Audrey Hepburn and Orangey the Cat, actors in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” will be featured in the Turner Classic Movies Network special film festival throughout April. (Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures) |
To commemorate the American Humane Association’s (AHA) 130th anniversary and the 93rd annual Be Kind to Animals Week, the Turner Classic Movie (TCM) Network will host a special “No Animals Were Harmed” film festival every Monday night in April. Each night will feature a different category of films: Picture Animal Top Star of the Year (PATSY) Award winners, animal heroes, rescued animals, animals trained by Frank Inn or the human-animal bond.
The AHA presented the PATSY Award from 1951 to 1986 to the animal actor with the most noteworthy performances in movies and television for that year. Monday, April 2, TCM will present films featuring PATSY Award winners, kicking off the evening with “Francis,” a film featuring Molly the mule, the first recipient of the award.
The following week, TCM will spotlight films with animal heroes. Featured films for the evening include “Hills of Home,” an action/adventure featuring Lassie the collie, and “Gallant Bess,” about a boy and his horse.
Animal actors who actually were rescued animals will be featured April 16. Films scheduled for this evening include “Clash of the Wolves,” “The Adventures of Rusty” and “Benji,” which stars Higgins, a dog rescued from the Burbank Animal Shelter in the early 1970s by animal trainer Frank Inn.
Frank Inn’s animals also will be featured April 23 on a special night devoted to Inn’s work as a trainer. Films scheduled for the evening include “National Velvet,” “Challenge to Lassie” and “The Absent-Minded Professor.” Also featured will be “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” starring Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly and Orangey as Holly’s feline roommate, Cat.
On the last Monday of April, TCM will highlight classic films that celebrate the human-animal bond. Featured films for this include “Free Willy,” “The Black Stallion” and “Flipper.”
For a complete schedule of show times and for more information about AHA and TCM’s special film festival, click here.