Sunday Night Miniseries And Friday Evening Thrillers Highlight Sony Movie Channel's May Programming Lineup

CULVER CITY, Calif., April 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Movie Channel (SMC) is offering viewers a wide assortment of some of the most suspenseful films to hit the big screen on Friday nights, and broadcasting some of TV's finest miniseries on Sunday nights. SMC is airing a special Sharon Stone movie marathon on May 18^th, and telecasting BLUE THUNDER on the exact day of its 30^th Anniversary on May 13^th. Plus, the channel is featuring the U.S. broadcast premiere of HARRY BROWN—starring Michael Caine—on May 16, and presenting a Cheech and Chong double feature on May 22.

In honor of Memorial Day, SMC is featuring two popular television miniseries set in the backdrop of the Civil War. Kicking off the Memorial Day marathon on May 27, at 10:30 a.m. ET, is BEULAH LAND, the 1980 historical Southern romance starring Leslie Ann Warren as Sarah Pennington, a strong-willed woman who runs a thriving plantation in Georgia. The award-winning dramatic miniseries THE BLUE AND THE GRAY immediately follows at 3:30 p.m. ET, in this sweeping Civil War saga boasting a star-studded cast that includes Stacy Keach, Lloyd Bridges, Gregory Peck, Rip Torn and Geraldine Page.

Sunday and Friday nights are two key components to the SMC's May schedule. Every Sunday at 7 p.m., the network is airing classic television miniseries back-to-back, providing a wonderful option for viewers to see these films in their complete form. Featured miniseries include THE BLUE AND THE GRAY (May 5); BEULAH LAND (May 12); THE LAST DAYS OF POMPEII (May 19); and MEDUSA'S CHILD (May 26).

Friday nights at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, Sony Movie Channel is ratcheting up the suspense, showcasing popular thrillers TAXI DRIVER and HARDCORE on May 3; BASIC INSTINCT 2 and IN THE CUT on May 10; BODY DOUBLE and JAGGED EDGE on May 17; THE STEPFATHER and WICKED on May 24; and THE LODGER and SINGLE WHITE FEMALE on May 31.

Additionally, SMC will be honoring several well-known cinematic icons in May. To celebrate Tommy Chong's 75^th birthday on May 24, the network is broadcasting two of his films—THINGS ARE TOUGH ALL OVER and CHEECH AND CHONG'S NICE DREAMS—with comedy cohort Cheech Marin on May 22. The channel is also paying tribute to Sharon Stone with a special marathon on May 18, highlighting five of her most noted roles: COLD STEEL, WHERE SLEEPING DOGS LIE, THE QUICK AND THE DEAD, GLORIA and BASIC INSTINCT 2.

Also on deck in the month of May, SMC is proud to present the U.S. broadcast premiere of HARRY BROWN on May 16, at 8:15 p.m. ET. The 2009 British crime thriller stars Michael Caine as a law-abiding citizen who is compelled to act, and forced to dispense his own brand of justice, when his best friend is murdered. And, the network is celebrating the 30^th anniversary of the John Badham-directed cop classic, BLUE THUNDER, on the exact day that it opened in 1983. BLUE THUNDER features Roy Schneider as a tough but straight-arrow cop who battles a group of military and government elitists. BLUE THUNDER airs at 10 p.m. ET.

In addition to airing these films on the dates noted above, some of the movies mentioned are scheduled for further broadcasts throughout the month. (See schedule on SonyMovieChannel.com for further details.)

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