TCM

July will be a terrific month on Turner Classic Movies...

You know, I don't think I've seen the 1939 adaptation of Of Mice and Men (with Burgess Meredith) since I was in High School —which, come to think of it, was perhaps 25 years ago. (I must admit, it is distinctly unsettling to me that I can refer to events in my adult lifetime as having taken place that long ago.) I've spent too many years exposed to parodies of the characters in that book that I doubt I'll be able to contain my snickering — but I'm looking forward to this all the same (on July 23).

In celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Apollo Moon Landing, there's an evening of themed films (on July 20), including Destination Moon (1950) and The Right Stuff (1983). I've always been kinda curious about The Right Stuff, though I don't always have patience for drama when I'd prefer a documentary. Fortunately, there's also a documentary: For All Mankind (1989).

There's an evening of Jean Seberg films in the next day or so (on July 11). I did two books about her last year, but I've never seen any of her work.

I've never ever seen any of the Ma and Pa Kettle films. This shameful gap in my pop cultural experience will finally be addressed (on July 17)!

And I'll get to see MGM's remake of Waterloo Bridge, which I expect will be every bit as dull and boring as I've read, particularly when compared to the original (July 22).

And there's an entire evening of Pre-Code Hollywood Musicals (on July 29). You know how much I love that stuff!

This, you see, is why I pay whatever ridiculous amount of money I pay each month for Cable TV service. And this is why I couldn't get by without a DVR.