Fox Movie Channel in July

Fox Movie Channel has pros and cons. First, the cons: The channel shows a relatively small list of the same films over and over again, only occasionally introducing a new title.

The prints are sometimes disappointing; for instance, the channel shows too many pan & scan prints, although it was nice to see they upgraded to a widescreen copy of BLACK WIDOW (1954), which was previously run on Fox in pan & scan. I recently caught a bit of THE DARK CORNER (1946) and was puzzled by the very poor, fuzzy print quality, considering I had just watched a pristine DVD picture a few days before. (THE DARK CORNER airs again on July 31st.)

On the other hand, FMC does show some excellent films. Spotlighting Fox Movie Channel's lineup on a monthly basis is probably not practical, simply due to the repetitive nature of the lineup, but those who have Fox Movie Channel may not be aware of how many good classic films are shown on the station. The older films are typically shown in the early morning hours, while the evening time slots are often given over to newer action and horror films.

The films below are only listed for one air date, but they are often shown several times a month; search the Fox website for additional airdates.

...July 1st Fox is showing the very interesting NO HIGHWAY IN THE SKY (1951). PANIC IN THE STREETS (1950) with Richard Widmark is another excellent film airing on the 1st.

...THE PROUD ONES (1956), a Western with Robert Ryan and Virginia Mayo, airs on the 2nd. Also showing that date is WING AND A PRAYER (1944), a WWII film with Don Ameche and Dana Andrews.

...July 4th is SLATTERY'S HURRICANE (1949) with Richard Widmark, Linda Darnell, and Veronica Lake. The classic THE MARK OF ZORRO (1940), one of my very favorite movies, also airs on Independence Day.

...July 5th the pre-Code ME AND MY GAL (1932) will be shown; it's a Raoul Walsh film with Spencer Tracy and Joan Bennett. Two Betty Grable films, THE SHOCKING MISS PILGRIM (1947) and PIN-UP GIRL (1944), also show on the 5th.

...Gems on the 6th include LLOYD'S OF LONDON (1936), which made Tyrone Power a star; NOB HILL (1945) with Joan Bennett, George Raft, and Vivian Blaine; and A LETTER TO THREE WIVES (1949). (Fox recently also showed the 1985 TV-movie remake with Stephanie Zimbalist, Michelle Lee, and Loni Anderson. It can't hold a candle to the remake -- what could? -- but what fun to see Ann Sothern from the film's original cast in a supporting role.)

...July 7th don't miss Jeanne Crain in APARTMENT FOR PEGGY (1948). And O. HENRY'S FULL HOUSE has a terrific cast including Crain, Richard Widmark, Marilyn Monroe, Charles Laughton, and Oscar Levant -- all in the same movie!

...July 10th there's more Crain in the thriller DANGEROUS CROSSING (1952). TAMPICO (1944) stars Edward G. Robinson and Lynn Bari, and there's lots of noir goodness with PICKUP ON SOUTH STREET (1953), NIGHT AND THE CITY (1950), and THE HOUSE ON 92ND STREET (1945).

...July 13th is another great viewing day: HEAVEN WITH A BARBED-WIRE FENCE (1939) with a very young Glenn Ford and Richard Conte; Dana Andrews and Gene Tierney in THE IRON CURTAIN (1948); SOMEWHERE IN THE NIGHT (1946) with John Hodiak and Lloyd Nolan; and Jeanne Crain and Jean Peters in VICKI (1953).

...I really enjoyed THE SECRET OF CONVICT LAKE (1951), starring Gene Tierney, Glenn Ford, and Zachary Scott, being shown on July 15th. The Tyrone Power films JOHNNY APOLLO (1940) and NIGHTMARE ALLEY (1947) are also on on the 15th.

...The classic comedy SITTING PRETTY (1948), with Clifton Webb as Mr. Belvedere, airs on July 16th. Robert Young and Maureen O'Hara are the hapless parents.

...July 18th is the air date for the biographical film A MAN CALLED PETER (1955), starring Richard Todd and Jean Peters.

...Robert Mitchum and Susan Hayward are the draws for WHITE WITCH DOCTOR (1953) on July 21st.

...July 23rd the classic THE GHOST AND MRS. MUIR (1947) will be shown, starring Gene Tierney, Rex Harrison, George Sanders, and young Natalie Wood.

...July 25th is MR. 880 (1950), with Burt Lancaster, Dorothy McGuire, and Edmund Gwenn.

...Alice Faye and Tony Martin star in SALLY, IRENE AND MARY (1938) on July 26th. Jimmy Durante and Fred Allen also star.

...BENEATH THE 12-MILE REEF (1953) is on July 27th. It stars a young Robert Wagner, plus Terry Moore and Gilbert Roland.

...Look for THE FORBIDDEN STREET (1949), aka BRITANNIA MEWS or AFFAIRS OF ADELAIDE, on the 28th, starring Dana Andrews and Maureen O'Hara. DON'T BOTHER TO KNOCK (1952), with Richard Widmark and Marilyn Monroe, airs the same day.

There are countless films buried in the Fox archives I wish the channel would show, starting with CENTENNIAL SUMMER (1946), starring Jeanne Crain and Linda Darnell. But in the meantime, those who have Fox Movie Channel may wish to check out some of the interesting titles listed above.

Happy viewing!