TCM Schedule for Friday, January 30, 2015 -- Friday Night Spotlight - Neil Simon

[Staph]

In daylight, TCM is celebrating Mario Lanza, born Alfred Arnold Cocozza on January 31, 1921, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In prime time, TCM finishes its month of Fridays spotlighting the wit and wisdom of Neil Simon. Enjoy!



6:15 AM -- That Midnight Kiss (1949)
A singing truck driver battles snobbery to become a star.
Dir: Norman Taurog
Cast: Kathryn Grayson, José Iturbi, Ethel Barrymore
C-98 mins, CC,

Although this was officially Mario Lanza's film debut, he had previously appeared as an uncredited chorus member in Winged Victory (1944). Like the character he plays in the movie, Lanza was an opera singer from an Italian-American family in Philadelphia.


8:00 AM -- The Toast of New Orleans (1950)
A New Orleans fisherman fights snobbery to become an opera star.
Dir: Norman Taurog
Cast: Kathryn Grayson, Mario Lanza, David Niven
C-97 mins, CC,

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Music, Original Song -- Nicholas Brodszky (music) and Sammy Cahn (lyrics) for the song "Be My Love"

Although they had previously appeared together in That Midnight Kiss (1949), Kathryn Grayson and Mario Lanza did not get along while making this film. While shooting the love duet scene from "Madame Butterfly," Grayson recalled that Lanza kept trying to French kiss her, which was made even more unpleasant by the fact that he kept eating garlic before shooting. To counter this, Grayson had costume designer Helen Rose sew pieces of brass inside her glove. Each time Lanza attempted to French kiss her, Grayson would smack him in the face with her brass-loaded glove. One of these smacks was included in the movie.


9:38 AM -- Old New Orleans (1940)
This short film gives the viewer a tour of New Orleans, Louisiana.
C-9 mins,


9:52 AM -- Music Made Simple (1938)
In this comedic short, Robert Benchley fills in for a radio station announcer with less than stellar results.
Dir: Roy Rowland
BW-8 mins,


10:00 AM -- The Great Caruso (1951)
The legendary opera singer fights to win his place in society.
Dir: Richard Thorpe
Cast: Mario Lanza, Ann Blyth, Dorothy Kirsten
C-109 mins, CC,

Won an Oscar for Best Sound, Recording -- Douglas Shearer (M-G-M)

Nominated for Oscars for Best Costume Design, Color -- Helen Rose and Gile Steele, and Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture -- Peter Herman Adler and Johnny Green

This was the next-to-last completed MGM film under Louis B. Mayer's supervision (the last was Show Boat (1951), released in the summer of that year). A proxy fight soon after would see him removed as the head of the studio he helped to found. He was replaced by his former chief of production, Dore Schary. Mayer ran MGM for 27 years, Schary for barely 6.


11:51 AM -- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer'S World Famous Musical Hits! (1962)
A short promotional reel showcasing six MGM musicals: "Three Little Words," "Because You're Mine," "Till The Clouds Roll By," "The Band Wagon," "Words and Music," and "Singing In The Rain."
C-9 mins,


12:00 PM -- Because You're Mine (1952)
After being drafted, an opera star falls for his sergeant's sister.
Dir: Alexander Hall
Cast: Mario Lanza, Doretta Morrow, James Whitmore
C-103 mins, CC,

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Music, Original Song -- Nicholas Brodszky (music) and Sammy Cahn (lyrics) for the song "Because You're Mine"

The older woman who asks for Renaldo's autograph is played by Mario Lanza's real-life mother; the unspeaking man with her is Mario's father.


1:45 PM -- Serenade (1956)
A rising opera star is torn between his wealthy benefactor and a poor innocent.
Dir: Anthony Mann
Cast: Mario Lanza, Joan Fontaine, Sarita Montiel
C-121 mins, CC,

Warner Brothers bought the screen rights to James M. Cain's novel in February 1944 and over the next 10 years various people were associated with it. At one point Ann Sheridan and Dennis Morgan were set to co star and later Michael Curtiz was set to direct.


3:56 PM -- Mario Lanza And The Boy Choir Singing "Ave Maria" From The Great Caruso (1951)
Mario Lanza and a choir of boys sing "Ave Marie" in this short clip taken from "The Great Caruso" (1951).
C-3 mins,


4:00 PM -- The Seven Hills Of Rome (1957)
A television star finds love while trying to get away from it all in Rome.
Dir: Roy Rowland
Cast: Mario Lanza, Renato Rascel, Marisa Allasio
C-104 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

The original title was Arrivederci Roma.


6:00 PM -- For The First Time (1959)
While vacationing in disguise, an opera star falls in love with a deaf girl.
Dir: Rudolph Maté
Cast: Mario Lanza, Johanna von Koczian, Kurt Krasznar
C-97 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Filmed on the Isle of Capri, Italy.


7:43 PM -- Stopover In Hollywood (1963)
This short film takes the viewer to various landmarks and attractions in Hollywood, CA.
Dir: Will Williams
Cast: Tony Winhall, Lori Lyons,
C-16 mins,



TCM PRIMETIME - WHAT'S ON TONIGHT: FRIDAY NIGHT SPOTLIGHT: NEIL SIMON



8:00 PM -- The Heartbreak Kid (1972)
A newlywed falls in love with the perfect woman during the honeymoon from Hell.
Dir: Elaine May
Cast: Charles Grodin, Cybill Shepherd, Jeannie Berlin
C-106 mins, CC,

Nominated for Oscars for Best Actor in a Supporting Role -- Eddie Albert, and Best Actress in a Supporting Role -- Jeannie Berlin

The film is rare in the Neil Simon canon in that it is not based on one of his plays nor is it from an original screenplay by him but being an adaptation of another writer's work.


10:00 PM -- The Prisoner of Second Avenue (1974)
A suddenly unemployed executive and his understanding wife must adapt to their new life.
Dir: Melvin Frank
Cast: Jack Lemmon, Elizabeth Wilson, Anne Bancroft
BW-98 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Cameos: Sylvester Stallone: As a youth in Grand Central Park. The film was one of Stallone's very early roles.
M. Emmet Walsh: As a doorman.
F. Murray Abraham: As a New York taxi driver. Of the two films that Abraham appeared in in 1975, both were works by Neil Simon, the other was The Sunshine Boys.


11:49 PM -- R.F.D. Greenwich Village (1969)
A couple tours around New York in this promotional short for corduroy clothing.
C-11 mins,


12:00 AM -- Sweet Charity (1969)
A taxi dancer's faith in love leads her to one bad match after another.
Dir: Bob Fosse
Cast: Shirley MacLaine, Sammy Davis Jr., Ricardo Montalban
C-148 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Nominated for Oscars for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration -- Alexander Golitzen, George C. Webb and Jack D. Moore, Best Costume Design -- Edith Head, and Best Music, Score of a Musical Picture (Original or Adaptation) -- Cy Coleman

Shirley MacLaine, Chita Rivera and Paula Kelly became very close during the filming. Shirley MacLaine wrote that when they danced together, it was like being between two disciplined and well-oiled steam rollers.


2:45 AM -- Sol Madrid (1968)
An undercover narcotics agent tries to track a Mafia chief.
Dir: Brian G. Hutton
Cast: David McCallum, Stella Stevens, Telly Savalas
C-90 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Based on the novel Fruit of the Poppy by Robert Wilder.


4:21 AM -- On The Shores Of Nova Scotia (1947)
This short film focuses on the history, land, and people of Nova Scotia.
C-8 mins,


4:30 AM -- They Made Me a Fugitive (1947)
After being framed for a policeman's murder, a criminal escapes prison and sets out for revenge.
Dir: Alberto Cavalcanti
Cast: Sally Gray, Trevor Howard, Griffith Jones
BW-101 mins, CC,

Trevor Howard was cast at very short notice after the actor first cast dropped out.

[catbyte]

1. Awesome! I haven't seen "The Prisoner of Second Avenue" in years. Lemmon &

Bancroft are hilarious. Time to fire up the DVR.

[Staph]

2. I hate to admit

that I've never seen that one, though I love Simon and Lemmon and Bancroft (especially when she does comedy).

[catbyte]

3. Oh, you're in for a treat!

If you can't watch it, tape it. I'm going to do both.