Movies for the Day, Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Today's movies mark a Switzerland holiday, the birthday of Herman Melville, and a Spider-Man anniversary.







Heidi (1937) is the classic story of an
orphan girl in Switzerland.  Switzerland's
Confederation Day is August 1 (1291).  This movie
is set in 19th century Switzerland.  The author of
the book is Johanna Spyri.  This family musical has
been remade often under the same name:  in 1952, 1965,
1968 (TV movie), and 1993 (Disney TV movie).  See also
Heidi and Peter (1955), a followup to the 1952 movie,
and Heidi's Song (1982), an animated version.  The 1968
movie won an Emmy for Musical Composition.


Heidi









Billy Budd (1962) is the story of a
naive seaman in the British Navy in
1797 accused of murder.  This movie,
which pits good vs. evil, is based on the
classic novel by Herman Melville, born
August 1, 1819.





Billy Budd

Spider-Man 2 (2004) is based on the
comic book hero who first appeared in
Amazing Fantasy #15 in August 1962.
The first volume of The Amazing Spider
Man comic books was in March 1963.  This
movie won an Oscar for Visual Effects.  We
featured Spider-Man last year.  March 14 is
National Save a Spider Day.  See Spider-Man
3 (2007).



Spider-Man 2

Movies for the Day, Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Wesley Snipes, Ryan Larkin, and Ahmet Ertegun.

Passenger 57 (1992) is about terrorists
who hijack an airliner.  The movie stars
Wesley Snipes, born July 31, 1962, as the hero.






Passenger 57









Ryan (2004) is an animated
short film about talented Canadian animator
Ryan Larkin, who ended up on skid
row in Montreal.  Ryan was born
July 31, 1943.  This film won an
Oscar as Best Short Film, Animated.





Ryan

Atlantic Records:  The House That Ahmet
Built (2007) is an episode of American Masters
on PBS.  It tells the story of Ahmet Ertegun,
born July 31, 1923, who built Atlantic Records.
This episode won an Emmy for Sound Mixing.





Atlantic Records: The House That Ahmet Built

Movies for the Day, Monday, July 30, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Arnold Schwarznegger, Peter Bogdanovich, and Hilary Swank.

Pumping Iron (1977) is about bodybuilding and
stars Arnold Schwarznegger, born July 30, 1947.
Followed in 1985 by Pumping Iron II:  The
Women.






Pumping Iron











Picture This:  The Times of Peter
Bogdanovich in Archer City,
Texas (1991) is a documentary
about making a sequel, 19 years later,
to The Last Picture Show, Texasville.
Bogdanovich was born July 30,
1939.




Picture This: The Times of Peter Bogdanovich in Archer City, Texas








Million Dollar Baby (2004) is about
a woman determined to become a boxer.
It won Oscars for Best Picture, Best
Actress, to Hilary Swank, born July
30, 1974, Best Supporting Actor, to Morgan
Freeman, born June 1, 1937, and Directing,
to Clint Eastwood.



Million Dollar Baby

Movies for the Day, Sunday, July 29, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Sigmund Romberg and Booth Tarkington and International Tiger Day.

The Student Prince of Heidelberg (1927) is
about a prince who attends the university as a
regular student and falls in love.  This silent movie,
which is highly regarded, is based on an
operetta by Sigmund Romberg, born July 29,
1887.





The Student Prince of Heidelberg









Mississippi (1935) is a musical comedy
starring Bing Crosby and featuring
romance and a showboat.  It is based on
a novel, Magnolia, by Booth Tarkington,
born July 29, 1869.






Mississippi









A Tiger Walks (1964) is about a tiger that
escapes from a circus and a girl who wants
to save it from the frightened townspeople.  This
is a Disney film.  Today is International Tiger Day.






A Tiger Walks

Movies for the Day, Saturday, July 28, 2018

Today's movies mark Bastille Day, the beginning of World War I, and the birthday of Jackie Kennedy.

Harvest (1937) is about villagers
and peasants in France.  This drama
continues our July series of movies set
in France- July 14 was Bastille Day, a
National Holiday in France.  This is a
highly regarded movie.





Harvest










King & Country (1964) is an antiwar
movie set during World War I.  An Army
lawyer defends an accused deserter.
World War I began July 28, 1914.






King & Country









Grey Gardens (1976) is a documentary, with
comedy and drama, about two eccentric
relatives of Jackie Kennedy Onassis, the wife of
President Kennedy.  She was born July 28, 1929.
The movie about the two women won Emmys for
Lead Actress, to Jessica Lange, for playing Edith
Bouvier Beale, Supporting Actor, to Ken Howard,
Art Direction, Prosthetic Makeup, Hairstyling, and Outstanding
Made for Television Movie.  The women lived on
a Long Island estate.

Grey Gardens

Movies for the Day, Friday, July 27, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Alexandre Dumas (fils) and Peggy Fleming and the first appearance of Bugs Bunny.





The Lady of the Camellias (1953) is
an Argentine version of the oft-told
tale of a French courtesan (see for example
La Traviata and Camille) by Alexander
Dumas fils, born July 27, 1824.  This
movie won a Golden Globe as Best
Foreign Film.



The Lady of the Camellias












Knighty Knight Bugs (1958) is about
Bugs Bunny and King Arthur (medieval
knights).  This Warner Brothers Looney
Tunes film won an Oscar for Best Short
Subject Cartoon.  Bugs Bunny made his
first appearance on April 30, 1938, in Porky's
Hare Hunt and his first official appearance
on July 27, 1940, in A Wild Hare.


Knighty Knight Bugs

Peggy Fleming at Sun Valley (1970) is
a TV movie about the famous ice skater,
who was born July 27, 1948.  She is pictured
at left on a Uruguay postage stamp as she
performed at the 1968 Olympics.  This
movie won Emmys for Direction and
Cinematography.





Peggy Fleming at Sun Valley

Movies for the Day, Thursday, July 26, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of George Bernard Shaw, Aldous Huxley, and Sandra Bullock.

Major Barbara (1941) is about a wealthy
young woman who joins the Salvation
Army and is wooed by a professor and also
begins to question her choice.  This highly
regarded romantic comedy is based on the
play by George Bernard Shaw, born July 26,
1856.





Major Barbara

A Woman's Vengeance (1947) is
about a philanderer tried for the
murder of his invalid wife.  This well-
regarded movie is based on a story by
Aldous Huxley, born July 26, 1894.






A Woman's Vengeance








Speed (1994) is a thrilling movie about
a Los Angeles city bus rigged to explode if
it goes below 50 mph.  This action-
packed movie won Oscars for Sound and for
Sound Effects Editing.  It stars Sandra Bullock,
born July 26, 1964, and Keanu Reeves, born
September 2, 1964, and Dennis Hopper, born
May 17, 1936.



Speed

Movies for the Day, Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Walter Brennan and Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. and the adoption of the Puerto Rican Constitution.

Kentucky (1938) is a story of romance and
feuding among rural horse breeding families
in Kentucky.  This movie won an Oscar for
Supporting Actor, to Walter Brennan, born
July 25, 1894.





Kentucky

Modesta (1956) is a short film of
about 35 minutes set in Puerto Rico
about a peasant woman who rebels against her
authoritarian husband and helps form the
Liberated Women's League.  Today is the
anniversary of the adoption to the Puerto
Rican Constitution on July 25, 1952 after
passage of the Puerto Rico Federal Relations
Act of 1950.  This movie is on the National
Film Registry.


Modesta









Young Joe, the Forgotten Kennedy (1977) is
the story of President Kennedy's older brother
who was killed in action during World War II.
He was being groomed for politics.  He was born
July 25, 1915.  This TV movie won an Emmy for
Sound Mixing.





Young Joe, the Forgotten Kennedy

Movies for the Day, Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Alexandre Dumas,  John D. MacDonald, and Amelia Earhart. 

The Count of Monte Cristo (1934) is based on
the classic novel by Alexander Dumas, born
July 24, 1802.  It is set in Napoleanic times and is
about a prison escape and revenge.  This excellent
movie was remade in 2002.





The Count of Monte Cristo











Cape Fear (1962) is about an ex-con
who stalks the prosecutor and his family.
This thrilling movie is based on The
Executioners by John D. MacDonald, born
July 24, 1916.  This movie features an
American Film Institute Villain, Max Cady.
The movie was remade in 1991.





Cape Fear











Amelia Earhart (1976) is a television movie
dramatic biography of Amelia Earhart, the famous
woman pilot who disappeared in 1937 during an
attempted flight around the world.  Earhart was born
July 24, 1897.  Last year this blog listed Amelia
Earhart:  The Final Flight for this date.



Amelia Earhart

Movies for the Day, Monday, July 23, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Emil Jannings, Raymond Chandler, and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

The Last Laugh (1924) is a silent movie
classic about a doorman at a posh hotel
who is demoted and humiliated.  It stars
Emil Jannings, born July 23, 1884.






The Last Laugh










The Big Sleep (1946) is a murder
mystery movie based on a story by
acclaimed writer Raymond Chandler, born
July 23, 1888.  It features American
Film Institute Hero, Detective Philip
Marlowe, played by Humphrey Bogart.  This
thriller is on the National Film Registry.




The Big Sleep












Capote (2005) is the story of acclaimed
writer Truman Capote, born September 30,
1924.  It focuses on his writing of In Cold
Blood, a classic about November 15, 1959,
murders.  The movie won an Oscar for Best
Actor, to Philip Seymour Hoffman, born July
23, 1967.




In Cold Blood

Movies for the Day, Sunday, July 22, 2018

Today's movies mark the death of John Dillinger, a Pied Piper anniversary, and the birthday of Albert Brooks.







Young Dillinger (1965) is the story
of the early years of infamous bank
robber and gangster John Dillinger, who
was hunted and killed by the FBI and
police on July 22, 1934.  He was born
June 28, 1902.




Young Dillinger









Willard (1971) is a horror movie
about a boy and his rats.  July 22 is
designated Rat Catcher Day, based on the
date given in a Robert Browning poem
for the day the Pied Piper of Hamelin lured
the rats out of a medieval town (in 1376).
The Brothers Grimm provided a June 26,
1284 date.



Willard










Defending Your Life (1991) is about
defending your life on Earth during
the afterlife.  This is an Albert Brooks
movie.  He was born July 22, 1947.  Much
of our current afterlife mythology was
created by Dante, in his Inferno, etc.  Dante
was born September 14, 1321.




Defending Your Life

Movies for the Day, Saturday, July 21, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthday of Ernest Hemingway, Bastille Day in France, and the birthday of  Robin Williams.

For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943) is based
on the classic by Ernest Hemingway, born
July 21, 1899.  It is about an American fighting
in the Spanish Civil War and romance.  This
movie won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress,
to Katina Paxinou.





For Whom the Bell Tolls









Play Time (1967) is about a Mr. Hulot
as he wanders through a Paris, unrecognizable
to him, of gadgets and steel and glass
skyscrapers as he tries to keep an appointment.
Sight and sound gags abound in this comedy.
This film continues our July France series, based
on Bastille Day- July 14- also France's National
Holiday.  This is a highly regarded film.



Play Time











Good Will Hunting (1997) is a drama
about a math genius.  It won
Oscars for Supporting Actor, to Robin
Williams, born July 21, 1952, and for
Writing.





Good Will Hunting

Movies for the Day, Friday, July 20, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Sir Edmund Hillary and Natalie Wood and the Moon landing.

The Conquest of Everest (1953) is
a documentary about attempts to
climb Mount Everest, the world's tallest
mountain.  The film focuses on the first
successful assent to the peak in 1953 by
Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary,
the latter born July 20, 1919.




The Conquest of Everest







Splendor in the Grass (1961) is a
passionate movie about young love and
late 1920s Midwest mores and emotional
fragility.  This passionate movie won an
Oscar for Screenplay.  It stars Natalie
Wood, born July 20, 1938.





Splendor in the Grass










The Mouse on the Moon (1963) is a spoof
of the space race between the Soviet Union and
the United States.  The space race culminated
in the first man on the moon by the United
States, landing July 20, 1969.





The Mouse on the Moon

Movies for the Day, Thursday, July 19, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthday of A.J. Cronin, the premiere of Mad Men, and the birthday of Lizzie Borden.

The Citadel (1938) is about a young
doctor in a coal mining town in Wales.
It is based on a novel by A.J. Cronin,
born July 19, 1896.  A very good film.







The Citadel








The Man in the Grey Flannel Suit
(1956) is a drama and romance about
a man making his way in the New York
City business world, especially Madison
Avenue.  It anticipates the great television series,
Mad Men, which premiered July 19, 2007.
Gregory Peck, born April 5, 1916, stars.  A very
good movie.




The Man in the Grey Flannel Suit











The Legend of Lizzie Borden (1975) is a TV
movie about Lizzie Borden, born July 19, 1860,
who was tried for the ax murders of her father and
stepmother in 1893 in Massachusetts.  It won
Emmys for Costume Design and Film Editing.
Elizabeth Montgomery was nominated for an Emmy
as Lead Actress.



The Legend of Lizzie Borden

Movies for the Day, Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of William Makepeace Thackeray, Richard Dix, and Red Skelton.

Becky Sharp (1935) is an adaptation
of the classic novel Vanity Fair by William
Makepeace Thackerary, born July 18, 1811.
It is set in the time period after Napolean's
defeat at Waterloo.





Becky Sharp








Secret of the Whistler (1946) is a nifty
entry into this popular crime drama
series starring Richard Dix, born July
18, 1893.  The Whistler is the mysterious
narrator.  This suspense series was
released in the 1930s and 1940s.




Secret of the Whistler










A Southern Yankee (1948) is a comedy
about a bumbling spy in the Civil War.
It stars Red Skelton, born July 18, 1913.
Skelton went on to have a long-running
television comedy variety series.





A Southern Yankee

Movies for the Day, Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Today's movies mark Wrong Way Corrigan Day, baseball's All-Star Game, and the birthday of James Cagney.

The Flying Irishman (1939) is the story
of the infamous flight of Douglas "Wrong
Way" Corrigan who intended to fly to California
but ended up in Ireland.  July 17 (1938) is
Wrong Way Corrigan Day.






The Flying Irishman

Bang the Drum Slowly (1973) is about
the friendship between a pitcher and a
catcher, the latter with a terminal illness.
This movie was on television first.  Today
is baseball's All-Star Game.  This is a highly
regarded sports movie.




Bang the Drum Slowly











Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) is the
story of famed composer and musician
George M. Cohan.  This inspiring musical is
on the National Film Registry and features an
American Film Institute Song, The Yankee
Doodle Boy.  It also features an AFI quote, "My mother
thanks you.  My father thanks you.  My sister thanks
you.  And I thank you."  This movie won Oscars for
Best Actor, to James Cagney, born July 17, 1899, Score, and
Sound.

Yankee Doodle Dandy

Movies for the Day, Monday, July 16, 2018

Today's movies mark the home-run derby, the birthday of Ginger Rogers, and the testing of the atomic bomb.

The Kid From Left Field (1953) is about an
ex-baseball star turned ballpark vendor who
uses his son, a bat boy, to make suggestions to
turn a losing team around.  Today is baseball's
home run derby- tomorrow is the all-star game.





The Kid From Left Field







Tight Spot (1955) is about a former
moll of a gangster who agrees to testify
against him.  This well-regarded movie
stars Ginger Rogers, born July 16,
1911.




Tight Spot












The Hole (1962) discusses the possibility
of accidental nuclear war.  This film won
an Oscar for Best Short Subject, Cartoons.
The atomic bomb was tested July 16, 1945.




The Hole