TCM Celebrates Norma Shearer, the "First Lady of MGM," showing 22 of her films on Tuesdays in November...

For many years Norma Shearer was touted as the "First Lady of MGM," reigning as the Queen of that legendary studio for the first 18 years of its existence (1924-40). She was indeed Queen Norma, but not for the reason her most vocal rival Joan Crawford always gave. According to Joan, Norma got all the best parts "because she was sleeping with the boss." To give Joan her due, that was partially true: Norma indeed bedded down with the boss, MGM's head of production Irving Thalberg, but did so legitimately -- she was Mrs. Irving Thalberg. However, if her films hadn't consistently made big profits and pulled big lines at movie box offices around the country, no one, not even the brilliant Thalberg, would have been allowed by studio investors and shareholders to continue giving her the starring roles in so many of the studios most important and costly projects. 

But it's not just her grosses but her work that is the real proof of why she was such an immensely important star, and every Tuesday this month on TCM you can see 22 grand examples of that work.

November 3:

Lady of the Night (1924)

A Lady of Chance (1928)

The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg (1927)

He Who Gets Slapped (1924)

November: 10:

Private Lives (1931)

A Free Soul (1931)

Let Us Be Gay (1930)

The Divorcee (1930)

Their Own Desire (1929)

The Last o Mrs. Cheyney (1929)

November 17:

Strangers May Kiss (1931)

Smilin' Through (1932)

Strange Interlude (1932)

The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1934)

Riptide (1934)

Romeo and Juliet (1936)

November 24:

Marie Antoinette (1938)

The Women (1939)

Idiot's Delight (1939)

Escape (1940)

Her Cardboard Lover (1942)

We Were Dancing (1942)