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11:30 PM Turner Classic Movies
Elena and Her Men (1956 FRA): Ingrid Bergman day on Summer Under the Stars continues with this extremely rare television screening of one of director Jean Renoir’s least known efforts. Bergman plays Elena Sokorowska, a Polish woman of noble birth torn between two lovers: a general (Beauty and the Beast’s Jean Marais) and a French count (Mel Ferrer). The story takes place in the days immediately preceding the outbreak of World War I, and there’s political intrigue afoot as her competing lovers vie to use her affections as a tool to advance their own interests. The film’s focus, however, is less on the intrigue than it is upon Bergman’s beauty, and it's ultimately minor league Renoir. Minor league Renoir is, of course, still pretty darn good, so you should definitely check it out.

Thursday 8/30/12

1:52 AM Fox Movie Channel
The Cloning of Clifford Swimmer (1974 USA): This long unseen episode of ABC’s "Wide World Mystery" series makes its Fox debut at an unusual time this morning. Basically a made-for-TV movie (it even clocks in at the then standard 74 minutes), The Cloning of Clifford Swimmer tells the ridiculous but enjoyable tale of a man (Peter Haskell) who clones himself so that he can spend quality time with two women at the same time. The clone, of course, gets stuck with naggy wife Janet (Sheree North), whilst the original gets to cut loose with sexy mistress Madeline (Sharon Farrell). Unfortunately for Clifford, however, his clone has a completely different temperament than he does, and things don’t go entirely as planned! Look for Lance Kerwin as Swimmer’s suspicious son Todd.

Friday 8/31/12

5:00 AM Turner Classic Movies
Submarine X-1 (1968 GB): This old-fashioned war flick features relative newcomer James Caan as a Canadian (they’re always Canadian!) naval officer trying to get his mojo back after losing his ship at sea. Caan is Commander Richard Bolton, whose previous vessel went down with fifty crew after losing a battle with a Nazi warship. Now back in the saddle, Bolton is assigned to midget submatine detail, where he prepares his tiny craft for a special mission: sink the German super battleship Lindendorf! A routine actioner with some crummy special effects, Submarine X-1 does benefit from some very nice Scottish location footage.

5:45 AM Showtime
Being Lincoln: Men With Hats (2008 USA): Apparently, you shouldn’t call them "Lincoln impersonators". These guys are "Lincoln presenters", and they belong to an association that encompasses colleagues from 38 states. Yes, that’s 38 states worth of guys in stovepipe hats, frock coats, and scraggly beards, bringing the great man’s good words to any who listen. It’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it, and you can learn all about it from this most unusual documentary. Also airs at 8:45 AM.

10:15 AM Turner Classic Movies
Another Man, Another Chance (1977 FRA-USA): This Claude Lelouch pseudo-western features James Caan (yes, it’s still Summer Under the Stars!) as unhappily married horse doctor David Williams, who meets equally disgruntled French immigrant Jeanne (Genevieve Bujold) in the small western town of Redwood. Brought together by ensuing family tragedies, Jeanne and David establish a friendship that develops into love, but trouble is never far away – especially when a land rush is involved! Co-starring the recently deceased Susan Tyrrell, Hills Have Eyes bad boy Michael Berryman (as a bad guy, of course), and Richard Farnsworth as a stage driver, Another Man Another Chance is a wee bit too long, but Caan delivers one of his best performances.

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