Tuesdays in July / 12 Movies
Astrologer Susan Miller joins TCM host Alicia Malone for four evenings of films that highlight a variety of film stars and their astrological signs in this month’s Spotlight. She will discuss the qualities of each sign of the Zodiac and how these qualities apply to the individual stars. Miller is the author of 11 best-selling books about astrology and a regular columnist for Vogue and InStyle.
The evenings with Miller are divided into zodiac categories beginning with Fire Signs. Fiery redhead Lucille Ball, born under the sign of Leo, is represented by The Long, Long Trailer (1954), a delightful comedy costarring then-husband Desi Arnaz. Ball fit the characteristics of a Leo: ambitious, self-confident, always the center of attention and focused on oneself, yet generous and supportive of others.
Other Fire Signs include Aries (Steve McQueen, The Cincinnati Kid, 1965) and Sagittarius (Kirk Douglas, The Bad and the Beautiful, 1952).
Among Earth Signs is Taurus – interestingly enough, the sign of both stars of the charming romantic comedy Love in the Afternoon (1957), Gary Cooper and Audrey Hepburn. Each exhibited typical Taurus traits, including intelligence, dependability and dedication, with the stubbornness of a bull thrown in for good measure!
Other Earth Signs include Virgo (Greta Garbo, Grand Hotel, 1932) and Capricorn (Humphrey Bogart, To Have and Have Not, 1944).
Aquarius, under which James Dean was born, is an Air Sign. As demonstrated in his seminal vehicle, the alienated-teen drama Rebel Without a Cause (1955), Dean personified certain Aquarian qualities – being unique, independent, idealistic and, yes, rebellious.
Other Air Signs include Gemini (Marilyn Monroe, The Prince and the Showgirl, 1957) and Libra (Rita Hayworth, Gilda, 1946).
Water Signs encompass Pisces, the sign of the ravishing Elizabeth Taylor, whose vivid performance as a call girl in Butterfield 8 (1960) won her an Oscar. Taylor embodied the Piscean characteristics of being highly sociable, romantic and intuitive. Her friends surely would have vouched for her other Pisces qualities, being loyal and generous to a fault.
Other Water Signs include Cancer (Ginger Rogers, The Gay Divorcee, 1934) and Scorpio (Grace Kelly, Mogambo, 1953).
