TCM Schedule for Saturday, November 18, 2017 -- The Essentials - Grace Kelly

[Staph]

Tonight's Essentials feature some of the films of Her Serene Highness, Grace, The Princess of Monaco, Duchess of Valentinois, Estouteville, Mazarin and of Mayenne, Princess of Château-Porcien, Marchioness of Baux, Chilly-Mazarin, Guiscard and of Bailli, Countess of Polignac (French title), Countess of Carladès, Countess of Ferrette, Belfort, Thann and Rosemont, Countess of Torigni, Countess of Longjumeau, Countess of Clèdes, Baroness of Calvinet, Baroness of Buis, Baroness of La Luthumière, Baroness of Hambye, Baroness of Altkirch, Baroness of Saint-Lô, Baroness of Massy, Dame (or Lady)of Issenheim, Dame (or Lady) of Saint-Rémy, and Dame (or Lady) of Matignon. Enjoy!



6:15 AM -- STINGAREE (1934)
An Australian bandit kidnaps an opera singer and falls in love with her.
Dir: William Wellman
Cast: Irene Dunne, Richard Dix, Mary Boland
BW-76 mins, CC,

Rather than build their own opera-house set for the final concert sequence, RKO went to Universal and shot the sequence on the standing set built for the 1925 Lon Chaney, Sr. version of "The Phantom of the Opera."


7:30 AM -- ALL THIS, AND HEAVEN TOO (1940)
A French nobleman falls in love with his children's governess.
Dir: Anatole Litvak
Cast: Bette Davis, Charles Boyer, Jeffrey Lynn
BW-143 mins, CC,

Nominated for Oscars for Best Actress in a Supporting Role -- Barbara O'Neil, Best Cinematography, Black-and-White -- Ernest Haller, and Best Picture

Upon their first meeting, the Duchesse de Praslin asks Henriette how old she is, and is told "25"; the Duchesse considers this "so young". In real life, Barbara O'Neil was 29 years old at the time of filming, while Bette Davis was two years older.


10:00 AM -- ADAM'S RIB (1949)
Husband-and-wife lawyers argue opposite sides in a sensational women's rights case.
Dir: George Cukor
Cast: Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Judy Holliday
BW-101 mins, CC,

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Writing, Story and Screenplay -- Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin

Inspired by the real-life story of husband-and-wife lawyers William Dwight Whitney and Dorothy Whitney, who represented Raymond Massey and his ex-wife Adrienne Allen in their divorce. After the Massey divorce was over, the Whitneys divorced each other and married the respective Masseys.


12:00 PM -- PEOPLE WILL TALK (1951)
A controversial doctor gets mixed up with an unwed mother.
Dir: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Cast: Cary Grant, Jeanne Crain, Finlay Currie
BW-110 mins, CC,

In early pre-production, Jeanne Crain campaigned for the female lead, but the role went to Anne Baxter. When Baxter had to forfeit due to approaching motherhood, Crain's wishes were granted.


2:00 PM -- DONOVAN'S BRAIN (1953)
A scientist keeps an unscrupulous tycoon's brain alive and falls under its influence.
Dir: Felix Feist
Cast: Lew Ayres, Gene Evans, Nancy Reagan
BW-84 mins, CC,

Dr. Cory, under the control of the brain, makes out a list showing several false identities under which Donovan has hidden money around the country. The first four names on the list are actual names of crew members: production supervisor H.B. Chapman, production designer Boris Leven, assistant director Jack R. Berne (on list as Jack Byrne) and set decorator Edward Boyle. The fifth name, Fred Russell, is that of a popular sports writer of the early 1950s.


3:45 PM -- PT 109 (1963)
Future president John Kennedy fights to save his crew when their PT boat sinks in the Pacific.
Dir: Leslie H. Martinson
Cast: Cliff Robertson, Ty Hardin, James Gregory
C-140 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

President John F. Kennedy's personal choice to portray him was Cliff Robertson. Mrs Kennedy's preference to play President John F. Kennedy was Warren Beatty.


6:15 PM -- WESTWORLD (1973)
A future fantasy park turns deadly when robot workers go on a killing spree.
Dir: Michael Crichton
Cast: Richard Benjamin, Yul Brynner, James Brolin
C-89 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Michael Crichton became inspired to write this film after a trip to Disneyland, where he saw the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, and was impressed by the animatronic characters. Furthermore, the ride is mentioned in Jurassic Park (1993), when Malcolm says the "Pirates didn't come to life and kill people", unlike what happens in this film. Jurassic Park (1993) was based on the novel by Westworld director Michael Crichton.



TCM PRIMETIME - WHAT'S ON TONIGHT: THE ESSENTIALS: GRACE KELLY



8:00 PM -- REAR WINDOW (1954)
A photographer with a broken leg uncovers a murder while spying on the neighbors in a nearby apartment building.
Dir: Alfred Hitchcock
Cast: James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Wendell Corey
C-112 mins, CC,

Nominated for Oscars for Best Director -- Alfred Hitchcock, Best Writing, Screenplay -- John Michael Hayes, Best Cinematography, Color -- Robert Burks, and Best Sound, Recording -- Loren L. Ryder (Paramount)

Alfred Hitchcock spent a great deal of time with Edith Head on Grace Kelly's look, which was characteristic of his often obsessive relationship with his leading ladies. One costume he fretted over was the negligee Lisa wears to spend the night at Jeff's. He quietly pulled Head aside and suggested falsies to give Kelly a bustier look. The designer and the actress, however, made only a few changes in costume construction and posture. Hitchcock was fooled into thinking Kelly had been padded and approved the look.


10:15 PM -- HIGH SOCIETY (1956)
In this musical version of The Philadelphia Story, tabloid reporters invade a society wedding.
Dir: Charles Walters
Cast: Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra
C-112 mins, CC,

Nominated for Oscars for Best Music, Original Song -- Cole Porter for the song "True Love", and Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture -- Johnny Green and Saul Chaplin

Grace Kelly, recently engaged to Prince Rainier of Monaco, wore her actual engagement ring for her character's engagement ring. The engagement ring is a 10.5-carat, emerald-cut, diamond flanked by two baguettes.


12:15 AM -- GREEN FIRE (1955)
An emerald prospector clashes with a beautiful plantation owner in South America.
Dir: Andrew Marton
Cast: Stewart Granger, Grace Kelly, Paul Douglas
C-100 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Only 4 months before meeting Prince Rainier III of Monaco and less than 18 months prior to their wedding, Grace Kelly's character delivers this quote: "Well, there's always the chance that Prince Charming may come riding down off the mountain someday."


2:00 AM -- BLACK MAMA, WHITE MAMA (1972)
When two troublemaking female prisoners can't seem to get along, they are chained together and extradited for safekeeping.
Dir: Eddie Romero
Cast: Pam Grier, Margaret Markov, Sid Haig
BW-87 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Several VW Country Buggies are seen in the film - these were manufactured by Volkswagen of Australia between 1968-72. Fewer than 2,000 were manufactured - these vehicles were imported into the Philippines and have been sought-after by classic vehicle collectors.


3:45 AM -- HIT MAN (1973)
A racketeer tears up L.A.'s underworld searching for his brother's killer.
Dir: George Armitage
Cast: Bernie Casey, Pamela Grier, Lisa Moore
C-91 mins, Letterbox Format

Bernie Casey was also initially considered to direct this film.


5:30 AM -- A VISIT TO SANTA (1963)
Two children dreaming of Christmas visit Santa at the North Pole in this short film.
C-12 mins,