TCM Schedule for Thursday, August 6, 2015 -- Summer Under The Stars - Michael Caine

[Staph]

In today's edition of Summer Under The Stars, the star is Michael Caine, born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite on March 14, 1933, in Rotherhithe, London, UK. He has won two Oscars, for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) and The Cider House Rules (1999), and was nominated for four more as Best Actor in a Leading Role, for Alfie (1966), Sleuth (1972), Educating Rita (1983), and The Quiet American (2002). Enjoy!


6:00 AM -- Beyond the Poseidon Adventure (1979)
Rival salvage parties enter an upside down ocean liner in search of treasure.
Dir: Irwin Allen
Cast: Michael Caine, Sally Field, Telly Savalas
C-114 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Burt Reynolds was Irwin Allen's first choice to play the part later taken by Michael Caine. Reynolds passed on the project after reading the script. Clint Eastwood also turned it down.


8:05 AM -- We Never Sleep (1956)
This short film highlights the work of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, the U.S.A.'s oldest private detective company.
Dir: Larry O'Reilly
BW-8 mins,


8:15 AM -- Hell in Korea (1956)
A small platoon fights to keep control of a small hill during the Korean war.
Dir: Julian Amyes
Cast: George Baker, Harry Andrews, Stanley Baker
BW-82 mins, CC,

Back in the summer of 1955 the British Production Crew of "Hell in Korea" under director Julian Aymes, was on location on the mountain of Montejunto, in Portugal. Portugal was chosen as the facsimile location to Korea, due to it's geographical similarities, even though Michael Caine who served as technical consultant and actor on the production, begged to differ. Michael Caine was actually a veteran of the Korean War.


9:45 AM -- Billion Dollar Brain (1967)
A retired spy gets mixed up with plans to overthrow Communism using a new supercomputer.
Dir: Ken Russell
Cast: Michael Caine, Karl Malden, Ed Begley
C-108 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

This was the third Harry Palmer film, after The Ipcress File (1965) and Funeral in Berlin (1966). Michael Caine had originally signed a five-picture deal, but when he was reluctant to return to the role, producer Harry Saltzman let him out of the contract. Much later, though, he did make two more Harry Palmer films: Bullet to Beijing (1995) and Midnight in Saint Petersburg (1996).


11:45 AM -- Pulp (1972)
A pulp fiction novelist fights to survive an assignment to ghost write a controversial star's memoirs.
Dir: Mike Hodges
Cast: Michael Caine, Mickey Rooney, Lionel Stander
C-95 mins, Letterbox Format

The original title was "Memoirs of a Ghostwriter".


1:30 PM -- The Wilby Conspiracy (1975)
An African activist and an Englishman join forces to battle a corrupt government official in South Africa.
Dir: Ralph Nelson
Cast: Sidney Poitier, Michael Caine, Nicol Williamson
C-106 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Actors Sidney Poitier and Michael Caine were almost seriously injured during principal photography of a chase scene when a 50 pound camera flew in between them into the front seating of a jeep that Poitier was driving fast. Michael Caine later commented: "It went like a massive bullet, and if it had hit either of us, our head would have been crushed to pulp. Sidney and I took several days to get over the shock of our near deaths, and this incident brought us both down to earth with rather more than a bump."


3:30 PM -- The Man Who Would Be King (1975)
Two con artists set out to take over a remote Asian land with a priceless golden treasure.
Dir: John Huston
Cast: Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Christopher Plummer
BW-129 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Nominated for Oscars for Best Writing, Screenplay Adapted From Other Material -- John Huston and Gladys Hill, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration -- Alexandre Trauner, Tony Inglis and Peter James, Best Costume Design -- Edith Head, and Best Film Editing -- Russell Lloyd

John Huston tried to launch the film version of "The Man Who Would Be King" many times before completing it . It was originally conceived as a vehicle for Clark Gable and Humphrey Bogart in the fifties, and later as a vehicle for Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas. When it was considered as a vehicle for Robert Redford and Paul Newman, Newman suggested Sean Connery and Michael Caine.


5:45 PM -- Deathtrap (1982)
A blocked playwright plots to kill a beginner and steal his script.
Dir: Sidney Lumet
Cast: Michael Caine, Christopher Reeve, Dyan Cannon
C-116 mins, CC,

Michael Caine once said of this movie: "We all swore an oath in blood - well, perhaps it was chablis - not to spoil the fun by running off at the mouth. This thing has more twists than the Grand Corniche. And there is nothing worse than seeing a mystery after some twit has told you the butler did it. That's hypothetical, of course. There's no butler in Deathtrap. We're very democratic that way."


7:45 PM -- 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,



TCM PRIMETIME - WHAT'S ON TONIGHT: SUMMER UNDER THE STARS: MICHAEL CAINE



8:00 PM -- Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
Three sisters deal with their tangled relationships amidst the wonders of New York City.
Dir: Woody Allen
Cast: Woody Allen, Michael Caine, Moses Farrow
C-107 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Won Oscars for Best Actor in a Supporting Role -- Michael Caine (Michael Caine could not attend the awards ceremony because he was busy filming for Jaws: The Revenge (1987). Co-Presenter Sigourney Weaver accepted the award on his behalf.), Best Actress in a Supporting Role -- Dianne Wiest, and Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen -- Woody Allen (Woody Allen was not present at the awards ceremony. Presenter Shirley MacLaine accepted the award on his behalf.)

Nominated for Oscars for Best Director -- Woody Allen, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration -- Stuart Wurtzel and Carol Joffe, Best Film Editing -- Susan E. Morse, and Best Picture

Many of Hannah's scenes were filmed in Mia Farrow's own apartment. Woody Allen said that Farrow once had the eerie experience of turning on the TV, finding a chance broadcast of the movie, and seeing her own apartment on TV while she was sitting in her apartment.


10:00 PM -- The Ipcress File (1965)
Secret agent Harry Palmer fights to survive brainwashing when a traitor hands him over to the enemy.
Dir: Sidney J. Furie
Cast: Michael Caine, Nigel Green, Guy Doleman
C-107 mins, Letterbox Format

Harry's glasses frames were dark brown, contrary to the widely held view that they were black. They were a style called "Teviot 74" manufactured by a company called UK Optical. They were already popular at the time for being a stylish and inexpensive alternative to the standard models that were issued for free by the National Health Service in Britain. They became even more popular after the success of this film. Len Deighton wore the same frames at this time. Those frames have been described by some as the first affordable "designer" frames available in the UK.


12:00 AM -- Get Carter (1971)
A small-time gangster searches for the truth behind his brother's death.
Dir: Mike Hodges
Cast: Michael Caine, Ian Hendry, Britt Ekland
C-112 mins, CC,

Mike Hodges described Michael Caine as "a complete dream to work with". Caine only lost his temper once on set, during the very tense and emotional day filming in Glenda's flat, when the focus puller ruined his first take. Caine apologised immediately.


2:00 AM -- The Romantic Englishwoman (1975)
A blocked novelist tries to use his wife's search for romance as inspiration.
Dir: Joseph Losey
Cast: Glenda Jackson, Michael Caine, Helmut Berger
C-112 mins,

Dirk Bogarde turned down the role of Lewis Fielding, Michael Caine's role.


4:00 AM -- The Swarm (1978)
Killer bees extend their territory into the U.S., with devastating effect.
Dir: Irwin Allen
Cast: Michael Caine, Katharine Ross, Richard Widmark
C-116 mins, CC,

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Costume Design -- Paul Zastupnevich

One of actor Michael Caine's notorious "paycheck pictures" alongside Ashanti (1979), The Island (2005), Jaws: The Revenge (1987), Blame It on Rio (1984) and Beyond the Poseidon Adventure (1979).