Movies for the Day, Tuesday, August 1, 2017

The Olympics, Americana, and Spider Man make up today's movies.

Olympia, Part One:  Festival of the Nations and
Olympia, Part Two:  Festival of Beauty (1938) is
the great documentary of the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games,
which opened August 1, 1936.  This German propaganda
film was directed and written by Leni Riefenstahl.




Olympia, Part One: Festival of the Nations  Olympia, Part Two: Festival of Beauty


























The Straight Story (1999) is the story
of a man in his 70s who rides a lawnmower
across America to visit his ailing
brother.  August is American
Adventures Month.






The Straight Story










Spider-Man (2002) takes the comic book
superhero to the movies.  Spider-Man
first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15
in August 1962.  This movie has had
sequels.





Spider-Man

Movies for the Day, Monday, July 31, 2017

A Civil War western, a disabled writer, and Harry Potter are featured in today's films.

Red Mountain (1951) is about Confederate
raider William Clarke Quantrill at the
end of the Civil War.  Quantrill's Raiders
included Jesse James.  Quantrill was born
July 31, 1837.  A good western.







Red Mountain









Breathing Lessons: The Life and
Work of Mark O'Brien (1996) is a
portrait of writer O'Brien, born July
31, 1949, who contracted polio as
a child and spent much of his life in
an iron lung.  The film won an Oscar
for Short Subject Documentary.




Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O'Brien








Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone (2001) is
the first movie of the series in the Harry Potter
franchise from the pen of J.K. Rowling, born
July 31, 1965.  Potter goes to the Hogwarts School
for Witches and Wizardry.






Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Movies for the Day, Sunday, July 30, 2017

Today's selections take us to Victorian England, to a dystopian vision, and to life in the 1980s to 1990s.

Wuthering Heights (1939) is the oft-filmed story
of doomed love in Victorian England.  This
passionate movie is based on the classic novel by
Emily Bronte, born July 30, 1818.  This movie
won an Oscar for Cinematography and is on the
National Film Registry.





Wuthering Heights







The Terminator (1984) is a hugely
successful film about a cyborg dystopian
future and its origin in and incursion in the present.
This thrilling movie features an American Film
Institute Villain, The Terminator, and an AFI Quote,
"I'll be back."  It has spawned a number of sequels.
It is on the National Film Registry.  Star Arnold
Schwarznegger was born July 30, 1947.





The Terminator









thirty something (September 29, 1987 to May
28, 1991) is about "thirty something" couples
living in Philadelphia- a baby boomer television
series.  It stars Ken Olin, born July 30, 1954.  It has
88 episodes.  It won Emmys for Writing, Outstanding
Drama Series, Guest Performances, Supporting Actress, Editing,
Costuming, Lead Actress, Directing, and Supporting
Actor.  Check out these episodes:  Business as Usual (aka
Michael's Father's Death);  The Parents Are Coming; First
Day/Last Day; We'll Meet Again; The Go-Between; and
A Wedding.

thirty something

Movies for the Day, Saturday, July 29, 2017

Small town America, detectives, and tigers make up today's features.

Alice Adams (1935) is a story set in
small town America, from the book by
Booth Tarkington which won a Pulitzer
Prize.  This movie features social climbing,
romance, drama, and comedy.  Tarkington
was born July 29, 1869.





Alice Adams







Another Thin Man (1939) is one of
a series featuring retired detective
Nick Charles, wife Nora, and others.
The lead role goes to William
Powell, born July 29, 1892.  Myrna
Loy was born August 2, 1905.




Another Thin Man










Tigers of the Snow (1997) is a television
documentary about Siberian tigers in the
wild.  It won an Emmy for Informational
Programming.  Today is International Tiger
Day- July 29, 2017.




Tigers of the Snow

Movies for the Day, Friday, July 28, 2017

Two movies about World War I and a movie about the Olympics make up today's films.

All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) is about
a young German soldier facing the horrors of war.
It is based on the classic novel by Erich Maria
Remarque.  This movie is on the National Film
Registry.  It won Oscars for Best Picture and  Best
Director.  World War I is said to have begun on July
28, 1914, with the assassination of Archduke
Ferdinand at Sarajevo.





All Quiet on the Western Front








The Day That Shook the World (1977) is about
the lead-up to World War I, namely the
Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand at
Sarajevo on July 28, 1914.





The Day That Shook the World











16 Days of Glory (1986) is the story
of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
The opening ceremony was July 28, 1984.







16 Days of Glory

Movies for the Day, Thursday, July 27, 2017

Today's movies include a tragic romance, Welsh coal miners, and the Korean War.





Camille (1936) is a romantic tragedy based on
the classic work of Alexandre Dumas (fils), born July
27, 1824.






Camille










How Green Was My Valley (1941) is
a Welsh coal mining family saga.  It is on
the National Film Registry.  It won
Oscars for Best Picture, Supporting Actor
Donald Crisp, born July 27, 1882, Director,
Cinematography, and Interior Decoration.



How Green Was My Valley










M*A*S*H (1972 to 1983) is a classic television
sitcom about a medical unit in the Korean
War, which ended with the Korean Armistice on July 27,
1953.  The show won many awards including Emmys
for Outstanding Comedy Series (in 1974), Supporting
Actor Gary Burghoff (in 1977), Supporting
Actor Harry Morgan (in 1980), Supporting Actress
Loretta Swit (in 1980 and 1982), and Outstanding Lead
Actor Alan Alda (in 1982).



M*A*S*H

Movies for the Day, Wednesday, July 26, 2017

A young woman, a nation, and a middle aged man- all in transition in these films.

Pygmalion (1938) is about transforming
an English lower class woman into
a woman who can pass in high society.  It is
based on the play by George Bernard Shaw, who
was born July 26, 1856.  It was later My Fair Lady.
The movie won an Oscar for Adapted Screenplay.







Pygmalion







I Am Cuba (1964) is a Russian and Cuban
film of life in pre-revolutionary Cuba and the
revolution.  Mostly an ode to Cuba.  Cuba's
National Day is July 26, 1953.





I Am Cuba












American Beauty (1999) is a midlife crisis story
of an American man.  The movie stars Kevin
Spacey, born July 26, 1959.  The movie won
Oscars for Best Picture, Best Actor (Spacey), Best
Director, Writing, and Cinematography.







American Beauty

Movies for the Day, Tuesday, July 25, 2017

A western, a heinous murder, and a television sitcom make up today's selections.

The Westerner (1940) features legendary
Judge Roy Bean, played by Walter Brennan.
Brennan, born July 25, 1894, won an
Oscar as Best Supporting Actor.  Bean
was born in 1825.







The Westerner









The Murder of Emmett Till (2003) is an
episode of The American Experience on
PBS.  It examines the murder of Till at
age 14 in Mississippi and the broad
social consequences.  Till was born July
25, 1941, and died August 28, 1955.




The Murder of Emmett Till











How I Met Your Mother (September 19, 2005 to
March 31, 2014)  is about a father recounting
to his children how he met their mother.  It stars Josh
Radnor, born July 25, 1974.  It won Emmys for
Art Direction for episodes Shelter Island and Not a
Father's Day, for Picture Editing for episodes Subway Wars
and Trilogy Time and P.S. I Love You, and for Cinematography for
episode The Final Page:  Part Two and Daisy.  This romantic
comedy sitcom lasted nine seasons and 208 episodes.

How I Met Your Mother

Movies for the Day, Monday, July 24, 2017

A swashbuckler, a wagon train, and a lost aviator make up today's movies.

The Three Musketeers (1921) is an early entry
in this story filmed many times.  This swashbuckler
takes place in France during the period of
King Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu.  The movie
is based on the novel by Alexandre Dumas, born
July 24, 1802.






The Three Musketeers








Wagon Master (1950) is about two
cowhands who join and guide a Mormon
wagon train.  The movie inspired television's
Wagon Train.  On this date, July 24, in 1847,
Mormon leader Brigham Young entered the
Great Salt Lake Valley.  Today is Utah Pioneer
Day.




Wagon Train

Amelia Earhart:  The Final Flight (1994)
is a television movie about the famed aviatrix
who attempted a solo flight around the world
in 1937 but mysteriously disappeared over the
Pacific.  Earhart was born July 24, 1898.





Amelia Earhart: The Final Flight

Movies for the Day, Sunday, July 23, 2017

A Russian refugee, a murder investigation, and a handicapped pianist are all part of today's movies.

The Last Command (1928) is the story of a
refugee Russian general in Hollywood.  This silent
movie is on the National Film Registry.  The
movie stars Emil Jannings, born July 23
1884, who won an Oscar as Best Actor (he also
won that same year for The Way of All Flesh).





The Last Command







Double Indemnity (1944) is about
an insurance murder and the ensuing
investigation.  It is from a James M.
Cain novel and Raymond Chandler script.
Cain was born July 1, 1892, and Chandler on
July 23, 1888.  This passionate and thrilling
film noir features an American Film Institute
Great Villain, Phyllis Dietrichson.  The movie
is on the National Film Registry.



Double Indemnity












Two Hands:  The Leon Fleisher
Story (2006) is the story of a
concert pianist who lost the use of
his right hand for some time.  It won
an Oscar for Short Subject Documentary.
Fleisher was born July 23, 1928, and
is pictured right in 1963.





Two Hands: The Leon Fleisher Story

Movies for the Day, Saturday, July 22, 2017

A fable, yuppies, and an award-winning performance constitute today's movies.

The Pied Piper (1972) is a fable about
a pied piper who rids a hamlet of rats
in the Middle Ages and, then, when the townspeople
could not pay, leads its children from the town
as well.  Today is the anniversary of the date the
Pied Piper led the children astray, according to
the Robert Browning poem, July 22, 1376.  Today
is known as National Rat-Catchers Day.  June 26
is a competing date.


The Pied Piper







Lost in America (1985) is a satire
of yuppies on the road, with the
acclaimed Albert Brooks as star, writer,
and director.  Brooks was born July
22, 1947.





Lost in America











Freak (1998) is a live autobiographical
performance by performer John
Leguizamo, born July 22, 1964.  Leguizamo
won an Emmy for Outstanding Performance.






Freak

Movies for the Day, Friday, July 21, 2017

Today we celebrate the birthdays of a writer, a musician, and a comedic actor in movies.

The Killers (1946) is about a murder
investigation by an insurance investigator.
It is from a story by Ernest Hemingway,
born July 21, 1899.  The movie is on
the National Film Registry.







The Killers









From Mao to Mozart:  Isaac Stern in
China (1980) is the famed violinist's
tour of China in 1979.  It won an
Oscar as Best Feature Documentary.
Stern was born July 21, 1920.







From Mao to Mozart: Isaac Stern in China










Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) is a comedy about
a divorced man who disguises as a housekeeper
to see his children.  It won an Oscar for makeup.
Robin Willimas, born July 21, 1952, stars as
Mrs. Doubtfire.







Mrs. Doubtfire

Movies for the Day, Thursday, July 20, 2017

The moon, the wild west, and chess:  three very different subjects for today's films.

Countdown (1968) is a science fiction
account of the first trip to the moon, filmed just
one year before man actually lands on the
moon, on July 20, 1969.






Countdown







Little Big Man (1970) is based on
the Thomas Berger novel about Jack
Crabb, an ancient man who tells
stories or memories of the old west,
including pioneers, Indians, Wild Bill
Hickock, medicine shows, and Custer.
Berger was born July 20, 1924.





Little Big Man









Geri's Game (1997) won an Oscar for best
short animated film.  It is about an elderly man
playing chess in an empty park against
himself.  The International Chess Federation
was founded July 20, 1924; hence, today is
International Chess Day.





Geri's Game

Movies for the Day, Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Ad men, the Olympics, and Nicaragua are all featured in today's movies.

Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957) is a
satire of the 1950s, especially an ad
man who tries to persuade a star to endorse
a product.  The movie is on the National
Film Registry.  This date, July 19, in 2007, saw the
premiere of Mad Men, the "must watch"
television series about ad men in about the same time
period, but also into the 1960s.





Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?







Personal Best (1982) is about three
athletes competing to be on the United
States track and field team at the
1980 Moscow Olympics, which was
boycotted by the United States.  Their
intertwined relationships are featured.
The Moscow Olympics opened July 19,
1980.


Personal Best








Under Fire (1983) features journalists and
romance in the context of the revolution
in Managua, Nicaragua, in 1979.  Nicaragua
celebrates July 19, 1979, as National
Liberation Day.





Under Fire

Movies for the Day, Tuesday, July 18, 2017

A comedian, an Irish rogue, and a Nobel Peace Prize winner-  they fill up today's selections.





The Red Skelton Show (September 30, 1951 to
August 1, 1971) is a variety television series that ran
20 seasons.  It starred comedian and television clown
Red Skelton, born July 18, 1913.  It garnered many
Emmy nominations and an Emmy in 1952 for
Best Comedy Show and an Emmy in 1961 for Writing.
Check out a few episodes.




The Red Skelton Show









Barry Lyndon (1975) is about
an Irish rogue in 18th century
England who woos a rich widow.
It is based on the classic novel
by William Makepeace Thackeray,
born July 18, 1811.  It won Oscars for
Cinematography, Art/Set Decoration,
Costume Design, and Original Song Scoring.




Barry Lyndon













Mandela (1987) is a television movie about
Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first black
President and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.
He was played by Danny Glover, who was
nominated for an Emmy for his performance.
Mandela was born July 18, 1918.





Mandela

Movies for the Day, Monday, July 17, 2017

A lawyer, a gangster, and a vacation land are featured in today's films.

The Case of the Black Cat (1936) is a Perry Mason
murder mystery movie.  Lawyer Mason was created by
Erle Stanley Gardner and the franchise spanned
stories, mystery novels, radio, television series, and movies.
Mason was most famously acted by Raymond Burr.  Gardner
was born July 17, 1889.






The Case of the Black Cat








White Heat (1949) is the story
of a psychopathic gangster starring
James Cagney, born this date, July
17, 1899.  Cagney's performance gave
the movies one of the American Film
Institute's Great Villains, Cody Jarret, and
one of its great quotes, "Made it, Ma! Top
of the world!"  The movie is on the
National Film Registry.


White Heat







Disneyland Dream (1956) is basically the
home movie of a family's trip to
Disneyland, California, which trip the
family had won.  Disneyland opened
July 17, 1955.  The film is on the
National Film Registry.





Disneyland Dream

Movies for the Day, Sunday, July 16, 2017

Women are the focus of all three of today's movies.

Kitty Foyle (1940) is a love story starring
Ginger Rogers as Kitty, a woman in the
work force.  Rogers won an Oscar as Best
Actress for her role.  Rogers was born
July 16, 1911.






Kitty Foyle






The Lady Eve (1941) is about a female
con artist and cohorts vs. a wealthy
male dolt.  This comedic but passionate
movie stars Barbara Stanwyck and Henry
Fonda.  Stanwyck was born July 16,
1907.  The movie is on the National Film
Registry.




The Lady Eve







The Reptile (1966) is a chilling
movie about a girl who can change
into a snake.  Today, July 16,
2017, is World Snake Day.





The Reptile