Tuesday, February 13, 2007

31 days of Oscar: day 13

This month, Turner Classic Movies celebrates movies and the Academy Awards by presenting 31 Days of Oscar. Each Day from Feb.1 through March 3, a different category of the awards will be the theme of the day; featuring films that were nominated or won in that category. The Shelf will be joining in the celebration by giving you our Oscar pick of the Day!

Today's category is Best Supporting Actress - Winners. There are some really excellent films on tap for today, including quite a few more "modern classics". Here's today's schedule (all times are EST):

6:15 AM None But the Lonely Heart (‘44)
8:15 AM Separate Tables (’58)
10:00 AM Written on the Wind (’56)
11:45 AM Harvey (’50)
1:30 PM Zorba the Greek (’64)
4:00 PM Hannah and Her Sisters (’86)
6:00 PM Tootsie (’82)
8:00 PM Cactus Flower (’69)
10:00 PM Murder on the Orient Express (’74)
12:15 AM Prizzi’s Honor (’85)
2:30 AM Reds (’81)

And our Oscar pick goes to... Zorba the Greek! Anthony Quinn is phenonmenal in this film as Zorba, a middle aged Greek man with an insatiable lust for life and optimism. A Englishman, Basil (played by Alan Bates), whose own outlook is bleak, receives an inheritance on the small greek island of Crete. Soon Zorba's own optimism and attitude becomes infectious and Basil begins to see joy and hope in life, despite the tragedies and difficulties that beset them both.

The film was nominated for 7 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director for Michael Cacoyannis. It won the Oscars for Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography and Best Supporting Actress for Lila Kedrova. You can watch the film today on TCM, or you can order the DVD through the usual online retailers and the TCM shop. The Zorba the Greek DVD is part of the Fox Studio Classics Collection and has several bonus features.


For more information on TCM's 31 Days of Oscar, visit the Turner Classic Movies website.


Oh, I know it's a penny here and a penny there, but look at me. I worked myself up from nothing to a state of extreme poverty.

Life is trouble. Only death is not. To be alive is to undo your belt and look for trouble.

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