News From the Lake

News in a nutshell: TCM comes to Amazon Fire, Robert Osborne’s being honored by the Art Directors Guild, and what’s new on DVD and Blu.

TCM ramps up support for their Watch TCM app while taking a big leap into streaming with their latest announcement. The network announced a major update to their Watch TCM app, launching a new keyboard filled with emojis (those fun little pictures accompanying the end of text messages for those who aren’t tech-savvy) as well as hosting a “download week” on September 14th-19th. The download week is an extension of TCM’s #LetsMovie campaign as well as a means of promoting their upcoming “Let’s Movie” holiday on the 19th. Fans who download the app, and those updating their previous versions, will now be able to send classic themed emojis while chatting with friends.

The most surprising tidbit revealed is that TCM is teaming up with Amazon to stream their content through the Amazon Fire TV. This marks the first time TCM will be available for streaming – like their app – through a television without the use of a Roku player. Barring this test’s success, it’s hoped that TCM will expand the service out to other cable services, or at least expand the app’s capabilities to be streamed to televisions.

TCM host Robert Osborne was announced today as being the recipient of the Art Directors Guild’s newly created William Cameron Menzies Award for his championing of classic motion pictures. Osborne will receive his award at the ADG’s upcoming Excellence in Production Design Awards, January 31st at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. This sounds like the equivalent of the Irving Thalberg Award (for those who watch the Academy Awards), in that it is a special award given out to those worthy of additional meritorious service to the classic film community. Congrats Robert!

New on DVD and Blu-ray

Warner Archive: Warner Archive’s big Blu-ray debut for the month is Dick Powell’s film noir classic, Murder, My Sweet (1944). The new Blu-ray comes with audio commentary provided by film historian Alain Silver and the original theatrical trailer. Also available: Gene Kelly’s 1967 TV movie adaptation of Jack and the Beanstalk, and a two-volume collection films starring singing sweethearts Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy. You can purchase all of these via Warner Bros.