Garbo & Gable in Susan Lenox; Bernard Hill in Big Premiere; Hammer’s Captain Kronos; The Cruel Sea & James Cagney’s debut
The Cruel Sea (1953) is one of the greatest war movies ever made and on Saturday 14 November at 3:50pm, it makes its debut on TPTV. Jack Hawkins stars as Ericson, the commander of a British escort vessel who must guide his inexperienced crew through the dangers of combat at sea during the Second World War’s Battle of the Atlantic. The seasoned veteran is already demoralised by the failure of his previous command, but worse is to come when a chilling dilemma presents itself. An enemy submarine may have been sighted, and Ericson knows he should order its destruction, but doing so, would also mean killing innocent survivors of an earlier shipwreck who are in the water nearby. Director Charles Frend handles the action superbly, and Hawkins delivers a career-best performance as Ericson, a man faced with an impossible decision. Donald Sinden, Denholm Elliott and Stanley Baker are among the excellent supporting cast. Interestingly, the film not only helped launch Virginia McKenna’s career but also brought her together with Denholm Elliott, whom she would later marry.
Dear Supporters of Film and TV history,
First of all, on this Remembrance Sunday, we just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has served and sacrificed so much for the freedom we enjoy today. We owe you so much. Our thoughts are also with those who continue to serve and all the families who have lost loved ones. Lest we forget.
We kick off our premieres this week with a little gem from our Pre-Code Season. For anyone wondering, Pre-Code refers to the period in Hollywood before strict film censorship came into force – a time when movie-makers could get away with rather more on screen! Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise) on Tuesday 10 November at 8:45am, was initially banned in the UK due to the scandalous nature of the book on which it’s based but was eventually re-edited and released under the title The Rise of Helga. Greta Garbo plays the lead role of an illegitimate orphan raised by a cruel uncle. After escaping from his clutches and an arranged marriage, she falls in love, but a series of unfortunate events force her into a life of prostitution. Clark Gable plays the man of her dreams – can she win him back? And for you film buffs out there, this was the only film on which Garbo collaborated with Gable, probably because they despised each other – he thought she was stuck up, while she described him as ‘vulgar’! Enjoy!
We know some people are already getting into the swing of Christmas whereas others are determined to wait until at least the beginning of December – bah humbug! But if ever there was a tale to get you in the festive spirit, it’s Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. On Thursday 12 November at 4:35pm, our Julius Hagen Season continues with Noel Cronin taking a look at Scrooge (1935) – the first full length sound version of the story, directed by Hagen’s closest collaborator Henry Edwards and the first film distributed by Twickenham Film Distributors. The 1951 Alastair Sim version may be more famous, but there’s plenty to admire about this adaptation. Edwards creates a wonderfully atmospheric film enhanced by the cinematography of Sydney Blythe and William Luff, which has been compared to German Expressionism. The central performance by Seymour Hicks is impressive too, although he’d had plenty of practice in the role of the miser who receives life-changing visits from various ghosts on Christmas Eve 1843, having played it many times on stage and in a 1913 silent movie. Oh, and keep an eye out for an uncredited Robert Morley who makes his big screen debut here.
Caroline Munro is a woman of many talents and on Friday 13 November at 9pm, she’s inviting you to join her in The Cellar Club as she answers your questions about her role in Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter - Hammer’s inventive take on the vampire myth, written and directed by the magnificent Brian Clemens. Caroline plays gypsy girl Carla, who is rescued from torture by Captain Kronos and his friend Professor Hieronymus Grost. The trio travel the country in search of bloodsuckers who have been draining the life-force of anyone who has the misfortune to cross their path. Horst Janson plays Kronos (his voice is dubbed by Julian Holloway), with John Cater as Grost. John Carson, Shane Briant, Wanda Ventham and Ian Henry offer excellent support. So, join Caroline for some behind-the-scenes titbits!
If you’re looking for something other than kids’ shows or breakfast telly on Saturday 14 November at 7:45am, TPTV really is the place to be! We’ve the channel premiere of another of our pre-code classics – Sinners' Holiday. It also happens to be James Cagney’s big-screen debut; he’d appeared in the Broadway version of the story, and reprises his role as Harry, the son of penny arcade owner Ma Delano. He runs a speakeasy on behalf of local villain Mitch but kills him during a heated argument. Ma then tries to save her son’s skin by framing her daughter’s ex-con boyfriend for Mitch’s murder. Joan Blondell, who’d starred alongside Cagney in the stage version, also makes her debut here, taking the role of Harry’s girlfriend Myrtle.
We’re winding back to 1987 on Saturday 14 November at 9:10pm for the premiere of the thriller Bellman and True – a tense and enthralling heist movie from HandMade films, who’d recently scored big successes with two other classic British thrillers – The Long Good Friday and Mona Lisa. Bellman and True deserves to be regarded just as highly thanks to its taut screenplay written by its director Richard Loncraine. Bernard Hill takes the lead role of Hiller, an alcoholic computer programmer who has lost both his job and his wife. She’s left him to take care of her young son, who’s then kidnapped by hardened criminals who want Hiller to help them pull off a major robbery at a bank near Heathrow Airport
FULL SCHEDULE
For a printable schedule for the week ahead click HERE
To see more HIGHLIGHTS, click HERE
For those of you who would like to see a full list of this week’s programming WITH SUBTITLES AVAILABLE click HERE
For FOUR WEEKS of advance schedules click HERE
For those of you who like to plan your TV viewing and find out what new films and series are coming to TPTV, we have the schedules for the next few weeks up on our website. On the schedule page, click on the dates for your chosen week. The first week will be the current one, and you can select the next week on the tab.
SELECTIONS FROM THE USHERETTE FOR THIS WEEK’S VIEWING
William Tell - Tuesday 10th November 1pm
The Master Spy. 1959. Stars Conrad Phillips, Adrienne Corri & Jack Watling. A beautiful but dangerous spy, known as The Shadow, is sent by Gessler to lure Tell and his followers into a trap.
Weir’s Way - Thursday 12th November 6.25pm
Berwick Upon Tweed. 1980. Tom Weir explores the delights of a town, and an English one at that. Celebrating its 500th year under English rule, Berwick-Upon-Tweed had previously been Scottish.
Mark Saber - Thursday 12th November 8pm
Saber’s Bow and Arrow. 1959. Stars Donald Gray, Neil McCallum, Ann Stephens & Michael Bryant. A wealthy man asks Mark Saber to find his eloping daughter, but she has been kidnapped.
Francis Durbridge’s Melissa (Parts One, Two & Three) – Thursday 12th November from 9.20pm
Part 1. 1974. Stars Peter Barkworth, Ronald Fraser & Joan Benham. Guy Foster refuses to accompany his wife Melissa to a party, only to find that he has been implicated in her murder.
Legend of the Hidden City - Saturday 14th November 9am
1997. Stars Brendan Pollecutt & Robert Finlayson. Ram revels in the destruction his battle caused, but it’s only a diversion. Kabeth makes an alliance with Kanek. Will Morgan get ‘The Source’?
Scales of Justice - Saturday 14th November 3.15pm
1965. The Hidden Face. Stars Edgar Lustgarten & Pamela Abbott. When a member of parliament takes his own life, his son seeks the author of the book that triggered the tragedy.
Dick Turpin - Saturday 14th November 6:25pm
The Secret Folk. 1982. Stars Richard O'Sullivan & Kay Adshead. Swiftnick frees a gypsy girl from a trap then must prove to her tribe he has not shamed her by facing three ordeals chosen by fate.
Lillie – Saturday 14th November 8.05pm
The New Helen. 1978. Stars Francesca Annis, Derek Smith & Denis Lill. Lillie rejects the advances of King Leopold of Belgium and her friendship with Oscar Wilde intensifies.
EuroTrash - Saturday 14th November 11.30pm
1998. Hosted by Antoine de Caunes. Tonight, we solve the secret of the moving nipple, look into the mystery of wee willy winky, watch as Lolo makes a ham sandwich and see a man getting nibbled.
Yanky Panky – (NEW) – Sunday 15th November 12.05am
2000. Join country music persona Tina C as she uncovers the eccentric subcultures, bizarre personalities, and the rude, crude and lewd underbelly of American society.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E - Sunday 15th November 4pm
The Birds and the Bees Affair. 1966. Stars Robert Vaughn, David McCallum & Ahna Capri. THRUSH has developed a strain of tiny but deadly bees and plans to release them in U.N.C.L.E. HQ in New York.
Enemy at the Door - Sunday 15th November 6pm
Treason. 1978. Stars: Alfred Burke, Bernard Horsfall, Joss Ackland & Emily Richard. General Von Wittke comes to Guernsey, ostensibly to write a report on the Occupation.
Fox - Sunday 15th November 9:05pm
Fox: Big 'F' - Family. 1980. Stars Elizabeth Spriggs, Derrick O'Connor, Rosemary Martin. The Fox family drifts apart without Billy's guidance and support, and the brothers are facing big problems.
SHORT FILMS, Glimpses and Look at Life
(THESE MAY NOT BE LISTED IN TV GUIDES)
These lovely little films are often missed out in the listings so be sure to make a note in your diaries – or set your recorder – so as you catch them!
Tuesday 10th November
4.40am – A Celebration of Nettlefold Studios and Cecil Hepworth
Join Dr Simon Brown, Mike Read, William Russell and Patricia Dainton to celebrate the famous Nettlefold Studios. We explore the history of Nettlefold.
Wednesday 11th November
3.50am – A Trip into Wharfedale 1941
A charming amateur film on a day trip in the 40s around the Yorkshire dales. Wonderful shots of vintage transport and hotels in the area and high streets.
7.30am – NEW! Pleasure Hunt 1956
1956. A previously lost Hammer short about a young man who takes a girl on a day out, where they visit Battersea Funfair in London before going to the Farnborough Air Show.
1.35pm – Le Poulet
Le Poulet (The Chicken). 1965. A child becomes attached to a chicken. To stop his parents from eating it, he places an egg near the animal every morning, making it seem like a hen.
Thursday 12th November
4.15pm – Look at Life: High, Wide and Faster
1963. A captivating look at the plans for closer co-ordination between our roads, railways and coastal shipping.
Friday 13th November
2.30am – Star Performance: The Hard Way
1953. Drama. Director: Robert Aldrich. Stars Dick Powell & Jack Elam. When a huge win at Dante's is paid off in counterfeit notes, Willie must team up with a gangster to find out who conned them.
7.50am – NEW! Tufty Club: Always Hold Mummy’s Hand
A delightful short animation for children about remembering to hold mummy's hand when out and about.
12.15pm – Look at Life: Controlled Landing
1960. Inside the control tower as ATC talk down an incoming Comet in fog, and the 'Blind Landing Experimental Unit' on a Vickers Viking.
4.25pm – NEW! Tufty Club: Don’t Cycle on the Road
A charming road safety animation warning young cyclists about riding on the road and to keep on the pavements.
7.35pm – Look at Life: The Silent Change
1961. A study of the 800 years of pageantry and ceremonial that attends the induction of a new Lord Mayor of London.
Saturday 14th November
4am – Star Performance: Moorings
1953. Drama. Directed by Roy Kellino. Stars Charles Boyer, Dorothy Malone & Will Wright. An overworked shipping magnate becomes entangled in the lives of a young boy and his blind mother.
1.30pm – Busy Bodies
1933. Comedy. Directed by Lloyd French. Stars Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. Stan & Ollie do battle with inanimate objects & their co-workers during a routine work day at the saw mill.
Sunday 15th November
5.05am – To the Four Corners
1956. Directed by Eric Marquis. From Kilkeel in Northern Ireland to Lincoln Cathedral, travel across the four corners of the United Kingdom in 1956.
8.35am – Twist or Stick
It's a 1960s twisting compilation see 'The Hollies' Shane Fenton & The Fentones, The Orchids, The Keytones, a lot of 'That Old Yeah, Yeah Feeling' and much more.
8.55pm – Look at Life: Why all the Rush
1961. A look into why August Bank Holiday is traditionally the date around which most Britons fix their holidays. Those who think they will get away from it all are in for a shock.
As you know here at TPTV Towers, nothing tickles us more than hearing from you all about the little details you spot when watching the channel – and lots of you are often “on the ball”! This week we received this brilliant email from one very observant viewer, who spotted a clever Shakespearean plot parallel and an in-joke in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. episode The Dippy Blonde Affair:
The statue whose eyes act as a tv security device outside the local THRUSH HQ is a cast of actor Louis Calhern in his role as Julius Caesar opposite Marlon Brando as Mark Antony, from the 1953 film of the same name. The THRUSH emperor/villain is an Italian-American. Joyce Jameson's character is coerced into a Cleopatra-like role opposite him, which creates the distrust in his organisation that similarly brings down the THRUSH patriarch like the Roman Caesar. Clearly, people on the production were having fun, playing with classical references.
Huge news! The TPTV Encore App is now available via the Google Play app store. If you've been waiting for an Android launch, you can now download and enjoy our app for your Android devices. That includes Samsung phones and tablets, Google phones and tablets, Lenovo phones and tablets, Motorola phones and tablets + loads more. It’s available on 100s of Android devices. Just search ‘TPTV Encore’ in Google Play to find us.
For non-Android users you can also still find the app on the Amazon Firestick, the Apple App Store, Apple TV, loads of brands of TV that use Fire TV or Android TV OS and the Red Button via Freeview 82.
Watching TPTV Encore, the channel’s catch up & on demand service has never been easier.
TPTV PODCAST
Please tune in to the popular podcast for news, views and reviews of upcoming films and shows on your favourite channel. Click below to listen, or search for us in your favourite podcast app.
https://talkingpicturestvpodcast.libsyn.com/
QUIZ TIME
This afternoon on The Footage Detectives at 5pm, Isla St Clair joins Noel and Mike in the studio. Isla worked with Larry Grayson on The Generation Game – but who preceded Isla and Larry in the show?
If you know the answer, please email theprojectionist@talkingpicturestv.co.uk with Quiz 8/11 in the subject line. And please don’t forget to include your postal address in case you are the winner.
Right, it’s time to “shut that door” on this week’s newsletter! Have a super-duper week and we’ll see you at the same time, same place for more “life in the past lane”!
Best Wishes
Sarah, Noel and Neill
PS: Last week we asked you to name Bud Flanagan and Chesney Allen’s signature song. The answer was: Underneath The Arches. Apologies in advance if you find yourself humming it all day today 😉
