TCM Schedule for Saturday, March 8, 2014 -- The Essentials - Paddy Chayefsky & Delbert Mann

Tonight's edition of The Essentials features the three theatrical films written by Paddy Chayefsky and directed by Delbert Mann. Enjoy!



7:00 AM -- Hollywood Without Make-Up (1966)
In this special, Ken Murray hosts his own behind-the-scenes home movies of some of Hollywood's greatest stars.
Cast: Ken Murray,
BW-50 mins,


7:52 AM -- Rowan & Martin At The Movies (1969)
This public service short has two comedians, Dan Rowan and Dick Martin, host a show utilizing stock clips of famous celebrities.
Dir: Jack Arnold
C-11 mins,


8:15 AM -- The Sunshine Boys (1975)
A feuding comedy team reunites for a television comeback.
Dir: Herbert Ross
Cast: Walter Matthau, George Burns, Richard Benjamin
C-111 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Won an Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role -- George Burns

Nominated for Oscars for Best Actor in a Leading Role -- Walter Matthau, Best Writing, Screenplay Adapted From Other Material -- Neil Simon, and Best Art Direction-Set Decoration -- Albert Brenner and Marvin March

When George Burns won the Oscar, at his acceptance speech he said: "This is all so exciting. I've decided to keep making one movie every 36 years. You get to be new again." Later Burns added, "I'm thinking of taking on Gentile roles and becoming the new Robert Redford."


10:07 AM -- The Sunshine Boys (1975)
This promotional short presents interviews with the cast and crew of "The Sunshine Boys" (1975).
C-7 mins,


10:15 AM -- Carson on TCM: Neil Simon (6/26/80) (2013)
TCM presents an interview from The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson, with Neil Simon from 6/26/80.
C-8 mins, CC,

Almost every one of Simon's 30-plus plays, mostly Broadway comedies, has also been adapted into a motion picture-- the greatest such achievement of any playwright/author, even surpassing William Shakespeare. As a result, Simon has received more Oscar and Tony nominations than any other writer in the history of show business.


10:30 AM -- Murder on a Bridle Path (1936)
Schoolteacher Hildegarde Withers matches wits with the police to solve the murder of a society bride in Central Park.
Dir: Edward Killy
Cast: James Gleason, Helen Broderick, Louise Latimer
BW-67 mins, CC,

Although this is the first and only time Helen Broderick played Hildegarde Withers in the six picture series, James Gleason did play Inspector Oscar Piper in all of them. The other Hildegarde Withers were Edna May Oliver (in the first three films), Zasu Pitts (in the last two), and Eve Arden (in a 1972 TV movie based on the same character).


11:45 AM -- Dark Passage (1947)
A man falsely accused of his wife's murder escapes to search for the real killer.
Dir: Delmer Daves
Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Bruce Bennett
BW-106 mins, CC,

There is an 8x10 photo shown in the film of Humphrey Bogart's character before his face surgery. The actor's face in the photo is of character actor Frank Wilcox.


1:38 PM -- Around The World Under The Sea (Shorter Featurette) (1966)
This promotional short offers a look at the feature film "Around the World Under the Sea" (1966).
C-5 mins,


1:45 PM -- Around The World In 80 Days (1956)
A Victorian gentleman bets that he can beat the world's record for circling the globe.
Dir: Michael Anderson
Cast: Cantinflas, Finlay Currie, Robert Morley
C-182 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Won Oscars for Best Writing, Best Screenplay - Adapted -- James Poe, John Farrow and S.J. Perelman, Best Cinematography, Color -- Lionel Lindon, Best Film Editing -- Gene Ruggiero and Paul Weatherwax, Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture -- Victor Young (Posthumously), and Best Picture

Nominated for Oscars for Best Director -- Michael Anderson, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color -- James W. Sullivan, Ken Adam and Ross Dowd, and Best Costume Design, Color -- Miles White

The term "cameo", meaning in this case a small part by a famous person, was popularized by the many "cameo appearances" in this film. The following famous people appear in small parts in the film, and are credited: A.E. Matthews, Alan Mowbray, Andy Devine, Basil Sydney, Beatrice Lillie, Buster Keaton, Cesar Romero, Charles Boyer, Charles Coburn, Tim McCoy, Edmund Lowe, Edward R. Murrow, Evelyn Keyes, Fernandel, Finlay Currie, Frank Sinatra, George Raft, Gilbert Roland, Glynis Johns, Harcourt Williams, Hermione Gingold, Jack Oakie, Joe E. Brown, John Carradine, John Mills, José Greco, Luis Miguel Dominguín, Martine Carol, Marlene Dietrich, Melville Cooper, Mike Mazurki, Noel Coward, Peter Lorre, Red Skelton, Reginald Denny, Richard Wattis, Robert Morley, Ronald Colman, Ronald Squire, Cedric Hardwicke, John Gielgud, Trevor Howard and Victor McLaglen.


5:00 PM -- Village Of The Damned (1961)
After a mysterious blackout, the inhabitants of a British village give birth to emotionless, super-powered offspring.
Dir: Wolf Rilla
Cast: George Sanders, Barbara Shelley, Martin Stephens
BW-77 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

The blond wigs that the children wear had a built-in dome to give the impression that they had a larger than normal cranium.


6:30 PM -- It! The Terror From Beyond Space (1958)
A blood-sucking monster stalks the crew of a U.S. spaceship.
Dir: Edward L. Cahn
Cast: Marshall Thompson, Shawn Smith, Kim Spalding
BW-69 mins, CC,

The mask of the monster suit was altered considerably. When Ray Corrigan was fitted for the monster suit, the mask was initially too tight. Paul Blaisdell, the maker of the monster suit, had to remove and rebuild the monster's lower jaw so the mask would fit better. Unfortunately, Corrigan's chin stuck out through the opening made in the mask. Blaisdell made up Corrigan's chin to look like the monster's tongue. The mask's original eyes (large and catlike, a Blaisdell trademark) were also removed so that we see Corrigan's own eyes behind the mask.


7:43 PM -- Alert Today - Alive Tomorrow (1956)
This short film promotes the need for cooperation and neighborliness in the event of a nuclear disaster and associated civil defense procedures.
Dir: Larry O'Reilly
BW-15 mins,



TCM PRIMETIME - WHAT'S ON TONIGHT: THE ESSENTIALS: PADDY CHAYEFSKY AND DELBERT MANN



8:00 PM -- Marty (1955)
A lonely butcher finds love despite the opposition of his friends and family.
Dir: Delbert Mann
Cast: Ernest Borgnine, Betsy Blair, Esther Minciotti
BW-94 mins, CC,

Won Oscars for Best Actor in a Leading Role -- Ernest Borgnine, Best Director -- Delbert Mann, Best Writing, Screenplay -- Paddy Chayefsky, and Best Picture

Nominated for Oscars for Best Actor in a Supporting Role -- Joe Mantell, Best Actress in a Supporting Role -- Betsy Blair,
Best Cinematography, Black-and-White -- Joseph LaShelle, and Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White -- Ted Haworth, Walter M. Simonds and Robert Priestley

Betsy Blair, who portrayed Clara, was almost not permitted to do the film by Hecht-Lancaster Productions and United Artists due to the 1950s Hollywood Blacklist. However, Gene Kelly, her husband at the time, basically blackmailed United Artists and Hecht-Lancaster into casting her, at the last minute, by threatening not to direct or star in any of UA's or Hecht Lancaster's productions if she was not cast for the role.


9:45 PM -- Middle of the Night (1959)
A widowed businessman courts a younger woman who works for him.
Dir: Delbert Mann
Cast: Kim Novak, Glenda Farrell, Jan Norris
BW-117 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

The original Broadway production of "Middle of the Night" opened at the ANTA Playhouse in New York on February 8, 1956, ran for 477 performances and received two Tony Award acting nominations. Paddy Chayefsky wrote the stage play and adapted his work for the movie version. Effie Afton, Martin Balsam, Lee Philips and Betty Walker recreated their stage roles for the movie version.


11:51 PM -- Wild Water (1957)
This short film focuses on the sport of kayaking.
Dir: Earle Luby
BW-8 mins,


12:00 AM -- The Bachelor Party (1957)
A group of frustrated office workers try to give their engaged friend a big send-off.
Dir: Delbert Mann
Cast: Nancy Marchand, Carolyn Jones, Patricia Smith
BW-94 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Nominated
Oscar Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Carolyn Jones

Movie debut of Nancy Marchand. You may remember her as Mrs. Pyncheon, the newspaper owner in the television series Lou Grant, and Livia Soprano, the matriarch on The Sopranos.


1:37 AM -- Stopover In Hollywood (1963)
This short film takes the viewer to various landmarks and attractions in Hollywood, CA.
Dir: Will Williams
Cast: Lori Lyons, Tony Winhall,
C-16 mins,


3:00 AM -- Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One (1968)
Cameras capture the backstage drama as acting students audition for a film.
Dir: William Greaves
Cast: Patricia Ree Gilbert, Don Fellows, Jonathan Gordon
C-75 mins,

Followed by Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take 2 1/2 (2005)


4:15 AM -- Who's That Knocking at My Door (1967)
A young Catholic faces guilt when he discovers the love of his life has been raped.
Dir: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Zina Bethune, Harvey Keitel, Lennard Kuras
BW-90 mins, Letterbox Format

There is no question mark in the title "Who's That Knocking at My Door." Having a question mark in the title of a movie is considered bad luck in the industry.


5:45 AM -- Changing (1971)
A young family tries to cope with shifting social values in this short film.
Dir: Hubert Smith
C-28 mins,