MovieChat Forums > Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains Discussion > why was this on TCM?

why was this on TCM?

posted 15 years ago by johnstumbris
12 replies | jump to latest

i watched tcm all the time before i moved this fall. now i dont have the channel anymore, and only caught this movie because i was back in my original town for the weekend.

so maybe the network changed a little, but why was this on turner classic movies???? this movies isnt that old- it was made in the eighties, so its not really considered classic in that sense. its also not a very good movie, so its not a classic movie in that sense either. you know how some movies are newer (forrest gump for example) but theyre already classics because they were great movies and will be remembered forever?

ive seen newer movies like tootsie on tcm before, which isnt old enough to be in the classic (as in citizen kane era movies) catgory, but thats also a good, popular, award winning movie thats a classic even without old age. so i guess the fact that this movie was - 1) not very good 2) never actually releeased to theaters and 3) not that old - confused me. did tcm change their network a little since i last watched it? can anyone explain to me why this was on tcm???

[–] dwillsxbr 15 years ago

It's called 'TCM UNDERGROUND'.

http://www.tcm.com/movienews/index/?cid=143975

[–] johnstumbris 15 years ago

hmm, ok. i guess it just seems weird because its relatively new compared to the other titles on their schedule listing.

[–] susannah-keegan 15 years ago

It's almost 30 years old. I think that's old enough to qualify it just based on age. It's also an inspiration for many of the Riot Grrl bands and a cultural touchstone for younger punk fans and musicians who saw it as teens when it was on "Night Flight". That qualifies it on cultural importance.

[–] BooBoo516 15 years ago

johnstumbris--
TCM has indeed changed its format somewhat. They even show films from within the past few years of late. And while this film is hardly a "classic" I'm glad it was finally aired (nobody shows it anymore). It isn't a great film, but I found it entertaining. TCM Underground (shown on Friday nights/Saturday morning) was added over TWO years ago, since you had TCM until this past fall, I'm surprised you never noticed it before. Some may feel that TCM should ONLY show classics. I understand that (classics are my favorite too), but since TCM is the only station that listens to viewer requests, why not enjoy the variety? NO other network shows as many films and shorts and in such wide array. I may not like every single film they play, but I still think they are THE best network on TV.

"Self-sacrifice is the real miracle out of which all reported miracles grow"
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

[–] say_y 9 years ago

I don't have a tv anymore-- I really miss TCM...

[–] stellarboydchick 15 years ago

I thought it was cool movie. I thought it was even cooler they played Eddie and the Cruisers after it. Diane Lane + Michael Pare = Streets of Fire!

[–] pspielman73 15 years ago

well, heres why it was on and deserved to be on. its a classic cult film, especially in the genre of punk music. several of the actors involved in the film are now very sucessful and popular.
i cant believe that all of the people that responded to you failed to mention or possibly didnt know that the punk band, the looters, that diane lanes band scams their way into going on the road with, is actually the post-sexpistols band, the professionals. the line up was changed for the sake of the movie to include ray winstone as the singer and the very photogenic paul simonon(the bass player for the clash)on the bass. the songs they play in the movie are professionals songs.
it is indeed a low budget film with poor pacing and amateur acting, but it covers some important points about fame and notoriety, which in this age of reality shows and youtube celebutards is pretty relevant.

[–] hateisgreatok 15 years ago

Forrest Dump is a great movie and a classic? I guess if you're a retard.

[–] samanthaseaotter 15 years ago

They're starting to play more "underground" and new classics. So you'll get to see "Grumpy Old Men" as well as "Venus in Furs."

I don't complain about it - 'bout time some of these more unusual films finally get some airplay!

Samantha
"We're here. We're dead. Get used to it."

[–] jefgg 11 years ago

Maybe TCM now stands for Turner CULT Movies.

[–] the_darkness_of_poetic_humor 11 years ago

I think Class Of 1984 was a better flick!