: Mel Brooks
Cast: Terry Garr, Cloris Leachman, Gene Wilder
BW-106 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Nominated for Oscars for Best Writing, Screenplay Adapted From Other Material -- Gene Wilder and Mel Brooks, and Best Sound -- Richard Portman and Gene S. Cantamessa

Gene Wilder conceived the "Puttin' on the Ritz" scene, while Mel Brooks was resistant to it as a mere "conceit" and felt it would detract from the fidelity to Universal horror films in the rest of the film. Wilder recalls being "close to rage and tears" and argued for the scene before Brooks stopped him and said, "It's in!". When Wilder asked why he had changed his mind, Brooks said that since Wilder had fought for it then it would be the right thing to do. But it was only when he soon saw the musical number along with a howling audience that Brooks was finally confident about the sequence.


11:15 PM -- ROLE MODEL: GENE WILDER (2008)
Gene Wilder sits down with Alec Baldwin for an intimate conversation about Wilder's extensive career.
C-59 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

When he chose his stage name, he chose "Wilder" because he loved Thornton Wilder's play "Our Town". He chose the name "Gene" simply because he liked this, not realizing until later this was because his mother's name was Jeanne (she was sick for most of his childhood, and he spent much of his time entertaining her as a kid to keep her happy and her spirits up. He subconsciously chose the name because he loved her so much and in honour of her).


12:30 AM -- START THE REVOLUTION WITHOUT ME (1970)
Two mismatched sets of identical twins mistakenly exchange identities on the eve of the French Revolution.
Dir: Bud Yorkin
Cast: Gene Wilder, Donald Sutherland, Hugh Griffith
C-90 mins, Letterbox Format

Gene Wilder was already adept with a sword from his days on his college fencing team.


2:15 AM -- THE FRISCO KID (1979)
A rabbi headed West hooks up with an outlaw.
Dir: Robert Aldrich
Cast: Gene Wilder, Harrison Ford, Ramon Bieri
C-119 mins, CC,

In his autobiography, Gene Wilder says that John Wayne was offered the part that was eventually played by Harrison Ford. Wayne loved the role and was eager to work with Wilder. However, an agent tried to offer Wayne less than his usual fee and the legendary actor turned the film down. This may be true, but it is actually unlikely. By 1979 Wayne was too ill with stomach cancer to consider film work, and in fact he died later that year from the disease.


4:30 AM -- BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967)
The legendary bank robbers run riot in the South of the 1930s.
Dir: Arthur Penn
Cast: Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, Michael J. Pollard
C-111 mins, CC,

Won Oscars for Best Actress in a Supporting Role -- Estelle Parsons, and Best Cinematography -- Burnett Guffey

Nominated for Oscars for Best Actor in a Leading Role -- Warren Beatty, Best Actress in a Leading Role -- Faye Dunaway, Best Actor in a Supporting Role -- Gene Hackman, Best Actor in a Supporting Role -- Michael J. Pollard, Best Director -- Arthur Penn, Best Writing, Story and Screenplay - Written Directly for the Screen -- David Newman and Robert Benton, Best Costume Design -- Theadora Van Runkle, and Best Picture

The characters Eugene Grizzard and Velma Davis (played by Gene Wilder and Evans Evans) are based on Dillard Darby and Sophia Stone of Ruston, Louisiana. On the night of April 27, 1933, Darby and Stone were briefly kidnapped by the Barrow gang, who had stolen Darby's car. After driving around Ruston for several hours, Darby and Stone were released unharmed. During the drive, when Darby mentioned that he was an undertaker, Bonnie Parker remarked, "Well, maybe you'll work on me someday." A year later, Darby did just that. He was one of the undertakers who worked on Bonnie Parker's body after she and Clyde Barrow were killed in the roadside ambush near Gibsland, Louisiana, in May, 1934.

[longship]

1. I highly recommend "The Frisco Kid"

No, it's not the greatest flick Gene Wilder did. That would be Young Frankenstein or maybe Blazing Saddles. But The Frisco Kid is a rather fun romp. It also has the benefit of having Harrison Ford, certainly a wonderful supporting actor, if not co-lead.

Highly recommended.

You'll smile. A lot!