The Films of King Vidor: "Stella Dallas" (1937) on TCM tonight

A very interesting director, King Vidor, is featured on TCM today, with a good sampling of his work. "The Fountainhead" is extremely florid but interesting; I haven't seen "Our Daily Bread"


5:00pm [Documentary] Men Who Made the Movies, The: King Vidor (1973)
Film clips and an exclusive interview capture the career of the top action director.
Cast: Jennifer Jones, Gary Cooper Dir: Richard Schickel BW-55 mins, TV-PG [Close Captioned] [Email Remind Me]

6:00pm [Drama] Crowd, The (1928)
In this silent film, an office worker deals with the simple joys and tragedies of married life.
Cast: Eleanor Boardman, James Murray, Bert Roach, Estelle Clark Dir: King Vidor BW-93 mins, TV-G [Email Remind Me]

7:45pm [Drama] Champ, The (1931)
A broken-down prizefighter battles to keep custody of his son.
Cast: Wallace Beery, Jackie Cooper, Irene Rich, Rosco Ates Dir: King Vidor BW-86 mins, TV-G [Close Captioned] [Email Remind Me]

9:15pm [Western] Duel In The Sun (1946)
A fiery half-breed comes between a rancher's good and evil sons.
Cast: Jennifer Jones, Joseph Cotten, Gregory Peck, Lionel Barrymore Dir: William Dieterle C-144 mins, TV-14 [Close Captioned] [Email Remind Me]

11:45pm [Drama] Fountainhead, The (1949)
An idealistic architect battles corrupt business interests and his love for a married woman.
Cast: Gary Cooper, Patricia Neal, Raymond Massey, Kent Smith Dir: King Vidor BW-113 mins, TV-PG [Close Captioned] [Email Remind Me]

1:45am [Drama] Our Daily Bread (1934)
When he inherits a small farm, a Depression-weary man turns it into a collective operation.
Cast: Karen Morley, Tom Keene, Barbara Pepper, Addison Richards Dir: King Vidor BW-74 mins, TV-G

 

I think it's only fair that as a footnote, we mention Vidor shot the Wizard of Oz's black and white scenes, which contain quite possibly the most famous song in the history of movies.

Vidor's the Champ is beginning now on TCM.

 

I have seen "The Crowd" before, and have to confess I didn't much like it, though it is a famous film.

 

Tomorrow night:

5:00pm [Silent] Show People (1928)
In this silent film, a small-town girl tries to make it in Hollywood.
Cast: Marion Davies, William Haines, Dell Henderson, Paul Ralli Dir: King Vidor BW-79 mins,

6:30pm [Silent] Patsy, The (1928)
In this silent film, a romantic young woman falls for her sister's fiance, then discovers her sister is cheating on him.
Cast: Marion Davies, Orville Caldwell, Marie Dressler, Dell Henderson Dir: King Vidor BW-77 mins, TV-G

These two movies are held to be the best movies Marion Davies (the girlfriend of William Randolph Hearst, aka the singer in "Citizen Kane") ever made.

 

On TCM Tonight:

1:45 AM H.M. Pulham, Esq. (1941)
A stuffy businessman livens things up by having a fling. Cast: Robert Young, Ruth Hussey, Hedy Lamarr. Dir: King Vidor. BW-120 mins, TV-PG

 

I'd like to see this. The novel is a masterpiece. Young is not great casting, I must say.

 

Tonight on TCM "Stella Dallas" (1937)

"After divorcing a society man, a small-town woman tries to build a better life for their daughter."

Cast & Crew
King Vidor Director
Barbara Stanwyck Stella [Martin] Dallas
John Boles Stephen Dallas
Anne Shirley Laurel Dallas
Barbara O'Neil Helen [Morrison] Dallas
Alan Hale Ed Munn
Marjorie Main Mrs. Martin
Tim Holt Richard Grosvenor, III
George Wolcott Charlie Martin
Ann Shoemaker Miss Phillibrown
Nella Walker Mrs. Grosvenor