FILM PICKS
SUNDAY
On The Town (1949) (BBC2, 1.30pm)
Three sailors have 24 hours of shore leave in New York and are determined to make the most of it. One of them decides to seek out the model featured in an advertising campaign, another takes a shine to an anthropologist, while a third finds himself fighting off the attentions of a female cabbie. The plot is slim to non-existent, but this exuberant musical is so brimming with energy, you really won’t care. Leading men Gene Kelly, Jules Munshin and Frank Sinatra are all terrific as the sailors, the music is provided by Leonard Bernstein, and the witty script and lyrics come courtesy of future Singin’ in the Rain screenwriters Adolph Green and Betty Comden. The New York locations just add to the appeal.
MONDAY
The Misfits (1961)
(GREAT! movies classic, 4.20pm) John Huston’s 1961 drama, based on a script by Arthur Miller, marks the final screen appearances of two Hollywood legends – Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe. Thirty-year-old Roslyn Tabor (Monroe) divorces her husband Raymond (Kevin McCarthy). She drowns her sorrows with her friend Isabelle in a local bar, where the two women are approached by cowboy Gaylord Langland (Gable) and his friend Guido (Eli Wallach). They invite Roslyn and Isabelle to Guido’s half-completed ranch in the country. The women accept the invitation and Roslyn eventually moves into the ranch with Gaylord to complete the work on the building. An encounter with Gaylord’s friend, rodeo rider Perce Howland, creates friction between the fledgling lovebirds and tests the strength of their relationship.
TUESDAY
The Graduate (1967) (BBC2, 11.15pm)
Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) has just graduated from college and is back at his parents’ home for the summer, with his whole life ahead of him. His parents would like him to get into the plastics industry, but Benjamin isn’t sure. He’s more interested in getting into bed with sexy neighbour Mrs Robinson (Anne Bancroft), although it soon becomes clear that it’s her daughter Elaine (Katharine Ross) who holds the key to his heart.
WEDNESDAY Crimson Tide (1995) (GREAT! movies, 9pm)
A Russian nuclear missile base falls into ultra-nationalist hands, and a US strategic submarine is ordered to prepare for a pre-emptive strike if the rebels begin fuelling their weapons. With the world poised on the brink of war, tensions are running high, and the vessel’s veteran captain clashes with his new by-the-book first mate over what course of action to take when they can’t confirm their attack orders. Tony Scott’s claustrophobic thriller has so much tension you could cut it with a knife. Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington are superb as the US Navy officers.