SULLIVAN’S TRAVELS

Sunday, 12 noon, TCM

Joel McCrea plays a lightweight Hollywood director who learns about life on Skid Row in Preston Sturges’ priceless screwball comedy with a conscience. Also stars glamour puss Veronica Lake.

IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT

Tuesday, 10 p.m., TCM

Rod Steiger’s redneck sheriff and Sidney Poitier’s crack big-city detective match wits in this Oscar-winning, Mississippi-set whodunit from 1967. Co-starring Lee Grant.

THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR

Wednesday, 10 p.m., TCM

Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway engage in cinema’s sexiest chess game in this 1968 caper about a millionaire playboy who steals for kicks. Trendsetting Dunaway is so gorgeous you can see why she made other actresses nervous.

THE MALTESE FALCON

Friday, 12 noon, TCM

Humphrey Bogart is the very definition of hard-boiled as detective Sam Spade in this flawless film noir from 1941. Also stars Mary Astor as the beautiful broad with a big secret.

THE BIG SLEEP

Friday, 2 p.m., TCM

Here’s Bogie again as private eye Philip Marlowe, exchanging sassy dialogue with a captivating Lauren Bacall, in Howard Hawks’ crackling 1946 crime classic about blackmail and murder.

BROADCAST NEWS

Friday, 8 p.m., WLNY-55

Albert Brooks memorably sweats buckets in one of the funniest scenes in this literate comedy about television. He plays one third of a love triangle, along with William Hurt’s vacuous newsreader and Holly Hunter’s sharp TV producer.