Turner Classic Movies Vintage Movies, Old Movies, 40s, 50s 70s : May 16 to 17, 2009 Review

Turner Classic Movies offers a plethora of worthwhile classic movies this coming weekend and I've made some suggestions to consider. 

The highlight on Saturday May 16th 2009 on Turner Classic Movies is a marathon of movies featuring actor Edward Arnold.   Some of you may say.. who?  And if you enjoy old movies it's time for you to immerse yourself in the pleasures of watching this non-matinee idol with a deep rich voice, display his versatility in the following 5 films.

The Arnold love-fest kicks off at 5 p.m. on the West Coast with the classic 1941 Devil and Daniel Webster in which a farmer sells his soul to the devil in exchange for seven years of good crops.  Stars Arnold, Walter Huston, Jane Darwell and Simone Simon , directed by William Dieterle.

Then at 7 p.m. we have 1942's Eyes in the Night ,Blind detective Duncan Maclain in a busy plot involving enemy agents and murder just because Duncan tries to help an old friend deal with his out of control step-daughter.  Stars Edward Arnold, Ann Harding,  Donna Reed and is directed by Fren Zinnemann. 

 At 8:30  pacific time, it's 1956's  The Houston Story which is an entertaining bit of fluff about a rough tough texas oil due who is attempting to steal millions of dollars in oil.  Stars Gene Barry, Barbara Hale and is directed by William Castle.

My favorite of these Arnold flicks is on at 10 p.m.  It's 1936's  Come and Get It, a romantic comedy drama with almost a screwball comedy plot, a fast witty script and some great emoting for Arnold and his co-stars which include one of Frances Farmer's best performances.  Just look at the cast:  Joel McCrea, Walter Brennan, Edward Arnold and Frances Farmer, directed by the great William Wyler.  It's a must see.

A dated tough guy movie wraps up the Arnold marathon with 1956's very entertaing Miami Expose in which a police detective puts the pressure on the only witness to a gangland murder to get to the mobsters.  It's got Lee J. Cobb in it too and is directed by  Fred F. Sears whose good at these kinds of flicks..

Get to know Arnold.. Edward Arnold that is.

 On Sunday May 17th 

You can watch the almost overstylized Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth near classic Lady From Shanhai  (it features that famous mirror sequence) at 7:00 a.m. in the morning; then you can see the Billy Wilder noir masterpiece Double Indemnity, and at 12:30 the disturbing film version of Truman Capote's classic In Cold Blood

You might want to check out the Oscar Winning  In the Heat of the Night with Rod Steiger and Sidney Poitier as MISTER Tibbs in the late afternoon.

 There's also an excellent double feature of two minor early 70's gems dealing with quirky flawed characters who follow the Rodeo circuit.  The first and best is Sam Peckinpah's  Junior Bonner featuring one of Steve McQueen's best performances as an over the hill rodeo rider trying to deal with his dysfunctional family and get to know his dad superbly played by Robert Preston, which is followed at 7 p.m. with J.W. Coop featuring one of Cliff Robertson's best performances. He plays an ex-con returning to the rodeo circuit after a prison stint and wanting to turn over a new leaf and make amends for some of the lousy things he did. Robertson also directed.   Well matched films for a double feature with Bonner at 5 p.m. and Coop at 7 p.m.