Movies for the Day, Thursday, February 1, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthday of director John Ford, Black History Month, and Robinson Crusoe Day.

Fort Apache (1948) is part one of director
John Ford's masterpiece western trilogy.  It was
followed by She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949) and
Rio Grande (1950).  The second movie won
an Oscar for Cinematography.  Ford was born
February 1, 1895.




Fort Apache








Blind Faith (1998) is about 1950s
black men in the criminal justice
system- brothers who are a police
captain and a defense attorney, although
the movie begins in the 1980s.





Blind Faith










Lost (September 22, 2004, to May 23,
2010) is a popular television series about
the survivors of a plane crash on an
island.  Today is Robinson Crusoe Day, the hero
of Daniel Defoe's classic novel, in turn
based on the February 1, 1709 rescue of
a real life Scottish sailor, Alexander Selkirk.
There are 121 episodes.  It won many Emmys and
combined adventure, science fiction, mystery and
supernatural.


Lost

Movies for the Day, Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of author Zane Grey, baseball player Jackie Robinson, and
author Norman Mailer.

Riders of the Purple Sage (1925) is based
on a Zane Grey western.  It is about a Texas Ranger
seeking the scoundrel who kidnapped his
sister.  The prolific western writer Grey was born
January 31, 1872.  The story was retold in a
television movie in 1996.





Riders of the Purple Sage








The Jackie Robinson Story (1950) is
a biography of the first African
American baseball player in the major
leagues.  Robinson, born January
31, 1919, plays himself.






The Jackie Robinson Story











The Naked and the Dead (1958) is based on
the Norman Mailer classic about World War II in
the Pacific Theater.  Mailer was born January
31, 1923.




The Naked and the Dead

Movies for the Day, Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Today's movies mark the January Wolf Moon, Bloody Sunday in Northern Ireland, and the birthday of President Franklin Roosevelt.

I Was a Teenage Werewolf (1957):  the name says it

all.  This movie is the last entry in my January Wolf Moon

series.

I Was a Teenage Werewolf

A Sense of Loss (1972) is a 

documentary by Marcel Ophuls

(pictured) about the conflict in

Northern Ireland.  Bloody Sunday

in Northern Ireland was January 30,

1972.

A Sense of Loss

Eleanor and Franklin (1976) is a television

miniseries about President Franklin Roosevelt

and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, followed by Eleanor 

and Franklin:  The White House Years (1977) and F.D.R.:

The Last Year (1980).  FDR was born January 30, 

1882.  The first series was based on the Pulitzer Prize

winning book by Joseph P.  Lash.  The series won many

Emmys.  Eleanor was born October 11, 1884.

Eleanor and Franklin

Movies for the Day, Monday, January 29, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthday of comedian WC Fields, the publication of Poe's The Raven, and the birthday of author Booth Tarkington.

It's a Gift (1934) stars WC Fields in this
comedy about a family moving West.  This is a great
comedy.  Fields was born January 29, 1880.








It's a Gift







The Raven (1935) is about a doctor obsessed
with author Edgar Allen Poe and his victims.
This is a horror film.  The Raven (1963) is a
horror satire featuring sorcerers and is
inspired by Poe's famous eerie poem.  The Raven was
published January 29, 1845.  Poe was born
January 19, 1809.




The Raven

The Magnificent Ambersons (1942) is a family
drama about a midwestern turn of the century old money family.
This movie is based on the classic novel by
Booth Tarkington, born January 29, 1869.
Another version was released in 2001 as a television
movie.  The featured movie is on the National
Film Registry.




The Magnificent Ambersons

Movies for the Day, Sunday, January 28, 2018

Today's movies mark the Grammy awards and the anniversary of the Challenger disaster.







Lady Be Good (1941) is a musical about
married songwriters.  It won an Oscar for the
song The Last Time I Saw Paris.  Today is Grammy
Awards day.





Lady Be Good












The Show (1995) is a documentary exploring
rap and hip-hop music and culture.  Today
is Grammy Awards Sunday.  Also, Black
History month begins in February.




The Show













Challenger (1990) is about the doomed flight
of the Challenger space shuttle on January
28, 1986.  The shuttle carried New Hampshire
teacher Christa McAuliffe and six astronauts.
This feature won an Emmy for Sound
Editing.




Challenger

Movies for the Day, Saturday, January 27, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthday of composer Mozart, a Holocaust remembrance day, and the birthday of Mozart.

The Magic Flute (1974) is based on the beloved
opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, born
January 27, 1756.  It is a television movie from
Sweden.








The Magic Flute







Schindler's List (1993) is an inspiring
movie about saving victims of the Holocaust
during World War II.  This movie features an
American Film Institute hero, Oskar Schindler, and
an AFI villain, Amon Goeth.  This movie won
Oscars for Best Picture, Directing (Steven
Spielberg), Writing, Art Direction, Cinematography,
Film Editing, and Original Score (John Williams).
Today is United Nations International Day of
Commemoration in Memory of Victims of the
Holocaust.

Schindler's List









Alice in Wonderland (2010) features a 19-year-
old Alice returning to Wonderland.  The movie is based
on the beloved classic children's tale by Lewis
Carroll, born January 27, 1832.  This movie won Oscars
for Art Direction and Costume Design.  It was directed by
Tim Burton.  This story has been filmed many times:  see
Alice in Wonderland (1933), (1950), (1951) (Disney
animation), Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1972), and
Alice in Wonderland (1999) (Emmys for Costume Design
Special Visual Effects, Makeup, and Dramatic Under
Score).

Alice in Wonderland

Movies for the Day, Friday, January 26, 2018

Today's movies mark the anniversary of India's Republic Day, Australia Day, and the birthday of actor Paul Newman.

The Apu Trilogy (1955 to 1959) follows Apu
as he grows up poor in India.  India's Republic Day is
January 26, 1950.  The three movies are
Pather Pachali (1955), Aparajito (1956), and
Apur Sansar (1959).  The first movie is
pictured at right.





The Apu Trilogy










The Sundowners (1960) is the story of
a family of Australian sheepherders.  Australia
Day is January 26 (dating to 1788 events).







The Sundowners











The Color of Money (1986) is about pool
hustling.  Paul Newman won an Oscar
as Best Actor.  Newman was born
January 26, 1925.





The Color of Money

Movies for the Day, Thursday, January 25, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of authors W. Somerset Maugham and Virginia Woolf and the January Wolf Moon.

The Moon and Sixpence (1942) is inspired by the
classic by W. Somerset Maugham about French
painter Paul Gaugin.  Maugham was born
January 25, 1874.  Another version was aired on
television in 1959.  It won Emmys for Acting,
to Laurence Olivier, and for Directing.





The Moon and Sixpence










The Hours (2002) is about
three women whose lives intersect
in relation to a Virginia Woolf character,
Mrs. Dalloway.  Author Woolf was
born January 25, 1882.  The movie won
an Oscar for Best Actress, to Nicole Kidman,
who played Woolf.  Kidman was born June 20,
1967.  The movie is based on the Pulitzer Prize
winning novel by Michael Cunningham.



The Hours










Clash of the Wolves (1925) is about a
wolf pack.  It is on the National Film
Registry.  It featured the famous Rin Tin
Tin as the wolf pack leader.  This movie
is part of my January Wolf Moon series, the next
entry on January 30.




Clash of the Wolves

Movies for the Day, Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of singer Neil Diamond, comedian John Belushi, and author Edith Wharton.

Neil Diamond:  Love at the Greek (1977) is a
television movie starring Neil Diamond and
others in concert.  Diamond was born January
24, 1941.







Neil Diamond: Love at the Greek









National Lampoon's Animal House (1978)
is a comedy about college fraternity life
in 1962.  This movie stars John Belushi,
born January 24, 1949.  This movie, which is
on the National Film Registry, features an
American Film Institute Quote, "Toga! Toga!"




National Lampoon's Animal House












Ethan Frome (1993) is a love story set in
rural New England and has a certain dreary
quality.  It is based on the classic novel by Edith
Wharton, born January 24, 1862.  Another version
was aired on television and garnered two Emmy
nominations in 1960.  It was an episode of The
DuPont Show of the Month.




Ethan Frome

Movies for the Day, Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthday of actor Randolph Scott, the seizing of the Pueblo, and the birthday of comedian Ernie Kovacs.

The Tall T (1957) is a western about outlaws
who kidnap an heiress and ranch foreman and
a romance.  This movie is on the National Film
Registry and stars western movie icon Randolph
Scott, born January 23, 1898.  The movie is based
on a story by Elmore Leonard, born October 11,
1925.




The Tall T









Pueblo (1973) is the story of the United
States naval ship taken by North
Korean naval units on January 23, 1968.
This television movie won two Emmys for
Acting, to Hal Holbrook.





Pueblo












Ernie Kovacs:  Between the Laughter
(1984) is the story of innovative
comedian Ernie Kovacs, born January
23, 1919.






Ernie Kovacs: Between the Laughter

Movies for the Day, Monday, January 22, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthday of actor Bill Bixby, the anniversary of Roe v Wade, and robots.

The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1969
to 1972) is a television series about a widower
raising his son; it stars Bill Bixby, born
January 22, 1934.  It was preceded by a 1963 movie
of the same name about widows and widowers
in the 1960s.





The Courtship of Eddie's Father










Roe vs. Wade (1989) is a television movie
based on the famous United States Supreme
Court case, issued January 22, 1973 (410 US
113), that legalized abortion.  The movie won
Emmys for Lead Actress, to Holly Hunter, and
for Drama Special.




Roe vs. Wade









My Life As a Teenage Robot (August 1,
2003 to May 2, 2009) is an animated
series about a teenage robot girl who
protects Earth.  It won an Emmy in 2004 for
the episode The Wonderful World of Wizzley.
This selection is part of my robot series
on January 2, 12 and 22.  Science fiction author Issac
Asimov was born January 2, 1920.  Asimov is famous
for his robot stories.


My Life As a Teenage Robot

Movies for the Day, Sunday, January 21, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of actor Telly Savalas, of opera star Placido Domingo, and of Russia's Rasputin.

Kojak (October 24, 1973 to March 18, 1978) was a very
popular television series about a New York City
police detective.  It stars Telly Savalas, born January 21,
1922, as Detective Theo Kojak.  It lasted five seasons and
118 episodes and was nominated for and won multiple Emmys, including one to Savalas for Best Lead Actor in 1974.






Kojak










Placido Domingo Celebrates Seville
(1984) is only one of many television
productions starring this great Spanish
opera tenor.  This one was broadcast
as part of the PBS Great Performances
series and won an Emmy for Outstanding
Classical Program.  Domingo, born
January 21, 1941, hosted.




Placido Domingo Celebrates Seville












Rasputin (1996) is the story of the infamous and
malevolent Rasputin, a monk in the court
of Czarist Russia.  Rasputin was born January
21, 1869.  The television production, on
HBO, won an Emmy for Lead Actor, to Alan
Rickman, for Supporting Actress, to Greta
Scacchi, and for Cinematography.




Rasputin

Movies for the Day, Saturday, January 20, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthday of director Fellini, the January Wolf Moon, and World Penguin Day.

I Vitelloni (1953) is a masterpiece from
famed Italian director Federico Fellini.  It is
about five young men facing adulthood in a
small Italian town.  Fellini was born
January 20, 1920.






I Vitelloni







The Werewolf (1956) is about a
werewolf created through scientific
experimentation.  It is part of my
January Wolf Moon series (next installments
on January 25 and 30).






The Werewolf










Happy Feet (2006) is an animated feature film
about penguins.  It is a musical comedy. Today
is Penguin Awareness Day (January 20).







Happy Feet

Movies for the Day, Friday, January 19, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthday of author Edgar Allan Poe, of artist Dan Keplinger, and of baseball player Jim Morris.

The Tell-Tale Heart (1953) is an animated
version of Edgar Allan Poe's great tale of
horror about a man haunted by the beating heart
of the man he murdered.  One of the greatest
cartoons.  Poe was born January 19, 1809.
A television version of the tale was on Actor's
Studio in 1948 and won an Emmy for Best Film Made for
Television.  A movie version was released in 1963.



The Tell-Tale Heart

King Gimp (1999) is the life of artist
Dan Keplinger, afflicted with cerebral
palsy.  It won an Oscar for Best
Short Documentary.  Keplinger was
born January 19, 1973.



King Gimp











The Rookie (2002) is about the baseball
journey of Jim Morris from high school
coach to the the major leagues.  Morris was
born January 19, 1964.




The Rookie

Movies for the Day, Thursday, January 18, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of three entertainers:  Cary Grant, Danny Kaye, and Kevin Costner.

His Girl Friday (1940) is a comedy about
the battle of the sexes and journalism.  It is
a remake of The Front Page.  It is on the
National Film Registry.  It stars Cary
Grant, born January 18, 1904.





His Girl Friday










The Court Jester (1956) is a
comedy starring Danny Kaye
in one of his best performances.
Kaye was born January 18, 1913.
This movie is on the National Film
Registry.



The Court Jester

Dances With Wolves (1990) is an inspiring
western about a Civil War soldier in South
Dakota who becomes involved with wolves and
the Sioux Indians to the detriment of his persona in the
military.  The movie is on the National Film
Registry and won Oscars for Best Picture, Directing,
to Kevin Costner who also starred, Writing,
Cinematography, Sound, Film Editing, and Original
Score.  Costner was born January 18, 1955.  Native
Americans Day in South Dakota is the second Monday
in October.

Dances With Wolves

Movies for the Day, Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthday of Al Capone, a submarine anniversary, and the birthday of actor Jim Carrey.

Scarface (1932) is a gangster film based on
an Al Capone like mobster.  Sometimes the title is
accompanied by The Shame of a Nation.  This movie
features an American Film Institute Villain, Tony
Camonte.  This movie is on the National Film Registry.
Capone was born January 17, 1899.  Scarface was also made
in 1983.  The 1983 movie features an AFI Quote:  "Say 'hello'
to my little friend!"





Scarface







Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961)
is a science fiction yarn about an
experimental nuclear sub protecting
Earth from out of control radiation belts.
It was later a television series.  Today,
January 17, is the anniversary of the
voyage of the first nuclear powered
submarine voyage in 1955.



Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea











Ace Ventura, Pet Detective (1994) is a wacky
comedy starring Jim Carrey, born January 17, 1962.
There is a cameo by the Miami Dolphins football
team.






Ace Ventura, Pet Detective

Movies for the Day, Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of author William Kennedy and researcher Dian Fossey and the date Prohibition took effect.

Ironweed (1987) is about street people
in Depression era Albany, New York.
Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning
novel by William Kennedy, born January
16, 1928.





Ironweed









Gorillas in the Mist (1988) is
a biography of Dian Fossey,
who studied the mountain gorillas
of Africa.  Fossey was born
January 16, 1932.




Gorillas in the Mist











Boardwalk Empire (2010 to 2014) is a
television series about politicians and
gangsters in Prohibition era Atlantic
City.  Prohibition, the 18th amendment
to the Constitution, took effect January 16,
1920.  The series lasted five seasons and 56
episodes and won many Emmys.  It
starred Steve Buscemi, born December 13,
1957.


Boardwalk Empire