TCM Schedule for Saturday, August 16 --- FRED ASTAIRE

[lavenderdiva]

16 Saturday



5:00 AM Flying Down To Rio (1933)
A dance-band leader finds love and success in Brazil. Cast: Dolores Del Rio, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers. Dir: Thornton Freeland. BW-90 mins, TV-G, CC

6:30 AM Broadway Melody Of 1940 (1940)
A vaudeville team breaks up when both men fall for the same gorgeous hoofer. Cast: Fred Astaire, Eleanor Powell, George Murphy. Dir: Norman Taurog. BW-102 mins, TV-G, CC

8:15 AM The Fred Astaire Songbook (1991)
A loving tribute to Astaire the singer. Dir: Carol Burnett, David Heeley. C-64 mins, TV-G

9:30 AM Easter Parade (1948)
When his partner leaves him, a vaudeville star trains an untried performer to take her place, finding love in the process. Cast: Fred Astaire, Judy Garland, Ann Miller. Dir: Charles Walters. C-103 mins, TV-G, CC, DVS

11:14 AM Short Film: World Famous Musical Hits (2000)
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,

11:30 AM Silk Stockings (1957)
A straitlaced Soviet agent is seduced by Paris and a high-stepping film producer. Cast: Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Janis Paige. Dir: Rouben Mamoulian. C-118 mins, TV-G, CC, Letterbox Format

1:30 PM The Barkleys Of Broadway (1949)
A married musical team splits up so the wife can become a serious actress. Cast: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Oscar Levant. Dir: Charles Walters. C-109 mins, TV-G, CC

:30 PM Shall We Dance (1937)
A ballet dancer and a showgirl fake a marriage for publicity purposes, then fall in love. Cast: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Edward Everett Horton. Dir: Mark Sandrich. BW-109 mins, TV-G, CC

5:30 PM Carefree (1938)
A psychiatrist falls in love with the woman he's supposed to be nudging into marriage with someone else. Cast: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Ralph Bellamy. Dir: Mark Sandrich. BW-83 mins, TV-G, CC

What's On Tonight: THE ESSENTIALS: FRED ASTAIRE

7:00 PM Swing Time (1936)
To prove himself worthy of his fiancee, a dancer tries to make it big, only to fall for his dancing partner. Cast: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Victor Moore. Dir: George Stevens. BW-104 mins, TV-G, CC, DVS

9:00 PM Top Hat (1935)
A woman thinks the man who loves her is her best friend's husband. Cast: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Edward Everett Horton. Dir: Mark Sandrich. BW-100 mins, TV-G, CC, DVS

11:00 PM Roberta (1935)
A football player inherits a chic Paris fashion house. Cast: Irene Dunne, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers. Dir: William A. Seiter. BW-106 mins, TV-G, CC

1:00 AM Follow The Fleet (1936)
Two sailors on leave romance a dance-hall hostess and her prim sister. Cast: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Randolph Scott. Dir: Mark Sandrich. BW-110 mins, TV-G, CC

3:00 AM The Gay Divorcee (1934)
An unhappily married woman mistakes a suitor for the gigolo hired to end her marriage. Cast: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Edward Everett Horton. Dir: Mark Sandrich. BW-105 mins, TV-G, CC

4:52 AM Short Film: Mental Poise (1938)
BW-7 mins,

[Hidden Stillness]

1. I Love Astaire and Rogers; Loved "Top Hat" Last Night

I watched "Top Hat" last night on TCM, and taped "The Gay Divorcee" to play later, maybe after the Olympics. I love these Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers movies, and "Top Hat" was maybe the best. This is very witty, droll writing, a truly great cast (Eric Blore as the English butler and Erik Rhodes as the clueless Italian designer were brilliant, very funny), a fun story and great music, great dialogue and reactions, and the incredible, classy, skilled dancing of Astaire and Rogers. The thing to remember is that these are all completely tongue-in-cheek movies, and that if you spot a double-entendre, or something that was actually very close to censorable then, it was probably deliberate. This was a great movie, and I loved seeing/hearing it again. By the way, Fred Astaire was a great liberal and feminist, and I remember an appearance on the Dinah Shore show during the '70s where Astaire talked about voting for a woman for President, and said that it would be even better, if the world were run by women, etc. I was so happy and excited to hear it; Astaire was always wonderful, and always gave sister Adele credit as a great dancer, too.

[Ekirh]

2. I DVRED Gay Divorcee and finally watched it today.

Although the plot is nothing to write home about. Clearly the plot isn't what matters in this fun affair. I'm ashamed to admit I haven't watched nearly enough Fred Astaire than I should . . . and the Gay Divorcee was truly wonder. Great musical numbers... and the dancing.. oh my the dancing. Fred Astaire is just a joy to watch.

I know you taped Gay Divorcee, so trust me when you finally get around to sit down and watch it.. it'll be great!