James Garner Tribute On TCM 7/28 @TCM #JamesGarner #RIP

TCM will be airing a marathon of James Garner films, tomorrow, Monday July 28. He was such a great actor and I know I was one of many really sad to hear of his passing last week. For years I had been suggesting he be invited to the TCM Film Festival and each year he didn't show. I tried to believe this was through some negligence on TCM's part but deep down I knew he probably wasn't healthy enough to come.

Even though I never got to meet the man I have seen enough of him in TV, film and interviews to know he was pretty swell. Just look at the picture of him and his daughter above. That's a good guy! I hope he's somewhere fun now with race cars and all the reefer he can handle.

Here's the line up for TCM tomorrow, the times are all eastern. I've put * next to three of my favorites. Further, if this just isn't enough Garner for you, and who could ever get enough, you can stream The Rockford Files on Netflix!

TCM Remembers James Garner – Monday, July 28

6 a.m. – Toward the Unknown (1956) – starring William Holden, Lloyd Nolan, Virginia Leith and James Garner

8 a.m. – Shoot-Out at Medicine Bend (1957) – starring Randolph Scott, James Craig, Angie Dickinson and James Garner

9:30 a.m. – Grand Prix (1966) – starring James Garner, Eva Marie Saint, Brian Bedford and Yves Montand

12:30 p.m. – Cash McCall (1960) – James Garner, Natalie Wood, Nina Foch and Dean Jagger

2:15 p.m. – The Wheeler Dealers (1963) – starring James Garner, Lee Remick, Phil Harris and Chill Wills

4 p.m. – Darby's Rangers (1958) – starring James Garner, Etchika Choureau and Jack Warden

* 6:15 p.m. – Mister Buddwing (1966) – starring James Garner, Jean Simmons, Angela Lansbury and Suzanne Pleshette

8 p.m. – The Thrill of It All (1963) – starring Doris Day, James Garner and Arlene Francis

* 10 p.m. – The Americanization of Emily (1964) – starring Julie Andrews, James Garner, Melvyn Douglas and James Coburn

Midnight – The Children's Hour (1961) – starring Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine, James Garner and Miriam Hopkins

* 2 a.m. – Victor/Victoria (1982) – starring Julie Andrews, James Garner, Robert Preston and Lesley-Ann Warren

4:30 a.m. – Marlowe (1969) – starring James Garner, Rita Moreno, Sharon Farrell and Bruce Lee

Eli Wallach at TCM Film Festival on Acting in FROM HERE TO ETERNITY #TCMFF #RIP

Eli Wallach and Robert Osbourne Photo Courtesy of Turner Classic Movies

Eli Wallach's passing was such sad news. I've said it many times, but each time we lose one of these film legends, it feels like a priceless family heirloom has been destroyed. They are impossible to replace and their loss is so much more than monetary or emotional. They connect us to a time we have no other way to experience. They are our thread and without them goes all of that.

I have been lucky to get to see many great film legends at the TCM Film Festival for the last five years and Eli has been there a few times. The first year I heard him be interviewed by Robert Osbourne (pictured above). In the above picture Eli is sharing a birthday card that Clint Eastwood sent him that plays the music from THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE UGLY.

Below is some video I took of the interview, where Eli talks about when he will leave the acting profession and how he ended up not being in FROM HERE TO ETERNITY.



I hope that his family find some comfort in what a huge impression this talented man left on his fans. Yesterday, when he passed away, someone reposted a tweet of mine from December 17th 2013. TCM had been airing Eli Wallach's film THE HOLIDAY and this is what I shared.

"Is it wrong that I would definitely pick a week w/ Eli Wallach over Jude Law? #TCMParty I knew you'd understand. #TheHoliday"

I stand by it even more today!

TCM will be airing a whole day of Eli's films June 30th.

9 a.m. – Kisses for My President (1964) – The first female president has to deal with her husband's bruised ego. Starring Fred MacMurray, Polly Bergen and Eli Wallach. Directed by Curtis Bernhardt.

11 a.m. – Act One (1963) – George Hamilton stars in the true story of playwright Moss Hart, a poor Brooklyn boy who joins forces with an experienced playwright to conquer Broadway and Hollywood. Also starring Jason Robards Jr., Jack Klugman and Eli Wallash. Directed by Dore Schary.

1 p.m. – How the West Was Won (1962) – This epic film follows three generations of pioneers as they take part in the forging of the American West. Starring Carroll Baker, Henry Fonda, Gregory Peck, George Peppard, Carolyn Jones, Eli Wallach, Robert Preston, Debbie Reynolds, James Stewart, John Wayne, Richard Widmark and Spencer Tracy. Directed by John Ford, George Marshall and Henry Hathaway.

3:45 p.m. – The Misfits (1961) – A sensitive divorcee gets mixed up with modern cowboys roping mustangs in the desert. Starring Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, Montgomery Clift, Thelma Ritter and Eli Wallach. Directed by John Huston.

6 p.m. – Baby Doll (1956) – A child bride holds her husband at bay while flirting with a sexy Italian farmer. Starring Karl Malden, Carroll Baker and Eli Wallach. Directed by Elia Kazan.

RIP Eileen Brennan

I just heard Eileen Brennan passed away Sunday. She was such an amazing actress and comedian. My two favorite roles, she played, were in The Sting and Murder By Death (Clips below). I hope she, Peter Falk and Paul Newman are working together in the big studio in the sky.

RIP Patty Andrews, Andrew Sisters

Patty Andrews has passed away. She was the youngest and last surviving member of The Andrew Sister. If the name doesn't ring a bell, picture three girls in military uniforms circa WWII singing Boogie Woogie Bugle boy. Yeah that's them. I suppose I could embed a video of them doing that song, but instead here is my favorite Andrew Sisters song.

Yes I have a favorite Andrews Sister's song. I know you're not surprised!

RIP Dave Brubeck

Sad to hear Dave Brubeck passed away this morning. Thanks for all the amazing music, Dave.

Let's all take five and enjoy this wonderful song

Larry Hagman RIP

So sad to hear Larry Hagman died today. I had the opportunity to talk with him and his original Dallas co stars at last years TCM Classic Film Fest. He seemed genuinely excited to revisit his character JR from Dallas on the revival of the show on TNT, which premiered last summer. They are, now, in the process of filming the second season so I can only hope he was enjoying himself right up till the end.

I've included the pictures I snapped that day last April. The top image is Larry with the back of costar Linda Grey (Sue Ellen). Below Larry and Patrick Duffy (Bobby). 

And finally here is some very rough video of me interviewing Josh Henderson who plays JR's son John Ross saying some nice things about Hagman's portrayal of JR.

RIP Celeste Holm

I was so sad to hear that Celeste Holm died yesterday. I know she was 95 but still I had hoped that they would get her to come to the next TCM Film Festival. She was such an amazing actress. I feel like most people know her from All About Eve, but she won an Oscar in 1947 for Gentlemen's Agreement. See her accepting below.



It's been a rough few weeks with many greats of the film industry dying. I hope they are all happy in that great big Brown Derby in the sky.

Andy Griffith RIP

Just heard Andy Griffith has passed away. Every article about it mentions the TV show we all remember him so well from The Andy Griffith Show. But my favorite work of his is A Face In The Crowd, pictured above. In it he plays a darker more conflicted man a la Dean and Brando, not the good natured father who always knows just what to say.

If you haven't seen it, you will be surprised. TCM is having a Griffith tribute day July 18th beginning at 8pm EST with Face in The Crowd, 10:15 No Time For Sergeants, 12:30 Hearts Of The West, and 2:15 Onion Head.

And just because I'm a liberal and loved this video Andy was in with Ron Howard for the last election, here's this




Rest in Peace

Nora Ephron RIP

Nora Ephon past away yesterday and I feel I've lost a friend who always gave me great advice.

When I was just a teenager Nora Ephron was teaching me about being a strong woman. First in Silkwood where Meryl Streep stands up to the man. Then in Heartburn where Meryl Streep stands up to a man. Both films taught me that doing the hard thing is often the right thing, and hey if you can hit your cheating husband in the face with a pie on your way out the door, so much the better.

Since then there have been so many great Ephron films. They taught me about love, and love in the movies, and why they're not the same, but that it's ok to want love to look like it does in the movies, because sometimes Mr. Right DOES meet you on top of the Empire State building.

In the end she left me with one last Meryl Streep film Julie and Julia. Where once again I watched as Ephron showed me to follow my bliss even if  it seems like it is for naught.

Simply put and in her words "it was magic"

RIP Nora Ephron

Ann Rutherford RIP

I'm so sad to hear Ann Rutherford passed away yesterday. I was worried when Ann Rutherford and Anne Jeffery didn't attend the TCM Film Festival this past spring, that one of them may be ill. You can see her picture above at the 2011 TCM film fest opening night screening of An American in Paris.

She was always very sweet to everyone on the red carpet and still quite beautiful in ruffled pant suits, which she and Jeffery's had to match in at least two different colors, to my knowledge.

Rutherford came to fame in the Andy Hardy movies and of course in Gone With Wind as Scarlette's younger sister. If you want to see some of her great film tune into TCM  Tuesday July 3. See list of films and times below.

6 a.m. – Of Human Hearts (1938), with Walter Huston and James Stewart; directed by Clarence Brown
7:45 a.m. – Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938), with Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland; directed by George B. Seitz
9:30 a.m. – Four Girls in White (1939), with Florence Rice and Una Merkel; directed by S. Sylvan Simon
10:45 a.m. – Pride and Prejudice (1940), with Greer Garson and Laurence Olivier; directed by Robert Z. Leonard
12:45 p.m. – Washington Melodrama (1941), with Frank Morgan and Kent Taylor; directed by S. Sylvan Simon
2:15 p.m. – This Time for Keeps (1942), with Robert Serling and Guy Kibee; directed by Charles Reisner
3:30 p.m. – Whistling In Dixie (1942), with Red Skelton and George Bancroft; directed by S. Sylvan Simon
4:45 p.m. – Two O'Clock Courage (1945), with Tom Conway and Richard Lane; directed by Anthony Mann
6 p.m. – Adventures of Don Juan (1948), with Errol Flynn and Robert Douglas; directed by Vincent Sherman
8 p.m. – Gone with the Wind (1939), with Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh; directed by Victor Fleming

RIP Maurice Sendak

I'm so sad to hear of the passing of Maurice Sendak. His books are a fond memory of my childhood and of my daughters. He let generations of children know it was ok to go out and be a Wild Thing, even get in trouble, and then you can always come home and find you dinner waiting.

I hope he's found his dinner is still warm....

Monkee Davy Jones Dies

I'm so sorry to hear of the passing of Monkee Davy Jones. I saw him just last winter at the PBS press tour and he was so exuberant and joyful. I was always a Peter Tork girl myself, but you had to love cute little Davy regardless.
I suppose I could make some funny pun about The Last Train To Clarksville, but instead I'll just say he gave generations of teenage girls someone to dream about.
RIP Davy Jones

Etta James RIP

I know everyone thinks At Last when they think of Etta James but this is my all time favorite. Thanks for all the good times Etta. You're the queen!

I Just Want To Make Love To You.

RIP Cliff Robertson

I am so sad to hear the passing of Cliff Robertson. He is in one of my favorite classic films Sunday In New York. If you've yet to see it, do it now.
He has so many great films, PT 109, 3 Days of the Condor, Picnic, just off the top of my head. I'm sure there would have been many more if it weren't for his black listing in 1977, due to reporting a forgery by a Columbia executive.
Still he had an amazing career, and I will continue to enjoy his films. I wish he could have been at one of the TCM Film Fests.

UPDATE:

The following is a complete schedule of TCM’s Sept. 19 memorial tribute to Cliff Robertson (all times Eastern):

6 a.m. – Picnic (1955), with William Holden and Kim Novak; directed by Joshua Logan.
8 a.m. – Autumn Leaves (1956), with Joan Crawford and Vera Miles; directed by Robert Aldrich.
10 a.m. – Underworld U.S.A. (1961), with Dolores Dorn and Beatrice Kay; directed by Samuel Fuller.
11:45 a.m. – Gidget (1959), with Sandra Dee and James Darren; directed by Paul Wendkos.
1:30 p.m. – Sunday in New York (1963), with Jane Fonda and Rod Taylor; directed by Peter Tewksbury.
3:30 p.m. – The Best Man (1964), with Henry Fonda, Edie Adams and Lee Tracy; directed by Franklin J. Shaffner.
5:30 p.m. – PT 109 (1963), with Ty Hardin, James Gregory and Robert Culp; directed by Leslie H. Martinson.

Geraldine Ferraro RIP

Geraldine Ferraro has died. She was such an inspiration to this teenager in the 80's. I just want to send out my gratitude for everything she embodied to me. Perhaps if she had been the presidential candidate that year, we might have avoided all the Bush years Sr. and Jr.
All the same Thank you Geraldine!

Robert Culp RIP

RIP Robert Culp