War Movies, Racing for Holiday Viewing

War movies, an all-star concert and two IndyCar auto races are among the Memorial Day weekend highlights.

American Movie Classics and TNT are presenting vintage war movies today, Sunday and Monday. Among the top guns in TNT’s marathon is a John Wayne triple bill beginning Sunday at 9 a.m. with “Sands of Iwo Jima,” followed by “In Harm’s Way” and “They Were Expendable.” AMC’s film salute includes John Huston’s “Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison,” tonight at 8:15, and “The Diary of Anne Frank,” Sunday at 4:15 p.m.

Ossie Davis returns as host of PBS’ “National Memorial Day Concert 1996,” airing Sunday at 8 p.m. on KCET-TV Channel 28. The 90-minute special features dramatic readings and performances by Kenny Rogers, CeCe Winans, Burt Reynolds, Charles Durning, Christine Baranski, Michael Feinstein and Colin Powell.

Set your alarm to catch the Indianapolis 500, Sunday at 8 a.m. on ABC (Channels 7, 3 and 42), live from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This year’s field, though, features only one former winner since the top drivers will be competing in the inaugural IndyCar U.S. 500 in Michigan, Sunday at 11 a.m. on ESPN.

The NBA playoffs continue today at 12:30 p.m. on NBC (Channels 4 and 36) with the Bulls taking on the Orlando Magic; the Seattle SuperSonics meet the Utah Jazz, Sunday at 12:30 p.m.

Here are other weekend programs:

Public Affairs: TODAY: Camille Paglia and Arianna Huffington are the guests on “To the Contrary,” 1 p.m. (28). . . .

Senate Majority Whip Trent Lott fields questions on “Evans & Novak,” 2:30 p.m., repeats Sunday 7 a.m. CNN. . . .

Sen. William Cohen (R-Me.) and Mary Fackler Schiavo, inspector general of the U.S. Transportation Department, appear on “John McLaughlin’s One on One” to discuss airline safety, 2:30 p.m. (28). . . .

Jack Kemp of Empower America will be the guest on “Capital Gang Saturday,” 4 and 10:30 p.m. CNN. . . .

Gov. Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin will discuss contenders for the vice presidential spot on the Republican ticket on “Inside Politics Weekend,” 4:30 p.m. CNN. . . .

“Larry King Weekend” features an interview with the Rev. Billy Graham, 6 and 11 p.m. CNN.

SUNDAY: “Sunday Today” visits a wrestling school in Atlanta and interviews author Christopher Matthews about “Kennedy & Nixon: The Rivalry That Shaped Postwar America,” 6 a.m. (4) (36). . . .

Sen. Bill Bradley (D-N.J.) and former Republican presidential candidate Steve Forbes debate tax issues on “Meet the Press,” 7 a.m. (4)(36). . . .

“Fox News Sunday” features an interview with Russian presidential candidate Gennadi Zyuganov, 8 a.m. (11). . . .

Gov. Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin and Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) are among the guests on “Face the Nation,” 9 a.m. (2). . . .

“The McLaughlin Group” tackles welfare reform, gay rights and the Israeli election, 9 a.m. (4). . . .

Former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop discusses health issues on “Bob Navarro’s Journal,” 9:30 a.m. (2). . . .

“Life & Times” reports on Gov. Pete Wilson’s educational reform proposals and on controversy over new appointees to the California Coastal Commission, 10:30 a.m. (28). . . .

“This Week With David Brinkley” looks at problems in the Navy with John White, Deputy Secretary of Defense, John Lehman, former Secretary of the Navy, and Rep. Pat Schroeder (D-Colo.), 3 p.m. (7)(3)(42). . .

“Crossfire Sunday” asks whether the media are scaring us to death, 4:30 p.m. CNN. . . .

“60 Minutes” reports on the difficulties that crash survivors have in suing airlines and questions why combat medals were delayed for Green Berets who served in El Salvador, 7 p.m. (2)(8).

Specials and Movies: “Strong Against Crime,” airing Sunday at 5 p.m. on KCOP-TV Channel 13, is a reality-based special hosted by law enforcement veteran Sanford Strong. . . Kristie Alley and Michael Goorjan won Emmys for their work in the 1994 CBS movie, “David’s Mother,” repeating Sunday at 9 p.m. on Channel 2. . . . A&E; is offering a new two-hour documentary, “Icebreaker to the North Pole,” Sunday at 5 and 9 p.m.

Sports: Baseball: Dodgers at Montreal, 4:30 p.m. today and 10:30 a.m. Sunday (5); Boston at Angels, 7 p.m. today, Prime Sports. . . . Hockey: Pittsburgh at Florida, noon Sunday (11).