So lately I've been noticing a slightly disturbing trend on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) that is reminiscent of what American Movie Classics (AMC) did back in the day. More and more I'm seeing movies made post 50's being aired, and while I of course love all types of films they are not the reason I tune into TCM. Give me my black and white flicks damnit!
I remember when I was in junior high/high school I used to watch AMC all the time. That is where I first started my romance with classic films after having been exposed to a few by my parents growing up. AMC was where I found out there was much more to that world than Singing in the Rain, My Fair Lady and Knights of the Rounds Table. Then I discovered another channel that provided the same types of films from the 20's-50's, TCM! Hooray! Two channels to gobble up old time cinema!
Then I remember noticing AMC was switching up their offerings. Movies like E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, and Jaws started popping up every now and again and eventually more recent "film classics" were all that was being shown. Again, I LOVE those movies but where was I to go if I wanted a good ol' fashioned black and white fix? I noticed those films were mostly being played at ungodly hours of the day when I just couldn't watch, and this was pre-DVR days. TCM however was still my hero!
That is until now. Sadness. Of course I'm still able to see a good ol' flick on TCM, but like AMC started doing those black and white classics seem to be airing less and less to make room for films that were made in the 60's and 70's. Before long will I not be able to see ANYTHING from the Golden Age of Hollywood?? I used to be able to turn on the TV and go straight to TCM to see what was playing and now I feel like every time I do I just want to change it because I'm just not interested in a film I could catch on any other channel.
I guess I should just start making good use of that DVR and hope that at least my black and white flicks will still be aired, even at those ungodly hours of the day!
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I know exactly what you mean. TCM does seam to be going to more post 1950s films. It's especially evident during Summer Under the Stars and the Oscar month. I pretty much can't watch those two months. The earlier films also seem to be in the middle of the night or early morning. Bummer for those of us with no DVR and like sleep :)
ReplyDeletePreach it! I totally agree!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't worry too much. Don't know if you've heard, but in November and December, TCM will be airing a multi-part series on the history of the film industry called "Moguls And Movie Stars," which promises to be this generation's "Hollywood" (the wonderful Brownlow-Gill history of the silent era). With it, TCM will be airing all sorts of movies dating back to Thomas Edison. Also, TCM still airs more pre-Code stuff than just about anyone. While I'm not a big fan of '50s and '60s films, they do have a place at TCM.
ReplyDelete...thought I was the only one who was getting a bit 'antsy' about the "post-Golden-Era" flicks being run... heck, TONIGHT they showed 'The Bad News Bears', from '76 - Walter Matthau night... in theory, these 'theme' nights are ok - seems like they show an 'old' movie' and a 'contemporary' movie that is similar... but let's not make a habit of this, ok, Teddy? :-/
ReplyDeleteMY perfect solution would be to make TWO TCM channels - with 1950 being the cutoff point on either side (one channel everything UP to 1950, another one 1950 and beyond...) wouldn't that be a fair solution? Teddy, can you HEAR me??? :-0
Thanks for the forum, Double V!!!
Keep It Gingery!
VKMfan
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Oooh I like that idea of two channels VKM! That would be ideal!! :)
ReplyDeleteI felt the same way when I saw Bad News Bears on tonight, and admittedly it WAS a tribute to Walter Matthau so that makes sense, but like you said let's not make a habit of this! ;)
xoxoxo
Ted owns a gazillion channels (well, not sure WHAT his role exactly is with them now, with the Warner connection and all...) but anyway, if they have 3 or 4 Mtv channels, then they could at LEAST have two 'classic movie' channels, IMHO...
ReplyDeleteBTW, the lady to the right, on the phone with the feather duster (and not much else)... does she do windows? :-P
KIG, Double V!!!
VKMfanHuey
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Yeah, I don't know why they chose "Ishtar" for Warren Beatty day.
ReplyDeleteHaha VKM, she does indeed do windows!
ReplyDeleteTom, I KNOW RIGHT?! I thought the same thing, I had thought that movie was known as a joke so why showcase it? Hmmm what was my favorite Warren Beatty... I loved Bonnie and Clyde.
I have noticed this pattern as well. I am hoping it is because of the Summer Under the Stars and not the channel changing. My theory (well more like what I am hoping) is that they ran out of some classic big name stars to use. Last year they used many older, big name stars like Bette Davis and Audrey Hepburn (I think... I could be wrong about Audrey but you get the idea) and so now they are throwing in ones from the 60's and 70's. I couldnt imagine TCM changing! Its the best place to watch all of these wonderful classics.
ReplyDeleteI hear you.
ReplyDeleteBob Dorian was my Robert Osbourne for the longest time. I switched when the commercials started rolling in.
When TCM begins cutting up the classics with commercials, I'll call it quits.
Hey Java Bean, liked your #10 on your list there! :) Amen! Here's a blog article I found from someone who had lots of detail about the AMC debacle, it was interesting to read why they did what they did: http://www.intuitive.com/blog/do_classic_movies_need_to_be_censored_amc_versus_tcm.html
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link, Vintage Vamp. I'll check it out.
ReplyDeleteYO....I LOVE THE OLDIES....STILL HOPING TO FIND A PRINT OF "ROGUE RIVER" WITH RORY CALHOUN AND PETER GRAVES....ANYONE HAVE INFO ON THIS FILM?????
ReplyDeleteWas TCM originally supposed to only show stuff up to 1950? I feel 1960s and some 70s stuff are classics, but I do wonder when TCM plays Airplane! that they're getting off track. I guess you also have to consider the definition of "classic" which will probably always be changing.
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