In the early 1980s, TBS appeared to be on a mission to ensure that every American with cable TV saw Spencer's Mountain. Earl Hamner, Jr.'s family drama, a precursor to his hit TV series The Waltons, must have been broadcast three or four times a year. TBS showered similar affection on The Molly Maguires (which, ironically, rarely pops on TV today) and The Trouble With Angels (sometimes shown on Rosalind Russell "days" on TCM).
However, none of the previously mentioned films can hold a candle to the reigning champion: Road House (1989). Honestly, it must be broadcast on some channel in the U.S. at least monthly. I always think of Road House as a brainless drive-in movie (perhaps, in large part, because I originally saw it at an outdoor theater). The first half offers a surprisingly high fun quotient with Patrick Swayze being hired as a bouncer to clean up an exceptionally rowdy small-town bar--the kind where the band (nicely played by The Jeff Healey Band) rocks out from behind a safety screen. Anyway, despite the arrival of silver-maned Sam Elliott as Patrick's mentor, Road House loses it way en route to an incredulous showdown between Swayze and Ben Gazzara.Wait a minute...why am I bothering to discuss the plot of Road House? You've probably seen it a half-dozen times!
So why is Road House shown so frequently? Ratings, of course, and that's a product of the film's enduring appeal, which can be defined in two words: Patrick Swayze (okay, maybe there's a little Sam Elliott effect... let's say 7%). Swayze wasn't a great actor, but he was a very likable one that appealed to females (Ghost, Dirty Dancing) and males (cult fave Red Dawn). In Road House, he engages in lively brawls (for the guys) and also takes his shirt off an awful lot (for the gals). Let's not forget that television is all about demographics and Swayze's cross-gender appeal makes Road House an obvious favorite.While Road House may reign supreme, here are the four runners-up in my pageant of most popular movies shown on television:
Overboard (1987) - Like Swayze, Goldie Hawn is a star with broad appeal, but why is this comedy favored over other Hawn vehicles like Private Benjamin and Protocol? I think the answer lies in its classic comedy plot about an heiress who gets amnesia and thinks she's married to a working-class slob with unruly kids. Plus, for the record, I think it's one of her funniest films and the real-life chemistry between her and Kurt Russell is obvious.
A Summer Place (1959) - This lush soap has become a TCM favorite over the past two years (and, back in the 1990s, TNT loved it too). There's Troy Donahue for the girls, Sandra Dee for the guys, Dorothy McGuire and Richard Egan for classic film fans, a famous theme, and (for some) an element of camp. It's got so much going for it that I'm surprised it's not shown more often.
The Shawshank Redemption (1994) - It's hard to figure out why Shawshank is shown so often--other than the fact that it's an excellent movie and a lot of people like it. I think it's that simple, because there's actually a lot going against it. Neither of the stars (both fine actors) have huge followings (when is the last time you heard someone remark: "Let's go see the new Morgan Freeman movie!"). Plus, at 142 minutes, it eats up a lot of a channel's viewing schedule.
Beach Blanket Bingo (1964) - As a later-in-life Beach Party fan, I've done some self-analysis on this film's lasting popularity. One can't discount its entertainment value and the catchy songs, but its appeal can be mostly attributed to a nostalgia factor that's extremely high for baby boomers.
Honorable mentions among the most frequently shown movies on TV: The Wizard of Oz, any of the James Bond movies, Rocky and its sequels, and White Christmas.
Can you think of any additions to this list?
Fun post, Rick!
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing ROAD HOUSE in a crowded theater in the small town of Lisdoonvarna, Ireland sometime in mid-December 1989. It was a raucous good time, a blast of American cheese to a Yank far from home. It seems a weird one for endless repeats on TBS, in a way, as whatever version that would have played would have been ridiculously sanitized, with most of the boobs, blood and bad words cut out.
TCM overdoses us on Bye, Bye Birdie!
ReplyDeleteSo true, Gilby! And it's on again this month.
DeleteI remember reading that article, and also recall that the most popular movie "series" frequently on TV back then was the Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes films. Nowadays, you're more likely to find a James Bond film than Bas and Nigel Bruce.
ReplyDeleteMy mother used to be a huge fan of Road House (well, she also finds Dirty Dancing captivating, so there's no accounting for taste) but the last time I saw it announced on AMC I kidded her about it and she told me she was a little tired of seeing it all the time. When Fox Home Video released the similarly-named 1948 film (with Ida Lupino and Richard Widmark) to DVD I told her "I've just purchased a copy of Road House...but don't expect to see Patrick Swayze in this one."
Too funny, Ivan!
DeleteLoved this post!
DeleteA CHRISTMAS STORY is shown an awful lot. It's usually only on TV in December, but TBS will sometimes run the 24-hour marathon. That's 12 showings over the course of two partial days. Beat that, Dalton!
ReplyDeleteDalton vs. Ralphie...that would be a showdown for the ages!
DeleteI love this article because "Road House" is ALWAYS on TV. Recently TCM has started showing "Scaramouche" an awful lot. I like it but it must have been shown twice this year already and is scheduled again for this month.
ReplyDeleteI remember when it seemed like "Spencer's Mountain" was on monthly in the 1980s. Today it doesn't seem possible to turn on the TV without someone showing "Road House." Fun post, Rick!
ReplyDeleteAm I the only one that remembers a movie called "Beastmaster" or some such thing that played non-stop on TNT or TBS way back when...surely I didn't dream this.►Kasper◄
ReplyDeleteYes, I remember BEASTMASTER with Marc Singer and Tanya Roberts. It spawned a couple of sequels and a TV series! In fact, it's been reviewed at the Cafe.
DeleteWhat I find interesting is growing up in the 1970s, there were two 1960s science fiction movies that were seemingly on every other week - "Destination Inner Space" with Scott Brady and "Cyborg 2087" with Michael Rennie. Yet, it's been literally decades that I've seen either of these programmed on local stations. Rights issues perhaps? I mean they were on ALL the time.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen "Road House." It's my next door neighbor's favorite movie.
Kevin, I still maintain that TERMINATOR stole its plot from CYBORG 2087!
DeleteHere in Canada, the public broadcaster (CBC) always plays "Happy Gilmore" with the swear words bleeped out. Oh look - it`s on again next weekend.
ReplyDeleteThat's too funny!
DeleteWasn't it "Clash of Titans" that used to cycle endlessly on TBS and TNT?
ReplyDeleteIf only the Ida Lupino/Richard Widmark "Road House" aired more often...I've never been able to sit through the Patrick Swayze movie of the same name.
Hello,
ReplyDeleteWould anyone happen to know more info on the article that Rick mentioned from TV Guide on movies shown frequently in films (date, title, etc.)? I'm on the hunt for more Magnificent Seven research...
Thanks! Michelle
Shawshank HAS to be the champ! It's on every weekend for years!
ReplyDelete