What To Catch on TCM This Week - June 17-June 23, 2018

Another musical heavy week on TCM, like I said last week I don't particularly like musicals, but my favorite musical is on this week so it's a good week. Hope everyone finds something to watch from this list.

 Father of the Bride-Stanley Banks has just been through the craziness of his beloved daughter's wedding day, a day that he dreaded and feared. Stanley was afraid that his independent and strong willed daughter was making the mistake of her life and quite honestly he didn't want to pay for an extravagant wedding, but that is exactly what he does and finds out just how much parental love goes. Spencer Tracy is great at the exasperated Stanley Banks and Elizabeth Taylor is beautiful as his apple of his eye daughter. This movie is funny and bright, no matter what mood I am in I always enjoy this film, but then again I am a big Spencer Tracy fan having seen almost every movie he's been in, but this is one of my favorite comedies, but my favorite film that he is in will always be Guess Who's Coming to Dinner with Sidney Poitier. Sunday, June 17th at 10:00 A.M MST.

Father's Little Dividend- Stanley Banks is back, this time getting ready to be a Grandfather! Stanley is none too happy about the expected bundle and in the beginning the little bundle isn't too fond of him either! Sunday, June 17th at 12:00 P.M. MST.

Attack of the 50 Foot Woman - One of the best B-films ever made and the start of B-films being independently made. This movie is just so good! It's a about a woman, Nancy, that has been treated badly by her husband who is trying to drive her insane so that he can have control of her millions and be with his mistress. Nancy is emotionally unstable and an alcoholic so really her husband is able to manipulate her the way that he wants. Nancy goes for a drive in the desert where she encounters a giant fireball and a giant alien that turns her into a 50 foot woman! Nancy goes on the attack for her husband and his lover! Just goes to show you men, don't double cross your lover! Monday, June 18th at 9:00 A.M. MST.

It's Love I'm After - Leslie Howard and Bette Davis shine in this screwball comedy about an acting duo swept up in love but unable to make it down the aisle. Before they can finally tie the knot, Henry Grant shows up and want's Howard's character, Basil, to try to turn his fiancee off to Basil's charms. As boorish as Basil acts the more Grant's fiancee falls for him. Bette Davis was reluctant to take the part of Joyce Arden, feeling that the better character was the infatuated fiancee, but she made this role the better one in my opinion and turned Joyce into an amazing complex character, the woman was an amazing actor and made sure that focus stayed on her. Monday, June 18th at 10:45 P.M. MST.

Gigi- Beautiful clothing and Paris aristocracy make up this wonderful film about a young girl becoming a woman. Gigi is being groomed in the family business of courtesans, fortunately she is very uninterested and feels that there is no honor or respect by one day being dumped by the man that has been chosen to be her paramore and doesn't wish to just be a mistress. Gigi is smart and bright and knows that she deserves better, she wants to be his wife. With Maurice Chevalier heading up the cast as a man with a lot of money and still trying to be a playboy in his old age and it not happening, this movie is light hearted but still serious with the music and the story line. Tuesday, June 19th at 10:15 P.M. MST.

The Philadelphia Story- Tracy Lord is the impetus daughter of a very wealthy Philadelphia Main Line socialite family. It is the weekend of Tracy's second wedding to self made and uptight man, George Kittredge. Hepburn dazzles as Tracy Lords with director George Cukor bringing out the feeling of spying on the socialites of Philadelphia. This is my favorite Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn films, they fight and love each other so well in this movie, making acting and storytelling look so effortless, their chemistry just flows on screen and they look beautiful together. Wednesday, June 20th at 6:00 P.M. MST.

A Star Is Born - James Mason steals most scenes from Judy Garland with his alcoholic actor character Norman Maine fighting to get back in the spotlight and having issues with his wife's success. Norman really does love his wife, Esther, but he's just too much of an alcoholic and can't stand being upstaged by her career. In the end he kills himself to save her. Judy Garland's singing takes center stage in this movie, but Mason really does all the heavy lifting making this a film that people remake over and over with the latest remake starring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. Personally I can't wait to see Cooper's vision of this story and the music that will come out of it.Thursday, June 21st at 8:00 P.M. MST.

Jailhouse Rock- Written to showcase Elvis's talents by producer Pandro S. Bergman, this started Elvis wanting to act in more serious films and get away from always having to sing, unfortunately not being a very good actor Elvis would always have to sing, but I feel in this movie, and in King Creole, Elvis shows what he could've been had a real script and had anyone actually worked with him on his acting more and actually taught him could have been. There is so much going on with his character in this film, he's in prison, being taken advantage of by his cellmate, trying to make decisions for his future and trying to get the girl. It really is quite complicated. Friday, June 21st at 1:15 A.M. MST.

The Year of Living Dangerously - This film makes my top 10 favorite movies of all times. It's set in Jakarta during a time of political upheaval and government dissent. It's beautifully shot by cinematographer Russell Boyd and began my love affair with Indonesia. I've never wanted to travel somewhere so much after seeing this film. Sigourney Weaver is enchanting in this film as Jill Bryant, easily attracted to Mel Gibson's Guy Hamilton, her character is quite the bomb in the film, but Linda Hunt steals the whole show as photographer Billy Kwan. Friday, June 21st at 4:00 P.M. MST.

Get Carter - Gangster Jack Carter must return to his home town Newcastle to attend his brother's funeral, who's end came by a drunk driver, at least that is what Jack was told. A tale of retribution for a brother's death becomes an even more entangled story as it goes on. Michael Caine brings Jack Carter to life easily, with Carter becoming one of Caine's most prominent roles and most memorable. Caine is from the area and looked forward to showing a different type of gangster and how his life could've been had he not become an actor. And if you check out this film, get a load of Britt Ekland in this film, not only is she beautiful, she's smart. Saturday, June 23rd at 2:00 P.M. MST.

The Champ- Starring a very young Rick Schroeder before his days on Silver Spoons, he plays a boy who is very much infatuated with his boxer father and who's father loves him very much but has problems with drinking and gambling. Great performances by Schroeder and Jon Voight really bring this film to light. This movie has always left me broken hearted but at the same time hopeful that life can be set right by trying, all you really have to do in life is try. Saturday, June 23rd at 11:45 P.M. MST.