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Saturday, December 20, 2008

TCM offers Christmas goodies

During Christmas Week, when many channels take it easy, Turner Classic Movies steps up the celebrating.

  • As in every week, TCM lays out a wide range of fare. Get your fill of Disney movies tomorrow. The titles include "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" and "Freaky Friday."
  • A Monday morning salute to director Howard Hawks rolls out three of his classics: "To Have and Have Not," "Twentieth Century" and "Bringing Up Baby."
  • Monday evening gathers memorable Jewish characters: an Israeli activist (Paul Newman) in "Exodus," a yearning girl (Barbra Streisand) in "Yentl" and a put-upon milkman (Oscar-nominee Topol) in "Fiddler on the Roof."
  • An Andy Hardy festival plays Tuesday, along with a Mickey Rooney interview.
  • Christmas Eve will be especially festive. The greatest present may be "Cluny Brown," a 1946 comedy showing at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday. Here's how TCM explains the plot: "A servant girl's passion for plumbing shocks London society." The servant girl is Jennifer Jones at her most charming. The director is Ernst Lubitsch in top form.
  • "Remember the Night," a poignant drama, follows at 11:15 p.m. Wednesday. Barbara Stanwyck is a shoplifter, Fred MacMurray is an assistant district attorney, and romance blooms. They're a long way from "Double Indemnity."
  • TCM will fill out Christmas Eve with other goodies: "The Man Who Came to Dinner," "The Bishop's Wife" and Stanwyck in "Christmas in Connecticut." Late night brings two classics: "Meet Me in St. Louis" and "The Shop Around the Corner."
  • Christmas Day honors Jesus with three biblical epics: "The Greatest Story Ever Told," "King of Kings" and "Ben-Hur."
  • Humphrey Bogart, who also was born on Christmas, receives the TCM treatment on his birthday. Five of his films, starting with "Casablanca," will be shown.
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