TMP Recommends: Five Films on TCM, January 21 – 27

A note from Lindsey: This is the first in the new revival “What to Watch” series, which I’ve renamed to “TMP Recommends: Five Films on TCM” since it won’t be following the same format as the old posts. Each week I’ll be highlighting five films that are going to be screening on TCM, with a brief synopsis and a note of where else you can watch them. Films will be listed in chronological order by air date, not order of preference. Hope you enjoy this revitalized series!

The Cabin in the Cotton (1932)
Airing on TCM: January 21, 8:45 am EST
The Cabin in the Cotton follows Marvin, the son of a sharecropper. When Marvin begins working for the plantation owner, he realizes that part of his job is to help the man cheat the farmers — a task he’s not very happy to take on. Additionally, Marvin’s life is complicated when he gets caught in a love triangle with his childhood love and the plantation owner’s daughter. This film is worth watching for Bette Davis (who plays the plantation owner’s daughter, Madge), and contains her own favorite piece of dialogue from any of her films: “I’d like to kiss ya, but I just washed my hair!”
Also available on VHS, if you can track down a copy. The film has not been released on DVD and is not available for streaming on Amazon or Netflix.

 

She Done Him Wrong (1933)
Airing on TCM: January 22, 9:30 am EST
She Done Him Wrong stars Mae West as Lady Lou, a sassy saloon singer whose old fling, a jewel thief, demands her loyalty while he’s locked up. But Lou’s not one to be lonely. She falls for Captain Cummings (Cary Grant), a pious and respectable man who is actually an undercover detective. This film is fast-talking pre-code wit at its finest, with a stellar performance by Mae West (and that Grant fella ain’t too shabby, either).
Also available on DVD, on Amazon Instant Video ($2.99 rental), and for delivery from Netflix’s DVD service.

Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980)
Airing on TCM: January 24, 8:00 pm EST
Sissy Spacek delivers one of the greatest performances ever seen in a biopic in Coal Miner’s Daughter, based on the early life of Loretta Lynn and her rise to fame. While the film’s 1980 release year falls outside of the mid-century era so familiar to fans of TCM, this film is certainly a modern classic. It sets a high standard for the “music biz biopic” subgenre, a standard that has only been matched in recent memory by the 2005 Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line. Even if you’re not interested in country music, I can’t recommend this film highly enough.
Also available on DVD and Blu-ray, on Amazon Instant Video ($2.99 rental), and for delivery from Netflix’s DVD service.

The Harvey Girls (1946)
Airing on TCM: January 25, 2:00 pm EST
Judy Garland is a legend, perhaps best known for her work in The Wizard of Oz and Meet Me In St. Louis — two very good and highly-regarded films. One of her less-talked-about musicals is The Harvey Girls, an exciting West-set tale. The story tracks a battle of morals between the staff of a wholesome Harvey House restaurant and that of a rowdy saloon. This film boasts great performances, bright cinematography and infectious songs that are guaranteed to get stuck in your head for days.
Also available on DVD, on Amazon Instant Video ($2.99 rental), and for delivery from Netflix’s DVD service.

Love in the Afternoon (1957)
Airing on TCM: January 26, 5:45 pm
This Billy Wilder-directed comedy tells the story of a detective’s daughter (Audrey Hepburn) who falls for a charming man (Gary Cooper) that her father is investigating. The film has a fast pace and plenty of fun scenes, but the real reason to tune in is the splendid Audrey Hepburn. She’s in top form here as Ariane. She’s a real delight to watch, and shares some particularly enjoyable scenes with Maurice Chevalier, who plays her father.
Also available on DVD, on Amazon Instant Video ($2.00 rental), and for delivery from Netflix’s DVD service.