TCM's Summer Under the Stars 2019

Tomorrow August begins, which for Turner Classic Movies fans means the start of Summer Under the Stars, the month long marathon in which TCM dedicates an entire day to one star. This year has a stellar line-up, featuring not only well-known classics but lesser known classics as well. I am particularly looking forward to August 6, when they celebrate Lena Horne and show Stormy Weather (1943);  August 15, when they celebrate Rod Steiger and show two of my all time favourite movies, The Loved One (1965) and In the Heat of the Night (1967); August 16, when they celebrate Irene Dunne and show The Awful Truth (1937); August 19, when they celebrate Buster Keaton and show The Cameraman (1928), The General (1927); and Sherlock, Jr. (1924); and August 21, when they celebrate Joel McCrea and show The Most Dangerous Game (1932).

Like most Summers Under the Stars, this year's edition features many newcomers to the marathon. As shocking as it might seem given she was the top box office star for the Thirties, this marks Shirley Temple's first time on Summer Under the Stars. I am not at all a fan of the movies she made as a little girl, but I adore many of her movies she made once she entered her teens, especially The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (1947). Shirley Temple's day is August 4. Another newcomer to Summer Under the Stars that one would have thought would have been honoured many times before is also one of my all-time favourite actors, Mevlyn Douglas. They are showing some of his best movies on August 5, including Arsene Lupin Returns (1938) and Ninotchka (1939). On August 10 they honour one of only three PEGOT winners and still one of the sexiest women to ever live, the legendary Rita Moreno. The line-up includes West Side Story (1961) and Marlowe (1969). August 13 is dedicated to Brian Donlevy, another legend one would have thought would have been honoured before. They are showing some of his best films, including The Quatermass Xperiment (1956). The next day, August 14, they honour Liv Ullmann with her films including Autumn Sonata (1978). On August 15 TCM celebrates incredible character actor Rod Steiger, whose films I count among my favourites I mentioned earlier. August 20 is dedicated to Dorothy Maguire, with films including A Summer Place (1959). August 22 will be a treat for Pre-Code fans, as it is dedicated to the beautiful Leila Hyams. Among her films they are showing are the legendary horror movies Freaks (1932) and Island of Lost Souls (1932). On August 25 they honour Dustin Hoffman with such films as The Graduate (1967) and Marathon Man (1976). August 27 TCM celebrates Walter Brennan, showing such films as Rio Bravo (1959) and To Have and Have Not (1944). Finally, August 24 is dedicated to Paul Lukas with such movies as The Lady Vanishes (1943) and The Three Musketeers (1938).

Anyway, this looks to be one of the best Summer Under the Stars in some time, which is saying something given how good they have been the past many years.