TCM Schedule for Friday, June 19, 2020 -- What's On Tonight: Nicholas Ray

[Staph]

In the daylight hours, TCM is all about film noir. Tell us more, Roger!

Film noir, or "black film," is an indigenous American art form, reflecting a cynical mood in the country in the days after World War II and continuing as a compelling genre today. These movies are traditionally photographed in glittering black and white, with plots that are often sparked by crime and sexual obsession.

TCM presents a daytime of such stories, offering a look at the dark side of humanity as viewed through the shadowy lens of noir.

The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946) comes from a studio not generally associated with noir, MGM. But all the elements are in place for this compelling screen version of the James M. Cain novel, from the taut direction of Tay Garnett to the high-contrast cinematography of Sidney Wagner and the smoldering presence of stars Lana Turner and John Garfield. Turner, at the height of her beauty and costumed all in white, plays an unhappily married woman who seduces drifter Garfield and draws him into a plot to murder her older husband (Cecil Kellaway).

Clash by Night (1952), a domestic drama with a noir flavor, offers one of Barbara Stanwyck's best performances. In this adaptation of the Clifford Odets play, Stanwyck plays a world-weary, middle-aged woman who returns to her hometown of Monterey in search of security. She finds it in a marriage to a simple fisherman (Paul Douglas) but grows restless after being attracted to his cynical, sexy best friend (Robert Ryan). Fritz Lang directs to powerful effect, and Marilyn Monroe shines as a young cannery worker who befriends Stanwyck.

Niagara (1953), also starring Monroe, is a relatively rare "Technicolor noir," with a leading lady and background scenery that seemed to cry out for color. Monroe plays one of those noir dames looking to rid herself of an older husband (in this case, Joseph Cotten). As the couple vacations at Niagara Falls, a pair of honeymooners (Jean Peters and Casey Adams) are drawn into the plot. Director Henry Hathaway keeps things moving at a brisk pace, and cinematographer Joseph MacDonald does justice to both natural wonders - Monroe and the Falls.

Other films noir in our showcase are Andre De Toth's Pitfall (1948), Rudolph Maté's D.O.A. (1949), Jules Dassin's Night and the City (1950), Anthony Mann's Side Street (1950) and Phil Karlson's Kansas City Confidential (1952).

by Roger Fristoe

Then in prime time, TCM has a selection of films from writer/director Nicholas Ray. Fascinating fact -- Prior to entering the film business, he studied architecture under Frank Lloyd Wright. As a result, many critics note his brilliant use of geography and space. Enjoy!


6:00 AM -- SIDE STREET (1950)
A New York City mailman is chased by both cops and crooks when he steals a shipment of dirty money.
Dir: Anthony Mann
Cast: Farley Granger, Cathy O'Donnell, James Craig
BW-82 mins, CC,

The drugstore that Joe Norson calls from is the set of another MGM "film noir", Tension (1949), which was shooting at approximately the same time.


7:30 AM -- CLASH BY NIGHT (1952)
An embittered woman seeks escape in marriage, only to fall for her husband's best friend.
Dir: Fritz Lang
Cast: Barbara Stanwyck, Paul Douglas, Robert Ryan
BW-105 mins, CC,

This movie was shot while Barbara Stanwyck was in the process of divorcing Robert Taylor. The movie also featured the rising young star Marilyn Monroe. Barbara gave a good performance in one of her most memorable films. Despite her emotional devastation, the crew noted Barbara's lack of a diva tantrum, Fritz Lang later said, "She's fantastic, unbelievable, and I liked her tremendously. When Marilyn missed her lines---which she did constantly---Barbara never said a word."


9:30 AM -- D.O.A. (1950)
The victim of a slow-acting poison tracks down his own killer.
Dir: Rudolph Maté
Cast: Edmond O'Brien, Pamela Britton, Luther Adler
BW-84 mins, CC,

The scene in which Bigelow runs in panic through the streets after learning he has been poisoned was a stolen shot. The pedestrians had no idea a movie was being made and no warning that Edmond O'Brien would be plowing through them.


11:00 AM -- THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE (1946)
Illicit lovers plot to kill the woman's older husband.
Dir: Tay Garnett
Cast: Lana Turner, John Garfield, Cecil Kellaway
BW-113 mins, CC,

James M. Cain was so impressed with Lana Turner's performance he presented her with a leather-bound copy of the book inscribed, "For my dear Lana, thank you for giving a performance that was even finer than I expected."


1:00 PM -- KANSAS CITY CONFIDENTIAL (1952)
To commit the perfect crime, a former detective keeps his colleagues' identities secret from each other.
Dir: Phil Karlson
Cast: John Payne, Coleen Gray, Preston Foster
BW-99 mins, CC,

None of this movie was shot in Kansas City.


2:45 PM -- THE PITFALL (1948)
A married insurance man falls for a criminal's girlfriend.
Dir: Andre DeToth
Cast: Dick Powell, Lizabeth Scott, Jane Wyatt
BW-86 mins, CC,

To get by the Hayes Code office, that would normally not allow a good guy (John) to be an adulterer - and suffer no consequences - director De Toth met with two prominent officials with the office who were married and let them know he knew of their mistresses. The production did not have any problems with the Hayes Code after that meeting.


4:30 PM -- NIAGARA (1953)
Honeymooners get mixed up with an obsessive husband and his cheating wife.
Dir: Henry Hathaway
Cast: Marilyn Monroe, Joseph Cotten, Jean Peters
C-89 mins, CC,

Even though she had a starring role, Marilyn Monroe was still under contract to 20th Century-Fox as a stock actor at a fixed salary, so she actually made less money than her make-up man did.


6:15 PM -- NIGHT AND THE CITY (1950)
A London hustler has ambitious plans that never work out.
Dir: Jules Dassin
Cast: Richard Widmark, Gene Tierney, Googie Withers
BW-96 mins, CC,

Director Jules Dassin made the film while in the process of being blacklisted. Fox studio chief Darryl F. Zanuck told him it may be the last film he'd ever direct, so he should shoot the most expensive scenes first so the studio wouldn't be able to blacklist him until it was completed.



TCM PRIMETIME - WHAT'S ON TONIGHT: NICHOLAS RAY



8:00 PM -- REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (1955)
An alienated teenager tries to handle life's troubles and an apron-wearing dad.
Dir: Nicholas Ray
Cast: James Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo
C-111 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

Nominee for Oscars for Best Actor in a Supporting Role -- Sal Mineo, Best Actress in a Supporting Role -- Natalie Wood, and Best Writing, Motion Picture Story -- Nicholas Ray

Natalie Wood was first considered too young for the role of Judy. Even though she was the same age as the character, she was at least 5 years younger than all the other candidates except Margaret O'Brien. She adopted a mature woman's hairstyle, started wearing heavy eye makeup and eventually attracted the notice of director Nicholas Ray, 43, who began an affair with the 16-year-old and gave her the part.


10:00 PM -- THEY LIVE BY NIGHT (1948)
After an unjust prison sentence, a young innocent gets mixed-up with hardened criminals and a violent escape.
Dir: Nicholas Ray
Cast: Cathy O'Donnell, Farley Granger, Howard Da Silva
BW-95 mins, CC,

The opening helicopter shot was the first scene that Nicholas Ray ever directed.


12:00 AM -- IN A LONELY PLACE (1950)
An aspiring actress begins to suspect that her temperamental boyfriend is a murderer.
Dir: Nicholas Ray
Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Gloria Grahame, Frank Lovejoy
BW-93 mins, CC,

Producer Robert Lord was worried about having Nicholas Ray and Gloria Grahame, then husband and wife whose marriage was on the rocks, working together. He made Grahame sign a contract stipulating that "my husband shall be entitled to direct, control, advise, instruct, and even command my actions during the hours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., every day except Sunday. I acknowledge that in every conceivable situations his will and judgment shall be considered superior to mine, and shall prevail." Grahame was also forbidden to "nag, cajole, tease, or in any other feminine fashion seek to distract or influence him."


2:00 AM -- HARDCORE (1979)
A conservative Midwest father ventures into the underworld of pornography in California to look for his runaway teenage daughter.
Dir: Paul Schrader
Cast: George C Scott, Peter Boyle, Season Hubley
BW-108 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

The movie was based on a real true life story. As a high school student, writer-director Paul Schrader had heard about a local teenage girl in Grand Rapids, Michigan who went missing and who eventually was found to have appeared in an adult movie. This local mini scandal organically evolved into the screenplay for this picture.


4:00 AM -- THE YAKUZA (1974)
Trying to help a kidnapped girl puts a private eye on the wrong side of the Yakuza.
Dir: Sydney Pollack
Cast: Robert Mitchum, Ken Takakura, Brian Keith
C-112 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

This script sold for $300,000 (plus 30% of net profits) which was the highest amount ever paid for a script at the time.