Classic films on TV

Funny Face
Thu 24 at 8am, TCM
Dir. Stanley Donen. 1957. 103mins. Audrey Hepburn,Fred Astaire.
It's the intellectuals versus the fashionistas in this musical. A brainy fashion photographer transforms a mousy book clerk into America's Next Top Model after proving to her that appearances matter, even in academia. Real-life fashion photographer Richard Avedon inspired the film's look, making it like a vintage issue of Vogue.

Compulsion
Fri 25 at 7:01am, Fox Movie Channel
Dir. Richard Fleischer. 1959. 99mins. Dean Stockwell, Bradford Dillman, Orson Welles.
Two bored teenagers convince themselves they have a right to kill and then entertain themselves by infiltrating the police investigation in this adaptation of the Leopold and Loeb story. Once caught, crypto–Clarence Darrow (Welles) jumps to defend the thrill killers to show his lack of bias in choosing cases. The cat-and-mouse games played from crime to conviction show how much ego is at stake for each character, regardless of his moral stance.

Oliver Twist
Fri 25 at 8:30pm, TCM
Dir. David Lean. 1948. 116mins. Alec Guinness, Robert Newton.
Expressionistic sets, deep shadows and impeccable editing create a nightmare vision of childhood true to Dickens's novel. The film's exaggerated design extended to Guinness's prosthetic nose for the role of Fagin, which caused more fuss than Nicole Kidman's in The Hours. As expert as Guinness's performance is, it is the dog wrangler who deserves a directing nod. Sikes's canine companion puts all the Lassies to shame by avenging his mistress's murder.

Key Largo
Sun 27 at 3pm, TCM
Dir. John Huston. 1948. 101mins. Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Edward G. Robinson.
Bogie and Bacall come together for a fourth and sadly final pairing. The contrast between their chemistry and Robinson's sadistic gangster elevates the film from a mere stage adaptation to a claustrophobic test of wills. The characters' extreme isolation in a shuttered hotel on a remote island in Florida during a hurricane is overkill, but the nail-biting drama that plays out makes the absurdity forgivable.

Bride of Frankenstein
Wed 30 at 7pm, TCM
Dir. James Whale. 1935. 75mins. Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, Elsa Lanchester.
Although this acclaimed sequel begins where the original left off, suddenly the Monster can speak. With his newfound language skills, he expresses an urgent need for a girlfriend and proceeds to stumble along in search of Ms. Right. His wish is granted when a newcomer to power mongering, Dr. Pretorius, persuades the fragile Dr. Frankenstein to try his luck playing God again. This time the creation showcases Frankenstein's prowess as hairdresser. The 'do, it's alive!—Shayna Connelly