August is always a stellar month for cable-subscribing classic film fans, because it marks TCM’s annual Summer Under the Stars programming. It is the month that we all become hermits and forget what trees, birds or flowers look like… because we’re glued to our televisions and don’t see any of these things for 31 days.
If you’re unfamiliar with this tradition, one star is selected for each day of the month of August, and TCM features flicks from that person’s filmography ALL. DAY. LONG. It is a beautiful tradition — a great way to discover new favorite performers, catch up on some films you’ve never seen from a long-standing favorite, or just re-watch a ton of great movies.
I don’t think any tears were shed when I ditched TMP’s What to Watch series of weekly TCM recommendations earlier this year, but I’m bringing it back for Summer Under the Stars. Every Wednesday for the next four weeks I’ll be offering up my top picks for what to watch during each day of SUTS, as well as a short list of new-to-me films that I hope to watch.
All times are listed in Eastern, are subject to change, and are sourced from the U.S. TCM schedule.
August 1: Jane Fonda
- 9:45 am – Walk on the Wild Side (1962)
- 9:15 pm – Cat Ballou (1965)
I’ll be tuning in for:
Tall Story (1960 – 6:00 am)
Period of Adjustment (1962 – 7:45 am)
The Chapman Report (1962 – 1:15 pm)
August 2: David Niven
- 6:00 pm – Please Don’t Eat the Daisies (1960)
- 1:15 am – The Guns of Navarone (1961)
I’ll be tuning in for:
Dodsworth (1936 – 6:00 am)
August 3: Walter Pidgeon
- 5:15 pm – Funny Girl (1968)
- 8:00 pm – How Green Was My Valley (1941)
- 12:30 am – Forbidden Planet (1956)
I’ll be tuning in for:
6000 Enemies (1939 – 9:00 am)
Scandal at Scourie (1953 – 3:30 pm)
August 4: Judy Garland
- 10:00 am – Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
- 12:00 pm – The Pirate (1948)
- 10:15 pm – The Clock (1945)
- 12:00 am – A Star is Born (1954)
I’ll be tuning in for:
A rewatch of The Clock
Gay Pur-ee (1962 – 4:30 am)
August 5: Barbara Stanwyck
- 7:30 am – Stella Dallas (1937)
- 9:30 am – Breakfast for Two (1937)
- 8:00 pm – Ball of Fire (1942)
- 10:00 pm – Night Nurse (1931)
I’ll be tuning in for:
The Gay Sisters (1942 – 10:45 am)
Cry Wolf (1947 – 4:15 pm)
August 6: Paul Muni
- 8:00 pm – I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)
- 9:30 pm – Scarface (1932)
- 4:00 am – The Life of Emile Zola (1937)
I’ll be tuning in for:
Hi, Nellie! (1934 – 7:45 am)
Black Fury (1935 – 11:15 pm)
August 7: James Stewart
- 6:00 am – Wife vs. Secretary (1936)
- 9:30 am – Vivacious Lady (1938)
I’ll be tuning in for:
No Time for Comedy (1940 – 11:15 am)
Of Human Hearts (1938 – 2:00 am)
Eek! I can’t wait until August 1st!! Tomorrow!! TOMORROW!!
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So exciting!
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Hey, I shed a few tears when WTW disappeared! What’s even more sad is, I had daily access to TCM over the past few months, and now…I don’t. Then again, I would’ve never left my couch for the next thirty days, so maybe it’s a good thing.
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Bummer! I wish TCM would open up their streaming service to people who don’t subscribe to cable, so you could watch that way. Lots of good stuff playing in August.
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