Regis Philbin’s name has been in the news a lot lately as Michael Strathan is said to be his replacement as co-host with Kelly Ripa, will be officially announced on September 4th.
On that very same evening, the television living legend will serve as guest programmer on TCM. Philbin will offer four of his favorite films when he joins TCM host Robert Osborne in presenting the comedy “Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House” (1948), the Cole Porter musical “High Society “(1956), the Rocky Graziano boxing biography “Somebody Up There Likes Me” (1956) and George Stevens’ rousing action-adventure “Gunga Din” (1939).
The following is the complete schedule for TCM’s Sept. 4 Guest Programmer lineup, featuring Regis Philbin:
8 p.m. (ET) – Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948) – Philbin finds much to emulate in Cary Grant, citing “his style, his charm, his grace.” Grant stars with Myrna Loy in this delightful domestic comedy about a couple whose new home-building project is fraught with complications. Melvyn Douglas co-stars.
10 p.m. (ET) – High Society (1956) – Another major influence on Philbin has been Bing Crosby, who stars in this musical-comedy version of The Philadelphia Story. Grace Kelly, in her final film, stars as a socialite about to get married to her new beau, played by John Lund. Everything goes nuts, however, when her ex-husband (Crosby) arrives on the scene with a pair of reporters played by Frank Sinatra and Celeste Holm.
Midnight (ET) – Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956) – Philbin admires both Paul Newman and the boxer he plays in this drama, Rocky Graziano. This top-notch biography follows Graziano as he goes from the New York streets to the boxing ring. Pier Angeli, Everett Sloane, Eileen Heckart and Sal Mineo co-star under the direction of Robert Wise. Ernest Lehman’s script and Joseph Ruttenberg’s cinematography both won Oscars®.
2 a.m. (ET) – Gunga Din (1939) – George Stevens’ lively adventure expands on Rudyard Kipling’s famous poem with a story about three fortune-hunting British soldiers who face off against a deadly cult in India. Cary Grant, Victor McLaglen and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. star as the soldiers, with Sam Jaffe as the title character, who plays a crucial role in the film’s rip-roaring climax. Joan Fontaine also stars.
