What to Catch on TCM This Week - July 22-July 28, 2018

Interesting week on TCM, lots of horror and suspense, and Omnibus series thrown in for good measure. The Omnibus TV series with host Alistair Cooke was a long form discussion show on everything from theater to music. I like that TCM sees the value in Omnibus and is running different episodes mostly on Sunday and Saturday nights.

Omnibus: Leonard Bernstein - Starting off the series with Leonard Bernstein and the topic of Beethoven's 5th Symphony and ending with What Makes Opera Grand, Bernstein talks about the art of musicians and what makes it art. Sunday, June 22nd at 6:00 PM MST.

Godzilla - Everything was quiet off the shores of Odo island until three ships are mysteriously destroyed. Reporters show up to the island and the villagers do a dance to appease the beast that is going crazy under the sea. Godzilla is a horror film like no other, it was based on the terror of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima during World War II. Many audience members felt for the victimization of  Godzilla and felt that he conveyed what America had done to Japan during World War II and how they had been affected in the aftermath of the war. It's interesting how Japan's cinema develops after WWII, there is a definite change, instead of telling stories of the warrior it now changes to a lot of stories about political defiance and getting back at severe oppression. Godzilla, King of the Monsters follows picking up where this film left off. Monday, June 23rd 4:00 A.M. MST.

Giant - A sweeping Western set in the Texas oil fields. Leslie Lynnton falls for wealthy Texas rancher, Bick, marries and sets up a very posh life in Texas. Jett, the local handyman falls for her and is left land by Bick's deceased sister and strikes it rich as it is filled with oil. A feud ensues over the years and love wans, but in the end things are put right. This was also James Dean's last role and one of his best. Monday, June 23rd 6:00 P.M. MST.

In Cold Blood - Based on the Clutter family murders in Holcomb, Kansas, that shocked the small town and scarred midwest towns for years to come, it's about what happened that night and the following trial of the murders Dick Hickock and Perry Smith. Robert Blake gives the best performance as Perry Smith, a man who has no clue what drove him to even murder the family besides depravity of humans. Tuesday, July 24th 12:30 P.M. MST.

Badlands - Sissy Spacek and Martin Sheen turn in great performances as star crossed lovers Holly and Kit. The two teenagers are on the run after Kit kills Holly's father. Directed by Terrance Malick the photography of the film is beautiful showing off southeastern Colorado and the surrounding area. Tuesday, July 24th 6:00 P.M. MST.

A River Runs Through It - Based on the book by Norman Maclean based on his childhood in Missoula, Montana and learning the art of fly fishing from his father on the Blackfoot River. The story is mostly focused on the short life of Maclean's brother Paul, who died when they were young men. The cinematography of the film really tells the story of what it was like to grow up in Montana with all that it had to offer. I love the way that they've taken Maclean's somewhat sad story and turned it into such a beautiful tribute to life in Montana, Maclean's childhood and the memory of his brother. Although the movie is gorgeous the book is even better, my favorite passage from the book is, "Each one of us here today will at one time in our lives look upon a loved one who is in need and ask the same question: We are willing to help, Lord, but what, if anything is needed? For it is true we can seldom help those closest to us. Either we don't know what part of ourselves to give or, more often than not, the part we have to give is not wanted. And so it is those we live with and should know who elude us. But we can still love them - we can love completely without complete understanding." Tuesday, July 24th 9:30 P.M. MST.  

Salt of the Earth - Based on the strike of 1951 in the small town of Grant County, New Mexico that is set in the fictional town of Zinc Town, New Mexico. The men strike and then are given an ultimatum from the company that if they strike they will lose their jobs, so the women strike for their husbands. It's a great story about standing up for your family, being a woman and trying to be seen as a human. Wednesday, July 25th 11:30 A.M. MST. 

Swing Shift - Goldie Hawn is a World War II wife that works in an armament factory while her husband is away in the war. She falls in love with another man and has a tumultuous affair and starts a friendship with her neighbor that her husband disapproves of, and becomes the shift leader of her section at the factory. It's a film about the realities of love and war. Wednesday, July 25th 2:30 P.M. MST. 

Tamango - Dorothy Dandridge stars as a slave that is mistress to the captain of a ship transporting slaves to Cuba from Africa. During the voyage a rebellious young slave named Tamango starts a revolt and is able to take over the ship. This movie was banned in the U.S. for breaking the Hays Code because of the interracial love scenes between Dandridge and her co-star Curd Jurgens. 

The Thomas Crown Affair- Starting with The Thomas Crown Affair the evening starts off with Steve McQueen films as he is TCM's Star of the Month. Followed by The Getaway, Papillion, and An Enemy of the People. The Getaway is my favorite with Steve McQueen and Ali MacGraw as a couple on the lam after a bank robbery gone wrong. Thursday, July 26th 6:00 P.M. MST. 

The Great Santini - I can remember watching this movie on a Saturday afternoon with my dad in his workshop and I remember being in awe of Robert Duvall's character in this movie. Duvall plays a hard as nails Marine pilot that runs his family like the Marines, unfortunately his son is a little sensitive and an underdog at school, making quick friends with a young black man named Toomer. It's a great story about dealing with life as a soldier with no war. Friday, July 27th 8:00 P.M. MST. 

The Prince of Tides - A man falls in love and has an affair with his suicidal sister's psychologist. This movie is so sad, especially the past of Nick Nolte and his character's sister, it's so sad that what happened to them when they were children by a sadistic group of men tore their lives apart. It's shot beautifully and Nolte and Streisand play off each other very well. Friday, July 27th 10:15 P.M. 

It All Came Together - A gangster uses a homey boarding house as a hideout and gets to know the residences. It's a sweet comedy with Bogart cracking                                                                               jokes and helping old ladies. Saturday, July 28th 4:15                                                                             P.M. MST.                                               .