Every year in August, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) celebrates a different actor each day by showcasing various pictures from their filmography. Starting bright and early at 6am August 1st running straight through the 31st, viewers may expect to find an eclectic mix of masterpieces, forgotten films, and uncovered gems from a specific Hollywood star.

by Rosalie Kicks, Old Sport & Editor in Chief

As we head into week three of TCM’s annual Summer Under The Stars program, I am hopeful that your DVR still has storage available. From classics, to precodes, to silent pictures, the latest slate offers an eclectic mix that is sure to make cinephiles’ hearts flutter. Below is what I’ll be watching… if you decide to join me under the stars, shoot me a note and let me know what you’ll be checking out old sport!

The Steel Trap (1952)
Airs 11:30 AM

I'm always down to watch a Joseph Cotten flick. In the case of The Steel Trap, it involves a bank heist in the name of love. Add in Teresa Wright and this noir looks like it is right up my alley.

Walk Softly, Stranger (1950)
Airs 1:00 PM

When an ex-con Chris Hale aka Steve (Joseph Cotten) moves to a small town, he is on the prowl for a new life. Unfortunately for him, his past is just around the corner and attempts to convince him to partake in a casino heist. Featuring his costar from The Third Man, Alida Valli and directed by Robert Stevenson, who gifted us the wondrous Mary Poppins and Shaggy Dog D.A., this is a crime drama that I can’t miss.

Lydia (1941)
Airs 2:15 AM

Unlike my other two choices, with Lydia I am going out on a bit of a limb here. I have not heard of this picture before but it sounded like it could be interesting. Four pals in their old age have a reunion of sorts and discuss the lady that got away… the titular Lydia. Given that she never married, something tells me there has to be a juicy story here. Hopefully my intuition is correct.

Underwater! (1955)
Airs 6:00 AM

A few weeks ago, my partner in crime sent me the poster to this flick and, well… it piqued my interest. Filmed in Superscope Technicolor, produced by Howard Hughes, and an exclamation point in the title makes me believe this will be one wild adventure. For those unfamiliar, Superscope refers to 35mm film with a larger image frame. Well, just the technical aspects alone are enough to convince me to give this one a peek. The story does not sound half bad either. When two scuba divers discover a shipwreck at the bottom of the ocean, they believe it may contain treasure. Their plans get thwarted when they have a run-in with pesky foragers.

The Las Vegas Story (1952)
Airs 1:00 PM

Jane Russell and Las Vegas, well that is enough for me to give this one a shot. Bonus points for Vincent Price as a costar. After getting hitched, a couple arrive in Sin City where the wife’s past catches up with her. Another flick produced by Howard Hughes and, coincidentally, is directed by Robert Stevenson. Seems I’ll be catching two flicks the old sport helmed in one week.

The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown (1957)
Airs 2:15 AM

Well this title is too outlandish not to hit play. On top of that, the plot seems equally as zany. After a movie star is kidnapped, everyone believes she is working an angle. Guess what? She’s not. This should be quite the spectacle and I can’t wait to tune in.

Scared Stiff (1953)
Airs 12:00 PM

I am not a huge Jerry Lewis fan. In fact, at the present time I have only watched two films in which he appears. I was close to skipping the day all together in the name of sleep until I saw that he made a horror comedy of sort entitled, Scared Stiff. In an attempt to escape a gaggle of gangsters, a couple of nightclub singers run off to Cuba with a glamorous heiress played by the famed, Lizabeth Scott. Apparently this dame does not just have looks, she also recently inherited a haunted manor on an island. This sounds absolutely spooktacular.

The Nutty Professor (1963)
Airs 8:00 PM

This is a film that I guess I feel I should watch before I die. I’ve always seen the flick at yard sales and flea markets but never pulled the trigger on the sale. Here’s my chance! Apparently a demure, nearsighted chemistry teacher concocts a potion that gives him the ability to turn into a handsome and sophisticated man about town. In all my years on planet Earth, I never knew what this movie was about or that Jerry Lewis directed and co-wrote the picture. I truly learn something each and every day.

Spitfire (1934)
Airs 6:00 AM

Katharine Hepburn is one of my favorite actors of all time and I was pleased as punch to find a trio of pictures that will be featured on Summer Under The Stars that are new to me. Spitfire tells the tale of mountain girl, Trigger Hicks (Katharine Hepburn) who finds herself in a jam when her faith healing is suspected to be witchcraft. I love witches and can’t wait to check this one off my watch list.

A Delicate Balance (1973)
Airs 3:30 PM

When Agnes (Katharine Hepburn) and Tobias (Paul Scofield) find their daughter Julia (Lee Remick) unannounced on their doorstep, they hop aboard an emotional rollercoaster. The cast also features Joseph Cotten, making it a stacked ensemble that typically deliver great performances.

Break of Hearts (1935)
Airs 4:15 AM

Famed orchestra conductor, Franz Roberti (Charles Boyer) is a womanizer and playboy. When he meets hopeful music composer Constance, the two are smitten and quickly fall for one another, which leads to a whirlwind marriage. Sadly, the happiness seems to be short lived. I have a feeling I best have the tissues ready for this one.

The Show (1927)
Airs 6:00 AM

I have watched zero John Gilbert films and, in perusing the schedule, I could not be more elated with my picks. First up is The Show from one of my favorite directors, Tod Browning. Cock Robin (John Gilbert) -what a character name - is a hype man for a sideshow known as the Palace of Illusions. The star of the show is in love with Mr. Robin which, in turn, marks him for dead by a fellow showman. Even without Browning directing, I would still watch this picture as I am always a sucker for a carnival plot.

A Woman of Affairs (1928)
Airs 6:15 PM

A love triangle story in the nineteen twenties… oh how I love a pre-code motion picture. Childhood friends Diana (Greta Garbo) and Neville (John Gilbert) are madly in love. Unfortunately, Diana’s father does not approve of their relationship and orders her to marry David (Johnny Mack Brown). However, when hit by tragedy, Diana soon finds herself spiraling only to wind up in her true love’s arms. From the description this seems like it may have the potential to be a bit steamy… can’t wait!

Flesh and The Devil (1926)
Airs 9:30 PM

Speaking of steam… the title Flesh and The Devil seems like a great follow up after viewing A Woman of Affairs and quite possibly a perfect double feature. This is another Gilbert and Garbo picture that promises to feature yet another love triangle. After Leo returns home after several years away, he finds that the love of his life has married his best friend. Given that this is a pre-code flick, I am expecting this to go a bit off the rails in the best way possible.

The Tattered Dress (1957)
Airs 1:00 PM

I was intrigued by this title, but what really sealed the fate for this watch was finding that Gail Russell (The Uninvited and Moonrise) costars. She is one of my favorite gone to soon actors and I’ve been trying to catch up with the twenty eight pictures she made. After a wealthy man’s wife, Charleen Reston (Elaine Stewart) comes home from a raucous evening in a tattered dress, the story turns deadly. Defense attorney James Gordon Blane (Jeff Chandler) also does not have martial bliss with his wife Diane (Jeanne Crain). After he signs on to represent Mr. Reston, he quickly finds the town is not very welcoming. This sorta gives me the feels of a Lifetime movie and I would be lying if I didn’t say I was totally interested.

Pinky (1949)
Airs 6:15 PM

Pinky may be problematic, but I am going to give it a shot. Initially, the picture was being directed by John Ford and was later handed over to Elia Kazan after the studio brass felt Ford was not connecting with the story. When a light-skinned black woman, Pinky (Jeanne Crain) falls head over heels for a white doctor, problems ensue when he learns her true race. Without even watching, the casting of the lead actor is definitely an issue, and I am sure after viewing I will have other points of contention. If you’re interested follow me on letterboxd here to find out.

People Will Talk (1951)
Airs 12:00 AM

This picture caught my eye when I spotted Cary Grant listed in the credits. It wound up on my watch list when I learned that he plays a character named, Dr. Praetorius. My monster brain of corpse immediately thought of the grand doctor from Bride of Frankenstein played by the illustrious character actor, Ernest Thesiger. Whether or not the two relate in any sense will be for me to find out. A doctor about town, finds himself victim of a witchhunt when a colleague does not agree with his eccentric ideas and theories. Apparently there is also an issue with a student (Jeanne Crain) and an unwanted pregnancy, that gets thrown into the mix. Directed and co-written by Joseph Mankiewicz, I sense I might be in for a wild time with this one.

Miss Sadie Thompson (1953)
Airs 8:00 AM

I’ll watch any flick starring Rita Hayworth. Even if the picture is not that great, she brings energy to it the screen that makes it tolerable. She costars alongside Jose Ferrer in this drama about a woman named Sadie who ends up stranded on an island after the ship she set sail on is quarantined. While there, she winds up causing quite the stir amongst the marines stationed there.

Moulin Rouge (1952)
Airs 8:00 PM

I attempted to watch Baz Luhrmann’s rendition of Moulin Rouge a few years back and, sadly, could not make it through. Typically, I am all for the Baz but Moulin Rouge was a tad bit much for me. With that said, I am looking forward to checking this version out, especially after finding out it was directed and produced by John Huston.

The Great Man (1957)
Airs 12:15 AM

There was a time in my life when I had aspirations to be a journalist. Specifically, I wanted to be the reporter responsible for writing obituaries. When I read that Joe Harris (José Ferrer) was attempting to prepare a eulogy for a radio host that recently passed and comes to find that no one liked the guy, I had a sigh relief that maybe I dodged a bullet. To be tasked with honoring a person that was a stain on society is not an easy feat. I look forward to seeing how Joe Harris handles the situation and excited to see one of the seven pictures that José Ferrer directed.