Every year in August, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) celebrates a different actor each day by showcasing various pictures from their filmography. Starting bright and early at 6am August 1st running straight through the 31st, viewers may expect to find an eclectic mix of masterpieces, forgotten films, and uncovered gems from a specific Hollywood star.

by Rosalie Kicks, Old Sport & Editor in Chief

Well old chap, we have it made it to the final week of Summer Under The Stars. It is somewhat bittersweet I must say, as I will miss writing these weekly dispatches. On the other hand, September is looking mighty bright for me as I prepare to head to the Toronto International Film Festival followed by Fantastic Fest and ending the month with Terrorthon at the Hiway Theater. So no need to fret pals, I’ll be back soon with dispatches from my fest adventures and plenty of flicks to add to your watchlist. As for this week, I’ll be spending my time with the guys and gal listed below. All of these flicks are new to me and I can’t wait to see what they have to offer. As always, if you decide to join me under the stars, shoot me a note and let me know what motion pictures will be gracing your television screen. Thank you and goodnight.

Blonde Dynamite (1950)
Airs 9:15 PM

I was not pleased to find Leo Gorcey on the Summer Under The Stars list, as I have had runs in with this old chap before. He started out in acting as a young kid and was part of famed comedy troupes, Dead End Kids also known as East Side Kids and later as adults they became The Bowery Boys. I used the word “famed” however, it should be noted that I am not incredibly sure why anyone really dug these guys. Apparently they were adored to such a great extent that they managed to make forty-eight features. I find their antics and skits often cause fatigue and irritability. Regardless of this, I am willing to give the guy another chance. Who knows, maybe Ghosts On The Loose simply wasn’t his picture. Although, in looking at the review of said encounter, I see one of the things that really got on my nerves was the use of malapropisms which apparently was Gorcey’s specialty. Sigh.

In Blonde Dynamite The Bowery Boys transform a candy store into an escort service which ultimately attracts the wrong kind of attention. Clocking in at sixty-six minutes how bad can it be?

Private Eyes (1953)
Airs 9:15 PM

This is another Bowery Boys tale in which one of Slip’s (Leo Gorcey) pals Sach is punched in the nose (most likely for understandable reasons) and finds this gives him the ability to read minds. Based on this newfound skill, the gang decide to open a detective agency. This picture has a swift run time of sixty-four minutes and I am hoping that it will provide at least a couple laughs and maybe even a dead body.

Professional Sweetheart (1933)
Airs 7:15 AM

Ginger Rogers plays radio singer Glory Eden who has been deemed the model of an American lady. This mantra is utilized to advertise the product, Ippsie-Wippsie (what a name) Washcloths. Glory would rather be partaking in booze, jazz, gambling, and men. Obviously, there are some conflicts of interest here which leads to the company selecting a “sweetheart” from her fan mail to help keep Glory on the right on track. Professional Sweetheart is a precode romantic comedy and I have a feeling it has the potential to go a bit off the rails (complimentary).

Perfect Strangers (1950)
Airs 12:15 AM

The tagline sold me on this picture: “They met by chance and once they kissed, they knew they never should have…!” I love when people do things they should not have. Rebels. There is also the fact that Thelma Ritter costars, which essentially will seal the deal for me watching any flick.

Terry Scott (Ginger Rogers) and David Campbell (Dennis Morgan) are sequestered jurors on a murder trial and bond over their shared opinion of believing the woman on trial is innocent. As the two remain locked away from the outside world, they begin to fall head over heels for one another. I now understand why this is playing at midnight… things could get steamy.

Storm Warning (1951)
Airs 4:00 AM

When Marsha Mitchell (Ginger Rogers) swings by to visit her sister, Lucy Rice (Doris Day) she learns that Lucy is married to a Ku Klux Klan member. While on her holiday, she witnesses the KKK commit a murder and assists the authorities with bringing the men to justice. Well, this is undoubtedly going to be a heavy picture that I am sure will get under my skin. Until then, I am going to sit here reeling about the fact that the sweetest lady on earth, Doris Day is married to an absolute miscreant.

Sex and The Single Girl (1964)
Airs 9:45 AM

The plot for Sex and The Single Girl piqued my interest due to it seeming to be the inspiration for Peyton Reed’s Down With Love (2003). Journo Bob Weston (Tony Curtis) is a philandering sleaze that disguises himself as his meek neighbor in order to get close to renowned psychologist Helen Gurley Brown (Natalie Wood). Bob hopes to write a feature story on the doctor. Like I said, this sounds very much like Down With Love (which I adore) and am so thrilled to learn of this picture’s existence.

The Defiant Ones (1958)
Airs 10:15 AM

Two escaped convicts are chained together and on the run, requiring them to learn to get along and set their racial differences aside. Directed by Stanley Kramer and starring Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier, The Defiant Ones sounds like an intense thriller that will have me on the edge of my seat.