A Night at the Movies: The Suspenseful World of Thrillers is the first in the series of genre-specific films that are spotlighted on TCM. October 2009 launches this new series of specials with a focus on classic thrillers.
A Night at the Movies: The Suspenseful World of Thrillers is an hour-long special which delves into the world of suspenseful thrillers and highlights memorable moments from classic thriller films. Stars and filmmakers discuss the various films and how they have changed the genre through the years.
The difference between thrillers and mysteries is important, and this is discussed in the special. The authors and filmmakers and their different styles are also examined. A thriller is suspense. It keeps the viewers on the edge of their seat not knowing what is going to happen next. A mystery is simpler. It's simply unraveling a question, like "who killed John Doe?" The mystery follows clues whereas a thriller keeps up intensity as different aspects of the story unfold. Almost every group of filmmakers will agree the master of the Thriller genre was Alfred Hitchcock.
And at the heart of the thriller genre is obviously Alfred Hitchcock. His brand of storytelling set the bar for thriller films. Even after viewing a Hitchcock film many times, the suspense is still felt and the story still holds its original thrill.
After the special, which looks at a variety of thrillers through the years, TCM airs some of the classic films. This “thriller event” occurs every Friday in October, 2009 on TCM.
Thrillers and Alfred Hitchcock
Friday, October 2 following the special, TCM airs two classic Hitchcock films. The Rear Window (1954) with James Stewart and Grace Kelly is one of the great classics. After a second showing of A Night at the Movies: The Suspenseful World of Thrillers, Shadow of a Doubt (1943) with Joseph Cotton airs.
Political Thrillers
Friday, October 9 is reserved for political thrillers. First up is The Manchurian Candidate (1962) starring Frank Sinatra and Laurence Harvey. This is the original which was later remade. Then Warren Beatty stars in The Parallax View (1974) which, for anyone who remembers President Kennedy’s assassination, is quite eerie. And finally, Laurence Olivier and Gregory Peck star in The Boys from Brazil (1978) about cloning Adolph Hitler.
Crime Thrillers
Crime Thrillers are the subject on October 16. The evening starts out with The Narrow Margin (1952) with Charles McGraw and Marie Windsor. Then an encore of A Night at the Movies, followed by Merle Oberon and George Sanders in The Lodger (1944).
Gothic Thrillers
Gothic Thrillers rule on October 23 with The Night of the Hunter (1955) with Robert Mitchum. Next up is Dragonwyck (1946) with Gene Tierny, Walter Huston, and Vincent Price, followed by Rebecca (1940) with Joan Fontaine and Laurence Olivier.
Psychological Thrillers
The month of thrillers is rounded out on October 30 with psychological thrillers. The classic Gaslight (1944) stars Charles Boyer, Ingrid Bergman, and Joseph Cotton. Night Must Fall (1937) stars Robert Montgomery and Rosalind Russell. And capping off the month of thrillers is perhaps the biggest thriller of all, Psycho (1960) which stars Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh.
October 2009 is a month of thrillers on TCM, and movie lovers of this genre will definitely get to see some of the classic thrillers of all time.
 |
