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Friday 07/17/09

3;05 AM Encore Western
Man From Del Rio (1956 USA): This decent low budget western stars Anthony Quinn as quick-drawing Mexican outlaw Dave Robles, who inherits the job of the lawman he guns down in the dusty town of Del Rio. Finding himself surprisingly apt at his new job, Dave soon finds himself at odds with some of the less law-abiding locals, and must also balance his new responsibilities with his blossoming relationship with beautiful Estella (Katy Jurado). The film ain't all that great, but with leads like Quinn and Jurado it's well a worth a look: indeed, I suspect this is probably the only American film of the period to feature two Mexican-born thespians in lead roles.

5:00 PM Turner Classic Movies
Ma and Pa Kettle (1949 USA): Oh, how I used to love the adventures of Ma and Pa Kettle. Cantankerous and crusty Ma (Marjorie Main), always bossing poor old Pa around, and lazy but crafty Pa (Percy Kilbride), always trying to maintain his dignity beneath the shadow of his larger-than-life wife. The two of them were an unforgettable screen pair, and the four Ma and Pa Kettle features staples of broadcast TV for decades. They haven't been seen much of anywhere since the 1980s, however, making tonight's TCM Kettlethon a treat not to be missed. Yes, all four Kettle features air in chronological order, commencing with this episodic tale of Pa's seeming good fortune when he wins a new house for the couple and their 15 kids. You'll know within the first five minutes whether or not you're cut out to be a Kettlemaniac, but if you are, stay tuned at 6:30 PM for Ma and Pa Kettle go to Town (1950, and the town is New York), at 8:00 PM for Ma and Pa Kettle Back on the Farm (1951, and the farm is laden with uranium), and at 9:30 PM for Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair (1952, and the fair is, uh, where they are at). The best thing about At the Fair? It features a non-Pokemon character called Geoduck!

Sunday 07/19/09

7:00 AM IFC
Blue Umbrella (2005 IND): This week's IFC Bollywood feature is a heart-warming family film about a blue umbrella that flies away across the rooftops of New Delhi, tempting a young boy to follow it on its airy adventures. Oh wait, no - Blue Umbrella is actually a heart-warming family film about Biniya (Shreya Sharma), a young girl who entertains tourists in her North Indian mountain home with the aforementioned parasol until it is stolen by jealous shopkeeper Nandu (Pankaj Kapur). It's a truly lovely little film, beautifully lensed by cinematographer Sachin Krishn, and proves again that there's a lot more to contemporary Indian cinema than large scale song and dance numbers.

Monday 07/20/09

8:30 AM Turner Classic Movies
12 to the Moon (1960 USA): It's Lunar Day on TCM, and amongst the treats is this low octane sci-fi adventure about a trip to planet Earth's favorite natural satellite. Ken Clark stars as John Anderson, American captain of an international manned expedition to see if the Moon really IS made of green cheese. He's accompanied by (amongst others) femme Japanese doctor Murata (Michi Kobi), Russian scientist Feodor Orloff (Tom Conway), and Spanish medico Luis Vargas (Anthony Dexter). International feuding soon breaks out on board, however, as the Russian and Israeli representative (Richard Weber) exchange harsh words, but once the good ship Lunar Eagle reaches its destination the crew are forced to unite in the face of something too terrible to describe in a family website. It's a pretty lousy film (director David Bradley would go on to helm the camp classic They Saved Hitler's Brain), but entertaining enough on a ho-hum, hokum level. Airing later today at 3:00 PM: 1962's Disney family comedy Moon Pilot, featuring Tom Tryon as an astronaut whose mission is interrupted by moon maiden Lyrae (Dany Saval from the excellent French anthology film Seven Deadly Sins). I've never seen it, but it's probably at least on a par with In Search of the Castaways or Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N.

6:00 PM HBO
Prom Night in Mississippi (2008 CAN): This excellent Canadian documentary examines the integration of the high school prom in the Deep South town of Charleston, Mississippi. The town's most famous resident is actor Morgan Freeman, whose 1997 offer to fund an integrated prom eventually led the local school district to accept his offer in 2008. Though supported by the vast preponderance of students, the black and white ball drew substantial opposition from white parents, who went ahead and had their own Jim Crow prom anyway. And yes, you read that right: this all happened last year. Also airs at 9:00 PM.

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