TCM, 3:30 p.m. ET
For years, I misunderstood the genesis and development of this outstanding Wolfgang Petersen WWII drama, told from the German point of view by staying with the crew of a claustrophobic U-boat. I used to think Das Boot began as a German TV miniseries, then was cut down into the shorter movie form that was distributed internationally to great acclaim. Nope. Turns out the movie was edited and released first, in 1981, followed four years later by the much-expanded miniseries version, enhanced by the voluminous outtakes shot during the drama’s original year-long filming. Then, eventually, came a director’s cut, splitting the difference between the two. That’s the version, released in 1997, that is shown today by TCM. Any version, though, is captivating, and highly recommended.
IFC, 8:00 p.m. ET
And now for something completely similar: Tonight at 8 ET, IFC presents a double feature of two Monty Python films, which share the same delight in comic anarchy and irreverence. With 1979’s Monty Python’s Life of Brian, the irreverence of this alternative biblical tale culminates with a musical number sung by men hanging from crucifixes (pictured). Then, at 10 p.m. ET, IFC follows that with 1975’s Monty Python and the Holy Grail, a movie financed almost singlehandedly, with his own money, by George Harrison. He got his money’s worth… comedically as well as financially.
Showtime, 8:00 p.m. ET
Tonight’s a very good night for movies on TV, on a night when lots of families are gathered together. Want a cinematic epic? Watch TCM. Want comic lunacy? Watch IFC. Want a heartwarming romantic comedy? Watch this 1989 movie, on Showtime, and watch director Rob Reiner’s mother react to Meg Ryan’s faked orgasm at Katz’s deli by telling the waiter, “I’ll have what she’s having.” Billy Crystal co-stars.
TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET
In this 1962 epic film directed by David Lean, Peter O’Toole, as the title character, is a Lean, mean fighting machine. O’Toole plays T.E. Lawrence, the English officer who led the divided, often warring Arab tribes during World War I in a war against the Turks. Try to translate all that to today’s political and geographic landscape, and your head will spin.
NBC, 9:00 p.m. ET
So long as Paul Simon is shown singing “Still Crazy All These Years” while dressed in a turkey suit, in a vintage SNL clip from 1976, I’m happy with this annual special… and I’m there.
PBS, 10:00 p.m. ET
DOCUMENTARY SPECIAL: This hour on ocean pollution, and other effects of non-biodegradable plastics, comes from the PBS
NewsHour team, and comes armed with enough images and statistics that it attention should be paid. Here’s just one statistic I can’t shake: by some estimates, by the year 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. I don’t know whether that’s by number or tonnage – but either way, it’s dead wrong.
Check local listings. For a full review, see David Hinckley's All Along the Watchtower.