Loretta Young is TCM Star of the Month for January

Turner Classic Movies kicks off 2013 with Loretta Young as its first Star of the Month for the new year. The leading lady will feature in 38 films shown on TCM on Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout the month, beginning on January 2. Young, who won a Best Actress Oscar for her performance in "The Farmer's Daughter" (1947), began her career during the silent era but is best remembered today for her work during the 1940s, including roles in "The Stranger" (1946), "The Bishop's Wife" (1947), and "Come to the Stable" (1949).

The showcase of Young's films begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time on Wednesday, January 2, with the silent Lon Chaney picture, "Laugh, Clown, Laugh" (1928). "Platinum Blonde" (1931), with Jean Harlow, airs at 9:30 p.m., followed by the 1932 James Cagney crime story, "Taxi!" Young then stars in "Life Begins" (1932) at 12:30 a.m. and "The Squall" (1929) at 1:45 a.m. "Show of Shows" (1929) ends the night's lineup at 3:45 a.m.

On Thursday, January 3, Young stars in the morning schedule of films, as well, starting with "Loose Ankles" (1930) at 6 a.m. "I Like Your Nerve" (1931) airs at 7:15 a.m., followed by "Road to Paradise" (1930) at 8:30 a.m. "The Truth About Youth" (1930) wraps up the Thursday morning offerings at 10 a.m.

On Wednesday, January 9, the Young celebration begins at 8 p.m. with "Employees' Entrance" (1933) and "Heroes for Sale" (1933) at 9:30 p.m. "Born to Be Bad" (1934) airs at 11 p.m., with "Midnight Mary" (1933) following at 12:15 a.m. The Pre-Code drama, "They Call It Sin" (1932), teams Young with David Manners and George Brent at 1:45 a.m., while "The Hatchet Man" (1932) co-stars Edward G. Robinson at 3 a.m. The 1932 romance, "Play Girl," starts at 4:30 a.m., followed by more crime with Young and Walter Huston in "The Ruling Voice" (1931) at 5:45 a.m. Young also opens the morning lineup on Thursday, January 10, with "She Had to Say Yes" (1933) at 7 a.m.

More Young films arrive on Wednesday, January 16, starting with "A Man's Castle" (1933) at 8 p.m. and "Suez" (1938) at 9:15 p.m. Young stars with Richard Greene and Walter Brennan in "Kentucky" (1938) at 11 p.m., followed by Young and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. in "The Life of Jimmy Dolan" (1933). "Beau Ideal" (1931) airs at 2:30 a.m., and "Big Business Girl" (1931) begins at 4 a.m.

On Wednesday, January 23, the Young features move into the 1940s with "The Doctor Takes a Wife" (1940) at 8 p.m. and "Bedtime Story" (1942) at 9:45 p.m. Young stars with Warner Baxter in "Wife, Husband, and Friend" (1939) at 11:15 p.m., followed by "A Night to Remember" (1942) at 12:45 a.m. The two final entries on the night's schedule return to the 1930s with "Week-End Marriage" (1932) at 2:30 a.m. and "Grand Slam" (1933) at 3:45 a.m.

The final night of Loretta Young films includes some of her best-known later roles, including her Oscar-winning performance in "The Farmer's Daughter" (1947) at 8 p.m. Young stars with Edward G. Robinson and Orson Welles in the Welles thriller, "The Stranger" (1946) at 9:45 p.m. "Rachel and the Stranger" (1948), co-starring William Holden and Robert Mitchum, airs at 11:30 p.m., followed by "Along Came Jones" (1945) with Gary Cooper at 1 a.m. Young stars with Clark Gable in "Key to the City" (1950) at 2:45 a.m. "Cause for Alarm" (1951) airs at 4:30 a.m., followed by "The Unguarded Hour" (1936) at 5:45 a.m.

Other events on TCM this month include a celebration of Shirley Temple and a series of caper pictures on Tuesdays throughout the month. Check the official Turner Classic Movies website for a full schedule and more information.

Jennifer Garlen writes as the Huntsville and National Classic Movies Examiner. Her book, "Beyond Casablanca: 100 Classic Movies Worth Watching," is now available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.com.