Welcome to Week 3 of Summer Under the Stars! I’ll be sharing one recommendation for each day of TCM’s programming, usually of a lesser-known or underappreciated title, as well as one film I plan to tune in for. Here are the recommendations and watchlist for August 15th through 21st!
DAY 15: RICARDO MONTALBAN
For Ricardo Montalban day I recommend Mystery Street (1950), airing at 12:00 am EST on August 16th. An underrated mystery with an emphasis on mid-century forensic investigation! My new-to-me pick is from the same year: Two Weeks with Love (1950), a musical rom-com co-starring Jane Powell. That one airs at 10:00 am EST on August 15th.
DAY 16: ELVIS PRESLEY
I’ve only seen a few Elvis films, and the only one airing this day is Viva Las Vegas, which I’m sure you’ve all seen or at least heard of! My new-to-me choice for the day is Live a Little, Love a Little (1968), airing at 4:00 am on August 17th.
DAY 17: ROSALIND RUSSELL
Rosalind Russell made many a wonderful film. One of my very favorites is her vibrant performance as the titular character in Auntie Mame (1958), airing at 5:30 pm EST. My new-to-me pick for today is Trouble for Two (1936), a drama of royals and secret clubs, co-starring Robert Montgomery. That one airs at 7:30 am EST.
DAY 18: ROD TAYLOR
Celebrate Rod Taylor with a space-age spy comedy! Doris Day co-stars in The Glass Bottom Boat (1966), airing at 10:00 am EST. My new-to-me pick is Young Cassidy (1965), airing at 2:00 am on August 19th. It’s a biographical drama about a playwright in 1910s Dublin.
DAY 19: ANGELA LANSBURY
An Angela Lansbury must-watch is The Harvey Girls (1946). This is one of my favorite musicals, and when I talk about it I often talk about Judy Garland, but Lansbury deserves some love, too! She plays the queen of the saloon, in constant battle with those wholesome Harvey gals. The film airs at 6:00 pm EST. My new-to-me pick for this day is The Private Affairs of Bel Ami (1947), airing at 12:30 am EST on August 20th.
DAY 20: CARY GRANT
Another Stanwyck Day situation, here — I’ve seen everything airing, so no new-to-me pick! My under-the-radar recommendation to celebrate Mr. Grant is Mr. Lucky (1943), airing at 2:00 pm EST. Grant plays a man trying to scam a war relief charity for money… only to find love instead. It isn’t my very favorite Grant film, but it’s a lesser-known, and a good watch!
DAY 21: ANN HARDING
My recommendation for Ann Harding day is When Ladies Meet (1933), a pre-code comedy about a writer stuck in a love quadrangle. It airs at 11:15 pm EST. I’ll be tuning in for Eyes in the Night (1942), airing at 4:30 pm EST.
Happy viewing!
The Motion Pictures 