Sunday, Oct. 30 - O. Henry's Full House

O. Henry's Full House (1952)

Soapy (Charles Laughton) believes that getting arrested and thrown into a warm jail cell is the best solution to being homeless in cold weather. Fugitives Sam (Fred Allen) and Bill kidnap a child to raise $2,000 for a new scam, and Della and Jim seek to buy each other Christmas gifts on a tight budget. This anthology of five short stories by author O. Henry includes "The Cop and the Anthem," "The Clarion Call," "The Last Leaf," "The Ransom of Red Chief" and "The Gift of the Magi."

Saturday, Oct. 29 - The Wicker Man & You'll Find Out

The Wicker Man (1973)

Sergeant Howie (Edward Woodward) arrives on the small Scottish island of Summerisle to investigate the report of a missing child. A conservative Christian, the policeman observes the residents' frivolous sexual displays and strange pagan rituals, particularly the temptations of Willow (Britt Ekland), daughter of the island magistrate, Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee). The more Sergeant Howie learns about the islanders' strange practices, the closer he gets to tracking down the missing child.

You'll Find Out (1940)

Kay Kyser and his orchestra are hired to entertain at the birthday party of a young heiress at a creepy old mansion, where they uncover a plot against her life.

Friday, Oct. 28 - Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Careless Suffragette

Sherlock Holmes (1954–1955): The Case of the Careless Suffragette (Season 1 Episode 20 - aired 28 February 1955)

Angry over the defeat of a women's suffrage bill in Parliament, a zealous suffragette seeks out an anarchist, and acquires a bomb in the shape of a croquet ball. She does not intend to harm anyone, but the ball becomes exchanged with a real croquet ball. It is used in a game and explodes, killing a member of Parliament. Sherlock Holmes is convinced that someone else is responsible for making the switch, and he sets out to investigate.

Thursday, Oct. 27 - Betty's Bath and Other Stories

Betty's Bath and Other Stories

A collection of eight short erotic (more like nudie-cutie) silent black and white films made in Hollywood by Cine Art Productions in the early 1920s. Films included are: 'Betty's Bath', 'Desert Nymphs', 'A Girl Review', 'Hollywood Models', 'Jazz Babies', 'The Idol: A Phantasy', 'Lingerie' and 'Sirens of the Sea'. The films feature lovely naked ladies running around on the beach, hiding in caves and dressing up for revue.

Wednesday, Oct. 26 - Lady By Choice

Lady by Choice (1934)

Fan dancer Alabam Lee is convicted of breaching the morals code with her racy shows. Her agent has her adopt a "mother" from an old ladies home as a publicity ploy to improve her image. Alabam chooses Patricia "Patsy" Patterson, a drunk and disorderly street lady with a past. Patsy has a protector in Johnny Mills, the lawyer son of her old flame. When Johnny comes to visit Patsy he meets Alabam and the two eventually fall in love. Both Patsy and the everpresent Judge Daly think that Alabam is golddigging for Johnny's money and their attempts to break things up puts the relationship on shaky ground.

Monday, Oct. 25 - The Third Man: As the Twig Is Bent

The Third Man (1959–1965): As the Twig Is Bent (Season 1 Episode 18 - aired 30 April 1959)

By threat and bribe, Harry is convinced to replace a forged painting with one he stole years earlier. Although only Harry and one other man are supposed to know about the forged painting, there seems to be no end to the number of men determined that the real portrait will not be returned to its proper owner. Not to mention one woman. Not to mention... who writes this nonsense? There are only about 7 actors in the show, for crissakes! No end to the number of men...? Look. Harry goes to Italy... Ah, nuts!

Monday, Oct. 24 - Lovejoy: The Last of the Uzkoks

Lovejoy (1986–1994): The Last of the Uzkoks (Season 6 Episode 6 - aired 6 November 1994)

Lord Dunham, a Lovejoy client, has consigned a centuries old Greek Orthodox artophorian for auction. It is part of a priceless communion set from an infamous clergyman who was later excommunicated. When other claimants appear and claim the artophorion as theirs, Charlotte hires Lovejoy to uncover its provenance. Everyone suspects it was stolen from Greece, but no one can prove where it came from including an ouzo-swilling Greek priest, an enigmatic Dutchman, and a ubiquitous Albanian woman who claims to be descended from the Uzkok pirates who terrified the Adriatic centuries before. As a sidebar, Lord Dunham's wife is obsessed with acquiring a full set of sketches of a village near her estate that was covered by the sea years before.

Sunday, Oct. 23 - The Rough and the Smooth

Portrait of a Sinner (1959) The Rough and the Smooth (original title)

A young archaeologist, maneuvered into an engagement he does not quite want, encounters a stunning blonde with a German accent and decides to kick over the traces, much to the surprise of anyone (except, maybe, the blonde). He becomes agitated when the young lady's colorful past starts to intrude itself on his comfortable existence, and is truly appalled when he has the true PORTRAIT OF A SINNER.

Saturday, Oct. 22 - The Black Cat

The Black Cat (1981) Black Cat (Gatto nero) (original title)

A Scotland Yard detective and a nosy American photographer investigate a series of bizarre deaths in a small English village which are connected to a local literacy professor whom has the psychic ability to talk to dead spirits and somehow uses his gift to direct the entities to his pet black cat who becomes his instrument for revenge against those who have wronged him.

Friday, Oct. 21 - Lovejoy: Guns and Roses

Lovejoy (1986–1994): Guns and Roses (Season 6 Episode 5 - aired 30 October 1994)

Master gunsmith George Wilson operates a family-owned shop and has a reputation for high-quality craftsmanship and integrity. Unfortunately Burgess, a local vice lord, has been buying up property in the locale and has turned the site into a red light district. He wants Wilson's property, which was established by his great-grandfather, but he refuses to sell (Wilson's great-grandfather. Wilson refuses to sell. Watch your he's!). When Burgess's henchman, Kevin the Ponce, recognizes Lovejoy coming out of Wilson's shop as an ex-con, they decide to frame Lovejoy for armed robbery with Wilson as an accessory. As a sidebar, Lovejoy acts as an agent for pretty Alice Williams, who can forge watercolors like one of the masters.

Thursday, Oct. 20 - Fog Over Frisco

Fog Over Frisco (1934)

Arlene Bradford (Bette Davis) is a notorious party girl who has just become engaged to Spencer Carlton (Lyle Talbot) and has supposedly calmed down from her wayward days. Her step-father, Mr. Bradford, (Arthur Byron), doesn’t believe it, while Arlene’s step-sister, Val (Margaret Lindsay) sticks up for her. But Arlene has not reformed and is working with the criminal Jake Bellos (Irving Pichel), who steals bank securities and passes them to Arlene to dispose of. She gives them to Spencer, who works at her step-father’s bank, and he gives her cash and then bit by bit disposes of them. He’s not happy about it, but Arlene has him wound around her finger.

But when her mysterious lover comes into the picture, she returns her engagement ring to Spencer, gives the gangsters the heave-ho and plans to run off with the man she really loves…except he doesn’t love her anymore and wants his love letters back. Meanwhile, to add to the list of future suspects, Mr. Bradford has discovered what Spencer has been doing for Arlene and blames her for the whole mess and the scandal that could envelope the bank, saying she ought to be shot. On cue, Arlene goes missing, but the only person who initially seems interested in looking for her is Val, until she gets abducted. There is also an assortment of newspapermen, policemen and one very nosy butler (suspiciously knowledgeable about things) and bank executives (including Douglass Dumbrille) who end up circling the case. All in 68 minutes! It’s a fun ride.

(Thanks Christina Wehner, for a good synopsis!)

Wednesday, Oct. 19 - Let's Live Again

Let's Live Again (1948)

Atomic scientist Larry Blake and his uncle Jim receive news that Larry's explorer brother George, who had left on an expedition to Tibet to investigate reports of reincarnations there, is believed to have been killed in a plane crash. While Larry is in a bar drowning his sorrows, a dog suddenly appears. Larry becomes convinced the dog is George reincarnated and has returned to annoy him.

Tuesday, Oct. 18 - Mannix: Turn Every Stone

Mannix (1967–1975): Turn Every Stone (Season 1 Episode 12 - aired 9 December 1967)

A crusading newspaper editor is preparing an explosive expose of a state legislator. But a man who supposedly had the documentation has fled just as the story went to press. The editor hires Intertect, which sends Mannix to work on the case. Mannix and Intertect boss Wickersham come to doubt whether the legislator is corrupt. But somebody is responsible for a trail of bodies and Mannix is determined to find out who.

Monday, Oct. 17 - Mr. Lucky: My Little Gray Home & The Gordon Caper

Mr. Lucky (1959–1960): My Little Gray Home (Season 1 Episode 6 - aired 28 November 1959)

An old friend of Mr. Lucky comes to the Fortuna II to ask an unusual favor.He has just been released from prison-and wants Lucky's help in going back!

Mr. Lucky (1959–1960): The Gordon Caper (Season 1 Episode 7 - aired 5 December 1959)

A well known multimillionaire visits the Fortuna II for an evening of fun and gambling. Mr. Lucky, Andamo and Maggie are all in danger when the man's past catches up with him.

or if you like:

After a woman taunts a businessman at the Fortuna, she promises Lucky that in 24 hours she'll have the $5,000 to pay off her gambling debts. However, when Lucky and Andamo go to get the money, they discover that someone has murdered her.

A lot can happen in 30 minutes!

Sunday, Oct. 16 - Fingers

Fingers (1978)

Harvey Keitel plays the lead in this schizophrenic movie in which he is continually pulled by the two conflicting sides of his personality, on the one hand that of a quiet piano virtuoso and on the other a ruthless debt collector for his mobster father.

Saturday, Oct. 15 - Don't Make Waves

Don't Make Waves (1967)

Tony Curtis plays a visitor from the East Coast who encounters bizarre people and near-disasters from the moment he enters L.A. In the first scene, the man loses his car and all of his belongings when a beautiful Italian woman (Cardinale) with terrible driving skills bumps into Curtis’ VW and causes it to careen off a mountain road. The Italian turns out to be the mistress of a swimming pool magnate (Robert Webber) whose business is actually owned by his highly suspicious wife (Joanna Barnes). From there it's "one-damn-thing-after-another"...

Friday, Oct. 14 - The Working Man

The Working Man (1933)

Successful wealthy shoe manufacturer John Reeves takes a vacation, leaving his business in the hands of his nephew. While on vacation Reeves runs into his rival's heirs, who are living it up on their dead father's money. He doesn't tell them who he is and gets placed as their trustee. He uses the chance to reorganize their shoe company, becoming a rival to his own nephew. The ne'er-do-wells settle down and become involved in the business.

Thursday, Oct. 13 - Studio One in Hollywood: Plan for Escape

Studio One in Hollywood (1948–1958): Plan for Escape (Season 5, Episode 8)

A young gold digger is married to a mob boss. He gets killed in an attempt to take over his territory and she starts running. She gets off in a little Ohio town, meets a nice guy who sorts mail at the railroad station, and moves into a boarding house. Since she witnessed the shooting, the bad guys are after her. And she has no plan!

Wednesday, Oct. 12 - The Fan

The Fan (1949)

Lord Windermere appears to all - including to his young wife Margaret - as the perfect husband. But their happy marriage is placed at risk when Lord Windermere starts spending his afternoons with an adventuress who is working her way through London's high society, Mrs. Erlynne. Worse, Windermere gives her big sums of money. Upset and outraged, the puritan Lady Windermere decides to leave her husband and goes to Lord Robert Darlington, who has been courting her for some time. Unfortunately she leaves her fan -the one Robert offered her for her birthday - in Robert's house. Or something like that. Wasn't anyone paying attention, for crissakes?

Tuesday, Oct. 11 - They Call It Sin

They Call It Sin (1932)

With time on his hands during a business trip, Jimmy Decker (who's engaged to his boss's daughter) romances small-town church organist Marion Cullen, who follows him to New York only to learn Jimmy's true colors after she's burned her bridges and whose looks and talent get her a job with theatrical producer Ford Humphries who is a horny old man trying to bed her who can't make up her mind what she wants but she's gonna get it. And if that isn't sin, I don't know what you call it!

Monday, Oct. 10 - Duffy of San Quentin

Duffy of San Quentin (1954)

Based on the book and the reflections of San Quentin Prison Warden Clinton T. Duffy, the film is episodic and rambling in nature but, unlike most prison dramas, there are touches of humor. Duffy, whose "time" at San Quentin covered over 50 years was initially appointed on a thirty-day basis, which makes him one of the best job-huggers of all time. Some of his first acts, such as abolishing the stool-pigeon system and solitary confinement and hiring a female nurse (Anne Halsey) were met with opposition and outrage in some quarters. The dominant story in the film is that of Edward Harper, a prisoner deemed incorrigible by the system until Duffy builds up trust and respect. His attitude was a bit justified as he was innocent of the charges that sent him to prison.

Sunday, Oct. 9 - The Country Doctor

The Country Doctor (1936)

A doctor has a rough time obtaining the money for delivering his services in a lumber town until he delivers the Dionne quintuplets.

Saturday, Oct. 8 - How Green Was My Valley

How Green Was My Valley (1941)

Huw Morgan (Roddy McDowall), the academically inclined youngest son in a proud family of Welsh coal miners, witnesses the tumultuous events of his young life during a period of rapid social change. At the dawn of the 20th century, a miners' strike divides the Morgans: the sons demand improvements, and the father (Donald Crisp) doesn't want to rock the boat. Meanwhile, Huw's eldest sister, Angharad (Maureen O'Hara), pines for the new village preacher, Mr. Gruffydd (Walter Pidgeon).

Friday, Oct. 7 - Arsène Lupin Returns

Arsène Lupin Returns (1938)

Rene Farrand is engaged to a wealthy, beautiful woman, Lorraine de Grissac. When a fabulous emerald necklace is stolen from Lorraine's uncle, everyone is a suspect. A private eye who once worked for the FBI, Steve Emerson is brought in to investigate. The name of the famous jewel thief, Arsene Lupin, is tossed around, though he is dead. However, Emerson has never believed that, and there are clues pointing to his return from the grave.

Thursday, Oct. 6 - Arsene Lupin

Arsène Lupin (1932)

A charming and very daring thief known as Arsene Lupin is terrorizing the wealthy of Paris, he even goes so far as to threaten the Mona Lisa. But the police, led by the great Guerchard, think they know Arsene Lupin's identity, and they have a secret weapon to catch him. Not to give too much away, but it's a female secret weapon.

Wednesday, Oct. 5 - Ladies They Talk About

Ladies They Talk About (1933)

Gun moll Nan Taylor, caught after an otherwise successful bank robbery, falls for radio crusader David Slade and confides her guilt to him. Much to her surprise, he turns her in. As a "new fish" at San Quentin, Nan fits right in, but won't see Slade, who still loves her. Then she learns that her former partners in crime, Don and Dutch, are on the other side of the wall in the men's section...and have an escape plan.

Tuesday, Oct. 4 - She Couldn't Take It

She Couldn't Take It (1935)

The wealthy Van Dyke family are constantly in the media for outrageous behavior, much to the frustration of patriarch Dan Van Dyke. His self-centered, bubble-headed wife has a fondness for foreign imports, including "pet projects" like dancers and such. His spoiled children Tony and Carol have constant run-ins with the law. When Dan himself ends up in the clink for five years for tax evasion, he becomes bunk-mates with ex-bootlegger Joe "Spots" Ricardi. Ricardi lectures him on being such a push-over for an out-of-control family, so a dying Dan makes Ricardi his estate trustee once he is released from prison. Ricardi is thrust into high society and must do everything he once nagged Dan to do in order to bring the unruly brats under control. This is even more difficult than it seems as Carol defies him at every turn, and his old gang is trying to get him back in the business.

Monday, Oct. 3 - Piano Players Rarely Ever Play Together

Piano Players Rarely Ever Play Together (1982)

This celebrated video by Stevenson Palfi features the best piano "professors" of the last three generations: New Orleans' keyboard aces Isidore "Tuts" Washington, Henry "Professor Longhair" Byrd, and Allen Toussaint.

Sunday, Oct. 2 - Wives Under Suspicion

Wives Under Suspicion (1938)

A prosecutor trying a case where a husband shot his adulterous wife begins to suspect that his own wife is having an affair, and starts to have his own thoughts about killing her.

Saturday, Oct. 1 - The Man Who Came to Dinner

The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942)

When acerbic critic Sheridan Whiteside slips on the front steps of a provincial Ohio businessman's home and breaks his hip, he and his entourage take over the house indefinitely.

Friday, Sept. 30 - Why Be Good?

Why Be Good? (1929)

Colleen Moore stars as Pert Kelly, a sales girl in a department store by day and a jazz baby by night. One night she meets a guy (Neil Hamilton) who happens to be the son of the department store owner. They hit it off, but when she's late for work the following morning, she's called into his office and they discover who they are. She's fired by the store owner, but she thinks the son did it. Rich daddy tries to protect his son from that kind of girl and talks him into testing her by taking her to a hotel to see how she reacts. Is she a good girl? Does it matter? After all, why be good?