TCM Spotlight: The History of Rock on Film on Monday Nights in July

The Beatles in  A Hard Day's Night

On Monday nights in July on Turner Classic Movies the TCM Spotlight is on the History of Rock on Film. The movies airing as part of the TCM Spotlight on the History of Rock on Film span most of the history of rock music, from Jailhouse Rock in 1957 to Sid and Nancy in 1986.

Among the films airing on TCM Spotlight: the History of Rock on Film is perhaps the greatest rock musical of all time, The Beatles' movie A Hard Day's Night (1964). As most readers of this blog know, it is one of my favourite movies of all time. Also among the movies I suggest that TCM viewers will not want to miss is Jailhouse Rock, featuring Elvis Presley in his prime. Catch Us if You Can (1965) is stars The Dave Clark Five and is decidedly different from A Hard Day's Night. Don't Look Back (1967) is a documentary is a documentary that follows Bob Dylan on his 1965 tour of England. Bikini Beach (1964) might seem like an unusual choice for the History of Rock on Film, but it features perforances by Stevie Wonder, The Pyramids, and The Exciters. Viva Las Vegas (1964) is my favourite Elvis movie of all time and features the incredible Ann-Margret. Among the other must-see movies are The Harder They Come (1972), starring reggae and ska star Jimmy Cliff, and Pink Floyd: The Wall (1982).

For TCM Spotlight: the History of Rock on Film, Turner Classic Movies has a fairly good line-up of movies. The only changes I would make is that I would have put The Who's movie The Kids Are Alright (1979) and Cliff Richard's Summer Holiday (1963) in there as well. I don't know that I would have included ABBA--The Movie (1977), as I don't think Abba can be considered rock even by the loosest definition of the genre.

Anyway, here is the schedule for TCM Spotlight: Rock on Film. All times are Central.

July 4
7:00 PM Jalihouse Rock (1957)
8:45 PM The Buddy Holly Story (1978)
10:45 PM Great Balls of Fire (1989)
12:45 AM Mystery Train (1989)
2:45 AM Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll (1987)
4:45 AM Jamboree! (1957)
6:15 AM Go, Johnny, Go! (1959)

July 11
7:00 PM A Hard Day's Night (1964)
8:45 PM Alice's Restaurant (1969)
10:45 PM Bikini Beach (1964)
12:30 AM The In Crowd (1988)
2:15 PM Don't Look Back (1967)
4:00 AM Get Yourself a College Girl (1964)
5:30 AM Catch Us If You Can (1965, AKA Having a Wild Weekend)
7:15 AM Viva Las Vegas (1964)

July 18
7:00 PM Tommy (1975)
9:00 PM Sid and Nancy (1986)
11:00 PM The Harder They Come (1972)
1:00 AM Performance (1970)
3:00 AM Jubilee (1978)
5:00 AM ABBA--the Movie (1977)

July 25
7:00 PM Breakin' (1984)
8:45 PM Smithereens (1982)
10:30 PM Foxes (1980)
12:30 AM Pink Floyd--The Wall (1982)
2:15 AM Fame (1980)
4:30 AM Absolute Beginners (1986)