Summer Under the Stars 2023: Premieres, Picks & Pics

We do not know what the future holds for Turner Classic Movies (TCM) or for those of us used to watching classics 24 hours a day on the network. But at least for now we have the 29^th installment of my favorite movie marathon to look forward to, Summer Under the Stars (SUTS) featuring the films of one star each day in August.

A big thank you to TCM Director of Programming, Stephanie Thames, for the highlights she sent me of this year’s Summer Under the Stars, which is replete with premiere stars and movies. Still no Eric Blore but we are a patient bunch. The fact that Stephanie took the time to send me these details during what must be an incredibly tough time for everyone at TCM is appreciated.

This year’s premiere stars (also designated with an * in the roll call):

Anthony Perkins on August 2

Stella Stevens (Memorial Tribute) on August 3

Jackie Cooper on August 4

The Nicholas Brothers on August 9

Rhonda Fleming (100^th Birthday celebration) on August 10

Katy Jurado on August 16

Geraldine Chaplin on August 22

John Carradine on August 31

TCM premiere movies are:

Jack Starrett’s Slaughter (1972) – 8/3/23 @ 2:00 AM

Charles Barton’s My Son is Guilty (1939) – 8/9/23 @ 9:45 AM

Carlos Saura’s Honeycomb (1969) – 8/22/23 @ 6:00 AM

Carols Saura’s Anna and the Wolves (1972) – 8/22/23 @ 10:00 PM

Carols Saura’s Stress-en-tres-tres (Stress is Three) (1968) – 8/22/23 @ 4:00 AM

Charles B. Pierce’s Winterhawk (1975) – 8/29/23 @ 1:00 PM

Harold Young’s I Escaped from the Gestapo (1943) – 8/31/23 @ 3:30 PM

It is not an easy task for TCM to air movies it has never aired on the network’s 29^th year. As Stephanie explained, “it gets harder and harder to find titles that we haven’t shown, half the battle becomes rotating in titles that haven’t aired recently…”

On that note, following is a list of movies airing during this year’s SUTS that have not been shown in years:

Charles Marquis Warren’s Arrowhead (1953) last aired in 1998.

William Castle’s Serpent of the Nile (1953) has only been shown once in 2009.

Elliott Nugent’s Nothing But the Truth (1941) last aired in 2011.

Jean Negulesco’s Boy on a Dolphin (1957) was last shown in 2012.

William Dieterle’s Syncopation (1942) last aired in 2013.

John Huston’s Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957) hasn’t been seen on TCM since 2014

George Marshall’s The Ghost Breakers (1940) since 2014.

Sidney Lanfield’s My Favorite Blonde (1942) since 2014.

David Burton’s Lady By Choice (1934) last aired in 2014.

Walter Lang’s No More Orchids (1932) since 2014.

Following is the traditional roll call for this year’s SUTS festival with my picks wherever I can manage it. The list is full of heavy hitters and there is certainly something for everyone. Enjoy…

August 1 – Lucille Ball

Kicking off this year’s Summer Under the Stars with the Queen of Comedy aka Queen of the B’s back in the day is exciting. Or at least I think it may Lure people to watch on the first day of the festival. There are two new-to-me offerings on Ball day, and I always lean toward those – Robert Mcwade’s Bunker Bean (1936) and George Marshall’s Valley of the Sun (1942). My pick would be Douglas Sirk’s Lured (194) where Lucy gets involved with a killer combination – a serial killer and George Sanders. Boris Karloff is an added treat. Overall, however, Ball day promises lots of fun with the Marx Brothers, Desi Arnaz and even Hepburn and Tracy.

August 2 – Anthony Perkins*

My three favorite Anthony Perkins performances are airing on his day: John Huston’s The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972), The Trial (1963) directed by Orson Welles, and of course Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960). I also have a soft spot for William Wyler’s Friendly Persuasion (1956). I am particularly excited to see the new-to-me Five Miles to Midnight (1963), directed by Anatole Litvak starring Sophia Loren.

August 3 – Stella Stevens*

Stella Stevens passed away on February 17 of this year. Her premiere Summer Under the Stars day is doing double duty as a tribute to her career. I find Stevens incredibly likeable in all movies I have ever seen her in, my favorites being Vincente Minnelli’s The Courtship of Eddie’s Father (1963), Norman Taurog’s Girls, Girls, Girls (1962), Phil Karlson’s The Silencers (1966), and Ronald Neame’s The Poseidon Adventure (1972). Unfortunately, the last is not scheduled on Stevens day. About Girls, Girls, Girls – yes, it is not good, but it stars Elvis Presley who I love, which brings me to a short Stella Stevens story…

I met Stella Stevens at a convention when I asked for her autograph on one of the many movie stills she had at her table. When I walked up, I noticed none of the stills had Elvis Presley on them. “Do you have one with Elvis from Girls, Girls, Girls” I asked innocently, but which prompted Stella to get upset saying, “Elvis? He should have given me more parts in pictures. We were both Southern!” I sheepishly replied, “Ok then, can I have The Poseidon Adventure?”

August 4 – Jackie Cooper*

I have seen only two of the movies scheduled on Cooper day, but it should be fun. The plan is to have my DVR on overload. No picks here, just fun.

August 5 – Errol Flynn

I have my sights set for the 1950s movies, four of them I have not seen. However, I clearly gravitate to younger Errol as in two by Michael Curtiz, The Sea Hawk (1940) and The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) both scheduled at night on Errol day and are more than enough to make you fall in love with the adventurous star.

August 6 – Debbie Reynolds

Putting Singin’ in the Rain aside (because we all know it’s fantastic), my picks for Debbie’s day are: Charles Walters’ The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964) and The Tender Trap (1955), and George Marshall’s The Mating Game (1959). Some TCM fans would dislike me intensely for saying that I wish they had scheduled Mother from 1996 directed and starring Albert Brooks. The movie and Debbie are terrific.

August 7 – Robert Ryan

Few could carry ruthless and charming at the same time in such convincing fashion as Robert Ryan. This is one of the days I am most looking forward to, particularly for the three 1970s entries I have yet to see. If you have limited time my picks on Ryan day are Robert Wise’s The Set-Up (1949, Anthony Mann’s The Naked Spur (1953, and Nicholas Ray’s On Dangerous Ground (1952). But you never waste your time watching this actor.

August 8 – Joan Blondell

Following Robert Ryan with Joan Blondell is too good to be true. Here again you have an actor whose every scene makes each movie she was in. If you must choose, go for the pre-codes. They are delicious!

August 9 – The Nicholas Brothers*

For me, this premiere Summer Under the Stars spotlight is the pièce de resistance of the festival. I plan to watch everything on this day and wish you the same good fortune. This is a day of unequaled talent by Fayard and Harold Nichols, the Nicholas Brothers.

August 10 – Rhonda Fleming*

The Rhonda Fleming celebration is taking place on what would have been her 100^th birthday. I cannot say I have seen many Rhonda Fleming movies outside of the films noir she appeared in so those are the ones I recommend on her day with Jacques Tourneur’s outstanding Out of the Past (1947) leading the pack. I admit though that I do love Tay Garnett’s A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court (1949) with Fleming and Bing Crosby in Camelot.

August 11 – Alan Ladd

This one is easy for me. Start with Alan Ladd as the title character in Shane (1953) directed by George Stevens scheduled in prime time. Follow the films noir from there. Another enjoyable night of movies.

August 12 – Deborah Kerr

This is a difficult day for me. I assume most would choose Michael Powell’s Black Narcissus (1947) as the standout, but I’m not such a fan. Tops for me on Kerr day are John Huston’s Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957), which I have never seen, and Leo McCarey’s An Affair to Remember (1957). My favorite Deborah Kerr movies are not on the schedule.

August 13 – Paul Newman

For lucky number 13 my picks are Vincent Sherman’s The Young Philadelphians (1959) and, if you don’t have an egg allergy, Stuart Rosenberg’s Cool Hand Luke (1967). Although it’s messy, there is a charm to Rosenberg’s Pocket Money (1972).

August 14 – Greer Garson

I believe Greer Garson is Ben Mankiewicz’s favorite classics era female actor. Not that that has anything to do with anything, but it is interesting. Anyway, I chose three from Garson day easily though I’m not sure most would agree. My first pick is Robert Z. Leonard’s Pride and Prejudice (1940). I am not a fan of Sir Laurence Olivier but the high jinks of Edna May Oliver more than make up for that. William Wyler’s Mrs. Miniver (1942) would be on anyone’s list. It is my second pick and finally, I thoroughly enjoy Mervyn LeRoy’s Blossoms in the Dust (1941). One of my favorite Greer Garson movies, LeRoy’s Random Harvest (1942) is playing the following day.

August 15 – Ronald Colman

I must say that Ronald Colman’s entire day is fantastic. If I must pick I’ll start with Mervyn LeRoy’s Random Harvest (1942) co-starring Greer Garson. I am a sucker for Bulldog Drummond (1929), Colman’s first sound picture directed by F. Richard Jones. Also, John Cromwell’s The Prisoner of Zenda (1937) and Frank Capra’s Lost Horizon (1937) are worth your while, but you already knew that.

August 16 – Katy Jurado*

An exciting first-time SUTS honoree, Katy Jurado always leaves the screen with an audience wanting more. That is true even of Peter Tewksbury’s Stay Away, Joe (1968) starring Elvis Presley, which is scheduled in the morning on Jurado’s SUTS day. That one is not high on my list of recommendations, however. Of the films slated for her day, I pick Fred Zinnemann’s High Noon (1952), Edward Dmytryk’s Broken Lance (1954), and John Huston’s Under the Volcano (1984).

August 17 – Bob Hope

They may not all be good, but I do not think Bob Hope ever made a movie I did not enjoy. I think you’re bound to have a hell of a lot of fun on August 17. Five of the Hope-Crosby Road pictures will air and who can get enough of those? I turn to the prime time slots for my picks though. Elliott Nugent’s Nothing But the Truth (1941) and George Marshall’s The Ghost Breakers (1940) on a double bill are hard to resist. Although I say watch the entire day.

August 18 – Carole Lombard

One of the greatest comedy actors of all time and a gem among gems in Hollywood’s golden age. I don’t know if it gets any better than spending 24 hours with Carole Lombard. If you are not able to spend the entire day watching TCM on August 18, then I would suggest Gregory La Cava’s My Man Godfrey (1936), Howard Hawks’ Twentieth Century (1934), John Cromwell’s In Name Only (1939), and William Wellman’s Nothing Sacred (1937) as essentials.

August 19 – Fred Astaire

Talent. Charm. Sophistication. Forever classic. What more do you want?

Since my favorite Fred Astaire movies are the ones in which he co-stars with Ginger Rogers I must go with the four scheduled on Astaire day. Other memorable musicals scheduled: Charles Walters’ Easter Parade (1948) and Vincente Minnelli’s The Band Wagon (1953). Terrific stuff.

August 20 – Barbara Stanwyck

Barbara Stanwyck remains of the silver screen’s greatest actors. She could do anything and did. There are several pre-codes scheduled on Stanwyck day you cannot miss with Alfred E. Green’s Baby Face (1933) leading that pack. Stanwyck’s unforgettable femme fatale in Billy Wilder’s Double Indemnity (1944) is legendary straight down the line and the daytime double bill of Peter Godfrey’s Christmas in Connecticut (1945) and Howard Hawks’ Ball of Fire (1942) will leave you doing the conga.

August 21 – James Stewart

Frank Capra’s Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) starring James Stewart as Junior Senator Jefferson Smith went far in cementing the actor as America’s favorite everyman. If you have never seen this picture, it is a Stewart essential. That said, my picks for August 21 are the three Westerns playing in late afternoon and evening, which I have not seen in years: Gene Kelly’s The Cheyenne Social Club (1970) co-starring Henry Fonda, Anthony Mann’s Winchester ’73 (1950) called a ‘whoop-de-do cowboy picture’ by the NY Times reviewer upon its release, and the Civil War story in Andrew V. Mclaglen’s Shenandoah (1965). The new-to-me Murder Man (1935) directed by Tim Whelan is also getting my attention. I like that Stewart’s best work (aside from Mr. Smith) is not scheduled on his day. It gives people an opportunity to see him in lesser-known fare.

August 22 – Geraldine Chaplin*

On Geraldine’s inaugural Summer Under the Stars day I am looking forward to seeing new-to-me movies directed by Carlos Saura, all TCM premieres: Honeycomb (1969), Anna and the Wolves (1972), and Stress-en-tres-tres (Stress is Three) (1968).

August 23 – Vincent Price

William Castle’s House on Haunted Hill (1958) and Roger Corman’s The Masque of the Red Death (1964) feature two of my favorite Vincent Price performances and they are both scheduled on his day. However, you can’t go wrong with a few others scheduled that are not known as Vincent Price pictures like Anatole Litvak’s The Long Night (1947), Robert Stevenson’s The Las Vegas Story (1952), and John Farrow’s His Kind of Woman (1951). If perennial horror favorite House of Wax (1953) directed by Andre Detoth or Corman’s The Pit and the Pendulum (1961) are more your style you get those too.

August 24 – Loretta Young

There are ten pre-codes scheduled on Loretta Young day. That’s a lot of debauchery! If I must choose among those pictures, I will say William Wellman’s Midnight Mary (1933) and Heroes for Sale (1933) plus Roy Del Ruth’s Employees’ Entrance (1933) and are my favorites. You also get the enjoyable Bedtime Story (1941) with Young and Fredric March directed by Alexander Hall and Norman Foster’s Rachel and the Stranger (1948) with William Holden and Robert Mitchum alongside Loretta. In other words, enjoy the entire Young 24 hours.

August 25 – Ernest Borgnine

I am going with the obvious choices scheduled on Ernest Borgnine day: Sam Peckinpah’s The Wild Bunch (1969), Robert Aldrich’s The Dirty Dozen (1967), and John Sturges’ Bad Day at Black Rock (1955) with a sleeper recommendation, Robert Siodmak’s The Whistle at Eaton Falls (1951).

August 26 – Doris Day

Choosing one Doris Day movie over another Doris Day movie is like choosing one child over another. I say that because Ms. Day was one of those performers who transcended the movies she appeared in. Even her lesser films are worth watching because watching Doris Day simply makes your life better. Due to that I am taking a scientific approach to Day day. For romantic comedy I choose Move Over, Darling (1963) co-starring James Garner (sorry Rock) and directed by Michael Gordon. For a grand showcase of Doris’ dramatic chops watch Charles Vidor’s Love Me or Leave Me (1955) co-starring James Cagney. For early Doris illustrating she was a star from the start, her second feature film, Michael Curtiz’s My Dream is Yours (1949). You also cannot beat the rest of the cast in this picture including Jack Carson and Eve Arden, and Doris Day’s lovely voice.

August 27 – Humphrey Bogart

I suspect fans would have revolted if Bogie day had not been on a weekend. He is the biggest, most popular star on the planet. Still. All I can do is name a few from the SUTS schedule I consider essential Bogart and they are conveniently scheduled in order from 6 PM EST on: John Huston’s Key Largo (1948), Howard Hawks’ To Have and Have Not (1944), Huston’s The Maltese Falcon (1941), and Nicholas Ray’s In a Lonely Place (1950). That said, there are several lesser-known 1930s offerings that everyone should watch if you want to know how Bogart became Bogart.

August 28 – Ann Sheridan

You will have a blast on a day filled with Oomph! But seriously, there are good movies on Ann Sheridan day. The prime-time triple feature of Sam Wood’s Kings Row (1942), William Keighley’s The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942), and Vincent Sherman’s Nora Prentiss (1947) is terrific. Throughout the day you will also run into other memorable pictures like Raoul Walsh’s They Drive By Night (1940), Anatole Litvak’s City for Conquest (1940) and Norman Foster’s Woman on the Run (1950). My guilty pleasure – because I cannot resist Warner Bros. Dennis Morgan musicals – is David Butler’s Shine on Harvest Moon (1944).

August 29 – Woody Strode

Woody Strode appeared in mostly supporting roles during his acting career, but if you see him in a movie, you never forget him. Strode’s imposing athletic frame is matched by the quiet dignity he brought to his roles. Of the movies scheduled on Woody Strode day my picks are John Ford’s Sergeant Rutledge (1960) and Richard Brooks’ The Professionals (1966). Stanley Kubrick’s Spartacus (1960), which is one of the movies Strode is best remembered for, is also on the schedule.

August 30 – Sophia Loren

My favorite Sophia Loren pictures are not on the schedule on her day but there is plenty offered. Although I find it tough to watch, Vittorio De Sica’s Two Women (1961) is a must and I really like his The Gold of Naples (1957) as well. I’ll add Stanley Donen’s Arabesque (1966). Top of the list, however, is the Live From the TCM Classic Film Festival: Sophia Loren (2016), a touching and revealing interview of the screen legend by her son, Edoardo Ponti.

August 31 – John Carradine*

This premiere honoree is a fantastic way to end this year’s Summer Under the Stars. One of the greatest character actors in film, Carradine’s pictures spanned across genre. His impressive, Shakespearean voice is distinctive and is his wickedly handsome face. One of my favorites. John Carradine was a great one worth spending the entire day with, but there is a string of four John Ford pictures starting in prime time that cannot be missed: Stagecoach (1939), The Grapes of Wrath (1940), Drums Along the Mohawk (1939), and Cheyenne Autumn (1964).

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Here’s to a tremendous August of films and movie stars. Thank you TCM. I hope this tradition continues.