Sinatra leads TCM’s summer of stars

From Sally to Sinatra, it’s on TCM all summer.
Remember those summer nights you spent parked at the drive-in, classic movies on the big screen, popcorn in your lap and the sound pouring out of a tinny speaker. Okay, so not everything about the drive-in experience is that memorable.  How about a summer night, a glass of wine and a great movie playing on the TV. Now you’re talking Turner Classic Movies.
This summer TCM presents a fantastic lineup of movie specials and marathons guaranteed to impress.

It all starts with a tribute to Frank Sinatra on the 10th anniversary of this death in May with features every Sunday and Wednesday. The Wednesday presentations will be hosted by his children: Nancy Sinatra, Tina Sinatra and Frank Sinatra, Jr.  Among the films included in the May celebration are “From Here to Eternity” (1953), featuring Sinatra’s Oscar-winning performance; the musicals “Pal Joey” (1957), “On the Town” (1949) and “Anchors Aweigh” (1945); the Rat Pack comedies “Ocean’s Eleven” (1960) and “Sergeants 3” (1962); and powerhouse dramas like “The Man with the Golden Arm” (1955), which earned him a second Oscar nomination, and “The Manchurian Candidate” (1962). Also included are four outstanding television specials, including “Frank Sinatra: A Man and His Music” (1965) and “Frank Sinatra: A Man and His Music + Ella + Jobim” (1967), the latter teaming him up with songstress Ella Fitzgerald and Brazilian songwriter Antonio Carlos Jobim.

Then, in July, TCM presents “Elvis Mitchell: Under the Influence,” a tribute to ole’ blue eyes with film critic and interviewer Elvis Mitchell and don’t miss our SheKnows interview with Tina Sinatra as she talks about her father’s influence on music as his “Sinatra At the Movies” arrives on CD.

Sally Field takes on the role of Guest Scheduler in July, while Bill Maher handles June.

Also in June, TCM spends the month looking at how Asians have been depicted in films with guests such as George Takei, Rosalind Chao, Nancy Kwan and James Shigeta.

In August, it’s the annual Summer Under the Stars festival where each day is dedicated to one of Hollywood’s most popular personalities. This year’s stars include Charlie Chaplin, Anne Bancroft, Fred Astaire, Katharine Hepburn, Charlton Heston, Tony Curtis, Gene Kelly, Spencer Tracy, Greta Garbo, Michael Caine, Ava Gardner, James Garner and Greer Garson.

Sounds like a great way to spend a summer.