For all of my classical movie fans out there – looks like TCM is going from strength to strength with three all-new program specials (Source: Turner Press Release):

AFI Master Class: The Art of Collaboration – David O. Russell and Mark Wahlberg – premiers Tuesday, May 8
In its continuing series of specials exploring some of the greatest artistic collaborations in film today, will focus on actor-producer Mark Wahlberg and director-writer-producer David O. Russell, who discuss their collaborations in front of an audience comprised of AFI Fellows studying filmmaking at the world-renowned AFI Conservatory. Their work together includes the Iraq-set drama Three Kings (1999), which co-starred Wahlberg, George Clooney and Ice Cube, and The Fighter(2010), with Wahlberg, Christian Bale and Melissa Leo. This one-hour special is packed with clips from both men’s careers, as well as from movies that have inspired them, including It’s A Wonderful Life (1946),and Man of a Thousand Faces (1957). It is the second installment ofAFI’s Master Class series, which debuted in 2011 with the collaboration between master filmmaker Steven Spielberg and composer John Williams and included film clips and discussion ranging from Jaws (1975) to Schindler’s List (1993) and On the Waterfront(1954) to Amadeus (1994).

Untitled Richard D. Zanuck Documentary – Premiering in September
A portrait of a cinema icon will examine the different facets of prolific producer Richard D. Zanuck, whose credits include Steven Spielberg’s Jaws (1975), Sidney Lumet’s The Verdict (1982), Ron Howard’s Cocoon (1985) and Bruce Beresford’s Oscar®-winning Best Picture Driving Miss Daisy (1989), as well as Tim Burton’s Planet of the Apes (2001), Big Fish (2003), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory(2005), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007), Alice in Wonderland (2010) and the upcoming Dark Shadows (2012). The documentary will explore Zanuck’s life and career, from his family legacy to his successes and challenges. Interviews include Zanuck himself, family members and such Hollywood notables as Steven Spielberg, Tim Burton, Ron Howard, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sherry Lansing, Lawrence Gordon, Morgan Freeman, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, William Friedkin, Alfred Uhry, Tom Rothman and Cart Gottlieb, to name a few. This feature-length documentary special, written, produced and directed by award-winning filmmaker Laurent Bouzereau (TCM’s A Night at the Movies documentaries) is a co-production of TCM and Amblin Television.

A Night at the Movies: Hollywood Goes to Washington – Premiering in October
As America heads into the voting booth to select a president, TCM will dive into the political fray with this look at how Hollywood treats the democratic process. Beginning with a defining film Frank Capra’s Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), this latest installment in TCM’s A Night at the Movies series will explore how filmmakers have approached the touch subject of politics, including films about political campaigns, political conspiracies, and political figures. The special will examine such classic films as All the King’s Men (1949), The Last Hurrah (1958), Advise & Consent (1962), The Candidate (1972), All the President’s Men (1976), Reds (1981), and many others. A Night at the Movies: Hollywood Goes to Washington is produced by Amblin Television andaward-winning filmmaker and author Laurent Bouzereau, with Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey (TNT’s Falling Skies) serving as executive producers.

Looks like we have a whole lot to look forward too!

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