This isn’t horror related in any way, but I feel it’s my duty to inform you great readers about some awesome cinema taking place you might not normally be exposed to. Tomorrow night (Wednesday, the 5th) Turner Classic Movies is doing a major primetime spotlight on one of my favorite directors of all time: William “Wild Bill” Wellman. You can check out the schedule right here.

All of the films they are showing tomorrow night are outstanding, with his most famous film probably being “The Public Enemy” (shame on you if you haven’t seen it!). However, I’d like to make special mention of two films being shown: Wild Boys of the Road (1933) and Heroes for Sale (1933). These are two incredible flicks that need to be seen. If you can’t be around a television tomorrow, try your best to record them if you can.

Wild Boys of the Road takes place during the Great Depression and tells the story of kids who leave their homes to try and find work to help their families. They eventually set up a shanty town and revolt against the authority figures who seem to be unable to help them. Frankie Darrow has a gut punching speech at the end of the film. It’s a brilliant flick.

Heroes for Sale is on super late, but I’d rank this as one of Wellman’s best. It involves a soldier who comes back from the war addicted to morphine. He kicks his habit and becomes a successful manager at a factory. He befriends a socialist who invents a technology that is ultimately used to lay off all of the employees at the factory he works at. The workers riot and well, I don’t want to give too much away. Let’s just say it doesn’t have the happiest of endings.

I can’t stress enough how great these films are. You should definitely check them out or at least record them to watch at a later date. These films aren’t available on DVD and are rarely shown on TCM, so don’t miss em!

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