Movies for the Day, Saturday, December 1, 2018

Today's movies mark the formation of the Mounties, Woody Allen's birthday, and World AIDS Day.

Which of today's films would you watch?

Northwest Hounded Police (1946) is a great
classic cartoon in which a wolf convict is pursued
by a Canadian Mountie (a hound).  The Canadian
Mounted Police formed December 1, 1920.  The
title is a play on North West Mounted Police, a 1940
film.




Northwest Hounded Police









Manhattan (1979) is about a divorced
comedy writer who dates a high school girl
but is conflicted about the relationship.  This
Woody Allen film is both a great comedy and
a great passionate film.  It is also a love affair
with Manhattan.  It is on the National Film Registry.
Allen was born December 1, 1935.




Manhattan







Philadelphia (1993) is about a lawyer who
opens up about his homosexuality and HIV
status and the consequences.  This inspiring
movie provides an American Film Institute Hero,
Andrew Beckett.  It also features an AFI Song,
Streets of Philadelphia.  This movie won Oscars
for Best Actor, to Tom Hanks (born July 9, 1956),
and Original Song.  Today is World AIDS Day.




Philadelphia

Movies for the Day, Friday, November 30, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of L.M. Montgomery, Jonathan Swift, and Dick Clark.

Which of today's films would you watch?

Anne of Green Gables (1934) is based
on the classic book by L.M. Montgomery about
an teenage girl adopted by an older childless
couple in turn-of-the-century Canada.  Lucy Maud
Montgomery was born November 30, 1874.  The movie had a
sequel, Anne of Windy Poplars (1940).  See also
Anne of Green Gables (1985), a TV movie, and its TV
sequel, Anne of Avonlea (1987) depicting Anne at age
18 as a teacher.



Anne of Green Gables







The 3 Worlds of Gulliver (1960) is
based on the Jonathan Swift classic, most
famously depicting the tiny people of
Lilliput.  This movie features Ray
Harryhausen special effects.  Swift was born
November 30, 1667.




The 3 Worlds of Gulliver

American Bandstand's 25th Anniversary
(1977) is a TV special about the series
promoting popular music.  It was hosted
by Dick Clark, born November 30, 1929.
He is pictured in 1961.  This special won an
Emmy for Video Tape Editing.







American Bandstand's 25th Anniversary

Movies for the Day, Thursday, November 29, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Mark Twain, Joseph E. Davis, and C.S. Lewis.

Which of today's movies would you watch?








The Prince and the Pauper (1937) is about
look-a-likes who trade places.  It is based
on a story by Mark Twain, born November
30, 1835.  An excellent version.






The Prince and the Pauper








Mission to Moscow (1943) is based on
a book by Joseph E. Davies, who was
ambassador to the USSR during World
War II.  It is sympathetic to the Soviet
Union, which was our ally during
World War II.  Davies was born November
29, 1876.




Mission to Moscow










Shadowlands (1985) is a television movie
about noted author and scholar C.S. Lewis (see
Narnia series, e.g.) who, late in life, finds
love, tragedy and a crisis in his Christian faith in
the 1950s.  See the even better Shadowlands (1993).
Lewis was born November 29, 1898.





Shadowlands

Movies for the Day, Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthday of Gabrielle Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve and a mission to Mars.

Which of today's movies would you watch?

Beauty and the Beast (1946) is an excellent
version of the classic tale.  The first published version
was by Gabrielle Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve in
1740; the author was born November 28, 1685.  Another
version was released in 1963 and the the very popular
Disney animation version in 1991.  The Disney musical
and passionate film featured an American Film Institute
Song, Beauty and the Beast.  The 1991 film won Oscars for
Original Song and Original Score and is on the National Film
Registry.  There was also a 1987 television show.


Beauty and the Beast

Rocketship X-M (1950) is a science
fiction movie about a trip to the moon
that goes off course to Mars.  The first
successful mission to Mars, Mariner
4, was launched November 28, 1964.






Rocketship X-M









Mars Attacks! (1996) is a science fiction
spoof of an invasion of Earth by Martians.
It is based on a series of gum cards.  The
first successful mission to Mars, Mariner 4, was
launched November 28, 1964.





Mars Attacks!

Movies for the Day, Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Bat Masterson, Bruce Lee, and Jonathan Swift.

Which of today's movies would you watch?

The Woman of the Town (1943) is a
Western about legendary lawman
Bat Masterson, born November 27,
1853.





The Woman of the Town











Enter the Dragon (1973) is a martial arts
movie adventure featuring Kung Fu and
the great Bruce Lee, born November
27, 1940.  This movie is on the National
Film Registry.






Enter the Dragon

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989) is about
kids shrunk to a tiny size.  Jonathan Swift, born
November 30, 1667, was one of the first
authors to capitalize on little people, in his
Gulliver's Travels.  This Disney movie was followed
by Honey, I Blew Up the Kid (1992) and
Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves (1997).


Honey, I Shrunk the Kids

Movies for the Day, Monday, November 26, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Charles Schultz, Mark Twain, and Alice Herz.   

Which of today's movies would you watch?

A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1969) takes
Charlie Brown and the beloved Peanuts gang
to the the national spelling bee finals.
Creator Charles Schulz was born November
26, 1922.




A Boy Named Charlie Brown









Huckleberry Finn (1931) is based on the classic
Mark Twain novel about Finn and runaway slave
Jim rafting down the Mississippi.  Tom Sawyer is
also featured.  This version is somewhat dated but see
also Huckleberry Finn (1939 and 1974 [musical] and
1975 [TV movie]) and The Adventures of Huck
Finn (1993), The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1960)
and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1985).  Mark
Twain's birthday is coming up on November
30 (1835).


Huckleberry Finn

The Lady in Number 6:  Music Saved My
Life (2013) is the story of Alice Herz-Sommer, a Jewish
pianist from Prague who at her death at age 110
was the world's oldest Holocaust survivor.
She was born November 26, 1903, and died
February 23, 2014.  This movie won on Oscar for
Documentary Short Subject.




The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life

Movies for the Day, Sunday, November 25, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthday of Ricardo Montalban, an Aladdin anniversary, and the birthday of Winston Churchill.

Which of today's movies would you watch?

Fantasy Island (January 14, 1977 to May 19,
1984) was an extremely popular TV series
about a resort island whose visitors came to have their
dreams come true (but often with an unexpected twist).
The series starred Ricardo Montalban, born November
25, 1920.  There were seven seasons and 152 episodes
plus two TV movies.  Montalban also played the iconic
Khan Noonian Singh, a villain in the Star Trek franchise.


Fantasy Island










Aladdin (1992) is the animated Disney
version of the tale of Aladdin and the magic
lamp, with the genie inside.  This
movie was released November 25, 1992.  It
won Oscars for Original Song, A Whole
New World, and for Original Score.






Aladdin









Into the Storm (2009) follows Winston
Churchill during World War II, from about
1940 to 1945.  Churchill, the British Prime
Minister, was one of the great figures of the 20th
Century and this movie anticipates his birth date,
November 30 (1874).  This movie won Emmys
for Lead Actor, to Brendan Gleeson, born March 29,
1955, and Original Dramatic Underscore.  This selection
aired on HBO.

Into the Storm

Movies for the Day, Saturday, November 24, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Frances Hodgson Burnett, Henri de Toulousse-Lautrec, and Scott Joplin.  

Which of today's movies would you watch?

Little Lord Fauntleroy (1936) is a
classic story of a New York City kid
who inherits a British fortune and goes to
England.  The author of the book
is Frances Hodgson Burnett, born
November 24, 1849.  See also a television
version aired in 1980 (under the same name) which
won an Emmy for Cinematography.




Little Lord Fauntleroy









Moulin Rouge (1952) is a dramatization of
the life of disabled French artist Henri de Toulousse-
Lautrec in 19th century Paris.  The artist was born
November 24, 1864.  This movie won Oscars for
Costume Design and Art/Set Decoration. See also
Moulin Rouge! (2001) which also won Oscars
in the same categories.  The latter musical romance featured
an American Film Institute Song, Come What May.



Moulin Rouge











Scott Joplin (1977) is a television movie
about the great ragtime pianist and composer
Scott Joplin, who was born November 24,
1868, and died tragically in 1917.





Scott Joplin

Movies for the Day, Friday, November 23, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthday of Ruth Etting, a Cold War event, and the birthday of Billy the Kid.  Which of today's movies would you watch?







Love Me or Leave Me (1955) is a dramatization
of the life of jazz singer Ruth Etting and her
relationship with a gangster.  Etting was born
November 23, 1896.  This very good movie won
an Oscar for Original Screenplay and was nominated
for Oscars for Best Actor, to James Cagney, Sound,
Scoring, and Original Song, I'll Never Stop
Loving You.





Love Me or Leave Me








The Defection of Simas Kudirka (1978)
is based on the true story of seaman Kudirka's
attempted defection from Russia to the United
States on November 23, 1970, during the
height of the Cold War.  This television movie
won Emmys for Directing and Editing.






The Defection of Simas Kudirka








Gore Vidal's Billy the Kid (1989) is
based on Vidal's novel about the infamous
Wild West outlaw, who was born November
23, 1859.  This is a television movie.








Gore Vidal's Billy the Kid

Movies for the Day, Thursday, November 22, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthday of Robert Vaughn and Thanksgiving.  Which of today's selections would you watch?







The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (September 22, 1964
to January 15, 1968) was a very popular Cold War
television series about agents from U.N.C.L.E. against
arch-nemesis THRUSH.  It stars Robert Vaughn, born
November 22, 1932.  Co-star David McCallum was born
September 13, 1933.  Their superior was played by Leo
G. Carroll, born October 25, 1886.  There are 105
episodes.




The Man From U.N.C.L.E.







A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (November
20, 1973) is about the beloved Peanuts
gang celebrating Thanksgiving.  This
show won an Emmy for Writing, to Peanuts
creator Charles M. Schulz.  Today
is Thanksgiving.





A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving










Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) is
a very funny comedy about a man,
Steve Martin, struggling to get home for
Thanksgiving, and his traveling companion,
John Candy.  Today is Thanksgiving.





Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Movies for the Day, Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Today's movies mark World Television Day, the birthday of Marlo Thomas, and the Dayton Accords.  Which of today's selections would you watch?









A Face in the Crowd (1957) is about
a nobody who becomes a television sensation
and the power and corruption that ensues.
This movie is on the National Film Registry.
Today is United Nations World Television
Day.




A Face in the Crowd










That Girl (September 8, 1966 to March
19, 1971) was a very popular sitcom starring
Marlo Thomas as a struggling actress in New
York City, especially featuring interactions with
her boyfriend and father.  Thomas was born
November 21, 1937.  The sitcom lasted 5 seasons and
136 episodes.




That Girl









No Man's Land (2001) is about soldiers
trapped in a foxhole in 1993 during the
height of the Bosnian war.  This movie won
an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.
The war was resolved by the Dayton Accords,
agreed to November 21, 1995.  The treaty
was signed December 14, 1995.




No Man's Land

Movies for the Day, Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Today's movies mark National Bible Week, the Nuremberg trials, and World Children's Day.  Which of today's movies would you watch?







Samson and Delilah (1949) tells the Biblical
story of Samson and Delilah.  The movie won
Oscars for Costumes and Art/Set Decoration.
National Bible Week began Sunday, November
18, 2018.  It normally begins the Sunday before
Thanksgiving and lasts to the following
Sunday.





Samson and Delilah







Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) is a great
movie about the Nuremberg war crimes trials
after World War II.  This movie is about the
trial of four German judges on war crime charges.
The Nuremberg trials, which were a series of trials,
began November 20, 1945.  This movie won
Oscars for Best Actor, to Maximilian Schell, born
December 8, 1930, and Writing.



Judgment at Nuremberg

The Concert for World Children's
Day (2002) was a television special
on November 14, 2002.  United
Nations World Children's Day is
November 20.  This program won
an Emmy for the song Aren't They All
Our Children.



The Concert for World Children's Day

Movies for the Day, Monday, November 19, 2018

Today's movies mark a Monaco holiday, a Puerto Rico holiday, and the anniversary of a beloved cartoon series.  Which of today's selections would you watch?

Seven Thieves (1961) is a star-studded and
very good movie about seven thieves
who decide to steal from a Monte Carlo casino
vault.  Monte Carlo is in Monaco, which
celebrates its national holiday today, especially
marking the ascension to the throne of Prince
Albert II in 2005.




Seven Thieves









Carlito's Way (1993) is about a
Puerto Rican ex-con who tries the
straight life in New York City.
Today is Discovery Day in Puerto
Rico, dating from November 19,
1493.






Carlito's Way









The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle (2000)
is about a heroic flying squirrel and a bumbling moose
friend who (mostly) square off against Russian agents Boris and Natasha.  This animated movie is based on the classic cartoon series
Rocky and His Friends (1959-1961, 78 episodes) and The
Bullwinkle Show (1961-1963, 85 episodes).  These episodes
also featured classic cartoons Fractured Fairy Tales, Peabody's
Improbable History, Adventures of Dudley Doright, and Aesop's Fables.  See also The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle (2018-2019, 13 episodes).  This series has Cold War overtones and premiered
November 19, 1959.  Coincidentally the Cold War ended
November 19 - 21, 1990; a treaty was signed November 19.


The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle

Movies for the Day, Sunday, November 18, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Mickey Mouse and Clarence Day and Games and Puzzles Week.  Which of today's films would you watch?








The Band Concert (1935) is considered
one of the greatest cartoons ever.  It stars Mickey
Mouse, who first appeared on November 18,
1928, as Steamboat Willie.  This is Mickey's
fist color cartoon.






The Band Concert








Life With Father (1947) is a comedic
drama about a turn of the century
New York City stockbroker and his
rambunctious family.  It is based on the
life of Clarence Day, born November
18, 1874, who later went from stockbroker
to author and cartoonist.  This is a a very
highly regarded movie.  Also good to watch
on Father's Day in June.


Life With Father











Mazes and Monsters (1982) is about
game playing college students for whom
fantasy becomes real.  This above average
suspense TV movie stars Tom Hanks, born
July 9, 1956.  Today begins National Games
and Puzzles Week.




Mazes and Monsters

Movies for the Day, Saturday, November 17, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthday of Martin Scorsese, the Velvet Revolution, and the birthday of Bill Morrison.  Which of today's films would you watch?

Mean Streets (1973) is an excellent movie
about a small time gangster in New York City.
It is on the National Film Registry.  It was directed
and written (in part) by acclaimed movie-maker
Martin Scorsese, born November 17, 1942.  It
stars Robert DeNiro, born August 17, 1943.




Mean Streets

Kolya (1996) is a slice-of-life movie
set in 1988 Prague.  Czechoslovakia experienced
the so-called Velvet Revolution for independence
from November 17, 1989, to December 29,
1989.  This movie, which won an Oscar as Best
Foreign Language Film, is about a mid-fifties
cellist and lothario who is made guardian of a small
Russian boy.



Kolya

Decasia (2002) is an experimental film
by Bill Morrison including found
footage.  It is about physicality and
decomposition.  This movie is on the National
Film Registry.  Morrison was born November
17, 1965.





Decasia

Movies for the Day, Friday, November 16, 2018

Today's movies mark International Day for Tolerance, Oklahoma's admission date, and the birthday of Salvatore Giuliano.  Which of today's movies would you watch?

Intolerance (1916) is the classic epic
film from D.W. Griffiths that tells a story
of prejudice through the ages.  This
film is on the National Film Registry. This silent
film is also know as Intolerance:  Love's 
Struggle Through the Ages.  Today is International
Day for Tolerance, adopted by UNESCO on November
16, 1995, as part of its Declaration of Principles on
Tolerance.


Intolerance






Oklahoma (1955) is a great
adaptation of the Rodgers & Hammerstein
Broadway musical about the early days
of Oklahoma.  This musical about
romance combines comedy and drama.  It is on the
National Film Registry.  It won an Oscar for
Score and Sound.  The Broadway musical
premiered March 31, 1943.  Oklahoma was admitted to
the Union on November 16, 1907.



Oklahoma!









Salvatore Giuliano (1962) is the story
of an organized crime figure in 1940s
Siciliy.  This is a critically acclaimed movie.
Giuliano was born November 16, 1922.





Salvatore Giuliano

Movies for the Day, Thursday, November 15, 2018

Today's movies mark a World War II campaign, the Great American Smokeout, and the birthday of Georgia O'Keefe.  Which of today's movies would you watch?







Operation Crossbow (1965) is a spy
thriller fictional account of a real-life
Operation Crossbow to infiltrate the German
rocket program during World War II.  The
operation was so-named November 15, 1943, and
took place from August 1943 to May 2, 1945.  It
was a Mission Impossible type operation with
commandos.



Operation Crossbow








Cold Turkey (1971) is a comedy
about a town that tries to quit
smoking.  Today is the Great
American Smokeout.





Cold Turkey













Georgia O'Keefe (2009) is a TV biopic
of artist Georgia O'Keefe and her husband,
photographer Alfred Stieglitz.  O'Keefe
was born November 15, 1887.  This
Lifetime Network offering was nominated for
an Emmy as Oustanding Made for TV Movie.




Georgia O'Keefe