Noir Alley Returns to TCM in September

Like most Turner Classic Movies fans, I love Summer Under the Stars, the month-long block during which each day is devoted to a single star. If I am honest, however, I have to admit that there is one thing I don't like about Summer Under the Stars. For the entire month of August Noir Alley does not air. Of all the programming on TCM, Noir Alley is my favourite.

It is for that reason that I always look forward to the first weekend of September, when Noir Alley returns. What is more, this September looks to be a good one for Noir Alley. That having been said, I do have one caveat. On September 5 2020 the 12:00 AM Eastern/11:00 PM Central airing of Noir Alley is being pre-empted by the TCM End of Summer of Tour. As much as I love The Decline of Western Civilization (1981), I would rather see a film noir in that time slot! I suppose I will have to drag myself out of bed Sunday morning and undergo heavy caffeination or set the DVR.

Regardless, Noir Alley returns on September 6 2020 at the early hour of 9:00 AM Central with Night Editor (1946). I have never seen it, but it is based on an episode ("Inside Story") of the radio show of the same name that ran from 1934 to 1948. Noir Alley is back at 12:00 AM Eastern/11:00 Central on September 12 for Danger Signal (1945), which features Faye Emerson and Zachary Scott. September 19 Noir Alley is airing one of the most famous noirs of all time, Gilda (1946), with Rita Hayworth in her signature role. Finally, on September 26 2020 there's They Won't Believe Me with Robert Young and Susan Hayward.

Like other noiristas I am eager for the return of Noir Alley. In the meantime I will continue watching film noirs on my DVR, on On Demand, and on DVD every Saturday night until it comes back!

The TCM End of Summer Tour

From Friday, September 4 2020 through Sunday, September 6 2020, Turner Classic Movies is airing the TCM End of Summer Tour, a collection of music oriented movies. They are featuring several classic rock documentaries and concert films that I dearly love. The only downside is that Saturday night the TCM End of Summer Tour is pre-empting Noir Alley (fortunately, it will air on Sunday morning--I guess we night owls will have to DVR it).

As I mentioned above, Turner Classic Movies is airing several rock documentaries and concert films that I love. Below are my picks for the TCM End of Summer Tour. All times are Central.

Friday, September 4 2020
11:00 Elvis: That's the Way It Is (1970)

Saturday, September 5 2020
7:00 PM The Kids Are Alright (1979)
11:15 PM The Decline of Western Civilization (1981)
1:15 AM The Decline of Western Civilization Part Two: The Metal Years (1988)

Sunday, September 6 2020
7:00 PM The Song Remains the Same (1976)
9:30 PM Jimi Hendrix (1973)

TCM Presents Women Make Film

From September 1 to December 1 2020, every Tuesday Turner Classic Movies is airing the special "Women Make Film." "Women Make Film" centres on female directors and features 100 films made by 100 female filmmakers from 44 different countries and covering 12 decades.

Each night of "Women Make Film" will feature an episode of the documentary Women Make Film directed by Mark Cousins. Women Make Film covers the history of female directors, including Dorothy Arzner, Ida Lupino, Elaine May, Agnès Varda, Kathryn Bigelow, Penelope Spheeris, and yet others.

I would recommend viewers watch as much of "Women in Film" as they can. That having been said, I know that people's time and DVR can be limited, so here are my recommendations for the special. All times are Eastern.

Tuesday, September 1
9:15 PM Merrily We Go to Hell (1932) by Dorothy Arzner
7:15 AM Mädchen in Uniform (1931) by Leontine Sagan

Tuesday, September 8
9:15 PM El Camino (1963) by Ana Mariscal

Tuesday, September 15
9:15 PM Harlan County U.S.A. (1973) by Barbara Kopple
12:00 AM The Virgin Suicides (1999) by Sofia Coppola 

Tuesday, September 22
2:30 AM Daughters of the Dust (1991) by Julie Dash
6:30 AM Mikey and Nicky (1976) by Elaine May

Tuesday, September 29
9:15 AM Middle of Nowhere (2012) by Ava Duvernay

Tuesday, October 6
9:15 PM The Ascent (1977) by Larisa Shepitko

Tuesday, October 13
4:15 AM The Night Porter (1974) by Liliana Cavani
6:30 AM Le Bonheur (1965) by Agnès Varda 

Tuesday, October 20
8:15 AM Children of a Lesser God (1986) by Randa Haines 

Tuesday, October 27
12:15 AM Girlfriends (1978) by Claudia Weill

Tuesday, November 3
9:15 PM Outrage by Ida Lupino

Tuesday, November 10
12:30 AM The Hurt Locker (2008) by Kathryn Bigelow

Tuesday, November 17
9:15 AM Yentl (1983) by Barbara Streisand

Tuesday, November 24 
An Angel at My Table (1990) by Jane Campion

Lori Nelson Passes On

Lori Nelson, who played Rosie Kettle in the "Ma and Pa Kettle" movies, starred in the TV series How to Marry a Millionaire, and starred in Revenge of the Creature (1955), died yesterday, August 23 2020, at the age of 87. She had suffered from Alzheimer's disease for the past several years.

Lori Nelson was born Dixie Kay Nelson in Santa Fe, New Mexico on August 15 1933. She made her debut on stage when she was only two years old. She was four years old when her family moved to Encino, California. She was five years old when she was named "Little Miss America." As a teenager she participated in beauty pageants. She won the title of "Miss Encino" when she was 17. After graduating high school, she started a modelling career.

In 1950 she signed a seven year contract with Universal-International. She made her film debut in Bend of the River (1952). Lori Nelson appeared as Rosie Kettle in Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair (1952) and then Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki (1953). In the Fifties she appeared in the movies Francis Goes to West Point (1952), All I Desire (1953), Walking My Baby Back Home (1953), Tumbleweed (1953), Destry (1954), Underwater! (1955), Revenge of the Creature (1955), Sincerely Yours (1955), I Died a Thousand Times (1955), Day the World Ended (1955), Mohawk (1956), Pardners (1956), Hot Rod Girl (1956), Untamed Youth (1957), and Outlaw's Son (1957). She made her television debut in 1955 in an episode of It's a Great Life. She starred as Greta Hanson in the syndicated sitcom How to Marry a Millionaire. She guest starred on Climax!, The 20th Century Fox Hour, Wanted: Dead or Alive, The Texan, The Millionaire, General Electric Theatre, Sugarfoot, Tales of Wells Fargo, and Lock Up.

In the Sixties Lori Nelson guest starred on Dante, The Tab Hunter Show, Laramie, Bachelor Father, Whispering Smith, and Armstrong Circle Theatre. In 1961 she retired from acting, not long after marrying composer Johnny Mann. Afterwards she acted only sporadically. She guest starred on the TV show Family Affair in 1971 and in the TV movie Secret Sins of the Father in 1994. She reprised her role of Helen Dobson in Revenge of the Creature in the 2005 movie The Naked Monster.

For the most part Lori Nelson played the love interest in various television shows and movies, roles for which she was ideally suited. That having been said, she was capable of other roles. She played a club-footed farmer's daughter in I Died a Thousand Times. In Untamed Youth she played a juvenile delinquent alongside Mamie Van Doren. On the TV series How to Marry a Millionaire, she was the brainy psychology student Greta Hanson. Lori Nelson was always a pleasure to see anytime she appeared in a movie or on a TV show.