TCM Schedule for Friday, March 18, 2022 -- 31 Days of Oscar: 1970s Winners

[Staph]

Day eighteen of the 31 Days, and we're getting our third day full of the 1970s, including a trio of Neil Simon-written / Herbert Ross-directed comedies -- California Suite (1978), The Goodbye Girl (1977), and The Sunshine Boys (1978). Get your groove on and enjoy!


8:00 AM -- Butterflies Are Free (1972)
1h 33m | Drama | TV-PG
A blind man trying to escape his protective mother falls for an aspiring actress.
Director: Milton Katselas
Cast: Goldie Hawn, Edward Albert, Eileen Heckart

Winner of an Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role -- Eileen Heckart

Nominee for Oscars for Best Cinematography -- Charles Lang, and Best Sound -- Arthur Piantadosi and Charles T. Knight

The film's source, Broadway play "Butterflies Are Free" (1969), was loosely based on the life of Harvard law student Harold Krents, who was blind. Krents also acted as a technical advisor for the movie.


10:00 AM -- Travels with My Aunt (1972)
1h 49m | Comedy | TV-14
A stodgy young man gets caught up in his free-living aunt's shady schemes.
Director: George Cukor
Cast: Maggie Smith, Alec Mccowen, Lou Gossett

Winner of an Oscar for Best Costume Design -- Anthony Powell (Anthony Powell couldn't attend the awards ceremony, as he was working on Papillon (1973) in London, England. George Cukor, the film's director, accepted the award on his behalf.)

Nominee for Oscars for Best Actress in a Leading Role -- Maggie Smith, Best Cinematography -- Douglas Slocombe, and Best Art Direction-Set Decoration -- John Box, Gil Parrondo and Robert W. Laing

Katharine Hepburn was initially approached by her friend, Director George Cukor, to star in this movie. She read the book by Graham Greene, but since it was a series of short stories, she didn't think it could be adapted into a movie. However, she agreed to star in it after reading the book a few times. Jay Presson Allen wrote the screenplay, but when Hepburn was unhappy with the result, Allen suggested that she re-write it. Hepburn worked on the script for three months, but when she submitted it, MGM studio head James T. Aubrey felt that her script was missing the charm of the book. Also, Aubrey felt that Hepburn was too old to play Aunt Augusta in flashback scenes. Aubrey called Hepburn to tell her that the project had been postponed, but the next day, Hepburn's agent called to report that she had been released by MGM for "failing to report to work." Hepburn considered suing MGM for payment for her script work, but decided against it. According to Jay Presson Allen, one speech from Hepburn's script was included in this movie, but Hepburn was not given screen credit, because she wasn't a member of the Screen Writer's Guild.


12:00 PM -- A Little Romance (1979)
1h 48m | Romance | TV-14
Teenagers elope with the help of an aging pickpocket.
Director: George Roy Hill
Cast: Laurence Olivier, Diane Lane, John Pepper

Winner of an Oscar for Best Music, Original Score -- Georges Delerue

Nominee for an Oscar for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium -- Allan Burns

Sir Laurence Olivier wanted to do his own stunts despite his infirmity. Director George Roy Hill had built for Olivier a specially designed bicycle with a motor to give the appearance that the cyclist was pedaling. Olivier wouldn't stand for this, however, and when Hill was away, he got on the real bike and rode down a hill on his own, proving his cycling competency.


2:00 PM -- California Suite (1978)
1h 43m | Comedy | TV-14
Four sets of guests at a posh hotel face personal crises.
Director: Herbert Ross
Cast: Alan Alda, Michael Caine, Tawny Moyer

Winner of an Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role -- Maggie Smith

Nominee for Oscars for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium -- Neil Simon, and Best Art Direction-Set Decoration -- Albert Brenner and Marvin March

Diana Barrie (Dame Maggie Smith) says that she wishes David Niven could accept her award for her because he would be witty and charming. In the play on which the movie is based, the character says "Michael Caine", but it was changed when Caine was cast as her husband.


4:00 PM -- The Goodbye Girl (1977)
1h 50m | Comedy | TV-14
A dancer discovers her runaway boyfriend has sublet her apartment to an aspiring actor.
Director: Herbert Ross
Cast: Richard Dreyfuss, Marsha Mason, Quinn Cummings

Winner of an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role -- Richard Dreyfuss

Nominee for Oscars for Best Actress in a Leading Role -- Marsha Mason, Best Actress in a Supporting Role -- Quinn Cummings, Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen -- Neil Simon, and Best Picture

Originally entitled "Bogart Slept Here" with Robert De Niro as the leading man and Mike Nichols as director. The story was supposedly based on Dustin Hoffman's life as a struggling actor, reportedly, it was the story of what happened to Hoffman after he became a star. Hoffman wanted the lead role in the film but was turned down. Artistic differences ultimately forced De Niro and Nichols out, two weeks into the shoot, after several table readings. Other actors who were also candidates for the role were Jack Nicholson, James Caan and Tony Lo Bianco. Dreyfuss was brought in to test opposite Marsha Mason. At the end of the read-through, writer Neil Simon ruled, "It doesn't work, but they do." From this, the two leads for the picture were finalized.


6:00 PM -- The Sunshine Boys (1975)
1h 51m | Comedy | TV-14
A feuding comedy team reunites for a television comeback.
Director: Herbert Ross
Cast: Walter Matthau, George Burns, Richard Benjamin

Winner of an Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role -- George Burns

Nominee for Oscars for Best Actor in a Leading Role -- Walter Matthau, Best Writing, Screenplay Adapted From Other Material -- Neil Simon, and Best Art Direction-Set Decoration -- Albert Brenner and Marvin March

First feature film for George Burns for thirty-six years. Burns had not appeared in a movie since Honolulu (1939). This movie was considered Burns' comeback movie, the comeback being considered one of the most significant ever in Hollywood film history.



WHAT'S ON TONIGHT: 31 DAYS OF OSCAR -- 1970s WINNERS



8:00 PM -- Annie Hall (1977)
1h 33m | Comedy | TV-14
A comedian and an aspiring singer try to overcome their neuroses and find happiness.
Director: Woody Allen
Cast: Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts

Winner of Oscars for Best Actress in a Leading Role -- Diane Keaton, Best Director -- Woody Allen (Woody Allen was not present at the awards ceremony. Co-presenter King Vidor accepted the award on his behalf.), Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen -- Woody Allen and Marshall Brickman (Woody Allen was not present at the awards ceremony.), and Best Picture

Nominee for an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role -- Woody Allen

Cameo: The passerby Alvy refers to as "the winner of the Truman Capote look-alike contest" is, in fact, the real thing.


9:45 PM -- Shampoo (1975)
1h 49m | Comedy | TV-MA
A hairdresser expresses his fear of commitment by seducing his female clients.
Director: Hal Ashby
Cast: Warren Beatty, Julie Christie, Lee Grant

Winner of an Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role -- Lee Grant

Nominee for Oscars for Best Actor in a Supporting Role -- Jack Warden, Best Writing, Original Screenplay -- Robert Towne and Warren Beatty, and Best Art Direction-Set Decoration -- Richard Sylbert, W. Stewart Campbell and George Gaines

George, the character portrayed by Warren Beatty, is purported to be Hollywood elite stylist to the stars, Jay Sebring. Sadly, Sebring was one of five people brutally murdered by members of the Manson family cult in August of 1969, those five which also include Sharon Tate. Sebring was an ex-boyfriend of Tate, who was married at the time to filmmaker, Roman Polanski.


11:45 PM -- The Sting (1973)
2h 9m | Comedy | TV-PG
Two con men hit the big time to take on a gangster in '30s Chicago.
Director: George Roy Hill
Cast: Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Robert Shaw

Winner of Oscars for Best Director -- George Roy Hill, Best Writing, Story and Screenplay Based on Factual Material or Material Not Previously Published or Produced -- David S. Ward, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration -- Henry Bumstead and James W. Payne, Best Costume Design -- Edith Head, Best Film Editing -- William Reynolds, Best Music, Scoring Original Song Score and/or Adaptation -- Marvin Hamlisch, and Best Picture

Nominee for Oscars for Best Actor in a Leading Role -- Robert Redford, Best Cinematography -- Robert Surtees, and Best Sound -- Ronald Pierce and Robert R. Bertrand

Paul Newman's role, Henry Gondorff, was written for an overweight, past one's prime slob, and was a minor character. He was only in about half of David S. Ward's original screenplay, and was intended to be an older, paunchier fellow-a sort of gruff mentor to Johnny Hooker. The producers originally envisioned Peter Boyle to play the role, but Paul Newman loved the screenplay and was eager to play Gondorff. Ultimately, Ward slimmed down the character and beefed up the role to fit Newman.


2:15 AM -- Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
2h 10m | Crime | TV-MA
A man robs a bank to pay for his lover's operation.
Director: Sidney Lumet
Cast: Al Pacino, John Cazale, Carol Kane

Winner of an Oscar for Best Writing, Original Screenplay -- Frank Pierson (Frank Pierson was not present at the awards ceremony. Presenter Gore Vidal accepted the award on his behalf.)

Nominee for Oscars for Best Actor in a Leading Role -- Al Pacino, Best Actor in a Supporting Role -- Chris Sarandon, Best Director -- Sidney Lumet, Best Film Editing -- Dede Allen, and Best Picture

Sidney Lumet deliberately forbid the art director, cinematographer, and costume designer from talking together and establishing a visual scheme for the movie, to encourage a live and natural feel.


4:30 AM -- Shaft (1971)
1h 38m | Crime | TV-MA
A slick black detective enlists gangsters and African nationals to fight the mob.
Director: Gordon Parks
Cast: Richard Roundtree, Moses Gunn, Charles Cioffi

Winner of an Oscar for Best Music, Original Song -- Isaac Hayes for the song "Theme from Shaft"

Nominee for an Oscar for Best Music, Original Dramatic Score -- Isaac Hayes

By 2019, there would be three cinematic generations of John Shaft. Original MGM version's Richard Rountree, would later appear as uncle to the "semi-reboot" Samuel L Jackson version, who in turn will be the father to the Usher version in the Warner Bros-New Line Cinema-Netflix version. The 2019 version features all three generations of the family members named John Shaft.

[MuseRider]

1. Thanks!

Romance is not usually my thing but I adore The Goodbye Girl. I am not sure why but I am glad there is another chance to watch it.