Sony Movie Channel Honors Black History Month Tuesday Nights In February With Blockbuster Films Featuring Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman And Richard Pryor, Among Others

CULVER CITY, Calif., Jan. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of Black History Month, Sony Movie Channel (SMC) is turning over its Take Two Tuesday night programming franchise to movies featuring some of film's top African-American stars. Each film in the double feature block is connected to each other in a way that cinema enthusiasts will appreciate. Richard Pryor fans, especially, will be able to enjoy some of his stand-up concert comedies, uncut and uncensored. As an added bonus, the Take Two movies in February are being repeated over the course of the night, so that viewers on the east and west coasts can enjoy watching these priceless treasures in primetime hours.

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The Take Two February schedule is as follows (all times are Eastern):

• Feb. 5 – Morgan Freeman Night

MAIDEN HEIST – 8:15 PM & 12:00 AM - It was a stroke of genius. But now the perfect crime is turning into a perfect disaster in this all-star comedy caper that proves you're never too old to have some new fun. Morgan Freeman, Christopher Walken, William H. Macy and Marcia Gay Harden star.

UNDER SUSPICION-10:00 PM & 1:40 AM – The day after he finds the body of a dead girl on his daily job, a prominent lawyer is called into the police station to "tie up a few loose ends." Morgan Freeman, Gene Hackman, Thomas Jane and Monica Bellucci star.

• Feb. 12 – Denzel Washington Night

DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS – 8:15 PM & 12:10 AM - In a world divided by black and white, Easy Rawlins is about to cross the line. Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, Tom Sizemore, Maury Chaykin, Jennifer Beals and Lisa Nicole Carson star.

GLORY – 10:00 PM & 2:00 AM - Matthew Broderick and Denzel Washington star in this inspiring story of the first Black regiment to fight for the North in the Civil War.

• Feb. 19 – Sidney Poitier Night

BROTHER JOHN - 8:15 PM & 11:45 PM - A black man returns to his home town in Alabama, just as his sister dies and black workers strike the town's leading industrial plant. He is thought to be an outside agitator until it is learned he is the messenger of death. Sidney Poitier, Will Geer, Bradford Dillman, Paul Winfield and Beverly Todd star.

BUCK AND THE PREACHER – 10:00 PM & 1:25 AM - Action-packed Western about a scout (Sidney Poitier) and a con man (Harry Belafonte) who team up to protect the Exodusters: ex-slaves who traveled across the West after the Civil War. Directed by Poitier. Music by jazz great Benny Carter. Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte, Ruby Dee, Cameron Mitchell, Denny Miller, Nita Talbot and John Kelly star.

• Feb. 26 – Richard Pryor Night

RICHARD PRYOR LIVE ON THE SUNSET STRIP -10:00 PM & 1:10 AM - A living legend, a comic genius... in legendary stand-up comedy concert performance captured live in 1982.

RICHARD PRYOR: HERE & NOW – 11:30 PM & 2:40 AM - A comic genius... alive and well and at his best on Bourbon Street in New Orleans in this 1983 stand-up comedy concert.

In addition to airing these films on the dates above, all the aforementioned movies are scheduled for further broadcasts throughout the month. (See sonymoviechannel.com/schedule for details.)

Other notable Black History Month programming includes SMC's celebration of Poitier's birthday on Wednesday, Feb. 20, with back-to-back broadcasts of his movies THE LONG SHIPS (7:45 PM E/P) and THE BEDFORD INCIDENT (10:00 PM E/P). Throughout the month, SMC will also air TO SIR, WITH LOVE II, Poitier's 1996 follow-up to his iconic mid-'60s performance as an inspiring inner city London schoolteacher in TO SIR, WITH LOVE. Poitier fans will enjoy a two-day birthday celebration -- of his movies on the 19^th and 20^th.

Also on the schedule are films starring prominent African-American actors such as Donna Summer in THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY (Feb. 1 at 1:00 PM E); Jamie Foxx in STEALTH (Feb. 5 at 6:00 PM E); Gregory Hines in the Feb. 5 double feature of WHITE NIGHTS (11:40 AM E) and TAP (2:00 PM E); and Cuba Gooding Jr. in HERO WANTED (10PM E and 1:20AM E) and LINEWATCH (11:40PM E and 3AM E) on Feb. 18.

About Sony Movie Channel
Sony Movie Channel is the first U.S. multi-platform television network from Sony Pictures Television created specifically for the Hollywood movie fan. Offering uncut and theatrical releases in stunning high definition, Sony Movie Channel showcases titles from Sony Pictures' vast library including award-winning features, cult favorites, family comedies and gripping dramas. Programming is selected from more than 3,500 Sony Pictures films, which collectively have received 184 Academy Awards® including 12 for Best Picture. Sony Movie Channel is available on DISH Network, DIRECTV and AT&T U-Verse TV on linear as well as on authenticated VOD and online platforms. For more information, visit SonyMovieChannel.com, Facebook and/or Twitter @SonyMovieCh.

SOURCE Sony Movie Channel