19 Classic Movies to Watch on TCM in June 2022

Modern Times (1936)

Friday, June 3, at 11:30 a.m. ET

The legendary comedian Charlie Chaplin continued making silent films well past the late 1920s, when Hollywood fully embraced talkies, and this is one of his classics, truly one of his best pictures, in which Chaplin's Tramp character struggles (in hilarious fashion) to get along in modern industrial society. Paulette Goddard costars.

Pigskin Parade (1936)

Friday, June 3, at 1 p.m. ET

This musical comedy is by no means a classic, but it's well worth catching. TCM's Star of the Month is Judy Garland, who was born 100 years ago this month in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. The network is airing more than 25 of her pictures over the course of the four Thursdays in June, and this initial offering marks Garland's first appearance (albeit a supporting one) in a feature film.

Father of the Bride (1950)

Sunday, June 5, at 8 p.m. ET

Spencer Tracy plays the title role in this delightful comedy about an exasperated father trying to navigate the preparations for the wedding of his daughter (Elizabeth Taylor). Joan Bennett plays the mother of the bride. The film, which was popular enough to inspire a sequel, was nominated for three Oscars: Best Picture, Best Actor (Tracy) and Best Screenplay. The film's 1951 sequel, Father's Little Dividend, follows at 10 p.m. ET.

A Star Is Born (1937)

Monday, June 6, at 1:45 p.m. ET

This classic drama has inspired three remakes (with, no doubt, more still to come), but if you've never seen the original, here's your chance. The great William Wellman directed this Technicolor classic, with Janet Gaynor starring as a young actress with big dreams and stars in her eyes, Fredric March portraying an alcoholic movie star whose career is on the wane, and other stalwarts, such as Adolphe Menjou and Andy Devine in supporting roles. The film was nominated for seven Oscars.

Topper (1937)

Wednesday, June 8, at 9:45 a.m. ET

In this delightful screwball comedy, a fun-loving couple (Constance Bennett and Cary Grant), newly minted as ghosts following a car accident, do their best to help a henpecked husband (Roland Young) get out under from his wife's thumb. The film was popular enough to inspire a pair of sequels.

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Friday, June 10, at 8 p.m. ET

Judy Garland was born 100 years ago today. What better way to celebrate the occasion than to watch The Wizard of Oz? It’s perhaps her most beloved film, one many of us grew up watching during its much-anticipated annual network TV airings, and this iconic adaptation of L. Frank Baum's children’s books certainly holds up with repeat viewings. Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr, Margaret Hamilton and Billie Burke all costar.

Titanic (1953)

Saturday, June 11, at 4:15 p.m. ET

James Cameron's epic 1997 film was not the first Hollywood picture to tell the story of the sinking of the Titanic. Jean Negulesco's star-studded effort beat Cameron to the punch by more than 40 years, and with a cast every bit as impressive as Cameron's, if not more so: Clifton Webb, Barbara Stanwyck, Robert Wagner, Thelma Ritter, Brian Aherne and Richard Basehart all star in this memorable picture.

A Family Affair (1936)

Sunday, June 12, at 6 a.m. ET

If you're an Andy Hardy fan but have never seen this first entry in the beloved series, you'll encounter some unfamiliar faces in this film: Judge Hardy and his wife Emily are portrayed by Lionel Barrymore and Spring Byington (who both acquit themselves very well, mind you), not by Lewis Stone and Fay Holden, as in the rest of the series. And Andy's gal pal Polly Benedict is played not by Ann Rutherford, but by Margaret Marquis. But don't let the slightly unfamiliar cast throw you; Mickey Rooney is on hand and this film is as charmingly wholesome as the rest of the series.

The Man Who Found Himself (1937)

Wednesday, June 15, at 8:30 a.m. ET

After a few small supporting parts, this film gave Joan Fontaine her first starring role. She plays a nurse who takes an interest in getting a talented, if prodigal, young surgeon (John Beal) back on his feet. The surgeon is torn between medicine and aviation and following a fatal flying accident, finds himself in an emotional downward spiral. A rather convoluted plot, but it's interesting to see Fontaine at this early stage in her career.

The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

Thursday, June 16, at 10:15 a.m. ET

This acclaimed account of three servicemen trying to adjust to civilian life after returning from World War II was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won seven, including Best Picture, Best Director (William Wyler), Best Actor (Fredric March), Best Supporting Actor (Harold Russell) and Best Screenplay (Robert E. Sherwood). Russell also won an honorary Oscar "for bringing hope and courage to his fellow veterans."

Thoroughbreds Don't Cry (1937)

Friday, June 17, at 1 p.m. ET

This film was an important one in the career of Star of the Month Judy Garland and her frequent costar Mickey Rooney: It was the first of the 10 movies they made together, it was the first time Garland received top billing on a picture and the only time she was billed above Rooney. The plot concerns a young jockey (Rooney) who has fallen in with some crooked gamblers; he is then befriended by an English youth (Ronald Sinclair) and the niece (Garland) of the owner of a boarding house for jockeys. Sophie Tucker, C. Aubrey Smith and Frankie Darro costar.

Stormy Weather (1943)

Sunday, June 19, at 11:45 a.m. ET

This terrific movie musical showcases some of the greatest African-American entertainers of all time, including Lena Horne, Bill Robinson, Cab Calloway, Fats Waller, Dooley Wilson, Coleman Hawkins and the amazing Nicholas Brothers, among many others. There's a plot, but it's of little importance: The singing, dancing and playing of these legendary entertainers is the attraction here.

The Wiz (1978)

Sunday, June 19, at 5:15 p.m. ET

If you have young people in your life who are fans of the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz, they might enjoy seeing this 1978 revisionist, urban take on L. Frank Baum's beloved novels. Sidney Lumet directed this version, with a stellar all-Black cast, featuring Diana Ross as Dorothy, Michael Jackson as the Scarecrow, Nipsey Russell as the Tinman, Ted Ross as the Lion, Richard Pryor as the Wiz and Lena Horne as Glinda the Good.

The Dude Goes West (1948)

Monday, June 20, at 4:45 p.m. ET

The fish-out-of-water plot of an Eastern tenderfoot heading trying to make his way in the Wild West is one of the more common tropes in classic movie comedy; Laurel and Hardy, Abbott Costello, Joe E. Brown, Jerry Lewis, the Marx Brothers and Buster Keaton (among others) all made comedic westerns. This one stacks up well, though, with Eddie Albert playing the tenderfoot and Gale Storm his love interest. Gilbert Roland, James Gleason and Barton MacLane costar in a picture the whole family can enjoy.

Giant (1956)

Tuesday, June 21st, at 10 p.m. ET

This epic film, based on the Edna Ferber novel and directed by George Stevens, tells the sprawling tale of a Texas ranching family. Rock Hudson heads a star-studded cast as rancher Jordan "Bick" Benedict, Jr. Elizabeth Taylor plays his new bride and James Dean is his rebellious younger brother. Carroll Baker, Jane Withers, Chill Wills, Mercedes McCambridge, Dennis Hopper, Sal Mineo and Rod Taylor costar. The film is nearly three and a half hours long, so have plenty of popcorn at the ready.

Nancy Drew: Detective (1938)

Monday, June 27, at 6 a.m. ET

In the late 1930s, Bonita Granville costarred with Frankie Thomas and John Litel in a series of four pictures based on the popular series of children's mystery novels by Carolyn Keene (a pen name shared by a number of authors who contributed to the series, including journalist and author Mildred Wirt Benson). TCM is airing all four films in the series in order today, beginning Nancy Drew: Detective, and followed by Nancy Drew... Reporter (1939) at 7:15 a.m., Nancy Drew... Trouble Shooter (1939) at 8:30 a.m. and Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (1939) at 9:45 a.m. The films are just over an hour each and might prove fun to watch with the tweens and young teens in your life.

The Far Country (1954)

Tuesday, June 28, at 9:45 p.m. ET

If you're a fan of classic westerns, you'd be hard-pressed to find better ones than those that paired director Anthony Mann with James Stewart. Mann and Stewart teamed on five westerns in the early '50s and each is compelling and suspenseful. Stewart plays a single-minded adventurer who sets out to drive a herd of cattle all the way to the Klondike, hoping to sell the cattle at a high price during the gold rush. It's not, as you might expect, easy going.

Murder by Death (1976)

Wednesday, June 29, at 8 p.m. ET

Movies that spoofed various genres were popular in the 1970s—think Mel Brooks' humorous takes on westerns and horror pictures; Neil Simon joined in the parodying fun with this take-off on classic mysteries. The plot involves a criminal (Truman Capote) inviting the world's greatest detectives to dinner, but his intentions are not good. You'll spot satirical takes on such fictional detectives as Sam Spade (Peter Falk), Hercule Poirot (James Coco), Nick and Nora Charles (David Nivel and Maggie Smith), and Charlie Chan (Peter Sellers, among others. Lots of fun for fans of detective fiction and movies.

See More Slideshows

Click on a picture to enjoy more inspiring photos and stories.