Movies for the Day, Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Today's movies mark Law Day, the debut of Batman, and the formation of Great Britain.

Judge Priest (1934)
is a light-hearted story
about a judge in a small town in post-bellum
Kentucky.  Today is Law Day and this movie is the
first of several law-related movies I will feature
over the next several days.




Judge Priest











Batman (1989) is the first of a series
of movies starring the Dark Knight.  It won an Oscar
for Art Direction/Set Direction.  It features
an American Film Institute Villain, The Joker, and
an AFI Hero, Batman.  Batman was originally
a comic book hero created by Bob Kane and
debuted May 1, 1939.



Batman








Cranford (November 18, 2007-  )
is a television series set in fictional
Cranford in northwest England
in the 1840s.  This drama has won
Emmys for Supporting Actress, to
Eileen Atkins, and for Hairstyling,
Cinematography, and Costumes.  There have
only been seven episodes thus far.  Great Britain
was formed May 1, 1707, and this selection
is the first of several England-related films for
this month (at least one per week).

Cranford

Movies for the Day, Monday, April 30, 2018

Today's movies mark Blues and Jazz Appreciation Month, admission day in Louisiana, and the debut of Bugs Bunny.

Jam Session (1944) is a musical about
a showgirl trying to make it in Hollywood.  This
movie features some all-time greats in blues and
jazz, including Louis Armstrong and Duke
Ellington.  April is Blues and Jazz Appreciation
Month.





Jam Session








Louisiana Story (1948) is docufiction
about the Louisiana Bayous, a boy and
his pet raccoon, and oil production.
The film was commissioned by
Standard Oil Company.  This excellent film
is on the National Film Registry.
Louisiana was admitted to the Union April
30, 1812.


Louisiana Story












Bugs Bunny Superstar (1975) is a compilation
of 1940s Warner Brothers cartoons, and interviews with
cartoonists, home movies, and behind the scenes
clips.  Bugs Bunny debuted April 30, 1938 (kind
of like his birthday).




Bugs Bunny Superstar

Movies for the Day, Sunday, April 29, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of William Shakespeare and Jerry Seinfeld, and Japan's Golden Week Holidays.

Kiss Me Kate (1953) is a movie musical based
on a Cole Porter Broadway musical which in
turn was based on Shakespeare's Taming of the
Shrew.  This movie continues our Shakespeare
series.  Shakespeare was born April 23, 1564.







Kiss Me Kate








Seinfeld (July 5, 1989 to May 14, 1998) is
considered by many to be the greatest sitcom ever.
It lasted nine seasons and 173 episodes.  It won
numerous Emmys.  The stars were Michael Richards,
Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, and Jerry
Seinfeld, born April 29, 1954.




Seinfeld











Princess Mononoke (1997) is an animated
Japanese fable pitting civilization against nature.
Today begins the Golden Week Holidays
in Japan (ending May 5, 2018).




Princess Mononoke

Movies for the Day, Saturday, April 28, 2018

Today's movies mark National Birding Day, the birthday of Shakespeare, and World Vet Day.

It's Tough To Be a Bird (1969) is part
cartoon and documentary and is all
about birds.  Today is National
Birding Day.  This film won an Oscar
for Best Short Subject, Cartoons.





It's Tough To Be a Bird








King Lear (1971) brings the great
Shakespeare tragedy to the silver
screen.  This movie continues our
Shakespeare series.  Shakespeare was
born April 23, 1564.






King Lear










All Creatures Great and Small (1974) is a television
movie about a veterinarian in the British
countryside.  Today is World Vet Day.  This movie
was followed by All Things Bright and Beautiful
(1979).




All Creatures Great and Small

Movies for the Day, Friday, April 27, 2018

Today's movies mark Denmark Common Prayer Day, Shakespeare's birthday, and a tornado anniversary.








Ordet (1955) is a Danish film about a rural
family and religious beliefs, especially
conventional Christianity vs. a more
personalized religion.  Today is Denmark
Common Prayer Day, celebrated the 4th
Friday after Easter.



Ordet










Looking for Richard (1996) is a
documentary about Shakespeare's continuing
relevance in the modern world, especially
through an analysis of his play Richard III.
This is another film in our series on
Shakespeare, born April 23, 1564.





Looking for Richard













Twister (1996) is about chasing
tornadoes.  The most tornadoes in a day
occurred April 27 to 28, 2011, aka
2011 Super Outbreak.






Twister

Movies for the Day, Thursday, April 26, 2018

Today's movies mark a real-life murder in 1913 and the birthdays of Shakespeare and Carol Burnett.

They Won't Forget (1937) is about a high school
girl murdered in a Southern town and a big time
Northern lawyer taking the case of the accused.  This
drama is based on the notorious case later dramatized
for television as The Murder of Mary Phagan.  Phagan
was killed April 26, 1913.




They Won't Forget

The Ages of Man (1966) is a television
program starring John Gielgud in a one man
show featuring a collection of speeches from
Shakespeare's plays.  It is based on an anthology
edited by George Rylands to show the journey
of life from birth to death.  This show won an
Emmy as Outstanding Dramatic Program.  Shakespeare
was born April 23, 1564, and this selection
continues our Shakespeare series.


The Ages of Man

The Carol Burnett Show (September 11, 1967 to
March 29, 1978) is a classic variety/sketch comedy
series that ran 11 seasons and 279 episodes.  It won many
Emmys, including Emmys to Carol Burnett, Harvey
Korman, and Tim Conway.  Burnett was born April
26, 1936.




The Carol Burnett Show

Movies for the Day, Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthday of William Shakespeare, Liberation Day in Italy, and ANZAC Day in Australia.

Romeo and Juliet (1936) is based on
Shakespeare's timeless play about feuding
families and young love.  Shakespeare was born
April 23, 1564 (2 days ago).  This play has had numerous
film incarnations, including in 1954, 1966 (ballet),
1968 (Academy Awards for Cinematography and
Costume Design), and 1996.




Romeo and Juliet









Rome, Open City (1945) is about
the Italian resistance in Rome
during the Nazi occupation.  Today,
April 25, 1945, was Liberation
Day in Italy.




Rome, Open City











The Lighthorsemen (1987) is about
the Australian Light Horse Brigade in
World War I.  Today is ANZAC Day,
celebrating those who have served in the
military forces of Australia and New
Zealand.



The Lighthorsemen

Movies for the Day, Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Robert Penn Warren, William Shakespeare, and Barbra Streisand.

All the King's Men (1949) is about a populist politician
who is corrupted by power.  It is based on the Pulitzer Prize
novel by Robert Penn Warren, born April 24, 1905, which
in turn was based on politician Huey Long of Louisiana (August
30 is Huey Long Day in Louisiana).  This movie won Oscars
for Best Picture, Best Actor, to Broderick Crawford, and Supporting
Actress, to Mercedes Cambridge.  A television version was
nominated for an Emmy in 1959 for Best Actress, to Maureen
Stapleton (Kraft Television Theatre).  This movie is on the
National Film Registry.

All the King's Men











Forbidden Planet (1956) is a science fiction classic
loosely based on The Tempest by William Shakespeare, whose
birthday was yesterday, April 23, in 1564.  It
is considered a forerunner to Star Trek.  This
movie is on the National Film Registry.




Forbidden Planet

A Happening in Central Park (1967) is a
Barbra Streisand concert in Central Park,
New York City, attended by 150,000 fans.
It won an Emmy for Outstanding Individual
Achievement in Music.  Streisand was born
April 24, 1942.




A Happening in Central Park

Movies for the Day, Monday, April 23, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Shirley Temple and Shakespeare and World Book Day.

Poor Little Rich Girl (1936) is a Depression era
musical starring America's favorite child actress,
Shirley Temple, born April 23, 1928.  This movie is on
the National Film Registry.





Poor Little Rich Girl










Throne of Blood (1957) is a powerful
adaptation of Macbeth by Shakespeare,
transposing the famous tragedy from
Scotland to feudal Japan.  Shakespeare
was born April 23, 1564.





Throne of Blood










The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr.
Morris Lessmore (2011) is a film about
a mysterious library where books literally
come to life.  This short film won an Oscar
for Animation.  Today is UNESCO World
Book Day.



The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

Movies for the Day, Sunday, April 22, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthday of Jack Nicholson, discovery day in Brazil, and Earth Day.

Terms of Endearment (1983) is about
a mother/daughter relationship over the years
and their romances.  This movie won Oscars for
Best Picture, Best Actress, to Shirley MacLaine, born
April 24, 1934 (two days hence), Supporting Actor, to
Jack Nicholson, born April 22, 1936, Directing, and Writing.






Terms of Endearment








Tigrero:  A Film That Was Never Made
(1994) is a documentary about an ill-fated
attempt to shoot a film in Brazil among
the remote Karaja tribe in 1954.  Today is
Discovery Day in Brazil, commemorating
the discoveries by Pedro Alvarez Cabral,
dating to April 22, 1500.




Tigrero: A Film That Was Never Made











Planet Earth II (2016) is a six-episode
television miniseries about life on our
planet.  It aired from November 6 to
December 11, 2016.  It won Emmys for
Cinematography and as Outstanding
Documentary or Nonfiction Series.  Today
is Earth Day.



Planet Earth II

Movies for the Day, Saturday, April 21, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthday of Charlotte Bronte, the founding of Rome, and the birthday of Queen Elizabeth II.









Jane Eyre (1934) is based on the classic novel by
Charlotte Bronte about a governess and the mysterious
employer she has a romantic relationship with.  Bronte was
born April 21, 1816.  I previously featured a television
miniseries, Jane Eyre (2006) on April 21, 2017.  Jane Eyre
has been filmed often, in 1944, 1971 (television movie),
1996, and 1970 (with an Emmy for Music Composition).


Jane Eyre









Rome (August 28, 2005, to March
25, 2007) is a 22-episode miniseries
focused on Rome as it transitions from
Republic to Empire.  It aired on the History
Channel and won Emmys for Editing,
Nonfiction Special, Art Direction,
Costumes, Special Visual Effects, and Hairstyling
(2006) and Cinematography, Hairstying and
Art Direction (2007).  Rome was founded
April 21, 753 BC.

Rome










The Queen (2006) is about Queen Elizabeth II and
the Royal Family's reaction to the death of Princess
Diana on August 31, 1997.  Queen Elizabeth II was
born April 21, 1926.





The Queen

Movies for the Day, Friday, April 20, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Harold Lloyd and Adolf Hitler and Jazz and Blues Appreciation Month.

The Freshman (1925) is about a college
freshman trying to fit in.  This silent comedy
stars Harold Lloyd, born April 20, 1893.  This
movie is on the National Film Registry.




The Freshman











Jammin' the Blues (1944) is a 10-minute
film of a jam session.  It is on the
National Film Registry.  April is Jazz and
Blues Appreciation Month.






Jammin' the Blues













Black Fox:  The True Story of Adolf
Hitler (1962) is a biography of Hitler and the rise and
fall of Nazi Germany using as allegory the
European folk tale, Reynard the Fox.  This movie
won an Oscar as Best Feature Documentary.  Hitler
was born April 20, 1889.




Black Fox: The True Story of Adolf Hitler

Movies for the Day, Thursday, April 19, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Constance Talmadge and Don Adams and the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.

A Virtuous Woman (1919) is a silent
comedy about a flirtatious young
 woman who works in an office.  This movie stars
Constance Talmadge, born April 19, 1898.  It is
on the National Film Registry.





A Virtuous Woman











Get Smart (1965 to 1970) is a James Bond/
Cold War spoof television series starring
Don Adams as agent Maxwell Smart.  Adams
was born April 19, 1927.  The series won
Emmys for Outstanding Comedy Series (in 1968, 1969),
Lead Actor, to Adams (in 1967, 1968, 1969), Writing
(in 1967 for episode Ship of Spies), and Directing
(in 1968 for episode Maxwell Smart, Private
Eye).



Get Smart









Uprising (2001) is a two-night television
miniseries about the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
by Jews against Nazis in Poland from April
19 to May 16, 1943.  This movie won an Emmy
for Stunt Coordination.





Uprising

Movies for the Day, Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthday of Leopold Stokowski, a World War II raid on Tokyo, and the opening of Yankee Stadium.

One Hundred Men and a Girl (1937) is a
musical comedy about a girl who pesters famous
conductor Leopold Stokowski to lead an
orchestra composed of unemployed musicians
including her father.  Stokowski was born April
18, 1882.  This movie won an Oscar for Score.





One Hundred Men and a Girl








Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944) is
about the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo, the
first American attack on Japan after Pearl
Harbor.  This movie won an Oscar for
Special Effects.





Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo












The Bronx Is Burning (2007) is a miniseries about
the New York Yankees turbulent 1977
World Championship year.  Yankee Stadium
opened April 18, 1923.





The Bronx Is Burning

Movies for the Day, Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Today's movies mark the Bay of Pigs invasion, the birthday of Rod Steiger, and the fall of Cambodia to the Khmer Rouge.



The Bay of Pigs (1964) is an
episode of the NBC White Paper
documentary series started in 1960.  This
episode is about the ill-fated invasion
of Cuba by the United States on April 17,
1961.  This episode won an Emmy for News;
it was part I; part II was The Missile Crisis.

The Bay of Pigs





In the Heat of the Night (1967) is about an
African American detective from New York
City who helps a Southern sheriff in the racially
charged South solve a murder.  This movie won Oscars
for Best Picture, Best Actor, to Rod Steiger, born
April 17, 1925, Screenplay, Sound, and Film Editing.
It features an American Film Institute hero, Virgil
Tibbs, and an AFI quote, "They call me Mister Tibbs!"
This inspiring movie is on the National Film Registry.


In the Heat of the Night






The Killing Fields (1984) is about the genocide
in Cambodia that followed that country's fall to the
Khmer Rouge on April 17, 1975.  This inspiring
movie won Oscars for Supporting Actor, to
Haing S. Ngor, Cinematography, and Film
Editing.



The Killing Fields

Movies for the Day, Monday, April 16, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthday of Charlie Chaplin, the Boston Marathon, and a panda anniversary.





The Gold Rush (1925) is a classic Charlie
Chaplin silent comedy about a prospector
in the Klondike.  This movie is on the
National Film Registry.  Chaplin was born April
16, 1889.






The Gold Rush










See How She Runs (1978) is a television movie
about a 40-year-old divorced teacher whose life is
changed by her decision to enter the Boston Marathon,
which is held today.  Joanne Woodward won an Emmy
as Lead Actress.  The movie also won an
Emmy for Music Composition, Dramatic
Underscore.  The Marathon is usually held on the
third Monday in April which is also Patriots Day
in Massachusetts.


See How She Runs









The Amazing Panda Adventure (1995) is about a
boy in China who helps his zoologist father rescue
a panda cub from poachers.  On April 16, 1972, pandas
Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing arrived at the
National Zoo in Washington, D.C., as a gift from
China after President Nixon's historic trip to China
in 1972.



The Amazing Panda Adventure

Movies for the Day, Sunday, April 15, 2018

Today's movies mark the sinking of the Titanic, the birthday of Henry James, and the Major League debut of Jackie Robinson.

A Night to Remember (1958) is the story
of the sinking of the Titanic, on April 15,
1912.  The sunken Titanic was discovered
September 1, 1985.  This movie is told
documentary style.






A Night to Remember










The Innocents (1961) is a ghost story
about a specter that haunts a governess.
It is based on the classic tale by Henry James,
The Turn of the Screw.  James was born
April 15, 1843.





The Innocents










Soul of the Game (1996) is a story of baseball
greats Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, and
Jackie Robinson on the eve of baseball integration.
Robinson's breakthrough major league debut
was April 15, 1947, with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Robinson was born January 31, 1919.  This a
television movie.



Soul of the Game