What happened to TCM?

[TheDutchess]

TCM Has a good one on right now "Roman Holiday" with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck.

 

[Rittmeister]

Don't count them out yet. This month they are running some great films with big bands, including seldom seen shorts of band performances. (Great suits and hats on the musicians.) The star of the month is also Rosalind Russell.

 

[Brian Sheridan]

It is a tough balance between attracting a wide audience or being a channel for just nuts like us. Unfortunatly, there are not enough nuts like us who tune into the obscurer offerings to make the channel economically viable. Luckily, TCM is part of packages where a big name channel like ESPN can get a high subcribership. If they go to "ala carte" channel programing, then we really maybe in trouble. The argument "Why should I pay for a channel I don't watch" can really hurt people like us since we don't pay premium channel prices to watch our favorite old movies.

 

[Burnsie]

While I've noticed that in prime time especially TCM seems to be showing more recent stuff I still don't count them out. When TCM first went on the air I knew AMC was doomed due to Turner owning so much classic material and nowadays I don't even watch AMC (during my high school years they were the only game in town!). I admit I'm one of the closed minded folks that disagrees with "it doesn't have to be old to be classic" but then how old is old? I love movies that have stood the test of time and held up - for me the mid 50's is getting too new.

 

[Feraud]

The argument "Why should I pay for a channel I don't watch" can really hurt people like us since we don't pay premium channel prices to watch our favorite old movies.

Good observation. I wonder how many people would open up the wallets and pay for TCM and how lucrative it would be for the station.
TCM would be lucky to draw half the viewers they currently have.

 

[Nighthawk]

Maybe five years ago, sometime around then, TCM showed Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) in widescreen, it was either the theatrical cut or the extended version.

As far as I know, this is the only Trek film that they have shown. To say that TCM has just started showing newer movies isn't quite true. I am pretty sure that they showed this because it was directed by Robert Wise and they were showing other films of his at the time, such as The Andromeda Strain, The Day the Earth Stood Still, The Sand Pebbles, West Side Story, The Sound of Music, etc.

Regardless, I was quite excited to see the non-director's edition of ST:TMP on TCM. The original/extended cut (far superior to the director's, IMO) has never been and likely never will be released on DVD.

NH

 

[Amy Jeanne]

TCM is going to be showing LOTS of movies I want to see in the upcoming months:

September's Star Of The Month appears to be Kay Francis. They are showing her films all night long on Thursdays. I can't believe this! Kay is one of my very favorite actresses and she's a bit "obscure" to non-buffs.

October's Star Of The Month will be Carole Lombard. Lots of rare movies I'll never see again are going to be aired!

Two of my most favourite actresses! My VCR will be smoking!

 

[ImmortalChaos]

I adore Kay. She's a fascinating gal that one. But, I'm glad they're doing big bands this month.:eusa_clap

 

[Brian Sheridan]

While watching a William Powell movie this morning on TCM I got the idea that too bad TCM couldn't be declared some sort of musuem and obtain public funding. The ability to see these movies uncut and commercial-free is a national treasure. It is also one that people don't need to live near to see like the monuments in Washington DC. Maybe it could be part of the National Archives. There are have been much worse things our tax money has gone to. And it couldn't cost that much to upkeep if it were a partnership with Turner or Time Warner.

 

[Joe_Frances]

I have seen some great films on TCM this month and last, on Carole Lombard and Kay Francis, great stuff not to be missed. Also, they have played a number of films not available on DVD, such as the fantastic "Double Harness" with William Powell and a gorgeous Ann Harding.

Sometimes I think we've simply run out of great 30s-40s films and TMC is doing what it can to keep the franchise going. Then, out of the blue they do something great. It's not all bad news at TCM, it's just not great all the time, or even half the time, still, a treasure for old films.

 

[Nathan Dodge]

Maybe five years ago, sometime around then, TCM showed Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) in widescreen, it was either the theatrical cut or the extended version.

As far as I know, this is the only Trek film that they have shown.
NH

They aired STII and STIII back-to-back around 1999. I remember because my wife and I ran out to buy lots of junk food to munch on while we watched. lol

 

[vitanola]

What defines a 'classic' movie? Nothing made after 1950 or something? [huh]

If it talks, it can't be all that good unless it sings.

Hmmpfh!

 

[Lone_Ranger]

I come home from work tonight and make bangers and potatoes, pop open a cider, turn on TCM .... and there's Rush Hour 2. Huh? I frantically flip through the channels thinking the cable company made a horrible and inexcusable error. Nope. They apparently meant to play that "film" ... probably just to alienate me. [huh]

You mean Rush Hour 2 isn't a "Classic?" lol

 

[MadelienneBlack]

Has anyone else noticed that the good films are always on in the wee hours of the morning when hardly anyone's awake to watch them? I don't have a VCR or digital recorder with me at college, so I guess I'm S.O.L., as they say.

 

[Feraud]

Has anyone else noticed that the good films are always on in the wee hours of the morning when hardly anyone's awake to watch them? I don't have a VCR or digital recorder with me at college, so I guess I'm S.O.L., as they say.

Yes. Odd hours, guest programmers, and tributes are when TCM show their best films.

 

[Creeping Past]

If you're craving vintage movies, you really should visit the internet's greatest collection of ancient black and white features.

The Green Glove
DOA
My Man Godfrey

They're all there... and a lot more besides.

 

[Feraud]

Agreed. They have a lot of great movies on the site.

 

[jake_fink]

Bang the Drum Slowly is on tonight at 8. There's a good film that you don't get to see very often.

 

[Tomasso]

If you're craving vintage movies, you really should visit the internet's greatest collection of ancient black and white features.

I concur, wholeheartedly.

 

[HadleyH]

They're all there... and a lot more besides.

i just added that to my favorites, thank you!