Tomorrow is Octopus Night on TCM

Here's another reason why TCM is the Mostest Excellent Cable Network Ever: This Friday is Octopus Night. Octopus Night!

Yes, it's another reminder that while Turner Classic Movies often earns its somewhat highbrow reputation with its screenings and appreciations of "The Classics," the channel itself has never limited its own definition of the term to high-minded literary adaptations and foreign art films. No, TCM never forgets to leave room for flat-out fun in its celebration of cinematic history, and what could be more fun than Octopus Night?

You get a great big ol' octopus attacking San Fran in "It Came From Beneath the Sea," followed by the Duke himself in "Wake of the Red Witch," then a pre-code Fay Wray thriller called "Below the Sea," and topping it all off, "Sh! The Octopus."

Now, as I recall, this last little comedy/detective movie isn't a candidate for the AFI 100, but it's under an hour and it features Allen Jenkins and Hugh Herbert. There's a rule in my house (and the fact that I'm the only one who knows it, let alone follows it, makes it no less valid) that whenever a movie stars either one of those great character actors, it's recorded if not seen. When both of them are in it, well, there's no excuse.

So check it out tomorrow night. Sit back, grab 8 cold ones, pull up 8 footstools or so, and enjoy a night of octopus movies on TCM.