TCM Star O’ the Month: Ronald Reagan
by John NolteThere’s much to love about TCM’s Mighty Robert Osborne. His introduction to an evening’s film will frequently offer up an insight that makes a repeat viewing essential, and his summation after the fade is always a perfect capper. Osborne’s warm dignity, passion for classic cinema and film knowledge is second to none, but that wouldn’t mean a thing if he lacked the class required to keep politics out of it.
Reagan, Jane Wyman, and Wayne Morris in Brother Rat
One of the primary elements that makes Turner Classic Movies so special is its lack of politics. Regardless of the film he’s introducing, Osborne keeps everything within a historical context even if what’s on that night’s schedule is political in nature. TCM is one of the great sources of pleasure in my life, and were it to go off on some ideological deep end… I don’t even want to think about it.
And I’m talking about the channel in general. Obviously, with Alec Baldwin co-hosting “The Essentials” for a season (and he’s a great choice) and with other guests, there have been political moments (both conservative and liberal) but overall TCM is a film lover’s oasis free from the nonsense of the day.
For this reason we should appreciate that TCM’s chosen star of the month for March is none other than Ronald Reagan, which means that every Wednesday night’s schedule is packed with Reagan’s films, including tomorrow tonight.
Naturally the Left has worked overtime to diminish and ridicule Reagan as a second-rate actor, but the truth is that he had a respectable career, made a number of very good films, and projected an impressive presence on the screen. No one, including Reagan himself, would argue he was the second coming of Gary Cooper, but had Reagan not gone on to become one of our greatest presidents, his film career would’ve been a respectable life’s accomplishment all on its own — not to mention his important tenure as president of the Screen Actors Guild.
Would TCM recognize Reagan as “Star of the Month” had he not been president? Probably not. But that’s what I love about the channel. Reagan was a United States President who happened to star in a number of old films. Republican or Democrat, you honor that, even if the man’s politics aren’t yours.
Tomorrow night TCM airs six Reagan features and a short. If forced to choose one, it would be “Brother Rat” (5pm PST), an energetic and entertaining military comedy starring the gorgeous Priscilla Lane, and in his film debut, Mr. Eddie Albert. The film also co-stars Jane Wyman, an Oscar-winner and future Mrs. Ronald Reagan. They married just two years later and if memory serves, this is how they met.
Reagan’s not the film’s star (Wayne Morris is), but Reagan’s flair for comedy is obvious enough that someone at Warner Bros. must’ve said, “This guy’s got a future.”
If they only knew….
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25 Comments
I saw him in 'King's Row'. He was damned good. (Teared up at that final scene.)
And you know what? Nancy Reagan (aka Nancy Davis) wasn't bad either. I saw her in 'East Side, West Side' and she was good.
I loved him in 'King's Row,' too. He was excellent. I also loved him in 'Bedtime For Bonzo.' Don't laugh! That was a good movie!
Ronald Reagan was the last TRUE American President.
I first saw Reagan in Santa Fe Trail, and it sure was something to see the 40th President of the United States appear in a major motion picture, especially alongside Errol Flynn.
Since then, I've seen Reagan in several films (including Knute Rockne All-American & Kings Row), and I have to say my favorite is Desperate Journey, a great WWII film also starring Errol Flynn and featuring Raymond Massey, Arthur Kennedy & Alan Hale.
I agree about TCM. Such a welcome respite from the usual dregs of programming, the plethora of "reality" shows. What's funny is I watched Oscar recaps (and I ashamedly admit I peruse TMZ periodically) and all I kept saying was "WHO?" when they'd show some new celebrity or other. I can't even say they are famous only for being famous, because if they were all that famous, shouldn't people that live somewhere other than the coasts be able to recognize them?
Can't totally agree about Osborne. When the 1936 "Showboat" aired, his guest "critic" was a black man – sorry, I've forgotten his name – not the Elvis guy – who nemoaned the fact that there was no back story on Joe. Similarly, when "Gone With The Wind" aired, this same "critic" bemoaned the fact that there was no back story on Mammy.
Imagine! A "film critic" who doesn't even know what the films are about.
Osborne may be apolitical – and kudos to him for that – but he has some weird guests.
Oh, how I agree with you, John about TCM. I lobbied hard to get our cable company to include them and finally they did, much as we all had to lobby to get Fox News added to the lineup.
And , I too , love the non-political and all round gentleman that is Robert Osborne. He is just class. I always enjoy the summary and introduction to a movie and the wrap up at the end. He is wonderful. I was abit worried about Alec Baldwin as co-host for The Essentials. But now that I have read your comments ( although I like his acting I do not like his politics nor how he articulates those politics.) As a movie lover I love TCM.
I wonder if everyone knows how valuable Big Hollywood is to many of us who love movies and many actors but wish they would act and refrain from articulating their politics. I wonder if they knew how that does impact our impressions of them they would continue to harm their careers in some instances.
I am glad you mentioned that Ronald Reagan is the star of the month, as I will be watching tomorrow night.
As much as I love TCM I have not been watching lately. Too much to do.
Thanks for this segment of Big Hollywood. It is very much appreciated
If only TCM was hi-def on Dish. And I live in Los Angeles!
DH (I can still call you DH can't I?),
I am very appreciative of TCM's lack of overt political punditry that is so obvious in just about everything that has to do with Hollywood these days, but I have to say that Osborne often makes reference to black-listed actors/directors/screenwriters as un-mitigated victims without ever bringing into context that some of those who were black-listed (Trumbo for example) were actively engaged in a political struggle that,, had it been sucessful, would have resulted in the overthrow of a democratic government, the seizure of all private property, and the criminalization of organized religion.
Would he do the same if these artists were Nazi sympathizers?
So please Mr. Osborne. ..a little context.
The coolest Reagan stuff was his early two reelers- 'Secret Service of the Air' and it's followups. You can see the charm and devil may care quality he brought to the screen, and the first one was kind of his 007 series…
it's really quite good for what it is, with really decent effects and car chases, and what have you… do love him as an improbable George Custer in 'Santa Fe Trail', which still rocks…
TCM was always my first stop when turning on the TV. That is, until Charter took it off of basic service (my better half gets the main TV with the cable box). I too, always enjoyed the tidbits of info from Mr. Osborne. His knowledge of the time period of the movie helps to bridge the generations and gives more depth to the viewing experience.
I saw RB on the red carpet at Oscars last month. I was surprised at his height. I figured he was 5'9" at best. I think it's because he's looking up at the camera when taping his segments.
great pic for star of the month
TCM is still my favorite channel in general, if nothing else that you can watch films that STILL AREN'T available on dvd or otherwise
best examples of this are Mirage with gregory peck (though this has finally been released on dvd), Dark of The Sun (1968), The Heroes of The Telemark…..but the biggest is still The African Queen (though it may finally see the light of day this year…..)
S_M, If you liked Joe Bob Briggs on TNT, you would have loved his Drive-in Theater on The Movie Channel.
TCM is my favorite; watch it ALL the time. Anyone know about FOX and its classic channel? It's available (for another fee) but I don't know if it's worth it. Am I missing any great classic movies?
Reagan was underrated as an actor.
By the way, for those of you who plan to see "Kings Row" for the first time, take a listen to Erich Korngold's score, and see if you don't notice that John Williams appears to have "borrowed" a li'l somethin' from "Kings Row" for his score of "Star Wars" thirty-five years later.
King's Row was geat! I loved it – it was a good old melodrama like they don't make anymore sad to say. I really enjoyed Ronald Reagan in the remake of The Killers. I was so used to seeing him as a sympathetic character that I was totally talken aback by his turn as the villain in that movie. I thought he was very good and exuded a real aura f menace. I know he didn't like playing the heavy, but he sure was good at it.
Well done! TCM is without a doubt the best movie host network/show in existence.
AMC was good before they inserted commercials and took away the hosts. Bob Dorian and Nick Clooney did a pretty decent job, though they never came close to the personal involvement that Osborne exhibits. Clearly he knows these films very, very well. He's not phoning it in. Often times, Clooney's 'capping off' after the film was a generic, 'That was wonderful, wasn't it? And now this.' Granted, it may have been the show or network's decision and not his, but in any case, Osborne beats them all hands down. AMC's John Burke lost me when he tossed in a smug remark against Terrance Fischer during a screening of one of his Hammer style pics for Amicus.
And I sincerely, miss the character of Joe Bob Briggs hosting over at TNT. Not the same product, I know, but tons of fun, and he brought in a lot of external information not connected, yet connected to the presentation.
Patrick Stoner at PBS (not sure, but he may be out of WHYY Philly) has an interesting style with his presentation of the flicks. He offers up some nice nuggets of trivia, and he clearly puts in his own opinion, which, surprisingly, for PBS to allow, is quite a conservative, common sense one.
Ronny is so good in his films, one would never know it if they listened to mainstream media, much like I did growing up. It can be argued that, aside from Bush, Ronny is the most hated of Republican presidents by liberals (including Nixon) because he was so loved, so admired, and so contagiously positive about the country. Liberals really hate that. Lol!
Sante Fe Trail. Great picture. Errol and Ronny, what more could you ask for?
King's Row is a film that has been recommended to me over and over and I have yet to see it. Can't wait.
And the Bonzo films, amazing how after watching it you realize it's in the same tone as Bringing up Baby. Yet, you never hear any liberal call Cary Grant "baby", well, maybe Diane Cannon did a few times.
But seriously, Bedtime for Bonzo is a fun film, clever and silly and enjoyable. Judging by the treatment it receives, still to this day, by mainstreamers, you'd think it was a Roger Corman production.
As for the politics of TCM, another good point. I've thought the same thing every time I get back to the states and watch any of the cable chatter shows for a while. One's blood pressure is bound to go up just by listening to Matthews and co. for a few minutes. Not even for what they say, but for their hyper delivery. Good grief, if Nancy Hart was able to cause viewers to have epileptic seizures simply from her delivery, I suspect there may be morgues filled with the unknown victims of Matthews induced aneurisms. Stay on those shows for too long and it's curtains, see? Curtains.
Escaping that, the remote hits upon TCM. It's like reaching Aqaba after the Nefu, a sudden cool ocean breeze blows across my scolding face.
It's a good thing I can't get TCM here in Tokyo. I'd never leave the television.
More praise for "King's Row".
The film is talked about these days because of Reagan being in the film. But don't forget Claude Rains, Henry Davenport, Charles Coburn and radiant Ann Sheridan. Sheridan worked double duty for this film. She was also shooting "The Man who came to dinner" at the same time. In "Dinner" she was a cold hearted B*tch, in "Kings" , she played the woman you wanted to be married to for life(and beyond). She said that she wished that she could have spent more time doing "Randy" in "King's Row". What she did, with Reagan, was make the film for me. Can't wait to see it again!
(Many thanks to Mr. Osborne for the Ann Sheridan Fact and to Mr. Nolte for giving me a chance to tell it again!)
I read that he really hated making that movie because he had to beat up Angie Dickinson. Swore never to do a role like that again even though, as you said, it was one of his best acting roles.
In the long run, it just might turn out that Barack Obama is a better actor than Ronald Reagan and Ronald Reagan is a better president than Barack Obama
Ronald Reagan was always someone I loved seeing on TV as a kid. He felt like one of us. A little more refined, a bit better-looking, but one of us. There were a lot of stars back then who felt that way to me – Jimmy Stewart, Bob Hope. I later found out they were Republicans (or in Regan's case, became one). They had a sense of continuance of the good things about America, and their responsibility in supporting that. I can't think of many stars today who give me that feeling, male or female. Whatever Robert Osbourne's politics are, I think he engenders that same ethos. And this has nothing to do with the favorable review he gave a play of mine one time.
Reagan and Flynn were starring in a movie, I don't know for sure if it was Santa Fe Trail. They had to shoot some scenes on a Sunday and Flynn was mad as hell. He proceeds to get a good portion of the cast smashed on wine to teach the director a lesson. When Reagan delivered his lines flawlessly (he didn't participate in the drinking), Flynn was less than pleased. Every time I see a photo/clip of Reagan, I keep hearing "You don't know what you got until it's gone"
Ain't that the truth.
Was that before or after his TNT run? I know he had a show prior to TNT's Monster Vision and Last Call that took place in a shed? Is that the one?
I watched Fox Movie Channel while home. I was pleasantly surprised at a very good line up of films, no commercials and some good interviews. Even Spielberg was in one that took place in a snackbar of sorts. Anyone see that?
[...] Mitchum and Jane Wyman. Julio Iglesias found a love that wouldhttp://megarathediary.typepad.comTCM Star O’ the Month: Ronald ReaganThere’s much to love about TCM’s Mighty Robert Osborne … if he lacked the class required [...]
Thanks for the tip. I'm going to look into how much more it costs.
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