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Thursday 09/25/08

2:15 AM Starz
Jimmy Carter: Man From Plains (2007 USA): Until quite recently, Jimmy Carter generally got a raw deal from his fellow Americans. Perceived for decades as a wimp who lacked the steely-eyed certitude to be an effective President, Carter's reputation finally started to improve during the 1990s, when his charity work began to supplant the failed Iranian hostage rescue in the nation's collective memory. This hagiography marks a new high water mark for The Man From Plains, whose concern for human rights and peace issues still rankles the National Review crowd — who somehow continue to overlook Carter's role in escalating the anti-Soviet war in Afghanistan. Director Jonathan Demme's film follows the former President during a coast-to-coast publicity tour supporting his book Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid, and generally avoids both the sin of idolatry AND the curse of Billy Beer, which receives nary a mention. Also airs at 5:15 AM.

4:15 AM Turner Classic Movies
Saturday's Hero (1951 USA): College athletes who neglect their studies in favor of gridiron shenanigans are the subject of this sobering and surprisingly serious Columbia drama. Hunky John Derek stars as Steve Novak, a highly touted high school leatherhead who earns a generous college scholarship — only to learn that it comes with some strings attached. Steve keeps playing through the requisite cuts and bruises — but when coach insists he play through a concussion and the death of his father, things take on a new complexion. Penned by Sidney Buchman (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington), Saturday's Hero casts a baleful eye on the college sports money machine, and co-stars Donna Reed, Sidney Blackmer, and Aldo Ray.

Friday 09/26/08

3:00 AM Turner Classic Movies
Guilty Hands (1931 USA): Lionel Barrymore stars as a lawyer whose moral certitude gets put to the test in this ridiculous but enjoyable drama from director W. S. Van Dyke. Barrymore plays Richard Grant, a former D.A. who believes in justifiable homicide — and dabbles in it himself when cad Gordon (Alan Mowbray) pursues daughter Barbara (Madge Evans). Grant rubs out the loathsome lothario and tries to make the death look like a suicide — but Gordon's former lover Marjorie (Kay Francis) finds evidence proving otherwise, putting Richard in a very awkward position indeed. An ultimately absurd melodrama, Guilty Hands is followed at 4:15 AM by Allotment Wives (1945), a very rare Monogram noir featuring a past-her-prime Francis as a black widow knocking off unwitting soldiers in order to gain access to their veteran's benefits. It co-stars the great Otto Kruger and is much better than you might think.

9:00 PM IFC
Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991 USA): The sixth and worst entry in the Nightmare on Elm Street series makes its widescreen American television premiere tonight. This time out Freddy's ready to move on to a new neighborhood, as he's pretty much finished off the Elm Street kids, but must first contend with the threat posed by his mysterious (and previously unknown) child. Originally screened in 3-D, The (Not Quite) Final Nightmare also airs 9/27 at midnight.

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