'Summer Under the Stars,' Turner Classic Movies event, has a twist

Film legend, Doris Day, reveals how she would have worked... — Film legend, Doris Day, reveals how she would have worked for nothing as she had so much fun making her movies. Credit: AP

By DIANE WERTS. Special to NewsdayJuly 30, 2013

Who's in, who's out? Who's new, who's not?

Here you go, movie buffs -- the 31 celebs of this August's annual "Summer Under the Stars" event from Turner Classic Movies.

Does your favorite performer get his or her own 24-hour-marathon salute? This year, sadly, James Cagney isn't included. But Humphrey Bogart is; he kicks things off Wednesday. And, hooray, there's "Gone With the Wind" scene-stealer Hattie McDaniel -- Hollywood's first-ever black Oscar winner -- making her initial appearance on TCM's marathon list.

That's the way it is with "Summer Under the Stars." Returning legends like Bogie and Doris Day (Friday) are joined this time by far-flung newcomers like France's Catherine Deneuve and Britain's Maggie Smith, currently enjoying a TV revival with "Downton Abbey."

For every recurrent heartthrob like Clark Gable, there's a first-time character actor like Martin Balsam of 1974's "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three." For each perennial icon like Elizabeth Taylor, there's newbie Glenda Farrell, the singing-dancing Depression "gold digger" who also played "girl reporter" Torchy Blane.

TCM's "Summer" hosts recognizable returnees, including Charlton Heston and still-active Kirk Douglas (one of the month's living honorees, alongside Smith, Day, Deneuve, Mickey Rooney, Shirley Jones, Joan Fontaine and Ann Blyth, whose marathon airs on her 85th birthday). But August also offers the special joy of savoring performers you've barely even heard of.

This year that includes Sunday's star, Mary Boland, who in her time made a mark in 1930s titles including "The Women." Another was once a global superstar: Ramón Navarro, the well-built lead of the silent original "Ben-Hur" and Greta Garbo's early talkie "Mata Hari," whose career would last through TV guest shots on "Bonanza" and "The Wild Wild West."