TCM Schedule for Saturday 10/22/22 - "Ben-Hur," The Andrews Sisters

TCM Schedule for Saturday 10/22/22
STAR(s) OF THE MONTH: ROBOTS
Highlights: "Ben-Hur," "Private Buckaroo," "The Dirty Dozen," "Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine"

11:30 PM The Philadelphia Story (1940)





Socialite Tracy Lord is getting married, and an honest reporter is there to get the story. It's a dull assignment until Tracy's ex-husband shows up, with a thirst for alcohol and a not-quite extinguished torch for his lovely one-time wife.
Dir: George Cukor Cast: Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, James Stewart
Runtime: 111 mins Genre: Comedy Rating: TV-G CC: Y

Trivia: The film was shot in eight weeks, and required no retakes. During the scene where James Stewart hiccups when drunk, you can see Cary Grant looking down and grinning. Since the hiccup wasn't scripted, Grant was on the verge of breaking out laughing and had to compose himself quickly. Stewart (apparently spontaneously) thought of hiccuping in the drunk scene, without telling Grant. When he began hiccuping, Grant turned to Stewart, saying, "Excuse me." The scene required only one take.


2:00 AM It's Alive (1974)
A couple's use of an experimental fertility drug produces a monstrous infant.
Dir: Larry Cohen Cast: Guy Stockwell, Sharon Farrell, Andrew Duggan
Runtime: 90 mins Genre: Horror/Science-Fiction Rating: TV-14 CC: Y


3:45 AM It Lives Again (1978)
There are now three monsters who look like human babies. They appear to be babies, but when these babies are frightened, they kill.
Dir: Larry Cohen Cast: Frederic Forrest, Kathleen Lloyd, John Marley
Runtime: 91 mins Genre: Horror/Science-Fiction Rating: TV-14 CC: Y


6:00 AM The Merry Widow (1934)
A prince from a small kingdom courts a wealthy widow to keep her money in the country.
Dir: Ernst Lubitsch Cast: Maurice Chevalier, Jeanette Macdonald, Edward Everett Horton
Runtime: 99 mins Genre: Musical Rating: TV-PG CC: Y


8:00 AM Cartoon: Screwball Squirrel (1944)
Screwy Squirrel abuses Meathead dog with numerous gags until the dog has finally had enough and begs for the cartoon to end.
Dir: Tex Avery (Fred) Cast: null
Runtime: 0 mins Genre: Animation Rating: TV-G CC: Y


8:08 AM Short: The Man on the Rock (1938)
This short film examines whether Napoleon Bonaparte actually died on the island of St. Helena.
Dir: Edward L. Cahn Cast: Sergei Arabeloff, Joseph Kirk, Naomi Childers
Runtime: 10 mins Genre: Short Rating: TV-G CC: N


8:19 AM Short: Over the Andes (1943)
This short film takes the viewer to the Andes Mountains.
Dir: null Cast: James A. Fitzpatrick, Nathaniel Finston, James A. Fitzpatrick
Runtime: 0 mins Genre: Documentary Rating: TV-G CC: N


8:29 AM Stage to Chino (1940)
A retired postal inspector gets back in the saddle to prevent a stagecoach robbery.
Dir: Edward Killy Cast: George O'Brien, Virginia Vale, Hobart Cavanaugh
Runtime: 59 mins Genre: Western Rating: TV-G CC: Y


9:30 AM Unseen Hands (1935)
Tarzan goes to Guatemala to find his lost friend and help discover hidden treasure.
Dir: Edward Kull, Wilbur McGaugh Cast: Ula Holt, Edward Kull, Merrill McCormick
Runtime: 0 mins Genre: Action Rating: TV-G CC: Y


10:00 AM Cartoon: Toreadorable (1953) (TCM PREMIERE)
Popeye and Olive go to the bullfights where Olive is smitten by the dashing Matador Bluto. Fortified by his spinach, a jealous Popeye hops into the ring for some fancy footwork. Bluto adds some jumping beans to the spinach and Popeye has to resort to some quick thinking to extricate himself from a very unpleasant situation.
Dir: null Cast: Jack Mercer, Jackson Beck, Mae Questel
Runtime: 0 mins Genre: Animation Rating: TV-PG CC:


10:08 AM Private Buckaroo (1942)





A rebellious young Army recruit falls for the daughter of a retired officer.
Dir: Edward F. Cline Cast: The Andrews Sisters, Dick Foran, Joe E. Lewis
Runtime: 68 mins Genre: Musical Rating: TV-G CC: N


11:30 AM Picture Palace (1933)
After getting fired from their vaudeville theater, a couple create an act to purchase the theater in this musical short. Vitaphone Release 1619-1620.
Dir: Roy Mack Cast: Jack Fulton, Hal Leroy, Dawn O'Day
Runtime: 20 mins Genre: Short Rating: TV-PG CC: N


12:00 PM Stranger on the Third Floor (1940)
A newspaperman serves as key witness in a circumstantial murder case.
Dir: Boris Ingster Cast: Peter Lorre, John Mcguire, Margaret Tallichet
Runtime: 64 mins Genre: Crime Rating: TV-14 CC: Y


1:15 PM Ben-Hur (1959)











While seeking revenge, a rebellious Israelite prince crosses paths with Jesus Christ.
Dir: William Wyler. Cast: null
Runtime: 212 mins Genre: Epic Rating: TV-PG CC: Y

Trivia: During the 18-day auction of MGM props, costumes and memorabilia that took place in May 1970 when new studio owner Kirk Kerkorian was liquidating the studio's assets, a Sacramento restaurateur paid $4,000 for a chariot used in the film. Three years later, during the energy crisis, he was arrested for driving the chariot on the highway.

Trivia: "Ben-Hur" was the only Hollywood film to make the Vatican-approved film list in the category of religion.

Goof: Two Romans are seen wearing watches.

From the credits: The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer lion is shown in a still-frame to appear looking peaceful at the beginning rather than roaring.

5:15 PM The Dirty Dozen (1967)
During World War II, an American Major is given the task of recruiting 12 soldiers from an American military prison for a special guerrilla mission that will give them the chance to regain their honor.
Dir: Robert Aldrich Cast: Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson
Runtime: 149 mins Genre: War Rating: TV-PG CC: Y


STARS(s) OF THE MONTH: ROBOTS

8:00 PM Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine (1965)







A mad scientist invents an army of bikini-clad robots programmed to seek out wealthy men.
Dir: Norman Taurog Cast: Vincent Price, Frankie Avalon, Dwayne Hickman, Annette Funicello
Runtime: 90 mins Genre: Comedy Rating: TV-PG CC: Y

Trivia: The dungeon and torture sequence incorporates long shots that are actually footage of Vincent Price lifted from the The Pit and the Pendulum (1961). The torture chamber art and set direction was by the same art director, Daniel Haller, and these scenes in this movie evoked his work on these such Edgar Allan Poe adaptations for Roger Corman, which also starred Vincent Price.

NOIR ALLEY: 10:00 PM Making Mr. Right (1987)
A scientist builds a robot who looks exactly like a scientist sent to space. A woman is hired to "educate" the new robot, and finds love along the way.
Dir: Susan Seidelman Cast: Garitt Kono, Ann Magnuson, Jose Ramirez
Runtime: 100 mins Genre: Comedy Rating: TV-14 CC: Y


12:00 AM Cage of Evil (1960)
A cattle driver finds himself stuck working for both sides during the Civil War.
Dir: Edward L. Cahn Cast: Ronald Foster, Pat Blair, Harp Mcguire
Runtime: 70 mins Genre: Comedy Rating: null CC: N


1:45 AM Hang 'Em High (1968)
A cowboy drifter survives a hanging by a band of thugs and then swears vengeance.
Dir: Ted Post Cast: Clint Eastwood, Inger Stevens, Ed Begley
Runtime: 114 mins Genre: Western Rating: TV-14 CC: Y


3:45 AM The Unforgiven (1960)
In 1850s, a cattle raising Texas family is turned upside down when it is revealed that one of their women is of Native American blood.
Dir: John Huston Cast: Burt Lancaster, Audrey Hepburn, Audie Murphy
Runtime: 125 mins Genre: Western Rating: TV-14 CC: Y