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5:00 PM Turner Classic Movies
Of Mice and Men (1939 USA): Okay, maybe it wasn't Hollywood's greatest year (my money's on 1957), but 1939 WAS pretty decent. Here's one of that sainted year's classics, but one that tends to be overshadowed by Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz, amongst others. Based on John Steinbeck's novella of the same name, the film stars Burgess Meredith as George, the unofficial caretaker of simpleton Lenny (Lon Chaney, Jr.). George and Lenny dream of striking out on their own - but unfortunately, they're employed in near servitude on Whit's (Noah Beery, Jr.) ranch, where their run-ins with foreman Slim (Charles Bickford) complicate matters considerably. Though rightfully not as well-regarded as 1940's Steinbeck adaptation, The Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men remains a deeply moving - if deeply manipulative - character study from director Lewis Milestone.

Sunday 07/26/09

3:15 AM Turner Classic Movies
Pier 5, Havana (1959 USA): Whilst the aforementioned Jesus Franco is in a class by himself, Miike and Chabrol are loafers in comparison to legendary director Edward L. Cahn. Cahn, who came to a tragic early end in 1963 no doubt resulting from overwork, churned out seven features in 1959, including this low-rent crime drama. (Unsatisfied with his lackluster work ethic, Eddie managed to put ten in the can in 1960, with a further eleven following in 1961.) By and large, these are run of the mill second features, but many of them have redeeming qualities - for example, Invisible Invaders obvious influence on the work of George Romero, and The Four Skulls of Jonathan Drake's utter and complete nuttiness. As for Pier 5, Havana, it offers Cameron Mitchell, 50-Foot Woman Allison Hayes, and Creature From the Black Lagoon's Nestor Paiva in a tale of Cuban intrigue revolving around an attempt to assassinate Fidel Castro. It's followed at 4:30 AM by Personal Affair, a completely unrelated British feature from 1953 that I've never seen, starring Leo Genn as a school teacher who becomes romantically entangled with one of his students (Glynis Johns).

6:00 AM Turner Classic Movies
The Horn Blows at Midnight (1945 USA): Jack Benny spent the rest of his career bemoaning his appearance in this Warners comedy, but truth be told, it's nowhere near as bad as Benny made out. In fact, I really like it, which is more than I can say for most Hollywood comedies of the period. Jack plays a minor league trumpet player who falls asleep on the job and subsequently dreams he is Athanael, the angel chosen by God to blow the Last Horn signalling the end of the world. When Athanael misses his deadline, two other angels decide to steal his trumpet in order to extend their stay on Earth, and the game is on. Produced by the great Mark Hellinger, with music by Franz Waxman, and co-starring Alexis Smith, Guy Kibbee, and Mike Mazurki, The Horn Blows at Midnight was arguably the last of the great screwball comedies and comes highly recommended.

6:00 PM IFC
Platoon (1986 USA): I can generally live without the collected works of Oliver Stone - though I must acknowledge that JFK is the greatest propaganda film since Triumph of the Will - but I'm reasonably pleased to report the widescreen television debut of Ollie's autobiographical Vietnam War drama. It's no Full Metal Jacket, mind, but it's certainly an improvement on The Doors or Natural Born Killers. Also airs 7/27 at midnight.

Monday 07/27/09

6:00 PM HBO
Yes Men Fix the World (2009 USA): For those who enjoyed 2004's muckraking documentary The Yes Men, here's a sequel, in which the Gilbert and George of crony capitalism take aim at those who profit from others' misfortune. The focus this time: Dow Chemical, owners of Union Carbide, whose chemicals have brought unending misery to the people of Bhopal, India, for the last quarter century. The Yes Men also get their licks in against perennial environmental whipping boys Exxon, as well as the many contractors hoping to make a quick buck in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Heckuva job, boys! Also airs at 9:00 PM.

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