If you've wondered why 1939 has the reputation for being the greatest year for movies ever, today would be a good day for you to settle in and watch Turner Classic Movies all day long.
It's a special day in TCM's annual "31 Days of Oscar." I can recall many themes that TCM has used over the years — times when programming was arranged according to films featuring a certain actor or actress or director or films that had certain plot similarities.
But I cannot recall a day when TCM did something like this.
From 7:15 (Central) this morning until the wee hours of Sunday morning, TCM will be showing all 10 of the movies that were nominated for Best Picture in 1939 starting with "Dark Victory" with Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart.
That's followed at 9 a.m. by "Of Mice and Men" with Burgess Meredith. After that, it's "Ninotchka" with Greta Garbo at 11.
In the afternoon, "Wuthering Heights," with Laurence Olivier, will be shown at 1 p.m., followed by John Wayne in "Stagecoach" at 3 p.m. Jimmy Stewart stars in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" at 4:45.
That brings us to prime time.
The evening hours feature probably the two most remembered films of 1939 — "The Wizard of Oz," with Judy Garland, at 7 p.m., and the eventual Oscar winner, "Gone With the Wind," with Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh, at 9.
Robert Donat and Greer Garson star in "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" at 1 a.m., and the last of the 10 nominees, "Love Affair" with Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer, comes on at 3.
Talk about a heavyweight lineup. It's hard to think of a major star from 1939 who wasn't in one of the Best Picture nominees or a genre that wasn't represented.
Every February, I enjoy watching portions of TCM's salute. Part of my pleasure comes from seeing films I've seen before, but part of it comes from the experience of seeing films for the first time.
Typically, I look for a few movies to watch that I have never seen before, no matter how old they might be, and I am almost giddy at the thought of having all the top movies from the greatest year in film history available on one channel in a single day. It's kind of like one–stop shopping for classic movie fans.
Now, my mission is clear — but it is hardly easy.
I have seen some of the movies that are scheduled to be shown today, and I might watch one or two of them. But I haven't seen at least half of the Best Picture nominees of 1939, and I want to watch one or two of them as well.
Today I have a choice (or choices) to make.
And, if you are a fan of classic films, so have you.
Which film (or films) will you watch today?
