TCM Schedule for Saturday, April 12, 2014 -- The Essentials - Marilyn Monroe

[Staph]

Tonight's edition of The Essentials celebrates Norma Jean Mortenson, aka Marilyn Monroe. She had a tragic and complicated life, but, in the right role, she could act. Enjoy!



6:00 AM -- Rosalie (1937)
A West Point cadet falls for a European princess.
Dir: W. S. Van Dyke II
Cast: Nelson Eddy, Eleanor Powell, Frank Morgan
BW-124 mins, CC,

Adapted from a Broadway show produced by Florenz Ziegfeld Jr.. The original stage production of "Rosalie" opened Jan. 10, 1928 at the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York and ran for 335 performances. The book was by William Anthony McGuire and Guy Bolton. Despite its moderate success and powerhouse composers (music by George Gershwin and Sigmund Romberg, lyrics by Ira Gershwin and P.G. Wodehouse), MGM decided to have Cole Porter write an entirely new score for the film. Max Steiner also worked on the original Broadway production as an orchestrator; Steiner went on to compose the music for some of Hollywood's most popular films, including King Kong (1933), Gone with the Wind (1939) and Casablanca (1942). Marilyn Miller starred in the stage version of "Rosalie", and Frank Morgan, best known to modern audiences as the title role in The Wizard of Oz (1939), played the role of the king in the stage version as well as in this film.


8:15 AM -- California Suite (1978)
Four sets of guests at a posh hotel face personal crises.
Dir: Herbert Ross
Cast: Alan Alda, Michael Caine, Bill Cosby
C-103 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Won an Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role -- Maggie Smith

Nominated for Oscars for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium -- Neil Simon, and Best Art Direction-Set Decoration -- Albert Brenner and Marvin March

Diana Barrie (Maggie Smith) says that she wishes David Niven could accept her Oscar for her because he would be witty and charming. In the play on which the movie is based, she says Michael Caine, but it was changed when Caine was cast as her husband.


10:15 AM -- Carson on TCM: Michael Caine (9/21/83) (2013)
TCM presents an interview from The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson, with Michael Caine from 9/21/83.
C-10 mins, CC,


10:30 AM -- Mexican Spitfire Out West (1940)
To punish her inattentive husband, a Latin bombshell pretends to want a divorce
Dir: Leslie Goodwins
Cast: Lupe Velez, Leon Errol, Donald Woods
BW-76 mins,

Third of the eight Mexican Spitfire films.


11:45 AM -- MGM: When the Lion Roars, Part II: The Lion Reigns Supreme (1992)
Patrick Stewart takes viewers through the history of Hollywood's greatest film studio at its height during the thirties and early forties. Featuring interviews with Katharine Hepburn and Joan Crawford.
Dir: Frank Martin
Cast: Patrick Stewart, Kirk Kerkorian, R E Turner (Ted)
C-121 mins, CC,


2:00 PM -- The Paper Chase (1973)
A law student discovers that his girlfriend is the daughter of his toughest professor.
Dir: James Bridges
Cast: John Houseman, Timothy Bottoms, Lindsay Wagner
C-111 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Won an Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role -- John Houseman

Nominated for Oscars for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium -- James Bridges, and Best Sound -- Donald O. Mitchell and Larry Jost

John Houseman was cast as Professor Kingsfield only after director James Bridges tried and failed to interest James Mason, Edward G. Robinson, Melvyn Douglas, Sir John Gielgud, and Paul Scofield. Although Houseman had appeared in a small but important role in Seven Days in May (1964), he had previously been known primarily as a radio (The Mercury Theatre of the Air; 1938's 'The War of the Worlds'), stage (Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre) and film (Julius Caesar (1953)) producer, and this was his first major film role. It won him the 1973 Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor.


4:00 PM -- The Courtship Of Andy Hardy (1942)
A teenager dates a girl whose parents' divorce is being decided by his father.
Dir: George B. Seitz
Cast: Lewis Stone, Mickey Rooney, Cecilia Parker
BW-95 mins, CC,

The twelfth of sixteen Andy Hardy films starring Mickey Rooney. And for your information, TCM is doing a full day tribute to Mickey Rooney on Sunday, April 13.


5:45 PM -- The Bad Seed (1956)
A woman suspects that her perfect little girl is a ruthless killer.
Dir: Mervyn LeRoy
Cast: Gage Clarke, Jesse White, Joan Croyden
C-129 mins, CC,

Nominated for Oscars for Best Actress in a Leading Role -- Nancy Kelly, Best Actress in a Supporting Role -- Eileen Heckart, Best Actress in a Supporting Role -- Patty McCormack, and Best Cinematography, Black-and-White -- Harold Rosson

The book Rhoda claims to have won in Sunday School, "Elsie Dinsmore," was a story with religious themes about a pious 8-year-old who, in sharp contrast to Rhoda, was obedient to her elders to an alarming point, even enduring verbal abuse from a nasty parent. It was written by Martha Finley in 1867.



TCM PRIMETIME - WHAT'S ON TONIGHT: THE ESSENTIALS: MARILYN MONROE



8:00 PM -- How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)
Three models pool their resources to rent a posh penthouse in hopes of snaring rich husbands.
Dir: Jean Negulesco
Cast: Betty Grable, Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall
C-96 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Costume Design, Color -- Charles Le Maire and Travilla

Hollywood legend has it that Marilyn Monroe, then rocketing to major stardom, was befriended during filming by Betty Grable, who offered Marilyn this encouragement: "Honey, I've had mine. Go get yours."


9:45 PM -- The Misfits (1961)
A sensitive divorcee gets mixed up with modern cowboys roping mustangs in the desert.
Dir: John Huston
Cast: Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, Montgomery Clift
BW-125 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

On the last day of filming, Clark Gable said regarding Marilyn Monroe, "Christ, I'm glad this picture's finished. She damn near gave me a heart attack." On the next day, Gable suffered a severe coronary thrombosis. He died in hospital from a heart attack just ten days later. This was also the last film for Marilyn Monroe. She died of an alleged drug overdose over one year later. (Note: While Something's Got to Give (1962) is listed as her last film, it was never completed because she was fired.)


12:15 AM -- Bus Stop (1956)
An innocent cowboy kidnaps a small-time singer with whom he's infatuated.
Dir: Joshua Logan
Cast: Marilyn Monroe, Don Murray, Arthur O'Connell
C-94 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role -- Don Murray

The role of Bo Decker (played by Don Murray) was intended for Fess Parker, but Parker was under contract to Walt Disney at the time, who wouldn't release him. Parker also didn't get the role eventually played by Jeffrey Hunter in The Searchers (1956) for the same reason and it was many years before he was even aware of it.


2:00 AM -- Disco Godfather (1979)
A retired cop becomes a disco king when he switches careers and becomes a DJ.
Dir: J Robert Wagoner
C-98 mins,

The movie is one of a number of disco movies made during the late 1970s / early 1980s that also feature rollerskating / roller discos. Other such movies included Roller Boogie (1979), Skatetown, U.S.A. (1979), Xanadu (1980), and Can't Stop the Music (1980) as well as the made in the 2000s but set in the 70s, Roll Bounce (2005).


3:45 AM -- Shaft (1971)
A slick black detective enlists gangsters and African nationals to fight the mob.
Dir: Gordon Parks
Cast: Richard Roundtree, Moses Gunn, Charles Cioffi
C-100 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Won an Oscar for Best Music, Original Song -- Isaac Hayes for the song "Theme from Shaft".

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Music, Original Dramatic Score -- Isaac Hayes

Isaac Hayes originally auditioned to play the title role. Producers cast Richard Roundtree, but were so impressed with Hayes that they asked him to write the now legendary score to the film.


5:30 AM -- Tear Gas In Law Enforcement (1962)
Vintage training short film used by police to show tear gas techniques.
C-27 mins,