TCM Schedule for Wednesday, May 20: Director Nicholas Ray/Spotlight: Hollywood Biographies

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Special Theme: Director Yasujiro Ozu (continued)

1:00 AM Early Spring (1956)
A young salary man and his wife struggle within the confines of their passionless relationship while he has an extramarital affair.
Dir: Yasujirō Ozu Cast: Chikage Awashima, Ryō Ikebe, Keiko Kishi
Runtime: 144 mins Genre: Drama Rating: TV-PG CC: N


3:30 AM Tokyo Twilight (1957)
Two sisters reunite with the mother they thought was dead.
Dir: Yasujirō Ozu Cast: Ineko Arima, Setsuko Hara, Chishū Ryū
Runtime: 140 mins Genre: Drama Rating: TV-MA CC:



TCM Daytime: Director Nicholas Ray

6:00 AM They Live by Night (1948)
After an unjust prison sentence, a young innocent gets mixed-up with hardened criminals and a violent escape.
Dir: Nicholas Ray Cast: Cathy O'Donnell, Farley Granger, Howard Da Silva
Runtime: 95 mins Genre: Crime Rating: TV-PG CC: Y



8:00 AM A Woman's Secret (1949)
A retired singer takes on a protégé only to be betrayed by her.
Dir: Nicholas Ray Cast: Maureen O'Hara, Melvyn Douglas, Gloria Grahame
Runtime: 85 mins Genre: Drama Rating: TV-G CC: Y



9:45 AM Born to Be Bad (1950)
An ambitious girl steals a rich husband but keeps her lover on the side.
Dir: Nicholas Ray Cast: Joan Fontaine, Robert Ryan, Zachary Scott
Runtime: 94 mins Genre: Drama Rating: TV-PG CC: Y



11:30 AM Flying Leathernecks (1951)
As the new commanding officer of a squadron of Marine pilots, Maj. Daniel Kirby, a stern and strict leader, cannot believe the lack of discipline exhibited by the soldiers. As the men resist Kirby's harsh adherence to orders, Capt. Carl Griffin leads their cause for a more relaxed environment. But by pushing his men beyond ...
Dir: Nicholas Ray Cast: John Wayne, Robert Ryan, Don Taylor
Runtime: 102 mins Genre: War Rating: TV-PG CC: Y



1:30 PM On Dangerous Ground (1952)
A New York detective falls for the blind sister of a rural killer sought by a victim's father.
Dir: Nicholas Ray Cast: Ida Lupino, Robert Ryan, Ward Bond
Runtime: 82 mins Genre: Suspense/Mystery Rating: TV-PG CC: Y



3:00 PM Party Girl (1958)
A showgirl and a crooked lawyer try to break with a powerful mob boss.
Dir: Nicholas Ray Cast: Robert Taylor, Cyd Charisse, Lee J. Cobb
Runtime: 99 mins Genre: Crime Rating: TV-PG CC: Y

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5:00 PM 55 Days at Peking (1963)
An American major leads the defense against Chinese revolutionaries in 1900 Peking.
Dir: Nicholas Ray Cast: Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, David Niven
Runtime: 150 mins Genre: Epic Rating: TV-PG CC: Y



TCM Primetime: Spotlight: Hollywood Biographies

8:00 PM Harlow (1965)
The glamorous and tragic life of screen goddess Jean Harlow, ending with her untimely death from pneumonia as the blonde bombshell of the 1930s.
Dir: Gordon Douglas Cast: Carroll Baker, Red Buttons, Raf Vallone
Runtime: 125 mins Genre: Biography Rating: TV-PG CC:


10:15 PM Frances (1982)
Actress Frances Farmer's mind snaps under the pressures of Hollywood life and a domineering mother.
Dir: Graeme Clifford Cast: Jessica Lange, Kim Stanley, Sam Shepard
Runtime: 140 mins Genre: Biography Rating: TV-MA CC:



12:45 AM Gable and Lombard (1976)
Clark Gable and Carole Lombard fall in love despite his marriage in this gripping depiction of their Old Hollywood romance.
Dir: Sidney J. Furie Cast: James Brolin, Jill Clayburgh, Allen Garfield
Runtime: 131 mins Genre: Biography Rating: TV-14 CC:



3:15 AM W.C. Fields and Me (1976)
This film about the vaudeville comedian's life is based on the biography of his former mistress, Carlotta Monti.
Dir: Arthur Hiller Cast: Rod Steiger, Valerie Perrine, John Marley
Runtime: 111 mins Genre: Biography Rating: TV-PG CC:



5:15 AM The Story of Will Rogers (1952)
Oklahoma lad grows up to become America's favorite humorist.
Dir: Michael Curtiz Cast: Will Rogers Jr., Jane Wyman, Carl Benton Reid
Runtime: 109 mins Genre: Drama Rating: TV-PG CC: Y