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Friday 7/16/10

1:30 AM Starz
Black Dynamite (2009 USA): Last year’s funniest—and perhaps most profane—comedy makes its small screen debut in the wee, wee hours of this morning. Written and directed by Scott Sanders, this parodic love letter to the black action films of the 1970s manages to bring fresh life to a genre previously explored by such comedies as I’m Gonna Git You Sucka (1988). Michael Jai White stars as Black Dynamite, a hypermasculine chap who’s determined to stick it to those who’ve been flooding the streets with heroin, prostitutes, and really, really bad malt liquor that can rob a brother of his, shall we say, tumescence. Shot on film stock that looks like it’s been soaking in vinegar for the last thirty years and featuring a funktastic score courtesy Adrian Younge, Black Dynamite co-stars Arsenio Hall (excellent as gangster Tasty Freeze), Tommy Davidson, and former Lounge Lizard Richard Edson. Also airs at 4:30 AM.

7:15 AM Turner Classic Movies
Cry Wolf (1947 USA): I’m a little surprised I haven’t written about this one in the past, but there’s only so much space in any given column and only so much room on any given DVD recorder. Cry Wolf stars Barbara Stanwyck as Sandra, a mysterious woman who drops by the estate of moneyed Mark Caldwell (Errol Flynn) in search of the inheritance supposedly left to her by Caldwell’s nephew James (Richard Basehart). Whilst the search for a will gets underway, Sandra is invited to stay, befriending James’ younger sister Julie (Geraldine Brooks) in the process—and learning that something rather strange seems to be going on in that locked wing of the Caldwell estate. Cry Wolf doesn’t always work—the writing is not terribly good, the plot machinations far from entirely believable—but the excellent cast makes up for a lot. Also on hand: perennial smoothie Jerome Cowan as Errol’s glad-handing politician brother Charles.

Saturday 7/17/10

7:30 AM Turner Classic Movies
Triple Trouble (1950 USA): The Bowery Boys get stitched up by gangsters in Triple Trouble, the nineteenth film in the series. After Slip, Sach, Whitey and the rest witness a robbery, they’re arrested on suspicion—and Slip and Sach end up doing time in the Big House, where they hope to track down the parties responsible for the crime. Look for former matinee idol Lyle Talbot in an uncredited bit part as a prison guard.

Sunday 7/18/10

12:30 AM Turner Classic Movies
Outpost in Morocco (1951 USA): Sorry for relying so heavily on TCM for material this week, but sometimes they’re the only game in town. We’ll conclude this salute to our favorite channel with brief acknowledgment of this rather ordinary adventure flick, which at the very least is worth a look for a surprisingly good cast and location photography. Independently produced but released by United Artists, Outpost in Morocco stars George Raft as Paul Gerard, a French Foreign Legion captain escorting beautiful and exotic Emir’s daughter Cara (dark and dangerous Marie Windsor) back to Dad’s mountain redoubt. As a side benefit, Gerard is hoping to learn about the Emir’s (Eduard Franz) secret plans—but rebellion is brewing amongst the local tribes, and he soon has his hands full keeping the natives under control. Co-starring John Litel and Akim Tamiroff, the film was partly shot on location in Morocco, which certainly improves its verisimilitude.

Monday 7/19/10

9:00 PM IFC
After Dark, My Sweet (1991 USA): A neo-noir based on a novel by the great Jim Thompson (and if you haven’t checked out Michael Winterbottom’s recent adaptation of Thompson’s greatest work, The Killer Inside Me, make hence forthwith to your nearest arthouse), After Dark My Sweet stars Jason Patric as a boxer with problems. Kevin ‘Kid’ Collins has just done a runner from the loony bin, and is now shacking up with widow Fay Anderson (Rachel Ward), who’s taken him in not so much out of generosity as out of neediness. Fay wants a drinking companion, a warm body, and an assistant for Uncle Bud (Bruce Dern), a former cop who’s cooked up a hare-brained scheme to kidnap the child of a moneyed local family. Nope, things don’t work out too well for all concerned. Directed by James Foley (Glengarry Glen Ross), After Dark My Sweet appears on television tonight for the first time in its correct aspect ratio.

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