TCM is honoring Jane Powell with an afternoon lineup of her films on Saturday, Oct. 16. The actor and singer, who passed away Sept. 16 at age 92, was one of the top MGM musicals stars of the '40s and '50s and she was a great friend of the network and classic movie fans. Your best bet is Powell's career-defining performance in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) at 6 pm ET/3 pm PT. Powell is at her feisty best as pioneer woman Milly, but she's also subtle and sweet when the part requires it and "Wonderful, Wonderful Day" is a great showcase for her voice. The rest of the lineup is made up of three MGM musicals. Luxury Liner (1948) at noon ET, Small Town Girl (1953) at 2 pm ET, and Royal Wedding (1951) at 4 pm ET. In the last film, Powell steals the show from costar Fred Astaire during a sassy Vaudeville-type number.
Here's the best of the rest for the week of Oct. 11, 2021:
1. Nine to Five (1980) at 10 pm ET/7 pm PT Monday, Oct. 11: Legends Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton, and Lily Tomlin team up for this '80s workplace comedy. This film is still a fiercely funny takedown of sexism in the workplace -- it's also a rare female buddy movie -- and there's not a woman alive who can't relate to it on some level.
2. Breathless (1961)) at 12:15 am ET/9:15 pm PT Tuesday night/Wednesday morning: TCM's spotlight on New Wave movements continues with director Jean-Luc Godard's film about a gangster (Jean Paul Belmondo) and chic young woman (Jean Seberg) on the lam. It is THE essential film of the Nouvelle Vague.
3. Border Incident (1949) at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT Wednesday, Oct. 13: This uncompromising, surprisingly contemporary film noir about the immigration crisis at the U.S./Mexico border is more relevant in 2021 than it was in the 1949. Simply, put it's one of the best old Hollywood noirs, and it lingers in your mind long after you've watched it. Border Incident is part of a night of films honoring Hispanic Heritage month. Mexican actor Ricardo Montalban stars in Border Incident and another great noir airing Wednesday night: Mystery Street (1948) at 1:45 am ET/10:45 pm PT.
4. House of Wax (1953) at 6:30 pm ET/3:30 pm PT Thursday, Oct. 14: It just wouldn't be October without a little Vincent Price on our list. The horror icon plays the very dedicated owner of the world's creepiest museum in this classic fright-fest (too bad TCM viewers can't see it in its original 3-D format).
