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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

TCM gives its own meaning to the term ‘classic’

Dan Webster

Above: Joel Grey and Liza Minelli star in Bob Fosse's 1972 film "Cabaret," which is part of TCM's Big Screen Classics series. (Photo/Allied Artists Pictures)

One of the most overused terms in film criticism is the word “classic.”

Dictionary.com defines “classic” in several different ways, the first of which is “of the first or highest quality, class, or rank (eg., a classic piece of work).”

Given that description, Turner Classic Movies has a unique way of using it. Consider the series TCM Big Screen Classics, which describes itself as “Bringing classic movies back to the big screen.”

Here is the lineup (all of the movies are set to screen at area Regal Cinemas theaters at Northtown Mall and Coeur d’Alene’s Riverstone Stadium):

“Cabaret” (50th anniversary, July 17, 20): Bob Fosse’s 1972 adaptation of the stories of Christopher Isherwood won eight Academy Awards, including Best Actress for Liza Minelli, Best Supporting Actor for Joel Grey and Best Director for Fosse.

“Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” (40th Anniversary, Sept 4-5, 8)): Nicholas Meyer directed the second movie version of the original television series, starring all the major stars (William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, et al.) . Notable guest star: Ricardo Montalban, reprising his role from the Feb. 16, 1967, series episode “Space Seed.”

“Poltergeist” (40th Anniversary, Sept. 25-26, 28): Tobe Hooper, he of the original “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” fame, directed this 1982 film about a family moving into a house built on a former cemetery. Trivia note: Star Craig T. Nelsom was born in Spokane.

“In the Heat of the Night” (55th Anniversary, Oct 16, 19): Famous for winning both Best Picture and Best Actor (for Rod Steiger), Norman Jewison’s 1967 film about a black Philadelphia (Sidney Poitier) investigating a murder in a Southern town (Steiger plays the town’s racist sheriff).

“To Kill a Mockingbird” (60th Anniversary, Nov. 13, 16): Robert Mulligan’s 1962 adaptation of Harper Lee’s novel earned Gregory Peck a Best Actor Oscar for playing the lawyer Atticus Finch.

“It’s a Wonderful Life” (Dec. 18, 21): One of the best Christmas movie ever, Frank Capra’s 1946 film stars James Stewart as the long-suffering good man George Bailey. Three Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director (Capra) and Best Actor (Stewart).

Back to the definition of “classic.” I’m not sure all of the above qualify – not unless you stretch the meaning of the term to the limit.