Movies for the Day, Saturday, June 1, 2019

Today's movies mark the birthday of Marilyn Monroe, Tennessee Statehood, and the birthday of Andy Griffith.

Which of today's movies would you watch?

Some Like It Hot (1959) is a classic movie
about two musicians who see a Mob massacre and
flee to Miami as members of an all girl band.  This
musical comedy is on the National Film Registry, and
won an Oscar for Costume Design.  It features an American
Film Institute Great Quote, "Well, nobody's perfect."
The movie stars Marilyn Monroe, born June 1, 1926.



Some Like It Hot









Nashville (1975) is an excellent movie
and a mosaic of American life and character
study as seen in a Nashville political rally.  It
won an Oscar for Original Song, I'm Easy.
It is on the National Film Registry.  Tennessee
was admitted to the Union June 1, 1796.




Nashville










Matlock (1986-1995) is a TV series about a
high-priced defense attorney.  It stars Andy Griffith,
born June 1, 1926.  There are 181 episodes.







Matlock

Movies for the Day, Friday, May 31, 2019

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Don Ameche, Rainer Warner Fassbinder, and Clint Eastwood.

Which of today's movies would you watch?








Heaven Can Wait (1943) is a very good
movie about a man and the afterlife.
It stars Don Ameche, born May 31, 1908.  A
different movie was made under the same title
in 1978 starring Warren Beatty, born March
30, 1938, as a football player.  The latter movie
won an Oscar for Art Direction/Decoration.




Heaven Can Wait











Fox and His Friends (1975) is an excellent
German movie about a gay lower class,
the lottery, and an attempt to enter the upper
class.  Rainer Werner Fassbinder stars in and
directed this movie.  He was born May 31,
1945.





Fox and His Friends













Sudden Impact (1983) is the fourth of
the Dirty Harry police thrillers starring
Clint Eastwood, born May 31, 1930.
It features an American Film Institute Great
Quote:  "Go ahead, make my day."




Sudden Impact

Movies for the Day, Thursday, May 30, 2019

Today's movies mark a newspaper anniversary, the birthday of Peter the Great, and the Feast Day of Joan of Arc.

Which of today's movies would you watch?

The Front Page (1931) is a very good
comedy about newspaper journalism
in 1920s Chicago.  See also a 1974 remake.
The first American daily newspaper dates
to May 30, 1783.






The Front Page








Peter the Great (1986) is a miniseries
about the Russian Czar, born June 9, 1672, O.S.
May 30, 1672.  The four episodes
won Emmys for Costume Design, Music
Underscore, and Outstanding Miniseries.





Peter the Great

The Messenger:  The Story of Joan
of Arc (1999) is the story of the
young French saint whose Feast Day
is May 30 (1431).  She was born in
1412.





The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc

Movies for the Day, Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Patrick Henry, Bob Hope and John F. Kennedy.

Which of today's movies would you watch?






Give Me Liberty (1936) is about Patrick
Henry's famous Revolutionary War speech.
This movie won an Oscar for Best
Short Film.  Henry was born May 29,
1736.




Give Me Liberty


















My Favorite Blonde (1942) is a comedy
featuring Bob Hope, spies, and a trained
penguin.  Hope was born May 29, 1903.





My Favorite Blonde











The Kennedys (April 3, 2011 to April 10,
2011) is a miniseries about President John
F. Kennedy and his family.  It won Emmys for
Lead Actor, to Barry Pepper, for playing
Robert F. Kennedy, Sound Mixing, Makeup,
and Hairstyling.  There are eight episodes.
President Kennedy was born May 29, 1917.




The Kennedys

Movies for the Day, Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Today's movies mark the birthday of Ian Fleming, Jewish American Heritage Month, and the Feast Day of St. Bernard.

Which of today's movies would you watch?








Goldfinger (1964) is a thrilling James
Bond movie.  It features an American Film
Institute great quote, "A martini.  Shaken, not
stirred" and an AFI great villain, Goldfinger, and
an AFI great song, Goldfinger.  This very good
movie won an Oscar for Best Sound Effects.
Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond, was born
May 28, 1908.



Goldfinger








Fiddler on the Roof (1971) is based
on a play and is a musical about Jewish
life and heritage in pre-revolutionaty Russia.
This inspiring movie won Oscars for
Cinematography, Sound, and Scoring-
Adaptation and Original Song.  May is Jewsih
American Heritage Month.




Fiddler on the Roof











Beethoven (1992) is about a family
and their St. Bernard dog.  The feast
day of St. Bernard is May 28 (1081).
See also Beethoven's 2nd (1993).






Beethoven

Movies for the Day, Monday, May 27, 2019

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Herman Wouk and Peter Marshall and a cruise ship anniversary.

Which of today's movies would you watch?






The Caine Mutiny (1954) is an excellent
movie about a mutiny on a naval vessel during
World War II and the ensuing court martial.
It is based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by
Herman Wouk, born May 27, 1915.  It was a TV movie
in 1988 and also in 1956.  The 1956 version won Emmys
for Best Actor, to Lloyd Nolan, Best TV Adaptation, and
Directing.



The Caine Mutiny










A Man Called Peter (1955) is based on
the life of Peter Marshall, a Scotsman who
becomes a clergyman and United States Senate
chaplain.  Marshall was born May 27, 1902.






A Man Called Peter









Ship of Fools (1965) is an excellent movie
about a luxury cruise just before World War
II.  It won Oscars for Cinematography and
Art Direction/Set Decoration.  The RMS Queen
Mary had its maiden voyage May 27, 1936.



Ship of Fools

Movies for the Day, Sunday, May 26, 2019

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Al Jolson and John Wayne and Developmentally Disabled Awareness Day.

Which of today's movies would you watch?

The Jolson Story (1946) is the story
of Al Jolson, show business star.  This
movie won Oscars for Score and Sound.  A
very good movie.  Jolson was born May
26, 1886.






The Jolson Story








The Shootist (1976) is a classic
western starring John Wayne as an aging
gunfighter.  Wayne was born May 26,
1907.







The Shootist

i am sam (2001) is a look at a
man with developmental disability.
This is a very good movie.  In the past,
Developmentally Disabled Awareness Day
has been in May.





i am sam

Movies for the Day, Saturday, May 25, 2019

Today's movies mark anniversaries in Africa and Argentina.

Which of today's movies would you watch?

Free Radicals (1958, revised 1979) is a short
animation (4 minutes) in which lines and shapes
dance to the music of an African tribe.  This avant-garde
film is on the National Film Registry.  The Organization
for African Unity was founded May 25 (1963) and
May 25 is regarded as African Freedom Day.




Free Radicals













Evita (1996) is the story of Evita Peron, wife
of dictator Juan Peron of Argentina.  It focuses
on 1940s Argentina.  It is based on the hit
musical.  It won an Oscar for Original Song,
You Must Love Me.  Argentina's national
day is May 25 (1810).




Evita














The Secret in Their Eyes (2009) is an
Argentine crime thriller movie.  It won an
Oscar as Best Foreign Language Film.
Argentina's national day is May 25 (1810),
marking Argentina's revolt against Spanish rule.





The Secret in Their Eyes

Movies for the Day, Friday, May 24, 2019

Today's movies mark a piano competition and the birthdays of Bob Dylan and Queen Victoria.

Which of today's movies would you watch?

The Piano Teacher (2001) is a character
study of a piano teacher.  This is a very
good movie.  The Van Cliburn International
Piano Competition (at least some version)
usually begins in May.




The Piano Teacher










I'm Not There (2007) is a
portrait of musician Bob
Dylan.  Dylan was born May 24,
1941.






I'm Not There










The Young Victoria (2009) is a docudrama
about the early years of Queen Victoria's
reign.  She was born May 24, 1819.  This movie
won an Oscar for Costume Design.




The Young Victoria

Movies for the Day, Thursday, May 23, 2019

Today's movies mark the birthday of Douglas Fairbanks Sr., the death of Bonnie & Clyde, and the birthday of Artie Shaw.

Which of today's movies would you watch?

The Black Pirate (1926) is a silent
swashbuckler about a nobleman who
turns pirate.  This movie is on the National
Film Registry.  It stars Douglas Fairbanks
Sr., born May 23, 1883.






The Black Pirate










Gun Crazy (1950) is a very good movie
about a couple who go on a criminal
spree.  The movie is on the National Film
Registry.  See also Gun Crazy (1992).
May 23 (1934) is the anniversary of the
death of Bonnie & Clyde, a real couple
who went on a criminal spree.




Gun Crazy











Artie Shaw:  Time Is All You've Got (1985)
is a documentary about the famous musician
and bandleader.  It won an Oscar for Best
Feature Documentary.  Shaw was born May
23, 1910.





Artie Shaw: Time Is All You've Got

Movies for the Day, Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Today's movies mark the birthday of Laurence Olivier, a train robbery, and the birthday of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Which of today's movies would you watch?







The Entertainer (1960) is a very good
drama about vaudeville.  It stars
Laurence Olivier, born May 22, 1907.






The Entertainer













The Great Train Robbery (1973) is based
on a novel by Michael Crichton, born
October 23, 1942, which in turn is based
on a notorious train robbery on May 22,
1855.  This movie set in the mid-1800s Victorian
England is about a heist of gold from a moving
train.


The Great Train Robbery

Sherlock (2010- ) features the famous
detective in modern times.  Thus far, there have
been 15 episodes on PBS.  The series has won
Emmys for Lead Actor, to Benedict Cumberbatch,
Supporting Actor, to Martin Freeman, Writing,
Cinematography, Picture Editing, Sound Editing,
and Music Composition (in 2014) and in 2017
for Lead Actor, to Benedict Cumberbatch.  Cumberbatch
was born July 19, 1976.  The birthday of the creator
of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle,
is May 22, 1859.

Sherlock

Movies for the Day, Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Today's movies mark Inventors Month, the birthday of Fats Waller, and Mental Health Month.

Which of today's movies would you watch?

Monkey Business (1952) is a comedy about
an inventor of a rejuvenation serum and a monkey.
There is a line to Marilyn Monroe as a secretary-
"find someone to type this ***."  The absent-minded
professor is played by Cary Grant, born January
18, 1904.  May is Inventors Month.




Monkey Business

Ain't Misbehavin' (1982) is a TV
movie about the music, life and
times of Fats Waller, born May 21,
1904.  It features 29 songs he wrote
or performed.  It won Emmys for Outstanding
Individual Achievement, to Nell
Carter, born September 13, 1948, and to
Andre De Shields, born January 12,
1946.

Ain't Misbehavin'












What About Bob? (1991) is a comedy about
a phobic patient who pursues his
psychotherapist.  It stars Bill Murray.  May
is Mental Health Month.





What About Bob?

Movies for the Day, Monday, May 20, 2019

Today's movies mark the birthdays of James Stewart, R.J. Mitchell, and Cher.

Which of today's movies would you watch?








The Philadelphia Story (1940) is a romantic
comedy about a reporter and society gal.  It is on
the National Film Registry.  This passionate
movie is based on a Broadway comedy.  The movie
won an Oscar for Best Actor, to Jimmy Stewart,
born May 20, 1908, and Adapted Screenplay.





The Philadelphia Story









Spitfire (1942) is a bio of the
developer of the World War II
airplane, the Spitfire.  R.J.
Mitchell was born May 20, 1895.





Spitfire












Cher:  The Farewell Tour (2003) is a
music documentary featuring a concert
on the tour.  This film won Emmys for
Technical Direction, Costumes, and Outstanding
Special.  Cher was born May 20, 1946.



Cher: The Farewell Tour

Movies for the Day, Sunday, May 19, 2019

Today's movies mark the birthday of Malcolm X, Police Week, and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Which of today's movies would you watch?







Death of a Prophet (1981) is a fictionalized
account of Malcolm X, born May 19,
1925.  A TV movie.







Death of a Prophet

Detective Story (1951) is a movie about
a hard-nosed detective in New York City and the cast
of characters in his life, including an
abortionist.  It is based on a Broadway play
by Sidney Kingsley.  Last week was Police
Week (May 12-18, 2019).






Detective Story









Eat a Bowl of Tea (1989) is about a
Chinese woman who emigrates to
the United States after World War II.
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander
Heritage Month.




Eat a Bowl of Tea

Movies for the Day, Saturday, May 18, 2019

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Robert Morse, Pernell Roberts, and Pope John Paul II.

Which of today's movies would you watch?

How to Succeed in Business Without Really
Trying (1967) is a very good musical comedy
starring Robert Morse, born May 18, 1931.
It was a musical comedy on Broadway first.





How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Trapper John, M.D. (September 23, 1979-
September 4, 1986) is a M*A*S*H* spinoff
of a Korean War doctor now in a big city
hospital.  There are seven seasons and 151
episodes.  It stars Pernell Roberts, born
May 18, 1928.



Trapper John, M.D.











Pope John Paul II (1984) is a good
TV biography of the Pope, born
May 18, 1920.







Pope John Paul II

Movies for the Day, Friday, May 17, 2019

Today's movies mark Norway's National Day and Brown v Board's anniversary.

Which of today's movies would you watch?







I Remember Mama (1948) is a very
good movie about a Norwegian immigrant
family in San Francisco, circa 1910.  It is based
on a play and became a TV series.  May 17
is Norway's National Day.





I Remember Mama










The Intruder (1962) is about racism
and especially school integration.  The United
States Supreme Court school integration
decision, Brown v Board of Education, was
decided May 17, 1954.





The Intruder












Insomnia (1997) is a psychological
thriller about a police investigation of a
murder in Norway.  This movie was remade
in 2002, but set in Alaska.  Norway's
Independence Day is May 17, 1814.  Both
are good movies.




Insomnia

Movies for the Day, Thursday, May 16, 2019

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Henry Fonda and Mare Winngham.

Which of today's movies would you watch?

The Magnificent Dope (1942) is a comedy
about a hayseed who makes it in the big city.
This movie stars Henry Fonda, born May 16, 1905.






The Magnificent Dope









The Male Animal (1942) is a very good
movie about an English professor and
college life and romance.  It stars Henry
Fonda, born May 16, 1905.





The Male Animal














Amber Waves (1980) is a TV movie about
two distressed men, one older and one
younger, in Kansas.  The movie won an Emmy
for Supporting Actress, to Mare Winningham,
born May 16, 1959.





Amber Waves