Fire is the common theme in this week’s movies on TV, from a metaphorical hot number to the original discovery of the stuff.
Today
“The Night of the Hunter,” 9 p.m., Turner Classic Movies. Hands-down one of the most original and memorable of all American films, this stylized thriller puts mad preacher Robert Mitchum (in a brilliant, modern performance) into an unsuspecting family. 1955.
“Ball of Fire,” 10 p.m., Channel 9. Terrific comedy about a professor (Gary Cooper) interviewing a showgirl (Barbara Stanwyck) for his dictionary of slang. Howard Hawks directed. 1941.
Saturday
“Dr. No,” 4:30 p.m., Spike. The James Bond series gets kicked off in fine form, with Sean Connery sporting a crueler edge than later 007s would brandish. 1962.
“La Bamba,” 8 p.m., Bravo. Good early rock ‘n’ roll atmosphere in this bio on Ritchie Valens (Lou Diamond Phillips), the ill-fated singer. 1987.
Sunday
“Shane,” 11:30 a.m., Channel 11. Classic western about a stranger (Alan Ladd) who rides into the middle of a dust-up between farmers and cattlemen. George Stevens directed. 1953.
“Fahrenheit 451,” 7 p.m., Turner Classic Movies. Michael Moore borrowed his documentary’s title from Ray Bradbury’s futuristic novel about an oppressive society in which firefighters exist to burn books. The movie, directed by Francois Truffaut, is slow but weirdly compelling. 1966.
Monday
“Quest for Fire,” 7 p.m., Encore. The cavemen learn how to make fire, and civilization is born. Directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, whose new film is “Two Brothers.” 1982.
Tuesday
“On the Waterfront,” 7 p.m., Turner Classic Movies. He didn’t make that many great films, but the late Marlon Brando changed the face of acting, and maybe the face of American culture, too. This is one of his great ones (and an Oscar winner), a study of life on the docks of Hoboken. Elia Kazan directed. 1953.
“X-Men,” 8 p.m., FX. A smart and funny comic-book adaptation, based on a crowd of mutant superheroes fighting for their rights. 2000.
Wednesday
“The Sleepy Time Gal,” 7:25 p.m., Sundance. Director Christopher Munch made this sensitive drama about an offbeat woman whose life has accumulated more than she realized. An unheralded sleeper. 2001.
Thursday
“The Bourne Identity,” 8 p.m., Encore. Just in time to prep for the release of next week’s sequel, “The Bourne Supremacy,” here’s Matt Damon in a pleasingly crisp espionage picture. 2002.
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