TCM’s Two for One series has always been a safe space for hardcore cinephiles. This Saturday night, that reputation gets a solid cosign from Kathy Bates. The Oscar winner steps in as guest programmer at 8 PM ET, presenting two films that are sure to spark both fond memories and fresh takes on Hollywood’s golden age: Howard Hawks’ screwball comedy Bringing Up Baby (1938) and Gregory La Cava’s tragicomedy Stage Door (1937).
The double feature is a spotlight on Katharine Hepburn’s range, jumping from the fizzy chaos of Bringing Up Baby, where she co-stars with Cary Grant as they chase a leopard through a series of increasingly ridiculous mishaps, to the more grounded, but no less engaging, world of Stage Door. Hepburn leads a stacked ensemble cast in the latter film, sharing the screen with the likes of Ginger Rogers, Lucille Ball, and Eve Arden.
TCM’s resident film scholar Ben Mankiewicz joins Bates in introducing each film and breaks down their cultural context. Expect lively banter and smart analysis as they dive into Hepburn’s versatility—and the enduring legacy of these two very different, but equally iconic films.
“Two for One” airs Saturday, May 31st at 8:00 PM ET on TCM.
