Movies for the Day, Thursday, September 7, 2017

Today is the anniversary of a famous prizefight, the birthday of a rock 'n' roller, and Brazil's national holiday.  These three movies reflect these dates.

Gentleman Jim (1942) is the story of a famous
prizefight between Gentleman Jim
Corbett and John L. Sullivan- the boxer vs.
the fighter.  The fight took place September
7, 1892.




Gentleman Jim










The Buddy Holly Story (1978) is
the story of Buddy Holly, famed rock
'n' roller, who died young.  He was
born September 7, 1936.  The
movie won an Oscar for Score Adaptation.






The Buddy Holly Story











Pixote (1981) is the story of a 10 year old
petty criminal boy on the streets of Sao Paulo,
Brazil.  Today is Brazil's Independence Day, dating
to September 7, 1822.





Pixote

Movies for the Day, Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Today is the birthday of the creator of an award-winning animated short, the birthday of comedic actress Jane Curtin, and September saw the kidnapping of an American diplomat in Brazil- check out these films.

Frank Film (1973) is the very creative autobiographical
short by Frank Mouris, born September 6, 1944,
tying together his reading a list of words, his
narrative, and a collage of photos from magazines.
This film, about nine minutes long, won an
Oscar for Best Short Animated Film.  It is on the
National Film Registry.




Frank Film





Kate & Allie (1984 to 1989) is a
sitcom about two divorced women living
together with their three children.  Jane Curtin,
born September 6, 1947, plays Allie.
She won an Emmy as Leading Actress in 1984.
The series also won an Emmy for Directing for
the episode A Very Loud Family.



Kate & Allie








Four Days in September (1997) is loosely
based on the 1969 kidnapping of the
American ambassador by Brazilian
revolutionaries in that country.






Four Days in September

Movies for the Day, Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Today is the birthday of outlaw Jesse James, September is the traditional back to school month, and today marks the anniversary of the terrorist massacre at the 1972 Olympics.  These films help mark these events.

Jesse James (1939) is the classic movie of
the life of outlaw Jesse James, born
September 5, 1847.








Jesse James









I Am a Promise:  The Children of Stanton
Elementary School (1993) is the story
of a Philadelphia inner city school.  It won an
Oscar as Best Documentary.  September is
back to school month.




I Am a Promise: The Children of Stanton Elementary School








One Day in September (1999) is about Palestinian
terrorists taking Israeli athletes hostage at the
1972 Munich Olympic Games and the resulting massacre
from September 5 to 6, 1972.  This film won an Oscar as
Best Feature Documentary.





One Day in September

Movies for the Day, Monday, September 4, 2017

Today is Labor Day, National Wilderness Day, and the anniversary of the founding of Los Angeles.  These three films relate to all three dates.





Edge of the City (1957) is a great movie about
the New York City waterfront featuring dock
workers and many social issues, including unions,
integration, and corruption.  Today is Labor Day.





Edge of the City








Vanishing Wilderness (1974) is a
wonderful wildlife documentary of
North America.  Today is National
Wilderness Day and September is
National Wilderness Month.





Vanishing Wilderness










Logorama (2009) is a police chase story
set in a Los Angeles made up entirely of
logos and mascots.  This 16-minute film
won an Oscar for Animation.  Los Angeles
was founded September 4, 1781.


Logorama

Movies for the Day, Sunday, September 3, 2017

Today is the birthday of actor Alan Ladd and of country singer Hank Thompson, as well as the anniversary of Great Britain's declaration of war on Germany in World War II.  Today's movies mark all three occasions.

Shane (1953) is a classic western starring Alan
Ladd, born September 3, 1913.  This inspiring movie
gives us an American Film Institute Hero, Shane, and an AFI
Quote, "Shane. Shane. Come back!"  The movie
won an Oscar for Cinematography.  It is on the
National Film Registry.






Shane






The Cruel Sea (1953) is a documentary style
story of a British warship during World War
II.  Great Britain declared war on Germany on
September 3, 1939.








The Cruel Sea






Crazy Heart (2009) was inspired by the life
of country singer Hank Thompson, born
September 3, 1925.  Jeff Bridges won an
Oscar as Best Actor.  The movie also won
an Oscar for the Original Song, The Weary
Kind.





Crazy Heart

Movies for the Day, Saturday, September 2, 2017

Today is the anniversary of Japan's formal surrender in World War II, the birthday of a Holocaust survivor, and the birthday of actor Keanu Reeves:  the following movies are related to each date.

The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956) is a
comedy and satire of Army officers involved
with the Americanization of Okinawa after World War
II.  It is based on a Broadway play based in turn on a book
by Vern J. Sneider.  The United States controlled
Okinawa after Japan's formal surrender on September
2, 1945.





The Teahouse of the August Moon







Playing for Time (1980) is a television movie
based on the autobiography of Fania
Fenelon, born September 2, 1908, who was
a Holocaust prisoner at Auschwitz who, with
some others, was spared in return for playing
music.  The movie won Emmys for Lead
Actress, to Vanessa Redgrave, for Supporting
Actress, to Jane Alexander, for Writing, and as
Outstanding Drama Special.



Playing for Time





The Matrix (1999) is about man's struggle
against a computer world.  This thrilling
movie won Oscars for Sound, Editing, Sound Effects
Editing, and Visual Effects.  The movie stars
Keanu Reeves, born September 2, 1964.  There are
several sequels.




The Matrix

Movies for the Day, Friday, September 1, 2017

Today is International Primate Day, the birthday of author Edgar Rice Burroughs, and the anniversary of Germany's invasion of Poland in World War II.  Three movies reflect these dates.

Tarzan the Ape Man (1932) tells the story of a
man who grows up in the jungle.  It is based
on the book by Edgar Rice Burroughs.  Today is
International Primate Day and Burroughs birthday,
in 1875, a good day to watch this classic.  There have
been many sequels to and versions of this tale.






Tarzan the Ape Man

Ashes and Diamonds (1958) is a story
of the Polish people after the defeat
of Germany.  World War II generally
began with Germany's invasion of
Poland on September 1, 1939.





Ashes and Diamonds










Planet of the Apes (1968) is a science fiction story
about a planet ruled by apes, where humans are
subservient.  This thrilling movie is on the National
Film Registry.  It features an American Film Institute
Score and an AFI Quote, "Take your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape."  It won an Oscar for Makeup.  There have
been many sequels and versions.  Today is
International Primate Day.

Planet of the Apes

Movies for the Day, Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Today's movies celebrate the birthday of the author of Frankenstein, the birthday of actor Fred MacMurray, and the birthday of early television celebrity and host Arthur Godfrey.

Frankenstein (1931) is a horror movie based on the
classic book by Mary Shelley Wollstonecraft. This
early thrilling film version of the book is on the
National Film Registry.  It features an American Film
Institute Quote, "It's alive!  It's alive!"  The author
was born this date, August 30, in 1797.






Frankenstein







My Three Sons (September 29, 1960 to
April 13, 1972) is a very popular sitcom
about a widower raising three sons.  It stars
Fred MacMurray, born August 30,
1908.






My Three Sons







The Great Man (1956) is loosely based
on the career of radio and television host Arthur
Godfrey, much beloved but also much
disliked.  Godfrey was born August 31,
1903.







The Great Man

Movies for the Day, Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Today is United Nations Day Against Nuclear Tests and the birthday of Michael Jackson. Today's films reflect each date.







No Nukes (1980) is a documentary of a concert against
"nukes."  Today is United Nations Day Against Nuclear
Tests.





No Nukes









Thriller (1983) is Michael Jackson's
groundbreaking music video- 13 minutes long
(with Zombies).  Jackson was born
August 29, 1958.  The album had been
released November 30, 1982.  This film is
on the National Film Registry.





Thriller








Deterrence (1999) is about the brink
of nuclear war, not unlike the
classic Fail Safe.  As noted above, today
is United Nations Day Against Nuclear
Tests.





Deterrence

Movies for the Day, Monday, August 28, 2017

Today's movies honor the birthdays of author Johann W. Goethe and of actor Charles Boyer, and the Civil Rights March on Washington.

Faust (1926) is an early silent movie version
of the classic book by Johann W. Goethe about
a man selling his soul to the devil.   Goethe
was born this date, August 28, in 1749.





Faust








History Is Made at Night (1937) is
a romantic movie with an
incredible shipboard climax.  The
movie stars Charles Boyer, born
August 28, 1889.






History Is Made at Night








The March (1964) is a short documentary
about the 1963 Civil Rights March on
Washington, D.C, which ended with the
I Have a Dream speech by Martin Luther
King Jr.  This film is on the National Film
Registry.  The anniversary of the March is
August 28 (1963).



The March

Movies for the Day, Sunday, August 27, 2017

Today is the birthday of author Theodore Dreiser and the anniversary of the first commercial oil well in the United States and today's selections reflect both dates.




A Place in the Sun (1951) is based on author
Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy, which in
turn was based on a real life story of love, murder, and
social mores in upstate New York.  This passionate movie
won Oscars for Directing, Adapted Screenplay, Score,
Cinematography, Costume Design, and Film Editing.
Dreiser was born August 27, 1871.




A Place in the Sun







Local Hero (1983) is a comedic story about
an American oil company that sends
an executive to Scotland to buy a town
to build a refinery.  The first commerical
oil well in the United States was built August 27,
1859, in Titusville, Pennsylvania.





Local Hero








GasLand (2010) is an HBO documentary about
hydraulic fracturing for gas and oil.  It won an
Emmy for Directing.  As noted above, the anniversary
of the first commercial oil well in the United States was in
Titusville, Pennsylvania, August 27, 1859.





GasLand

Movies for the Day, Saturday, August 26, 2017

Today's selections honor National Dog Day and acknowledge the anniversary of the violent Democrat National Convention in 1968.

Lassie (September 12, 1954 to March 25, 1973) is a beloved
television series about a family and their dog.  It won Emmys
in 1955 and 1956 for Best Children's Series.  Today, August
26, is National Dog Day.








Lassie






One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961) is
an animated Disney classic about the evil
intentions of American Film Institute Villain
Cruella De Vil towards a litter of adorable
Dalmatians.  Today is National Dog Day.




One Hundred and One Dalmatians














Medium Cool (1969) is a story about a
television reporter at the violent 1968
Democrat National Convention in
Chicago, which took place from August 26 to
August 29, 1968.  This movie is on the National
Film Registry.



Medium Cool

Movies for the Day, Thursday, August 31, 2017

Today is the birthday of author William Saroyan, summer is coming to an end, and the birthday of violinist extraordinaire Itzhak Perlman and here are movies to mark all three.

The Human Comedy (1943) contrasts small town
life in America with contemporaneous World War
II.  Ithaca, New York, is the small town.  This movie is
a story by author William Saroyan, born August 31, 1908.
This film won an Oscar for writing.






The Human Comedy







American Graffiti (1973) follows some
high school grads at the end of summer
before they go off to college.  They cruise
the strip.   A classic film, this comedic
coming of age movie is on the National Film Registry.
August ends today, as does summer for many.





American Graffiti







Perlman in Russia (1992) follows the
famous violinist on his Russian tour.  This
film won an Emmy for Outstanding
Classical Program in the Performing Arts.
Perlman was born August 31, 1945.






Perlman in Russia

Movies for the Day, Friday, August 25, 2017

A conductor, a politician, and our national parks- selections for today.

Leonard Bernstein and the New York
Philharmonic (1960):  America's great
conductor leads a great orchestra early
in his career.  Bernstein won an Emmy for
Outstanding Achievement in the Field
of Music for Television.  Bernstein was
born August 25, 1918.











Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic







George Wallace (1997) follows the
controversial Southern politician in
the 1950s and 1960s:  Governor of Alabama,
Presidential candidate, segregationist, and
victim of an attempted assassination.  This
TNT television movie won Emmys for Lead Actor,
to Gary Sinise, Supporting Actress, to Mare
Winningham, and Directing.  Wallace was born
August 25, 1919.


George Wallace









The National Parks:  America's Best Idea (2009)
is a miniseries on PBS by acclaimed filmamker
Ken Burns.  Six episodes and 12 hours trace the
history of the Parks.  The National Park Service
was formed August 25, 1916.  The series won Emmys
for Outstanding Nonfiction Series and for Writing for
the episode The Last Refuge.




The National Parks: America's Best Idea

Movies for the Day, Thursday, August 24, 2017

A volcano, surfing, and football- three movies about different subjects but all tied to this day.

The Last Days of Pompeii (1935) has adventure
and drama set in the last days of the doomed Roman Empire
city, Pompeii, destroyed by the eruption of
Mt. Vesuvius on this day in 79 A.D., also known as
Vesuvius Day.






The Last Days of Pompeii








The Endless Summer (1966) is
a classic surfer movie, as two
surfers travel the world in search of
the perfect wave.  This surfing
documentary is on the National Film
Registry.  Today is the birthday, August 24,
in 1890, of great Hawaiian surfer Duke Kahanamoku.



The Endless Summer







Undefeated (2011) is the inspiring
story of high school football in Memphis,
Tennessee, and especially the coach of
the team, Bill Courtney, born August 24,
1968.  This film about the Manassas Tigers
won an Oscar for Feature Documentary.






Undefeated

Movies for the Day, Wednesday, August 23, 2017

A great musical, football, and a hurricane- check out these flicks.

Singin' in the Rain (1952) is one of the great movie
musicals, starring Gene Kelly, born August 23, 1912.
It is about Hollywood during the transition to talkies.  It features
dance sequences, especially by Kelly, and several songs
on the American Film Institute Songs list, including Singin' in the
Rain, Make 'Em Laugh, and Good Morning.  This passionate
and funny movie is on the National Film Registry.





Singin' in the Rain





Rudy (1993) is in the inspiring story
of a Notre Dame football team walk-on.
It is the true story of Daniel Eugene
"Rudy" Ruettiger, born August 23,
1948.  August is also football season
tryouts and practice.




Rudy











When the Levees Broke:  A Requiem in Four
Acts (2006) is an HBO movie about Hurricane
Katrina in New Orleans, which struck August 23, 2005
(to August 31, 2005).  This film won Emmys
for Direction, Picture Editing, and Exceptional Merit
in Nonfiction Filmmaking.





When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts

Movies for the Day, Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Vietnam, a dystopian future, and yacht racing- disparate subjects, three films.

China Gate (1975) is a story set in the
French Indochina War, which began
August 22, 1945, in Vietnam.







China Gate








Fahrenheit 451 (1966) is a science fiction
dystopian future in which books are burned.
From the 1953 novel by master science fiction
writer Ray Bradbury, born August 22, 1920.







Fahrenheit 451








Wind (1992) is a story of yacht racing,
specifically the America's Cup, first
run August 22, 1851.






Wind