Movies for the Day, Monday, October 5, 2020

Today's movies mark the birthday of Richard E. Byrd, Monty Python, and the birthday of Kate Winslet.

Which of today's movies would you watch?









With Byrd at the South Pole (1930)
is a documentary about Admiral Richard
E. Byrd's expedition to the South Pole.
Byrd was born October 5, 1888.  This film
won an Oscar for Cinematography.




With Byrd at the South Pole













Monty Python Live at the Hollywood
Bowl (1982) is madcap sketch comedy
by the famous troupe which premiered
October 5, 1969.








Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl










The Reader (2008) is set in post-World War
II Germany and concerns romance and a war
crimes trial.  This movie won an Oscar for
Best Actress, to Kate Winslet, born October
5, 1975.





The Reader

Movies for the Day, Sunday, October 4, 2020

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Micky Ward, Edward Stratemeyer, and Damon Runyon.

Which of today's movies would you watch?







The Fighter (2010) is a biography
of a boxer, Micky Ward, born October 4,
1965.  It won Oscars for Best Actor, Supporting
Role, to Christian Bale (born January 30, 1974),
and Best Actress, Supporting Role, to Melissa
Leo (born September 14, 1960).  Mark Wahlberg
(born June 5, 1971) played Ward.



The Fighter











Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (1939)
is an entry in the teenage sleuth series.  This
is a murder mystery.  See also Nancy Drew,
Detective (1938).  The writer of the Nancy
Drew books was Carolyn Keene, an alias for
several ghost writers.  Nancy Drew and the
Hardy Boys were created by Edward Stratemeyer,
born October 4, 1862.



Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase














Guys and Dolls (1955) is a musical comedy
about gamblers and their "dolls."  It is based
on a Broadway musical based on a Damon Runyon
work.  Runyon was born October 4, 1884.  It was nominated for several Oscars.  It features the American Film
Institute Song Luck Be a Lady.





Guys and Dolls

Movies for the Day, Saturday, October 3, 2020

Today's movies mark German reunification and the birthdays of Susan Sarandon and Chubby Checkers,

Which of today's movies would you watch?







Heart of Glass (1976) is about a
glassblower whose secret to a special
glass dies with him.  It is based on a
Bavarian legend.  The day of German Unity,
a national holiday, is based on the reunification
of Germany, October 3, 1990.





Heart of Glass











Thelma & Louise (1991) is a road
movie about two women.  It combines
adventure, crime, and drama.  This inspiring and
thrilling movie features two American
Film Institute Heroes:  Thelma Dickerson and
Louise Sawyer.  It won an Oscar for Writing.
Susan Sarandon, who had top billing,
was born October 4, 1946.  Geena Davis was
born January 21, 1957.



Thelma & Louise










Twist (1992) is a documentary about
early rock and roll up to and thru
the twist.  Chubby Checker, born
October 3, 1941, popularized the twist.






Twist

Movies for the Day, Friday, October 2, 2020

Today's movies mark the birthday of Groucho Marx, World Farm Animals Day, and the birthday of Sting.

Which of today's movies would you watch?









Animal Crackers (1930) is a zany
Marx Brothers movie.  Groucho Marx
was born October 2, 1890.  It features an
American Film Institute quote, "One morning
I shot an elephant in my pajamas.  How he got
in my pajamas, I don't know."




Animal Crackers

Who's Who in Animal Land (1944)
is about animals talking about
themselves.  It won an Oscar for
Short Films, One-Reel.  World
Farm Animals Day is October 2,
2020.





Who's Who in Animal Land










Bring on the Night (1985) is
a musical documentary about
Sting's first solo concert and his
rock jazz band The Police.  Sting
was born October 2, 1951.





Bring on the Night

Movies for the Day, Thursday, October 1, 2020

Today's movies mark Art and Humanities Month, Halloween, and The Eagles.

Which of today's movies would you watch?

Early Abstractions (1987) is a compilation
of short animations by Harry Smith.  A lovely,
ever-moving collage of abstraction, color and
imagery.  The first version, Early Abstractions
#1-5, 7, 10 (1939-1956) is on the National
Film Registry.  October is Arts and Humanities
Month.




Early Abstractions











The Outer Limits (1995-2002)
is an anthology TV series of science
fiction, fantasy and horror.  Perfect for
this month of Halloween.  This Showtime
series builds on the classic series
which aired two seasons from 1963 to 1965
and had 49 episodes.  This revived series was
on for 7 seasons and had 154 episodes.  It won an
Emmy in 1996 for Guest Actress, to Amanda Plummer,
for A Stitch in Time.


The Outer Limits








History of the Eagles (2013) is TV
miniseries documentary about the rock
band The Eagles.  The band formed
in Los Angeles in 1971 and had their
first show in October 1971.  This miniseries
won an Emmy for Sound Mixing for Nonfiction
Programming.


History of the Eagles

Movies for the Day, Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Today's movies mark The Flintstones and the birthdays of Agatha Christie and Truman Capote.

Which of today's movies would you watch?








The Flintstones (1960-1966) was a very
popular animated TV series about the misadventures
of two Stone Age families.  This comedy premiered
September 30, 1960, and was on until April 1,
1966:  six seasons, 167 episodes.





The Flintstones











Murder Ahoy (1964) is a murder
mystery on a naval cadet training
ship.  It features Miss Marple created
by Agatha Christie, born September
15, 1890.  A very good movie.






Murder Ahoy










Murder by Death (1976) features famous
literary detectives to a mansion by Truman
Capote to solve a whodunit.  A bit of a detective
spoof.  Capote was born September 30, 1924.





Murder by Death

Movies for the Day, Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Today's movies mark the birthday of Gene Autry, a cathedral, and high school.

Which of today's movies would you watch?







Melody Ranch (1940) is about
the singing cowboy, Gene Autry,
who stars.  This film is on the National
Film Registry.  Autry was born September
29, 1907.






Melody Ranch










The Stone Carvers (1987) is about
the stone carvers completing the sculptures
adorning the Washington National
Cathedral.  Construction of the cathedral
started September 29, 1907.  This half-hour
film won an Oscar for Best Documentary,
Short Subject.  The cathedral was added to
the National Register of Historic Places May
3, 1974.



The Stone Carvers











Can't Buy Me Love (1987) is a high
school romantic comedy.  Boy "rents" girl
to pose as girlfriend.  September is
the traditional back to school month.





Can't Buy Me Love