We’ve picked a movie a day we think you’ll enjoy during TCM’s annual Summer Under the Stars festival.
August marks Turner Classic Movies’ annual Summer Under the Stars festival, during which 24 hours of programming is devoted each day to films starring a particular actor or actress. We’ve picked a movie we think you’ll enjoy for every day in the month.
Credit: HA.com
1 of 31 The Corn Is Green (1945)
Sunday, August 1, at 10 a.m. ET
In this inspiring drama, Star of the Day Bette Davis stars as a schoolteacher intent upon founding a school to educate the boys who work in a local mine in a small town in Wales, despite the objections of the town’s squire (Nigel Bruce). John Dall and Joan Lorring, each of whom was nominated for an Oscar—for Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress, respectively—costar.
2 of 31 The Taming of the Shrew (1967)
Monday, August 2, at 10:45 p.m. ET
Franco Zeffirelli directs Richard Burton, today’s Star of the Day, and Elizabeth Taylor star in this film adaptation of William Shakespeare’s classic comedy. The casting was appropriate, as Burton and Taylor’s relationship was every bit as tumultuous at the time as Petruchio and Katharina’s in the play.
Drifter Hal Carter (William Holden) arrives in town on Labor Day to visit his old friend Alan Benson (Cliff Robertson) but problems arise when the town beauty queen (Star of the Day Kim Novak), who happens to be Benson’s girlfriend, falls for the new arrival. Susan Strasberg, Nick Adams and Rosalind Russell costar.
4 of 31 The Five Pennies (1959)
Wednesday, August 4, at 9:45 p.m. ET
Star of the Day Louis Amstrong plays a featured role in this biopic and Danny Kaye stars as legendary Dixieland cornet player Loring “Red” Nichols, who gives up his career to move his family to Los Angeles when he learns his daughter (Tuesday Weld) has developed polio. Nichols later experiences a career revival. Barbara Bel Geddes co-stars, and other musical greats—Bob Crosby, Bobby Troup and Ray Anthony, among others—make appearances.
5 of 31 Murder She Said (1961)
Thursday, August 5, at 8 p.m. ET
Dame Margaret Rutherford, TCM’s Star of the Day, shines as Agatha Christie’s amateur sleuth Miss Marple, who witnesses a murder in a passing train, only to have the police discount her credibility. This film is followed by three more pictures featuring Rutherford as Miss Marple: Murder at the Gallop (1963) at 9:45 p.m., Murder Most Foul (1964) at 11:15 p.m. and Murder Ahoy (1964) at 1 a.m.
6 of 31 One Minute to Zero (1952)
Friday, August 6, at 10:30 a.m. ET
Star of the Day Robert Mitchum, born 104 years ago today, portrays U.S. Army colonel Steve Janowski, who during the early days of the Korean War, is tasked with evacuating American citizens out of harm’s way. Ann Blyth costars.
7 of 31 Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)
Saturday, August 7, at 8 p.m. ET
Today TCM celebrates the legendary comedy team Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. There are plenty of laughs to be had all day, but we’re recommending a picture that many devoted A&C fans insist is the team’s best. It’s a great film to watch with the kids in your life; it’s very funny (and just a little bit scary at times). Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr. and Glenn Strange costar.
Star of the Day Esther Williams shines in this delightful musical comedy as fan of the national pastime who inherits ownership of a team whose players aren’t sold on the idea of playing for a female owner. Hijinks and romance ensue. Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly, Betty Garrett and Edward Arnold costar and Busby Berkeley directs.
9 of 31 Trouble in Paradise (1932)
Monday, August 9, at 4 p.m. ET
Today TCM focuses on Kay Francis, one of the 1930’s top stars. We’ve chosen a classic Ernst Lubitsch comedy for your consideration in which Francis plays a perfume magnate who is being conned—or is she?—by a gentleman thief (Herbert Marshall) and a pickpocket (Miriam Hopkins). Charles Ruggles, Edward Everett Horton and C. Aubrey Smith costar.
10 of 31 Act One (1963)
Tuesday, August 10, at 8 a.m. ET
Star of the Day George Segal stars as Lesley Sweyd, an older actor who served as a mentor to young playwright Moss Hart, on whose memoir this biopic is based. George Hamilton stars as Hart, and Jason Robards, Jack Klugman, Sam Levene and Eli Wallach costar.
Credit: HA.com
11 of 31 It Happened in Brooklyn (1947)
Wednesday, August 11 at 3:30 p.m. ET
In this romantic musical comedy, Frank Sinatra stars as Danny, a veteran returning home to Brooklyn at the end of World War II, with a newfound English pal, Jamie (Peter Lawford) in tow. As he pursues a music career, Danny rooms with Nick (Jimmy Durante), the janitor at his old school. Star of the Day Kathryn Grayson costars as a schoolteacher who dreams of being an opera singer.
12 of 31 The Cat and the Fiddle (1934)
Thursday, August 12, at 4:15 p.m. ET
In this romantic musical, based on a hit Broadway musical by Jerome Kern and Otto A. Harbach, Star of the Day Ramon Novarro plays Victor, a struggling composer trying to successfully mount his operetta. When his leading lady walks out on him, Victor is forced to turn to his old flame Shirley (Jeanette MacDonald) to fill her shoes. Frank Morgan, Charles Butterworth and Jean Hersholt costar.
In this quiet and tender romance, Star of the Day Jane Fonda and Robert De Niro play Iris, a widow who is struggling in the aftermath of her husband’s death, and Stanley, an illiterate short-order cook who has never known love. As Iris teaches Stanley to read, the two form a special bond. Swoosie Kurtz and Martha Plimpton costar.
Credit: HA.com
14 of 31 The Valley of Decision (1945)
Saturday, August 14, at 9 a.m. ET
Star of the Day Gregory Peck portrays Paul, the son of the owner of a Pennsylvania steel mill. Greer Garson plays Mary, an Irish housemaid, employed by Paul’s father, who falls in love with Paul. Matters are further complicated when Mary’s family and friends, workers at the mill, go on strike. Donald Crisp, Lionel Barrymore and Marsha Hunt costar.
Credit: HA.com
15 of 31 Summer Stock (1950)
Sunday, August 15, at 8 pm. ET
Star of the Day Judy Garland plays a farmer whose actress sister (Gloria DeHaven) shows up at the family farm with her director/boyfriend (Gene Kelly) and their theatrical troupe in tow, asking to use the barn for rehearsals. Romantic entanglements occur, songs are sung, and dances are danced (including Garland’s famous performance, in tux and black hat, of Get Happy and Gene Kelly’s acclaimed solo dance sequence to You Wonderful You). Eddie Bracken, Marjorie Main and Phil Silvers costar.
Credit: HA.com
16 of 31 The Enchanted Cottage (1945)
Monday, August 16, at 8 p.m. ET
In this charming romance with a touch of fantasy, Star of the Day Robert Young portrays a veteran whose face is scarred from war injuries and Dorothy McGuire plays a woman who was not blessed with beauty. Can love transform them? Herbert Marshall also stars.
17 of 31 Merton of the Movies (1947)
Tuesday, August 17, at 9 a.m. ET
Red Skelton plays Merton Gill, a small-town movie usher during the silent era who dreams of being in the pictures. When he becomes an unlikely hero by foiling a robbery at the theatre, he’s brought to Hollywood as a publicity stunt—only he thinks he’s truly in line to become a movie star. Virginia O’Brien plays the kindhearted who takes Merton under her wing and Star of the Day Gloria Grahame is very funny as silent screen vamp Beulah Baxter.
18 of 31 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
Wednesday, August 18, at 11 p.m.
Paul Newman and Star of the Day Robert Redford, surely the two handsomest bank robbers to ever grace the silver screen, portray real-life Old West outlaws in this not-so-traditional western. The pair are pursued throughout the film by a posse and eventually head south to Bolivia where things come to a head. Katherine Ross costars as Sundance’s love interest.
19 of 31 Repast (1951)
Thursday, August 19, at 9:45 a.m. ET
Star of the Day Setsuo Hara was one of Japan’s biggest stars until she retired suddenly and unexpectedly in 1962. In this Mikio Naruse-directed domestic drama, she plays Michiyo, a unfulfilled housewife. Her husband (Ken Uehara) has limited career prospects and her day-to-day activities are restricted to housework. When her husband’s vivacious niece (Yukiko Shimazaki) comes for a visit, he showers her with the attention Michiyo has been missing. Will Michiyo find the happiness she has long dreamed of?
20 of 31 Patterns (1947)
Friday, August 20, at 10 p.m. ET
In this drama of power and corporate intrigue, written by Rod Serling, Star of the Day Van Heflin plays Fred Staples, a young, relatively idealistic executive who butts heads with Walter Ramsey (Everett Sloane), a ruthless giant of industry who intends to use Staples as his puppet to rid himself of Bill Briggs (Ed Begley), Ramsey’s righthand man who is slowing down as he advances in years.
21 of 31 Woman of the Year (1942)
Saturday, August 21, at 2 p.m. ET
In this first cinematic pairing of Spencer Tracy and Star of the Day Katharine Hepburn, sports writer Sam and political columnist Tess, who at first don’t like each other very much, eventually fall in love and get married. But Tess is such a prominent public figure that her busy schedule puts a strain on their relationship. Can their marriage be saved?
22 of 31 Witness for the Prosecution (1957)
Sunday, August 22, at 12:45 p.m. ET
Billy Wilder’s film adaptation of Agatha Christie’s hit stage drama of the same name finds barrister Sir Wilfrid Robarts (Charles Laughton) defending Leonard Vole (Star of the Day Tyrone Power) on charges of murder. The case is made even more challenging when Vole’s wife, Christine (Marlene Dietrich), unexpectedly decides to testify against her husband in court.
In this rollicking comedy, newlyweds Arthur and Vivian (Jack Carson and Jane Wyman) are, due to a book snafu, joined in their Washington D.C. honeymoon suite by two other couples: the Cadmens (Ann Sheridan and John Ridgley) and the Dillons (Alexis Smith and Craigh Stevens). Star of the Day Eve Arden steals the show with her hilarious portrayal of a visiting Russian.
Credit: HA.com
24 of 31 The Merry Widow (1934)
Tuesday, August 24, at 6 p.m. ET
From 1930-1934, Star of the Day Maurice Chevalier made four delightful musical comedies (emphasis on the comedy), with Jeannette MacDonald as his costar in three of them and Claudette Colbert in the other. TCM is airing them all back to back today but out of order. The Merry Widow leads off at 6 p.m., Love Me Tonight (1932) follows at 8 p.m. with The Love Parade (1930) airing at 9:45 p.m. and The Smiling Lieutenant (1931) at 11:45 p.m.
25 of 31 Miracle in the Rain (1956)
Thursday, August 25, at 10 p.m. ET
In this wartime romance by Ben Hecht, Star of the Day Jane Wyman plays Ruth, a lonely NYC office worker who lives alone with her mother, Agnes (Josephine Hutchinson). One day, when a sudden cloudburst occurs, Ruth ducks into a crowded vestibule to avoid getting soaked and makes the acquaintance of Art (Van Johnson), a charming soldier from Tennessee. Yes, a romance begins and yes, they face obstacles that could spoil their happiness. But that’s all we’re going to say. Peggy Castle, Eileen Heckart and William Gargan costar.
Credit: HA.com
26 of 31 Send Me No Flowers (1964)
Thursday, August 26, at 4 p.m. ET
George (Rock Hudson), a hopeless hypochondriac, is convinced his death is imminent and so sets out to find a suitable second husband for his wife, Judy (Doris Day). Star of the Day Tony Randall, Paul Lynde and Edward Andrews costar.
27 of 31 Wuthering Heights (1939)
Friday, August 27, at 8 p.m. ET
Based on Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel of the same name, this beloved drama stars Star of the Day Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier as Catherine and Heathcliff, star-crossed lovers who never stop caring for each other but are kept apart by societal strictures. William Wyler directs and David Niven costars.
This Civil War drama stars Montgomery Clift as John, a young Indiana native whose seemingly settled life—he’s happily attached, though not yet married, to Nell (Eva Marie Saint)—is put into turmoil when Susanna (Elizabeth Taylor), a wealthy but troubled young woman from the South, pays a visit and steals his heart. Their union is troubled as Susanna descends into paranoia and delusions. Rod Taylor, Agnes Moorehead and Star of the Day Lee Marvin costar.
29 of 31 Casablanca (1942)
Sunday, August 29, at 6 p.m. ET
Few films hold up to repeated viewings as well as Casablanca; no matter how many times you’ve seen it, it’s always a good time to experience it again. Humphrey Bogart, Star of the Day Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre and Claude Rains all deliver iconic performances, and Dooley Wilson’s rendition of As Time Goes By will pull at your heartstrings. Casablanca is as close to perfect as Hollywood movies get.
30 of 31 Taxi (1931)
Monday, August 30, at 6 a.m. ET
If you’ve never seen one of Star of the Day James Cagney’s early films, you’re in for a treat. Cagney was never lacking in energy, but in his early films, he practically leaps off the screen. In this picture, he plays an streetwise cabbie fending off the dirty doings of a powerful taxi syndicate that is trying to drive independent drivers out of business. The film’s highlight? Hearing Cagney show off his fluency with Yiddish! Loretta Young costars.
Credit: HA.com
31 of 31 The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
Tuesday, August 31, at 8 p.m. ET
This beloved account of three servicemen trying to adjust to civilian life after returning from World War II earned seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (William Wyler), Best Actor (Star of the Day Fredric March), Best Supporting Actor (Harold Russell) and Best Screenplay (Robert E. Sherwood). Russell also won an honorary Oscar “for bringing hope and courage to his fellow veterans.”
The award-winning actress and singer shares her favorite Bible verse, the best advice she’s ever received, and what inspired her to write her new book.
