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1:30 PM Turner Classic Movies
The Magic Sword (1962 USA): It’s never going to be mistaken for a Ray Harryhausen pic, but this Bert I. Gordon-helmed fantasy is good fun anyway. Basil Rathbone headlines as Lodac, a wicked sorcerer ensconced in a spooky castle and out to win the hand of beautiful (and much younger) local princess Helene (Ann Helm). Of course, being wicked, Lodac’s idea of pitching woo is to kidnap the lass, take her back to his spooky castle, and presumably ply her with chocolates, flowers and Iron Maidens. That doesn’t sit well with handsome young gallant George (Gary Lockwood), who’s determined to rescue Princess Helene and claim her for his own. No, there’s not a great deal of feminism evident in this extremely old-fashioned feature, unless you consider Estelle Winwood’s flighty turn as George’s adoptive mother Sybil somehow reflective of the then nascent women’s lib movement. Watch for Angelo Rossitto as a little person and Maila Nurmi (Vampira) as The Hag!

6:30 PM Turner Classic Movies
Laughter In Paradise (1951 GB): The great Alistair Sim stars in this uproarious British comedy produced and directed by Italian expat Mario Zampi. Sim plays Captain James Deniston Russell, a retired Army officer looking to inherit a considerable sum of money (well, £50,000 – that was a lot in 1951!) from a recently deceased relative. There’s a catch, however: each of the four heirs (including - in addition to Sim – George Cole, Fay Compton, and Guy Middleton) must fulfill the requirements of the will’s codicil – and the codicil is quite onerous. The good Captain, for example, must spend a week in jail for a petty crime, whilst Middleton must marry the first woman he encounters (though presumably not Fay Compton’s character!). This is classic British comedy on par with Ealing’s best, and comes highly recommended.

Friday 6/14/13

12:10 AM The Movie Channel
Altered (2006 USA): Here’s one of those films the Blair Witch guys ( in this case, Eduardo Sanchez) made after getting rich in a hurry. It’s the slightly wacky tale of two men who find themselves in possession of an alien creature, who – 15 years previously – had abducted one his present day captors. Best described as a cross between E.T. and I Spit On Your Grave (with a little anal probing thrown in for good measure), Altered is perhaps better concept than film, but is a reasonably good attempt to do something a little different. Also airs at 3:10 AM.

4:20 AM HBO Signature
Las Acacias (2011 ARG-ESP): This terrific drama only needs three characters to capture and hold your attention, and only two of them have any dialogue! They’re Ruben (German da Silva), a grizzled trucker driving from Paraguay to Argentina; Jacinta (Hebe Duarte), a young hitchhiker trying to get home; and Anahi (the wonderfully expressive Nayra Mamani), Jacinta’s infant child. Las Acacias is basically 90 minutes of talking and driving, but is blessed with a truly wonderful screenplay courtesy Salvador Roselli and director Pablo Giorgelli. The film won a ton of well-deserved prizes on the festival circuit, including the Golden Camera at Cannes.

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