The American Spectator | USA News and Politics
"So, here’s to remembering Claudia Cardinale — and also Olivia Hussey and the other notable names in film that Turner Classic Movies beautifully helps us remember each year."
"I’ve long been a huge fan of Turner Classic Movies. The two primary hosts since the channel’s inception about 30 years ago have been the late film historian Robert Osborne and his successor, Ben Mankiewicz. Both have been perfect choices. In recent years, the channel has added secondary hosts, including the splendid Alicia Malone and Dave Karger, both consummate professionals.
"Among the examples of that is a touching compilation done annually by TCM at year’s end, which I catch while watching the wonderful offering of Christmas films. It’s called “TCM Remembers.” It typically runs about five minutes long, packing in names and faces of actors/actresses who died over the previous year, showing them at their best, oftentimes in iconic images (think of, say, Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s). More recently, the network started including not just those known for acting but editors, producers, composers, cinematographers, costume designers, even cartoonists and stuntmen and makeup artists.
"These compilations are done so movingly that they choke me up. You watch and say, “Oh, I didn’t know he passed away this year.” Or: “Wow, I had forgotten about her. She was lovely. What a role.” You also find yourself waiting for the face of that noted celebrity, who you recall had died recently. This time, it was Rob Reiner. “TCM Remembers” tends to fade out with the biggest face and his/her most memorable image. This year it was Reiner and Robert Redford, and also Diane Keaton, a fine actress who had so many memorable roles — my favorite being “Kay,” the WASP girlfriend-fiancé-wife of Michael Corleone in The Godfather." . . . (RELATED: Lou Aguilar, “Bardot and Other Screen Legends We Lost in 2025.”)
