TV film fare -- week of Nov. 25

NEW YORK (CNS) -- The following are capsule reviews of theatrical movies on network and cable television the week of Nov. 25. Please note that televised versions may or may not be edited for language, nudity, violence and sexual situations.

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Tuesday, Nov. 27, 10:15 p.m.-12:45 a.m. EST (TCM) "The Hustler" (1961). Fine character study of a small-time pool shark (Paul Newman) who muffs his chance to make it to the big time by crumbling under the pressure of playing against a top veteran (Jackie Gleason), then gets a second chance when he falls for a troubled woman (Piper Laurie) and gets the backing of a manipulative gambler (George C. Scott). Director Robert Rossen captures the smoky netherworld of seedy pool rooms and the tension of the gambling action, but it is the ensemble performances that sustain interest in this downbeat portrait of a loser and his struggle to be something more. Several scenes of stylized violence, including an off-screen suicide, shady activities and a live-in relationship. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification of the theatrical version was A-III -- adults. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

Wednesday, Nov. 28, 8-10 p.m. EST (TCM) "Odd Man Out" (1947). After being shot and left behind in the bungled robbery of a Belfast firm, a mortally wounded IRA leader (James Mason) spends the night seeking shelter from a variety of people until finally cornered by the Ulster police. Directed by Carol Reed, the movie features a strong cast, many from the Abbey Theatre, in a challenging story that is less about the dying fugitive than about the few who try to help him, the many who don't want to get involved and the several who only want to use him for their own ends. Stylized violence, including a murder and a suicide. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification of the theatrical version was A-III -- adults. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

Thursday, Nov. 29, 8-10 p.m. EST (AMC) "The In-Laws" (1979). Prominent New York dentist (Alan Arkin) and a seedy CIA agent (Peter Falk) are brought together when their children are engaged and the hapless dentist finds himself unexpectedly plunged into a wild adventure in a corrupt Central American dictatorship. Directed by Arthur Hiller, the pairing of Arkin and Falk is bright and the comedy frequently hilarious. Some comic violence and a few mild vulgarities. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification of the theatrical version was A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating was PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

Thursday, Nov. 29, 8-10:15 p.m. EST (TCM) "Inherit the Wind" (1960). Loosely based on the 1925 Scopes "monkey trial" in which a small-town Tennessee teacher (Dick York) charged with breaking the law against teaching evolution is prosecuted by an aging populist politician (Fredric March) and defended by a prominent Northern attorney (Spencer Tracy), as a cynical Baltimore reporter (Gene Kelly) stirs up headlines. Directed by Stanley Kramer, the courtroom clash between religious convictions and scientific principles is portrayed mostly as yokels pitted against sophisticates, but worth seeing are the dramatic fireworks between March's smug, self-righteous prosecutor and Tracy's tenacious legal crusader who regrets that the only way he can win the case is by discrediting a man whom he respects. Intense disagreements over biblical interpretations may confuse youngsters. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification of the theatrical version was A-III -- adults. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

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Friday, Nov. 30, 8-10:30 p.m. EST (AMC) "Mission: Impossible" (1996). Framed as a traitor, a top U.S. spy (Tom Cruise) must evade capture by the CIA, identify the real culprit and prevent a list of American spies from falling into enemy hands. Based on the vintage TV series, director Brian De Palma's sleek action thriller has an impossibly complicated plot but its exciting action scenes, special effects and swift pacing make it high-style escapist entertainment. Some stylized violence and occasional profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification of the theatrical version was A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating was PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

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