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7:00 PM Turner Classic Movies
Mighty Joe Young (1949 USA): There's monkey business aplenty on TCM this evening, starting off with the original Mighty Joe Young, an exciting tale of a giant gorilla being brought to heel by modern civilization. Joe has been the house pet of perky teen Jill Young (Terry Moore), who foolishly agrees to relocate stateside with her simian chum on behalf of grasping promoter Max O'Hara (Robert Armstrong). Things soon go awry on stage, and, after Joe is subjected to the abuse of three drunks, he goes on a bender of his own in the big city. Produced by King Kong's creative team of Ernest B. Schoedsack, Merian C. Cooper, and Willis O'Brien (not to mention Armstrong), Mighty Joe Young also served as young Ray Harryhausen's point of entry into feature filmmaking, and true to form, the special effects are very impressive for the time. It's followed at 8:45 PM by a rare widescreen airing of Konga (1961 GB), a rather limp British take on the giant ape meme, and at 10:30 PM by The Gorilla (1939 USA), a not terribly funny Ritz Brothers comedy.

Sunday 05/27/07

10:30 AM Sundance
The Liberace of Baghdad (2005 GB): Samir Peter was, for many years, Baghdad's most famous tickler of the ivories. Since the 2003 invasion, life has become measurably worse for Christians in Iraq like the Peter family, who used to be protected by the secular Baathist state but now find themselves between the rock of Muslim fundamentalism and the hard place of the trigger-happy Yankee occupation. Taking a cue from fellow BBC veteran Nick Broomfield, director/narrator Sean McAllister gets personally involved with his subject, trying to reassure him that things will get better, but Samir instinctively knows the opposite to be true, lending the film a suitably mordant tone. Multiply the horrors of the invasion several million times over, and you may begin to appreciate the disastrous effects of our war — which, of course, have worsened considerably since this film was made. As for Samir and his family — if, indeed, they're still alive — one can only imagine the horrors they have lived through in the last two years.

9:00 PM Turner Classic Movies
Battle of the Sexes (1928 USA): A relatively rare comedy from film pioneer D. W. Griffith, Battle of the Sexes features Jean Hersholt as Bill Judson, the hapless target of gold-digging Jazz Age flapper Marie (Phyllis Haver). Judson, a middle-aged tycoon looking for kicks he can't find at home, leaves his wife and two kiddies in favor of the fun-loving Marie, but will he find true happiness as well? Like most Griffith' features, there's a moral to be learned from this silent saga, though it's not as heavy-handed as Intolerance or Hearts of the World, and the film reflects the more tolerant attitudes of the Roaring ‘20s.

Monday 05/28/07

5:00 AM Turner Classic Movies
Action In the North Atlantic (1943 USA): One of the best war pictures you probably haven't heard of, Action In the North Atlantic stars Humphrey Bogart as Joe Rossi, a merchant seaman risking life and limb to transport supplies across the Atlantic and into the hands of America's British allies. What sets this Lloyd Bacon actioner apart from other pictures of its ilk are the special effects, which will have you marvelling at what can be accomplished on a film set, and, of course, Bogart, who is magnificent as the crusty salt who sets sail under the command of Captain Jarvis (Raymond Massey) on their critical mission to extend a lifeline to that sceptered isle. Chock full of action and fascinating characters, Action In the North Atlantic also features Alan Hale, Ruth Gordon, Kirk Alyn, and Mrs. Olsen herself, Virginia Christine.

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