TCM Schedule for Friday, May 28, 2021 -- Primetime Theme: Memorial Day Marathon

In the daylight hours, the theme is Uncharted Territory -- TCM is boldly going where no one has gone before. Then in prime time, TCM begins their annual salute to the memory of veterans of all branches of the military, though (as usual) mostly those who served during WWII. Enjoy!


6:00 AM -- Across the Wide Missouri (1951)
1h 18m | Western | TV-G
An explorer leads the way west for 19th-century settlers along the American frontier.
Director: William Wellman
Cast: Clark Gable, Ricardo Montalban, John Hodiak

When the original version of the finished film was submitted to MGM executives, they didn't like it. The film went through heavy editing, and a producer had the idea of tying together the surviving pieces by adding voice-over narration from Mitchell's grown up son, as if he is telling his father's life story. Howard Keel, who had just finished making Show Boat (1951), was brought in for this purpose. The changes led to director William A. Wellman effectively disowning the film. When asked about it in an interview, he said "I've not seen it, and I never will."


7:30 AM -- Sequoia (1934)
1h 11m | Adventure | TV-G
A wilderness girl raises a deer and a mountain lion to be friends.
Director: Chester M. Franklin
Cast: Jean Parker, Russell Hardie, Samuel S. Hinds

Based on the 1931 novel Malibu by Vance Hoyt.


8:45 AM -- Desperate Search (1953)
1h 13m | Drama | TV-PG
A man fights to find his children after their plane crashes in the Canadian wilderness.
Director: Joseph Lewis
Cast: Howard Keel, Jane Greer, Patricia Medina

The novel upon which this film is based was serialized in The Saturday Evening Post from January 5 to February 9, 1952.


10:00 AM -- Dersu Uzala (1975)
2h 21m | Adventure | TV-PG
A Russian explorer brings the Asiatic hunter who saved his life back to civilization.
Director: Akira Kurosawa
Cast: Maksim Munzuk, Yuriy Solomin, M Bichkov

Winner of an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film -- Soviet Union

Akira Kurosawa, since childhood, had been a devoted fan of Russian literature - a fact, of course, already well-known to Mosfilm when that studio asked him to suggest a literary source for the director to adapt into a film to be shot in the Soviet Union. Nevertheless, the studio was taken aback when he suggested that he be allowed to film Arseniev's book about Dersu Uzala: they were astonished that he had even heard of it, because the book at that time was so little known outside the USSR.


12:30 PM -- The Wild North (1952)
1h 37m | Western | TV-PG
A Mountie tracks an accused killer through the Canadian wilderness.
Director: Andrew Marton
Cast: Stewart Granger, Wendell Corey, Cyd Charisse

The character of Constable Pedley was inspired by early 20th century Canadian North West Mounted Police officer Albert Pedley. The officer was sent to capture a criminal in 1904 during a harsh winter. He suffered months of loneliness and cruel weather, falling victim to the white madness of snow country. Nevertheless, Pedley brought his prisoner to justice.


2:15 PM -- All Mine to Give (1957)
1h 50m | Drama | TV-G
Pioneer children fight to build a new family after their parents die.
Director: Allen Reisner
Cast: Glynis Johns, Cameron Mitchell, Rex Thompson

Based on the true story of author Dale Eunson's father who, as the eldest orphaned son, found homes for his siblings on Christmas.


4:00 PM -- The Trap (1966)
1h 48m | Adventure | TV-14
After spending several winters alone in the Canadian wilderness, a lusty trapper returns to the trading post and buys a wife, a young mute orphan.
Director: Sidney Hayers
Cast: Rita Tushingham, Oliver Reed, Rex Sevenoaks

The piece of music used as Oliver Reed canoes down river (also called "The Trap&quot is now used by UK broadcaster The BBC for its coverage of The London Marathon.


6:00 PM -- Man in the Wilderness (1971)
1h 45m | Adventure | TV-14
A Northwest frontiersman, in 1820, after being badly mauled by a bear is left for dead.
Director: Richard C. Sarafian
Cast: Richard Harris, John Huston, Henry Wilcoxon

Zachary Bass, who is based on real-life mountain man Hugh Glass, is shown to have had a wife and son in this movie. However, there's no record of the noted historical figure ever being married and having any children. Similarly, in The Revenant (2015) Glass was also shown to have a wife and son.



WHAT'S ON TONIGHT: PRIMETIME THEME -- MEMORIAL DAY MARATHON



8:00 PM -- Pride of the Marines (1945)
1h 59m | War | TV-G
A blinded Marine tries to adjust to civilian life.
Director: Delmer Daves
Cast: John Garfield, Eleanor Parker, Dane Clark

Nominee for an Oscar for Best Writing, Screenplay -- Albert Maltz

On the train to Philadelphia, Al (John Garfield) talks to Lee (Dane Clark) about the difficulty he anticipates in getting a job for a blind man. Lee responds that because he, Lee, is Jewish, he has trouble finding a job as well and then waxes philosophic about a day when people aren't discriminated against for any reason. Both Garfield (born Jacob Julius Garfinkel) and Clark (born Bernard Elliot Zanville) were New York-born sons of Russian Jewish immigrants.


10:15 PM -- Till the End of Time (1946)
1h 45m | Drama | TV-G
A returning World War II veteran falls for a troubled war widow.
Director: Edward Dmytryk
Cast: Dorothy McGuire, Guy Madison, Robert Mitchum

The image behind the opening title credits is the Honorable Serice Pin, given to U.S. servicemen who had been honorably discharged from the military during and immediately after WWII. It was given the nickname the "Ruptured Duck". Note that Harper and Tabeshaw wear the insignia on their uniforms above the right breast pocket after they are officially discharged. Servicemen were allowed to wear their uniforms for up to 30 days after leaving service due to post-war clothing shortages, and this indicated although in uniform, they were no longer in the military.


12:15 AM -- The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
2h 52m | Drama | TV-PG
Upon returning to small-town America, three World War II veterans have difficulty readjusting to civilian life.
Director: William Wyler
Cast: Myrna Loy, Fredric March, Dana Andrews

Winner of an Honorary Oscar Award for Harold Russell for bringing hope and courage to his fellow veterans through his appearance in The Best Years of Our Lives.

Winner of Oscars for Best Actor in a Leading Role -- Fredric March (Fredric March was not present at the awards ceremony. Cathy O'Donnell accepted the award on his behalf.), Best Actor in a Supporting Role -- Harold Russell, Best Director -- William Wyler, Best Writing, Screenplay -- Robert E. Sherwood, Best Film Editing -- Daniel Mandell, Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture -- Hugo Friedhofer, and Best Picture

Nominee for an Oscar for Best Sound, Recording -- Gordon Sawyer (Samuel Goldwyn SSD)

During the wedding scene at the end, Harold Russell fluffed his lines during his vows. Rather than calling cut and ordering a re-take, William Wyler liked how natural it sounded and this was the take used.


3:15 AM -- Wings for the Eagle (1942)
1h 23m | War | TV-PG
Dedicated aircraft workers compete for the same girl.
Director: Lloyd Bacon
Cast: Ann Sheridan, Dennis Morgan, Jack Carson

The studio received permission to film inside the Lockheed Aircraft Co. in Burbank, California, but each member of the crew was required to carry a birth certificate to enter the plant.


4:45 AM -- Above and Beyond (1952)
2h 2m | Drama | TV-PG
The pilot who helped drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima struggles with the demands of the dangerous mission.
Director: Melvin Frank
Cast: Robert Taylor, Eleanor Parker, James Whitmore

Nominee for Oscars for Best Writing, Motion Picture Story -- Beirne Lay Jr., and Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture -- Hugo Friedhofer

The Enola Gay was named after Col. Tibbetts' mother. Her unusual name was given to her because backwards it spells "alone".