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9:50 AM Flix
The Domino Principle (1977 USA): Definitely not the finest film in director Stanley Kramer’s filmography, The Domino Principle is still worth a look for its superb cast. Gene Hackman tops the list as Roy Tucker, a down on his luck Vietnam vet doing time in San Quentin for murder. Offered a chance to walk free in exchange for the use of his sharpshooting skills in an assassination, Roy eagerly accepts—but soon learns that his target is the President of the United States. Rumored to have originally run three hours in length, The Domino Principle was cut in half by distributor ITC, and the result is a predictably choppy film with characters whose motivations and actions don’t always make sense. Hackman is very good, however, and is ably supported by Richard Widmark, Candice Bergen, Edward Albert, Eli Wallach, and Mickey Rooney. The Domino Principle makes its widescreen American television premiere this morning.

Sunday 5/16/10

9:00 AM Fox Movie Channel
Cry of the City (1948 USA): A terrific police procedural, Cry of the City stars Victor Mature as Candella, a police lieutenant locking horns with a pal from his old neighborhood, cop-killer Martin Rome (Richard Conte), now trying to squirm his way out of an appointment with the electric chair. He's willing to throw anyone under the bus, including girlfriend Teena (Debra Paget) and sleazy lawyer Niles (Barry Kroeger). Candella and his partner (the always fine Fred Clark) are determined not only to put a stop to Rome's reign of terror, but also to keep Martin's younger brother Tony (Tommy Cook) from straying off the straight and narrow. Directed by Robert Siodmak and co-starring Shelley Winters and former Charlie Chan Roland Winters, Cry of the City is a fine blend of noir and procedural, with exceptional cinematography by Lloyd Ahern (Miracle on 34th Street) and a stirring Alfred Newman score.

10:50 AM Encore Action
Neon City (1990 USA-CAN): Fans of the ‘bleak future’ style will want to check out Neon City, if only because it features another ‘too good for a genre film’ performance from Michael Ironside (Scanners, Starship Troopers). Ironside plays Harry Stark, a balding bounty hunter with a pony-tail transporting prisoner Reno (model-singer-actress-part time plumber Vanity) to the safe, non-radioactive confines of the titular burg In the Year 2525…er, sorry, 2053. In a plot as old as Stagecoach, the two are travelling with other passengers in an armored car piloted by Bulk (appropriately enough, steroid pioneer Lyle Alzado), and encounter all sorts of difficulties along the way, including deadly sun rays (no more ozone layer), the worst pollution this side of the San Gabriel Valley, and marauding gangs of Mad Max extras. As far as these things go, Neon City is actually slightly above average, and takes good advantage of some desolate Utah locations.

Monday 5/17/10

3:45 AM IFC
The Valet (2006): This slight French farce won’t induce many belly laughs, but it will keep you smiling throughout its 80-minute running time. Gad Elmaleh stars as Francois, a parking attendant who stumbles into a paparrazi photo shoot involving a billionaire and his super-model girfriend. Oligarch Pierre (Daniel Auteuil), immediately aware of the marital peril posed by the snap, hires our hero to pose as the boyfriend of mistress Elena (Alice Taglioni). How long can he maintain the façade? Well, for about 80 minutes. Also airs at 8:30 AM and 1:25 PM.

5:30 AM Sundance
Painters Painting(1973 USA): Is this film as much fun as watching paint dry? Well, yes…but the more you enjoy modern art, the more you’ll appreciate it. A documentary about the New York art scene between 1940 and 1970, Painters Painting is an uncharacteristically non-political film from director Emile de Antonio, with particular emphasis on the abstract expressionists active during this period. Willem de Kooning, Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, and Andy Warhol are all here, as are a dazzling array of lesser knowns. If you’re the kind of guy or gal who goes to the Museum of Modern Art on a first date, you’ll love Painters Painting. Also airs at 11:15 AM.

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