Turner Classic Movies: 31 Days of Oscar
CMH Picks: Week Two
Saturday February 15: Talk of the Town at 8:00AM
7 Nominations: Best Picture, Best Writing Original Story, Best Writing Screenplay, Best Cinematography Black-and-White, Best Art Direction-Interior Decoration Black-and-White, Best Film Editing, Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture 1943
I wouldn’t mind being Jean Arthur in this movie.
In all honestly, I don’t think you’ll find another film that mixes comedy, romance, drama, and social commentary quite like this one. Although the film features two of classic Hollywood’s most sophisticated leading men, Cary Grant and Ronald Coleman, I would say the film’s leading lady, Jean Arthur, is the reason you should watch. She gives a stellar performance.
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Sunday February 16: The Lion in Winter at 3:30PM
3 Wins: Best Actress, Best Writing Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, Best Music Original Score for a Motion Picture (not a Musical); 4 Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director, Best Costume Design 1969
Keepin’ it classy, even in prison.
Medieval politics, plotting relatives and Katharine Hepburn as the Queen Regent of England: what more could you possibly want from a movie? Well, if you need anymore convincing, just know that Peter O’Toole Plays King Henry II with a young Anthony Hopkins playing their rebellious son, Richard.
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Monday February 17:The Music Man at 10:00PM
1 Win: Best Music Scoring of Music Adaptation or Treatment; 5 Nominations: Best Art Direction-Set Decoration Color, Best Costume Design Color, Best Sound, Best Film Editing 1963
Can we do this in my town please? Please, Brooklyn. Let’s do this.
Sometimes you just need a nice, feel-good movie to get you through the day. The Music Man is definitely one of those films. If the song “Pick-a-Little, Talk-a-Little” doesn’t brighten yours, then I’m sorry but we can’t be friends.
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Tuesday February 18: The Umbrellas of Cherbourg at 8:00AM
4 Nominations: Best Writing Story and Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen, Best Music Original Song, Best Music Score – Substantially Original, Best Music Scoring of Music Adaptation or Treatment 1966
Why can’t the world look like this?
This film is, to me, one of the most aesthetically beautiful, with the most visually popping Technicolor palette of the 1960’s. And there’s the fact that all of the film’s dialogue is sung. Mix that with a tragic story of wartime love, and you have yourself one of the best films to come out of France during the 1960’s. And France made some amazing films during the 60’s.
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Wednesday February 19: On the Beach at 8:00AM
2 Nominations: Best Film Editing, Best Music Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture 1960
You would think a movie about the nuclear apocalypse would sound less fun.
If you have work at 8 in the morning, do yourself a favor and DVR this film. The cast alone makes it worthwhile to watch. I mean, it has Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire and Anthony Perkins in some of the best dramatic roles of their careers. But don’t watch it if you need a pick-me-up, this one can be a downer.
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Thursday February 20: Of Human Bondage at 8:00PM
1 Nomination: Best Actress (write-in nomination)
Bette Davis, channeling her best alternative rock girl.
The role that won Bette Davis her first Oscar – even if it wasn’t for this film. What am I talking about? Well, in 1934, Ms. Davis wasn’t nominated but, instead, campaigned as a “write in” candidate. Although she didn’t win that year, she did win the next year for her role in Dangerous – a win even Davis acknowledges as an “oops, we’re sorry” win from the Academy. In short, see this film. Davis is a pure win in it.
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Friday February 21: Cool Hand Luke at 3:30PM
1 Win: Best Supporting Actor; 3 Nominations: Best Actor, Best Writing Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, Best Music Original Music Score 1968
“I can eat 50 eggs.”
I know you’ve probably seen this 10 times over but, hey, why not see it ten times more? I truly never get tired of this film. I think it might have something to do with Paul Newman’s fantastic performance but it looks like I’ll have to watch it again to make absolutely sure.
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Minoo Allen for Classic Movie Hub
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