TCM Schedule for Thursday, April 7 -- TCM Guest Programmer - Chita Rivera

[Staph]

Happy birthday to James Garner, born on this day in 1928, in Norman, Oklahoma. We have a selection of his films from the 1960s during the day, and film recommendations from Chita Rivera for primetime. Enjoy!



6:30 AM -- Boys' Night Out (1962)
A psychology student researches infidelity by becoming a platonic kept woman for four buddies.
Cast: James Garner, Kim Novak, Tony Randall.
Dir: Michael Gordon.
C-113 min, TV-PG

Early in his career, Garner appeared as one of the judges in "The Caine Mutiny Court Martial" on Broadway. He said his part consisted mostly of listening to the other actors, and he said it was a great lesson. He feels listening is just as important as speaking as an actor.


8:30 AM -- The Wheeler Dealers (1963)
Texas tycoons try to mix love with finance on a trip to New York.
Cast: James Garner, Lee Remick, Jim Backus.
Dir: Arthur Hiller.
C-106 min, TV-PG

Alan Sues' film debut.


10:15 AM -- The Americanization of Emily (1964)
A British war widow falls for an opportunistic American sailor during World War II.
Cast: James Garner, Julie Andrews, Melvyn Douglas.
Dir: Arthur Hiller.
115 min, TV-14

Nominated for Oscars for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White -- George W. Davis, Hans Peters, Elliot Scott, Henry Grace and Robert R. Benton, and Best Cinematography, Black-and-White -- Philip H. Lathrop

The D-Day landing scenes were filmed on Mandalay Beach in Oxnard, California. In the behind-the-scenes documentary "Action on the Beach" (1964), the Mandalay power generating station, then operated by Southern California Edison can be seen in several shots. The plant, still operating in 2010, opened in 1959.


12:15 PM -- Private Screenings: James Garner (2001)
James Garner appears with Robert Osborne to discuss his extensive film career.
Cast: James Garner, Robert Osborne.
C-54 min, TV-G , CC

When Garner entered Hollywood High School at the time his gym teacher recommended him for his modeling job: "I made 25 bucks an hour! That's why I quit school. I was making more money than the teachers. I never finished the ninth grade."


1:15 PM -- 36 Hours (1965)
Nazis kidnap a key American intelligence officer and try to convince him that World War II is over.
Cast: James Garner, Rod Taylor, Eva Marie Saint.
Dir: George Seaton.
115 min, TV-PG , CC

Remade as Breaking Point (1989), starring Corbin Bernsen.


3:15 PM -- Grand Prix (1966)
Auto racers find danger and romance at the legendary European road race.
Cast: James Garner, Eva Marie Saint, Yves Montand.
Dir: John Frankenheimer.
C-176 min, TV-14 , CC

Won Oscars for Best Effects, Sound Effects -- Gordon Daniel, Best Film Editing -- Fredric Steinkamp, Henry Berman, Stu Linder and Frank Santillo, and Best Sound -- Franklin Milton (MGM SSD)

Crowds can be difficult to manage simply because of the effort needed to maintain their concentration. During the filming of Grand Prix (1966) there was a scene where a flaming car is driven into the pits. It was about 4 o'clock in the afternoon and the director, John Frankenheimer, was disgusted by the crowd's lack of reaction to the dramatic action during the rehearsals. They appeared to be more interested in their tea break. Frankenheimer called his special effects man over and told him to 'blow up the tea van' when given the signal. The unit went for a take. The flaming sports car came into the pits. The crowd looked on. The signal was given and the tea truck exploded. The crowd reacted and Frankenheimer got his shot' This is an extreme example of how to direct crowds. (from "Production Management for Film and Video" by Richard Gates)


6:15 PM -- Mister Buddwing (1966)
A man suffering from amnesia confronts a series of women in his search for his memory.
Cast: James Garner, Jean Simmons, Angela Lansbury.
Dir: Delbert Mann.
99 min, TV-14

Nominated for Oscars for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White -- George W. Davis, Paul Groesse, Henry Grace and Hugh Hunt, and Best Costume Design, Black-and-White -- Helen Rose

Based on the novel by Evan Hunter, who also writes under the names Ed McBain, Curt Cannon, Hunt Collins and Richard Marsten.



WHAT'S ON TONIGHT: TCM GUEST PROGRAMMER: CHITA RIVERA



8:00 PM -- The Uninvited (1944)
A brother and sister buy a house with a ghostly secret.
Cast: Ray Milland, Ruth Hussey, Donald Crisp.
Dir: Lewis Allen.
99 min, TV-PG

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Cinematography, Black-and-White -- Charles Lang

The song "Stella By Starlight" was written specifically for this movie and is featured several times. In the movie Roderick Fitzgerald (Ray Milland) "writes" it for Stella Meredith (Gail Russell).


10:00 PM -- Frankenstein (1931)
A crazed scientist creates a living being from body parts, not realizing it has a madman's brain.
Cast: Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, Mae Clarke.
Dir: James Whale.
70 min, TV-PG

During production there was some concern that seven-year-old Marilyn Harris, who played Maria, the little girl thrown into the lake by the creature, would be overly frightened by the sight of Boris Karloff in costume and make-up when it came time to shoot the scene. When the cast was assembled to travel to the location, Marilyn ran from her car directly up to Karloff, who was in full make-up and costume, took his hand and asked "May I drive with you?" Delighted, and in typical Karloff fashion, he responded, "Would you, darling?" She then rode to the location with "The Monster.".


11:21 PM -- Ancient India (1952)
This travel short provides an insight into the ancient world of India, including its origins, customs, lifestyle and architecture. Specifically explored are the ancient cities of Bundi and Jaipur in the Northwest corner of the country. Visits to the palatial estates of the maharajas of these two cities are also included.
Cast: James A. Fitzpatrick
C-9 min


11:30 PM -- The Jungle Book (1942)
A boy raised by wolves adjusts to life among humans.
Cast: Sabu, Joseph Calleia, Rosemary De Camp.
Dir: Zoltan Korda.
C-102 min, TV-G

Nominated for Oscars for Best Art Direction-Interior Decoration, Color -- Vincent Korda and Julia Heron, Best Cinematography, Color -- W. Howard Greene, Best Effects, Special Effects --- Lawrence W. Butler (photographic) and William A. Wilmarth (sound), and Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture -- Miklós Rózsa

The Jungle Book (1942) was the first film for which original soundtrack recordings were issued. Previously, when record companies released music from a film, they had insisted on re-recording the music in their own studios with their own equipment. The "Jungle Book" records were taken from the same recordings used for the film's soundtrack, and their commercial success paved the way for more original-soundtrack albums.


1:30 AM -- Wuthering Heights (1939)
A married noblewoman fights her lifelong attraction to a charismatic gypsy.
Cast: Laurence Olivier, Merle Oberon, Geraldine Fitzgerald.
Dir: William Wyler.
104 min, TV-PG

Won an Oscar for Best Cinematography, Black-and-White -- Gregg Toland

Nominated for Oscars for Best Actor in a Leading Role -- Laurence Olivier, Best Actress in a Supporting Role -- Geraldine Fitzgerald, Best Art Direction -- James Basevi, Best Director -- William Wyler, Best Music, Original Score -- Alfred Newman, Best Writing, Screenplay -- Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, and Best Picture

Laurence Olivier found himself becoming increasingly annoyed with William Wyler's exhausting style of film-making. After yet another take, he is said to have exclaimed, "For God's sake, I did it sitting down. I did it with a smile. I did it with a smirk. I did it scratching my ear. I did it with my back to the camera. How do you want me to do it?" Wyler's retort was, "I want it better."


3:20 AM -- Touring Northern England (1950)
In this "Traveltalk," we learn about the history, culture, and people of Northern England.
Cast: James A. Fitzpatrick
C-9 min

Filmed in Hawkshead and Lake Windermere, Cumbria, in Morecambe Bay, Lancashire, and in York, North Yorkshire.


3:30 AM -- That Hamilton Woman (1941)
Naval hero Lord Nelson defies convention to court a married woman of common birth.
Cast: Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier, Sara Allgood.
Dir: Alexander Korda.
125 min, TV-G

Won an Oscar for Best Sound, Recording -- Jack Whitney (General Service SSD)

Nominated for Oscars for Best Art Direction-Interior Decoration, Black-and-White -- Vincent Korda and Julia Heron, Best Cinematography, Black-and-White -- Rudolph Maté, and Best Effects, Special Effects -- Lawrence W. Butler (photographic) and William A. Wilmarth (sound)

One of Winston Churchill's hobbies was writing for movies as ghost writer. He wrote two of Nelson's speeches, as propaganda pieces against Germany, which was invading Europe at the time the movie was filmed and released.


5:36 AM -- Nostradamus And The Queen (1953)
An old Catherine de Medici reflects back on how the prophecies of Nostradamus accurately predicted the fates of her husband, her three sons and herself.
Cast: Grandon Rhodes, Maria Palmer.
11 min