Short Subject

Turner Classic Movies doesn't run nearly enough classic movies to suit me but every month's schedule includes a few treasures. Obscure but wonderful footage can often be found on their Festival of Shorts, which hauls out rarely-seen short subjects. This month, they have a 1930 film called The Hard Guy starring Spencer Tracy in a talky melodrama and a 1935 Bob Hope short called The Old Grey Mayor. It's hokey stuff but Hope rises above his material and reminds us how good he could be when he wasn't reading off cue cards. You or your TiVo can catch these when they rerun at 5:30 AM (Eastern) tomorrow morning or again on October 28.