Welcome to this week’s installment of TMP Recommends, the series where I share five films you should keep an eye out for on TCM over the next seven days. As usual, all times are listed in EST and come from the US version of the TCM schedule. Happy viewing!

(Image via Cinema Just For Fun)
(Image via Cinema Just For Fun)

Keeper of the Flame (1942)
Airing on TCM: June 22, 6:00 pm
The second of Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy’s collaborations, Keeper of the Flame is one of their less-popular films but one of my personal favorites. Tracy stars as a journalist who is covering the death of Robert Forrest, American political hero. In the course of his investigation he meets Forrest’s widow (Hepburn) and uncovers a few surprising revelations about Forrest. Kate and Spence both give strong performances, and the film’s commentary on hero worship is fascinating.

(Image via Lewis Wayne Gallery)
(Image via Lewis Wayne Gallery)

Without Reservations (1946)
Airing on TCM: June 23, 11:30 am
Claudette Colbert stars as Kit Madden, writer of the best-selling novel Here is Tomorrow, a story about a handsome pilot. She’s heading to Hollywood to adapt her book into a movie with Cary Grant starring as her main character, Mark. When Grant has to drop out of the film, Kit thinks it would be best to cast an unknown in the role — and she finds the perfect man in Rusty, a real Marine Corps pilot she meets on the train to Hollywood. With romance, a little bit of adventure, and plenty of fun Hollywood cameos, Without Reservations is a good watch for any fan of romantic comedy.

(Image via twentyfourframes.wordpress.com)
(Image via twentyfourframes.wordpress.com)

Kansas City Confidential (1952)
Airing on TCM: June 24, 1:15 pm
Kansas City Confidential tells a twisted criminal tale of three men who are hired by a stranger to rob a bank. Each man is hired separately, and they wear masks, both so they won’t recognize each other and so they can’t be recognized by any potential witnesses to the crime. When they pull off the heist and skip town, a delivery driver for the florist located next to the bank takes the fall for the crime. Though not totally unpredictable, the film is gripping, with strong tension throughout its run time.

(Image via cinescope.fr)
(Image via cinescope.fr)

Man Hunt (1941)
Airing on TCM: June 26, 11:30 am
Walter Pidgeon stars as Alan Thorndike, a British hunter who was captured in Germany after attempting to shoot Hitler. He escapes and makes his way back to England as a stowaway, but is tailed by German agents. Directed by Fritz Lang, Man Hunt spins a complex tale of assassination plots, stolen identities, and daring adventures. While it isn’t a perfect film, Man Hunt is very suspenseful and worth a watch for its historical significance at the very least.

The Long, Long Trailer
(Screen capture by Lindsey for TMP)

The Long, Long Trailer (1954)
Airing on TCM: June 28, 3:15 pm
Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz star as Tacy and Nicky, a newlywed couple who have decided to make their life on the road. Nicky travels the country for work, and rather than making roots in a home with no wheels that he can return to between trips, Tacy elects to accompany him. They buy their dream trailer, hitch it to their convertible, and hit the road. But all is not peachy for the couple, as they encounter more than their share of mishaps while adjusting to their new lifestyle. The Long, Long Trailer is a hilarious film. The appeal of Lucy and Desi as a comedic team is undeniable, but the script itself is very witty as well, making for an all-around great watch.