Welcome to TMP Recommends, the bi-weekly series in which I share classic film recommendations from the TCM schedule and available through streaming services. This time around we’ve got a sea-faring musical, a Cagney flick, a modern movie with classic charm, and a certified corn classic. On to the recommendations!
Picture Snatcher (1933) – Airing on TCM June 15, 4:30 pm
James Cagney stars in this crime drama as a man recently released from prison who takes a job as a newspaper photographer. He’s determined to give up crime and make a better life for himself, even striking up a romance with a cop’s daughter. But his job may threaten to toss him back into a downward spiral. It’s a simple tale but one that firmly grips the viewer with a mix of intrigue, drama, and a little bit of humor.
Nancy Goes to Rio (1950) – Airing on TCM June 23, 2:15 pm
This musical remake of the 1940 film It’s a Date is even more enjoyable than the original. Ann Sothern and Jane Powell star as a mother and daughter vying for the same stage role. Delightful songs and nice performances make this a very fun watch. Sothern and Powell make a wonderful screen pair, easily buyable as close-knit parent and child.
The Big Cube (1969) – New to Warner Archive Instant
I featured this film in my “Classics of the Corn” series a few years ago and it’s one heck of a doozy. Lana Turner plays a retiring actress who is terrorized and drugged by her stepdaughter after her husband passes away. Definitely not a film I’d recommend to everyone, but if you’re into bad movies like I am, it may be worth a watch.
Midnight in Paris (2011) – Available on Hulu
Okay, so this isn’t a classic film, but I think it’s one that will appeal to most classic film fans. It’s definitely one of my favorite films of recent years. Owen Wilson stars as Gil, a man who finds he has the ability to travel to the 1920s if he hops in a car at a certain Paris intersection at midnight. In his adventures he meets such iconic figures as Salvador Dali and Ernest Hemingway. It’s a film full of charm and style.
The Motion Pictures 