We have been reviewing movies since the mid 1970s, and have never had such a tough time finding good ones.

We used to average 3.5 movies a week. Admittedly, they were not all five star productions, but they certainly were better than a lot of stuff we’ve sat through lately.

Netflix has filled the gap somewhat, and the Avon occasionally brings an interesting foreign or independent film to the East Side, but since the pandemic the quality and quantity of good movies has diminished.

TURNER CLASSIC MOVIES

We’ve often heard the expression, “They don’t make ‘em like they used to,” and that is a fact that has led us to watching the Turner Classic Movies channel. If you don’t have it, get it.

Twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year, Turner Classic Movies airs everything from early silent films, to classics from the ’40s into this century, commercial free and with experts giving their insights into the films.

You’ll get some of the best scary films at Halloween, political films before election time, Christmas movies, and festivals featuring great actors like John Wayne, Patricia Neal and Paul Newman.

We like to check their listings, which can be easily Googled, and record them for that rainy day or evening when you just can’t find anything good on TV.

Here’s a sample of what is coming up:

Friday, Oct. 25

8:00 p.m. — “All the President’s Men” (1976): Woodward and Berstein uncover the Watergate scandal in this four star drama starring Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford.

10:30 p.m. — “Citizen Kane” (1941): Orson Welles’ classic film of all time.

Saturday, Oct. 26

6:00 p.m.  — “The Devil and Daniel Webster” (1941)

Sunday, Oct. 27

6:00 p.m. — “Gaslight” (1944): Classic starring Charles Boyer.

8:00 p.m. — “Cry, the Beloved Country” (1995): James Earl Jones and Richard Harris.