The Julie Andrews TCM Under the Stars 8-Film Marathon Airs on August 4
The Julie Andrews TCM marathon, placed under the umbrella title of the annual Under the Stars, is kicking off on August 4th, focusing on eight films starring Julie Andrews, moving away from such classics as the Walt Disney film Mary Poppins (1964) and The Sound of Music (1965) and focusing on a variety of titles showcasing the singer/actress in a number of different roles, ranging from musicals to spy dramas (including the Hitchcock film Torn Curtain) and comedies.
"How many people can claim they were the youngest solo artist to participate in a royal performance in front of Queen Elizabeth," asks TCM rhetorically, "then be honored as a Dame of the British Empire over 50 years later by Queen Elizabeth II? Just one: Dame Julie Andrews. The first-time Summer Under the Stars honoree's nine-decade career across stage, film, television, music and publishing cements her place among the most illustrious and beloved entertainers of all time."
"How many people can claim they were the youngest solo artist to participate in a royal performance in front of Queen Elizabeth," asks TCM rhetorically, "then be honored as a Dame of the British Empire over 50 years later by Queen Elizabeth II? Just one: Dame Julie Andrews. The first-time Summer Under the Stars honoree's nine-decade career across stage, film, television, music and publishing cements her place among the most illustrious and beloved entertainers of all time."
With that sort of ringing endorsement, we've got little choice but to present this guide to what's coming up with the Julie Andrews TCM marathon.
That's Life (1986)
CAST: Jack Lemmon (Harvey Fairdchild), Julie Andrews (Gillian Fairchild), Sally Kellerman (Holly Parrish), Robert Loggia (Father Baragone)
PREMISE: Faced with life issues impacting their relationship, Harvey and Gillian Fairchild attempt to wrestle their lives under control before Harvey's 60th birthday.
BEHIND-THE-SCENES: "That's Life was a true family affair," TCM points out. "Andrews’ daughter, Emma Walton; Edwards’ daughter, Jennifer Edwards; and Lemmon’s son, Chris Lemmon, played the couple’s three adult children. The low-budget independent film was shot at Andrews and Edwards’ Malibu home. 'On evenings when we shot in our own bedroom, Blake and I sometimes found ourselves preparing for bed while crew members were still removing cables and lights,' Andrews recalled."
Airing at 6 AM, also available for streaming at Tubi.
The Americanization of Emily (1964)
CAST: James Garner (Lt. Commander Charles "Charlie" E. Madison), Julie Andrews (Emily Barham), Mervyn Douglas (Admiral William Jessup)
PREMISE: A United States Navy adjutant finds himself in the middle of a rivalry between two of his superiors and becomes an inadvertent war hero.
BEHIND-THE-SCENES: This was an immediate attempt by Julie Andrews to break free of the Mary Poppins image. Notes TCM, "The anti-war satire, adapted by Paddy Chayefsky, was as far from kid friendly and musical as one could get, with The New York Times terming it, 'Some of the wildest, brashest and funniest situations and cracks at the lunacy of warfare' ever seen on screen."
Airing at 8 AM, also available for rental or purchase at Amazon Prime.
Darling Lili (1970)
CAST: Julie Andrews (Lili Smith/Schmidt), Rock Hudson (Major William Larrabee)
PREMISE: Lili, a German spy posing as a British singer, falls for her target, American flier William (Rock Hudson).
BEHIND-THE-SCENES: Details TCM, "Weather issues on set in Ireland and Brussels, in addition to production problems in France and Paramount executive intervention, contributed to weeks-long delay and skyrocketing expenditures. The opening was pushed out months for re-editing but the film still bombed upon release."
Airing at 10:15 AM, also available for rental or purchase at Amazon Prime.
The Tamarind Seed (1974)
CAST: Julie Andrews (Judith Farrow), Omar Sharif (Feodor Sverdlov)
PREMISE: A Soviet-era attache and a British Home Department functionary fall in love against a Cold War backdrop.
BEHIND-THE-SCENES: Part of the reason that Britain's Sir Lew Grade agreed to partially finance this and another film was to get Julie Andrews to agree to do a TV show.
Airing at 12:45PM, also available for streaming on Tubi.
Torn Curtain (1966)
CAST: Paul Newman (Professor Michael Armstrong), Julie Andrews (Sarah Sherman)
PREMISE: Another Andrews film set against the Cold War, the plot concerns an American scientist who seems to be defecting to East Germany.
BEHIND-THE-SCENES: On paper it sounded like a hit — Julie Andrews co-starring with Paul Newman, both of them being directed by Alfred Hitchcock — but, as TCM points out, "The movie failed to electrify audiences and critics, even with a highly publicized bedroom scene, though it performed well at the box office. Andrews wasn't enthused about the script from the beginning, only taking the role after her agents persuaded her it would be a smart career move."
Airing at 3 PM, available for renting or streaming from Amazon Prime.
Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967)
CAST: Julie Andrews (Millie Dillmount), James Fox (Jimmy Smith/James Van Hossmere), Mary Tyler Moore (Miss Dorothy Brown), John Gavin (Trevor Graydon) and Carol Channing (Muzzy Van Hossmere).
PREMISE: A bit of a romp focusing on Millie Dillmount, who gets involved in a number of adventures after deciding she wants to marry her rich boss.
BEHIND-THE-SCENES: "The 1920s-set musical comedy re-teamed Andrews with Hawaii director George Roy Hill, who commented, "If I had searched the Earth for a different movie for Julie after Hawaii, I couldn't have come up with a better one than Millie."
Airing at 5:15 PM
MUST-READ: See the Cast of Mary Poppins Then and Now
Victor/Victoria (1982)
CAST: Julie Andrews (Victoria Grant/Count Victor Grazinski), James Garner (King Marchang), Robert Preston (Carroll "Toddy" Todd)
PREMISE: Starving singer Victoria Grant ends up in a job pretending to be a man who is pretending to be a female impersonator that King Marchang falls for.
BEHIND-THE-SCENES: This was the movie where Julie Andrews tried once and for all to rid herself of the Mary Poppins and Sound of Music image by going topless. It didn't work. Sorry, Julie.
Airing at 8 PM, available for rental or purchase at Amazon Prime.
Hawaii (1966)
CAST: Julie Andrews (Jerusha Bromley Hale), Max von Sydow (Reverend Abner Hale), Richard Harris (Captain Rafer Hoxworth), Gene Hackman (Dr. John Whipple).
PREMISE: Says TCM, "The picture centers around fundamentalist missionary Abner (Max Von Sydow) who marries strong, kindhearted Jerusha (Andrews) and relocates to Hawaii to convert the natives to Christianity.
BEHIND-THE-SCENES: When production was beginning, Julie Andrews commented, "Oh, marvelous publicity — can't you see it? Mary Poppins married Jesus!"
Airing at 10:30 PM, available on Tubi and Pluto TV.
If you're a fan of classic movies, check out our other coverage of TCM films and events
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