Movies for the Day, Thursday, March 1, 2018

Today's movies mark the upcoming Academy Awards, the birthday of rock star Roger Daltry, and National Cheerleading Week.

David Holzman's Diary (1968) is a story about
a young man making a documentary of his life.
This movie about movie making is on the
National Film Registry.  Sunday, March 4,
is Oscar night.






David Holzman's Diary









Tommy (1975) is based on The Who's rock
opera about a seemingly disabled boy
who becomes a pinball champion and a
religious cult figure.  The movie starred
The Who's Roger Daltry, born March 1,
1944.  The Who formed in 1964.




Tommy












Bring It On (2000) is a high school
cheerleading movie.  March 1 to 7,
2018, is National Cheerleading Week.





Bring It On

Movies for the Day, Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of actor Gavin McLeod and actress Mercedes Ruehl and author Lemony Snicket.

The Love Boat (1977 to 1987) is a beloved
television romance/comedy about the crew
and ever-changing passengers on the cruise
ship Pacific Princess.  Gavin McLeod, born
February 28, 1931, stars as the captain.






The Love Boat






The Fisher King (1991) is about a
radio shock jock who tries to make amends
by helping a homeless man.  This drama
with comic elements won an Oscar for
Supporting Actress, to Mercedes Ruehl,
born February 28, 1948.





The Fisher King

Lemony Snicket's A Series of 
Unfortunate Events (2004) is a fantasy
adventure based on the best-selling
books for children.  Lemony
Snicket is the pen name of Daniel
Handler, born February 28, 1970.  This
movie won an Academy Award for
Makeup.


Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

Movies for the Day, Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Today's movies mark a French Polynesia anniversary, the birthday of author John Steinbeck, and a national day in the Dominican Republic.

White Shadows in the South Seas (1928)
is a story of adventure and romance and
culture clash.  It was filmed on location in
Tahiti, part of the windward group of French
Polynesia.  On February 27, 2004, French
Polynesia was designated an overseas country
within the French Republic.  This silent film
won an Oscar for Cinematography.



White Shadows in the South Seas







The Grapes of Wrath (1940) is the story
of a family migrating west to California
during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl
era.  It is based on the classic novel by John
Steinbeck, who was born February 27, 1902.
This inspiring movie won Oscars for Supporting
Actress, to Jane Darwell (born October 15, 1879), and
for Directing, to John Ford.  It gave us a hero on
the American Film Institute list- Tom Joad.  This
movie is on the National Film Registry.


The Grapes of Wrath









In the Time of the Butterflies (2001) is a
television movie about three sisters who fight
the Dominican Republic dictator Rafael
Trujillo, and lose their lives.  National Day
in the Dominican Republic is February 27,
dating to its independence in 1844.





In the Time of the Butterflies

Movies for the Day, Monday, February 26, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of author Victor Hugo and baseball player Grover Cleveland Alexander and the anniversary of a disastrous flood.

Les Miserables (1935) is about a policeman's
obsession over 20 years with catching a thief in early
18th century France.  It is based on the classic novel
by Victor Hugo, born February 26, 1802.  It has been
filmed many times- see movies from 1947, 1952,
1957, 1978 (television movie), 1995, 1998, and most
recently an Oscar winning version in 2013.






Les Miserables








The Winning Team (1952) is the story
of real legendary baseball pitcher
Grover Cleveland Alexander, who was
born February 26, 1887, including the
1926 World Series.  Alexander is played
by future President Ronald Reagan.





The Winning Team









The Buffalo Creek Flood:  An Act of Man
(1975) is a documentary about the flood that
disastrously ensued when a dam in mining country
in West Virginia failed.  The disaster struck on
February 26, 1972.  The documentary is listed on
the National Film Registry.




The Buffalo Creek Flood: An Act of Man

Movies for the Day, Sunday, February 25, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthday of entertainer Jim Backus, the premiere of a 1950s television show, and the birthday of the Beatles' George Harrison.

Mister Magoo's Puddle Jumper (1956) features
the myopic Mr. Magoo buying a used car.  This
beloved cartoon character first appeared in The
Ragtime Bear in 1949 and was famously voiced
by Jim Backus, born February 25, 1913.  This cartoon
won an Oscar for Best Short Subject, Cartoons.





Mister Magoo's Puddle Jumper







Ten From Your Show of Shows (1973)
is a collection of comedy sketches from
the very popular 1950s television
show starring Sid Caesar and Imogene
Coca.  Your Show of Shows
premiered February 25, 1950.




Your Show of Shows










George Harrison:  Living in the Material
World (2011) is a biographical documentary
about the Beatle.  This HBO film won
Emmys for Directing (to Martin
Scorsese) and as Outstanding
Nonfiction Special.  Harrison was born
February 25, 1943.




George Harrison: Living in the Material World

Movies for the Day, Saturday, February 24, 2018

Today's movies mark a rugby championship, the birthday of actor Abe Vigoda, and the birthday of a celebrated math teacher.

This Sporting Life (1963) is a story about
a rising rugby star and his angst on and off
the field.  The Six Nations Rugby Championship
in 2018 is from February 3 to March 17.






This Sporting Life











Fish (February 5, 1977 to May
18, 1978) starred Abe Vigoda reprising
his grumpy detective role from Barney
Miller but this time with five
foster children.  The sitcom lasted 35
episodes.  It won an Emmy for
Art Direction for the episode The Really
Longest Day.  Vigoda was born February 24,
1921.


Fish








Stand and Deliver (1988) is based on the
real-life story of an inspiring math teacher
in the East Los Angeles barrio, Jaime
Escalante, born December 31, 1930.  The movie
stars Edward James Olmos, born February
24, 1947.





Stand and Deliver

Movies for the Day, Friday, February 23, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthday of actor Peter Fonda and the anniversaries of the Battles of the Alamo and Iwo Jima. 

Easy Rider (1969) is about two motorcyclists on
a cross-country road trip.  This movie stars Peter
Fonda, born February 23, 1939, who was also involved
in many other aspects of making the movie.  This film
has attained cult status and is on the National Film
Registry.  It features an American Film Institute Song,
Born to be Wild.




Easy Rider








The Alamo:  Thirteen Days of Glory (1987)
tells the story of the heroic stand of Texas
patriots against overwhelming Mexican
forces at the Alamo from February 23 to
March 6, 1836.  A television film.





The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory












Letters from Iwo Jima (2006) tells the
story of the World War II battle for Iwo Jima
in the Pacific from the Japanese perspective.
The iconic raising of the American flag
on the island occurred February 23, 1945.  The
movie won an Oscar for Sound Editing.



Letters from Iwo Jima

Movies for the Day, Thursday, February 22, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of director Luis Bunuel, actor Robert Young, and President Washington. 

Simon of the Desert (1965) is a parable about an ascetic
and his attempt to be nearer God.  It is loosely based on
the life of Saint Simeon Stylites who lived atop a pillar
for over six years in the 4th century in a similar attempt.
It is a uniquely Luis Bunuel film with its wild and even
comedic take on the story.  Bunuel was born
February 22, 1900.  Also a good Lenten movie, which
began February 14, 2018.



Simon of the Desert










Marcus Welby, M.D. (September 23, 1969
to July 29, 1976) is a beloved television series
about two doctors in a general practice.
Welby is played by Robert Young, born
February 22, 1907.  It lasted seven seasons and
169 episodes.  Young won an Emmy in 1970 as Lead
Actor and James Brolin (born July 18, 1941)
won an Emmy that year as Supporting Actor.  It also
won an Emmy for Outstanding Dramatic Series in 1970.
Thereafter, it garnered many Emmy nominations.

Marcus Welby, M.D.









George Washington (1984) is a television
miniseries about President Washington's early
life and career, especially during the Revolutionary
War.  Washington was born February 22, 1732, and
this past Monday was Presidents' Day.  It was
followed by George Washington II:  The Forging
of a Nation (1986).


George Washington

Movies for the Day, Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of director Sam Peckinpah and actor Kelsey Grammer and Presidents' Day.

The Wild Bunch (1969) is a classic
Western about aging outlaws in a
changing West in about 1913.  This
thrilling movie was directed by Sam
Peckinpah, born February 21, 1925, and
is listed on the National Film Registry.





The Wild Bunch







Frasier (September 16, 1993, to
May 13, 2004) is a sitcom about a radio
psychiatrist in Seattle and his home
life.  It lasted 11 seasons and 264 episodes
and won many Emmys.  The star,
Kelsey Grammer, was born February 21,
1955.  It won Emmys as Outstanding Comedy
Series in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998.
Grammer won Emmys as Lead Actor in 1994, 1995,
1998, and 2004.  David Hyde Pierce won Emmys
as Supporting Actor in 1995, 1998, 1999, and 2004.

Frasier











Air Force One (1997) is about a President
(and ex-military man) who battles terrorist
hijackers on Air Force One.  Monday was
Presidents' Day.





Air Force One

Movies for the Day, Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthday of actor Sidney Poitier, a baseball birthday, and Presidents' Day.

Lilies of the Field (1963) is about a handyman
who helps nuns build a chapel.  Sidney Poitier, born
February 20, 1927, won an Oscar as Best Actor in this
inspiring film.  February is also Black History
Month.






Lilies of the Field







The Sandlot (1993) is about neighborhood
kids baseball in 1962.  February 20, 1920,
is the birthday of Carl E. Stotz, the founder
of Little League baseball (perhaps the opposite
of sandlot baseball).






The Sandlot














The Contender (2000) is a political drama
about the Presidency and especially
the Vice Presidency.  Yesterday was
Presidents' Day.





The Contender

Movies for the Day, Monday, February 19, 2018

Today's movies mark the anniversary of the Japanese Internment order, the birthday of actor Lee Marvin, and Presidents' Day.







Topaz (1945) is a home movie documentary
taken inside a Japanese American Internment
Camp, the Topaz War Relocation Authority
Center, from 1943 to 1945.  President Franklin
D. Roosevelt signed the Executive Order authorizing
Japanese American internment on February 19, 1942
(order #9066).  This movie is on the National
Film Registry.




Topaz








Cat Ballou (1965) is about a western
woman who retains hired guns to exact
vengeance.  The movie is a bit of Western
genre spoof, exemplified by Lee Marvin's dual
role, for which he won an Oscar as Best
Actor.  Jane Fonda plays Cat Ballou.  Marvin
was born February 19, 1924.




Cat Ballou








The Kidnapping of the President (1980) is
about third world terrorists who kidnap
the President.  Today is Presidents'
Day, a national holiday.






The Kidnapping of the President

Movies for the Day, Sunday, February 18, 2018

Today's movies mark the Feast Day of Saint Bernadette, the birthday of actor John Travolta, and the birthday of author Toni Morrison.








The Song of Bernadette (1943) is the story
of a religious French girl in the mid-1800s who
was later canonized as Saint Bernadette.  Her
Feast Day is February 18.  This movie won Oscars
for Best Actress, to Jennifer Jones (born March
2, 1919), Cinematography, Interior Decoration,
and Scoring.



The Song of Bernadette








Grease (1978) is based on the Broadway
musical of the same name and is a musical romance
comedy about teenagers.  This 1950s era
passionate movie stars John Travolta, born
February 18, 1954, and Olivia Newton-John, born
September 26, 1948.  It features an American
Film Institute Song, Summer Nights.   It was
followed by the not so good Grease 2 (1982).



Grease










Beloved (1998) is about slavery to freedom
in 1873 Ohio.  It is also about a haunting by a deceased
daughter.  The movie is based on the Pulitzer
Prize winning novel by Toni Morrison, who
was born February 18, 1931.  February is also
Black History Month.



Beloved

Movies for the Day, Saturday, February 17, 2018

Today's movies mark the premiere of Madame Butterfly, the death of Geronimo, and the birthday of Michael Jordan.






Madame Butterfly (1932) is based on the
Giacomo Puccini opera, without the music.  It is
a tragic romance of an Oriental woman and
and an American.  The opera premiered February
17, 1904.  Puccini was born December 22, 1858.






Madame Butterfly








Geronimo (1939) is the story of
the famous Native American warrior. The
Apache died February 17, 1909.  His
life was also the focus of Geronimo (1962)
and Geronimo:  An American Legend
(1993).




Geronimo











Space Jam (1996) features the Looney Tunes
cartoon characters with basketball legend
Michael Jordan, born February 17, 1963.  See
Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, and
others.




Space Jam

Movies for the Day, Friday, February 16, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthday of actor Chester Morris, Lithuania Independence Day, and the Chinese New Year.

Meet Boston Blackie (1941) features a suave

crook turned crime investigator.  This

mystery/comedy stars Chester Morris and was one 

of a series of movies.  Morris was born February

16, 1901.

Meet Boston Blackie

Reminiscences of a Journey to

Lithuania (1972) is a film diary

documentary of a trip to the 

homeland of Lithuania.  Lithunaia

Independence Day is February

16, 1918.  This movie is on the

National Film Registry.

Reminiscences of a Journey to Lithuania

Chan Is Missing (1982) is a comedy shot

in San Francisco's Chinatown about two

cabdrivers tracking down the mysterious

Chan who absconded with their $4,000.  This wry

low-key comedy is on the National

Film Registry.  The Chinese Year of the Dog

begins February 16, 2018.

Chan Is Missing

Movies for the Day, Thursday, February 15, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthday of explorer Ernest Shackelton, an epic German movie, and the birthday of the creator of The Simpsons.

South:  Ernest Shackelton and the Endurance
Expedition (1919) is the story of the famed
explorer's disastrous trip to Antartica, the Imperial
Trans-Antartic Expedition from 1914 to 1917.
Shackelton was born February 15, 1874.






South: Ernest Shackelton and the Endurance Expedition








Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980) is a 14-episode
television miniseries.  This epic is about
Germany in the 1920s, especially an ex-con.
The movie version is usually part of the
Berlin International Film Festival, usually
held in February, this year from February 15
to 25, 2018.





Berlin Alexanderplatz










The Simpsons (December 17, 1989 to the present)
is the groundbreaking and long-running (now in its
29th season) animated family sitcom.  It was created
by Matt Groening, born February 15, 1958.  It has won many
Emmys.






The Simpsons

Movies for the Day, Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Today's movies mark Valentine's Day and the birthday of Jack Benny. 







The Crowd (1928) is a silent movie about
the ups and downs of a married couple
in a big city.  The movie is on the
National Film Registry.  Today is
Valentine's Day.





The Crowd









L'Atalante (1934) is a surreal
fantasy masterpiece and a love
story about a married couple
sailing down the Seine.  Today
is Valentine's Day.





L'Atalante












The Meanest Man in the World (1943)
features Jack Benny as a lawyer who tries
to act mean to get ahead.  Legendary
comedian Benny was born February
14, 1894.




The Meanest Man in the World

Movies for the Day, Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthday of entertainer Tennessee Ernie Ford, author Georges Simenon, and Valentine's Day.

The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show (October
4, 1956, to June 29, 1961) was a popular
television variety show starring Tennessee
Ernie Ford, who was born February 13,
1919.  It lasted five seasons, 121 episodes.





The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show










Inspector Maigret (1958) features
the famous creation of author
Georges Simenon in a serial
killer case.  Simenon was born
February 13, 1903.






Inspector Maigret










The Go-Between (1971) is a period piece
set in the British countryside about a forbidden
love between an aristocrat and a farmer and the
boy who delivers love notes between them and
his feelings then and thereafter.  Tomorrow is Valentine's
Day.



The Go-Between