Pets on Sets on TCM in December

Kim Novak and Pyewacket from
Bell, Book and Candle

On Wednesdays this December, Turner Classic Movies has a real treat for animal lovers. They have a group of movies highlighting Pets on Sets. That is, every Wednesday TCM is showing movies featuring animals. On December 4 they are showing films starting dogs, including Lassie Come Home (1943) and Adventures of Rusty (1945). On December 11 they are showing movies featuring cats and horses, including Bell, Book and Candle (1958), Harry and Tonto (1974), and The Black Stallion (1979). On December 18 they are showing movies featuring various animals, including The Yearling (1946) and Flipper (1963). Finally, Christmas night sees a return to movies with dogs, starting with The Thin Man (1934).

Not only will TCM be showing movies featuring animals on Wednesdays in December, but the movies will be co-hosted by such celebrity animals as the dog Cruiser (who has appeared on the TV show Stranger Things), the cat Ziva (who appeared in Spider-Man: Homecoming), and the mini-horse Lark. Also on hand will be Carol and Ted Tresan, the owners and operators of Animal Casting Atlanta, which trains animal actors. 

I am sure many TCM fans who are also pet guardians will want to share this news with their pets. I shared it with my cat Malcolm Reynolds, although he commented that there are far too many movies with dogs and not enough with cats. He pointed out that they could also show Rhubarb (1951) and Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), both starring the most famous feline star of them all, Orangey. Of course, keep in mind Malcolm does not like dogs and is very proud to be a cat. At any rate, I think humans who love animals won't have any complaints about TCM's selections of movies for Pets on Sets!

Christmas Movies on TCM in December

Every December Turner Classic Movies shows a number of holiday classics. And every year I provide a schedule for those wanting to watch Christmas movies all month long. This year is no different. As usual, I am not including any movie that I do not consider a "Christmas movie." That means I am not including Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), a movie which I dearly love and finally got to see in the theatre this past September. As much as I love the film, I never have thought of it as a "Christmas movie." I am also not including any version of Little Women, as I don't think of them as "Christmas movies" either. Here I have to go on record as saying that I am sorely disappointed that TCM is showing neither The Apartment (1960) nor Christmas in Connecticut (1945) this year, which, along with It's a Wonderful Life (1946), are my favourite Christmas movies. Fortunately, I am getting to see Christmas in Connecticut in the theatre next week! Anyway, without further ado, here is this year's schedule. All times are Central.

December 1:
11:00 AM Lady in the Lake (1947)
3:15 PM Holiday Affair (1949)
5:00 PM The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
7:00 PM A Christmas Carol (1951)
9:00 PM The Bishop's Wife (1947)

December 8:
11:00 AM A Christmas Carol (1938)
12:30 PM The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942)
2:45 PM O. Henry's Full House (1952)
5:00 PM 3 Godfathers (1949)
7:00 PM It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947)
9:15 PM The Holly and the Ivy (1952)

December 11:
7:00 PM Bell, Book and Candle (1958)

December 15:
11:00 AM Lady on a Train (1945)
12:45 PM It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947)
3:00 PM Bell, Book and Candle (1958)
5:00 PM In the Good Old Summertime (1949)
7:00 PM Holiday Affair (1949)
9:00 Remember the Night (1940)

 December 22:
11:00 AM A Night at the Movies: Merry Christmas! (2011)
12:15 PM King of Kings (1961)
3:15 PM The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)

December 23:
7:00 PM The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
9:00 PM In the Good Old Summertime (1949)

December 24:
2:30 AM Three Godfathers (1936)
4:00 AM 3 Godfathers (1949)
6:00 AM Beyond Tomorrow (1940)
7:30 AM Fitzwilly (1967)
9:15 AM Period of Adjustment (1962)
11:15 AM In the Good Old Time Summertime (1949)
1:00 PM The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942)
3:00 PM It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947)
5:15 PM Holiday Affair (1949)
7:00 PM The Bishop's Wife (1947)
11:00 PM A Christmas Carol (1938)

December 25:
12:30 AM Meet John Doe (1941)
4:30 AM The Great Rupert (1950)
6:00 AM Babes in Toyland (1934)
7:30 AM Tenth Avenue Angel (1948)
11:00 AM O. Henry's Full House (1952)
1:15 PM Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938)
3:00 PM The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
5:00 PM Susan Slept Here (1954)
7:00 PM The Thin Man (1934)

December 31:
8:15 AM The Thin Man (1934)

Happy Thanksgiving 2019

Before anything else I want to say how thankful I am for you, my readers. Keeping this blog up the past year has not been particularly easy for me at times, and I am glad you have remained with me. I also want to thank my many friends, without whom I don't know that I would have survived this year either. Finally, I want to wish all of you a happy Thanksgiving! Now, without further ado, here is ther reason I am sure many of you arrived on this page: vintage pinups!

First up is Suzy Crandall, who is carving her turkey.

Next up is Rita Hayworth, who is stalking turkeys!

A turkey is trying to convince Shirley Temple to have ham for Thanksgiving dinner!

Arlene Dahl has her turkey ready!

Angela Greene looks too guilty to shoot the poor turkey.

And it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without Ann Miller!

Happy Thanksgiving!