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Saturday 7/27/13

10:00 AM Fox Movie Channel
Lisa (1962 GB-USA): A Holocaust drama light on Holocaust and heavier on interpersonal relationships and romance, Lisa stars Dolores Hart as a Jewish girl saved from the ovens by a Dutch policeman (Stephen Boyd) who rescues her from white slaver Marius Goring and then tries to smuggle her into Palestine. Boyd is badly miscast, his lightweight performance an unfortunate distraction from Nelson Gidding’s solid screenplay, but a fine supporting cast – including Donald Pleasence, Harry Andrews, Finlay Currie, and Leo McKern – provides sufficient counterbalance. Also of note is Arthur Ibbetson’s fine cinematography, best appreciated in its original aspect ratio – which, thankfully, is how it will be seen this morning.

5:00 PM HBO
Savages (2012 USA): Last week I damned Oliver Stone with faint praise, but clearly I can’t quit him. The testy director’s most recent effort, Savages examines the wonderful world of drug cartels, with Salma Hayek headlining as a coldblooded cartel kingpin and Benicio del Toro as her equally vile sidekick. Determined to prevent anyone from honing in on their business, our anti-heroes determine to put a halt to the competition offered by three small-time Southern California pushers who’ve developed a particularly strong strain of wacky tobacky. If you’re looking for something a little more serious but just as potcentric as Harold and Kumar, look no further. Warning, though: this film could seriously harsh your mellow. Also airs at 8:00 PM, 8:15 PM, 11:00 PM, and 11:15 PM.

Sunday 7/28/13

11:00 PM Turner Classic Movies
Ugetsu Monagatari (1953 JAP): Is it a ghost story? A war story? How about social commentary on life in 16th century Japan? Kenji Mizoguchi’s classic is a bit of all three, with its tale of two potters contending with difficult business conditions in the midst of civil conflict. You’ll want to tune in to appreciate the exquisite cinematography of Kazuo Miyagawa, who later went on to shoot Sansho the Bailiff, Floating Weeds, Yojimbo, and half a dozen Zatoichi flicks.

Monday 7/29/13

3:45 PM Turner Classic Movies
Fear (1946 USA): An uncredited adaptation of Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment, this low-budget Monogram second feature stars a not at all well-looking Warren William (who would be dead within two years) as Burke, a police officer craftily trying to wheedle a confession from medical student Larry Crain (Peter Cookson), who (in a fit of fiscal fright) has murdered a pawnbroker. Nestor Paiva co-stars as Burke’s colleague Shaefer, and there’s a blink and you’ll miss him appearance by Darren McGavin as "blonde student". A cut above your average Monogram effort, Fear benefits from a baffling final reel plot twist that will will leave you in need of a second viewing.

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