Movies for the Day, Sunday, September 1, 2019

Today's movies mark the birthday of Seiji Ozawa, primate day, and the start of World War II.

Which of today's movies would you watch?










Central Park in the Dark/ A Hero's Life
(1975) is an episode of the Boston
Symphony Orchestra's PBS TV series
Evening at Symphony.  Seiji Ozawa, seen right
in 1963 and born September 1, 1935,
won an Emmy for Outstanding Achievement
in Music Direction in 1976 for the episode.





Central Park in the Dark/ A Hero's Life












Project X (1987) is about an
attempt to rescue experimental
chimps.  September 1 is
International Primate Day.
December 14 is Monkey Day.






Project X








Inglourious Basterds (2009) is
an alternate history of World War
II, especially an assassination plot against
Nazi leadership.  It was directed by
Quentin Tarantino, born March 27, 1963, and
stars Brad Pitt, born December 18, 1963.
It won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor,
to Christopher Waltz.  World War II began
September 1, 1939, when Germany invaded
Poland.

Inglourious Basterds

Movies for the Day, Saturday, August 31, 2019

Today's movies mark a Malaysia anniversary and the birthdays of Marva Collins and James Coburn.

Which of today's movies would you watch?










A Town Like Alice (1956) is about
the oppression of female British POWs
in Malaysia during World War II.  August
31 is Independence Day in Malaysia.






A Town Like Alice









The Marva Collins Story (1981) is
about a black female schoolteacher
in Chicago overcoming obstacles.
An inspiring movie.  See also
Marva Collins:  Excellence in 
Education (1982), an informational
special.



The Marva Collins Story














Affliction (1998) is a drama
about a cop afflicted by family
issues and mental illness and it is
a crime mystery.  It is largely set in
winter in New Hampshire.  James Coburn,
born August 31, 1928, won an Oscar as Best
Supporting Actress.  New Hampshire ratified the
Constitution June 21, 1788.



Affliction

Movies for the Day, Friday, August 30, 2019

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Mary Shelley and Helen Levitt and a Polish anniversary.

Which of today's movies would you watch?

Gods and Monsters (1998) is about is
about film director James Whale at the end
of his life in the 1950s and Frankenstein
movies.  This movie won an Oscar for Writing.
Mary Shelley, creator of Frankenstein, was
born August 30, 1797.




Gods and Monsters










In the Street (1948) is a short silent
movie of Spanish Harlem street
life, especially children; a grim reality.
Filmed in the 1940s, it was released in
1948 and 1952.  It is the vision of Helen
Levitt, born August 31, 1913.  It is on the
National Film Registry.  Levitt is a famed
New York City street photographer.


In the Street









Man of Marble (1977) is an excellent
Polish film about a bricklayer-worker hero and a filmmaker.
It, along with the sequel, Man of Iron (1980)
are an epic.  Solidarity was founded in Poland
August 31, 1980.




Man of Marble

Movies for the Day, Thursday, August 29, 2019

Today's movies mark a hurricane anniversary and the birthdays of Ingrid Bergman and Richard Attenborough.

Which of today's movies would you watch?








The Hurricane (1937) is about island
life, persecution, adventure, and romance, and
a hurricane.  It won an Oscar for Sound.
A very good movie.  From August 29 to
September 10, 1935, a hurricane ravaged
the Caribbean and southeastern United States
(400+ dead).



The Hurricane









The Bells of St. Mary's (1945) is about
a rivalry between a priest and nuns over
improving a big city Catholic parochial
school.  It won an Oscar for Sound.
Ingrid Bergman, born August 29,
1915, won a Golden Globe for Best
Actress.




The Bells of St. Mary's











Seance on a Wet Afternoon (1964) is
a drama about a medium who involves
her husband in a shady project.  This
excellent must-see movie stars and was
co-produced by Richard Attenborough, born
August 29, 1923.





Seance on a Wet Afternoon

Movies for the Day, Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Today's movies mark a Pan American Games anniversary and the birthdays of Goethe and Scott Hamilton.

Which of today's movies would you watch?









The Horse With the Flying Tail (1960) is
about a champion horse, Nautical, that won a team
gold medal at the 1959 Pan American Games
held August 28 to September 7, 1959.  This
movie won an Oscar for Best Feature Documentary.




The Horse With the Flying Tail












Bedazzled (1967) is a romantic comedy
about a man selling his soul to the devil
to win a woman's love.  It is based on
the Faust story, famously by Johann W.
Goethe, born August 28, 1749.  See also
Bedazzled (2000).





Bedazzled











Scott Hamilton:  Upside Down (1996)
is a TV movie about the famous figure
skater, pictured here in 2002.  Hamilton
was born August 28, 1958.  This movie
won an Emmy for Outstanding Choreography.




Scott Hamilton: Upside Down

Movies for the Day, Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Today's movies mark the birthday of Theodore Dreiser, an oil well anniversary, and the birthday of C.S. Forester.

Which of today's movies would you watch?








An American Tragedy (1931) is about
social climbing and murder.  It is based
on the classic novel by Theodore
Dreiser, born August 27, 1871.






An American Tragedy













High, Wide, and Handsome (1937) is
a musical western about oil drilling
in 19th century Pennsylvania.  The
first commercial oil well was drilled
August 27, 1859.  Pennsylvania ratified
the Constitution December 12, 1787.




High, Wide, and Handsome











Captain Horatio Hornblower (1951)
is about a British naval hero of the
Napoleanic era.  It is based on the
novels of C.S. Forester, born August 27,
1899.





Captain Horatio Hornblower

Movies for the Day, Monday, August 26, 2019

Today's movies mark National Dog Day and a music festival.

Which of today's movies would you watch?










Pups Is Pups (1930) is a comedy
short starring the Little Rascals and
dogs.  It is on the National Film
Registry.  August 26 is National Dog
Day.





Pups Is Pups













The Fox and the Hound (1981) is
about an unlikely relationship between
a fox and a hound.  An animated
favorite from Walt Disney.  August 26
is National Dog Day.




The Fox and the Hound












Message to Love:  The Isle of Wight
Festival (1996) is a documentary look
at the huge music festival held
August 26 to August 30, 1970.







Message to Love: The Isle of Wight Festival

Movies for the Day, Sunday, August 25, 2019

Today's movies mark National Dog Day and the birthday of Tom Skerritt.

Which of today's movies would you watch?

Old Yeller (1957) is a Walt Disney
movie about a boy and a dog and farm
life in about 1869 Texas.  August 26
is National Dog Day.







Old Yeller











Picket Fences (September 18, 1992 to
June 26, 1996) is about a sheriff of a small
town (Rome, Wisconsin) where weird things
happen.  There are 88 episodes; the show lasted
four seasons.  It starred as sheriff Tom Skerritt, born
August 25, 1933.  The series won Emmys for Guest
Actor, to Richard Kiley (1994), Supporting Actor,
to Fyvush Finkel (1994), Supporting Actress, to
Leigh Taylor-Young (1994), Outstanding Drama
Series (1994), Guest Actor, to Paul Winfield (1995),
Lead Actress, to Kathy Baker (1995, 1996), Supporting Actor,
to Ray Walston (1995, 1996), and Costuming (1994, 1995).

Picket Fences









Feast (2014) is a dog's view of a romance.
This movie won an Oscar for Animated
Short Film.  National Dog Day is August 26.






Feast

Movies for the Day, Saturday, August 24, 2019

Today's movies mark a nuclear war anniversary and the birthdays of Peter Hutton and a surfer.

Which of today's movies would you watch?







Threads (1984) is about the effect
of a nuclear war on a British town and
especially two families.  August is the
month that atomic bombs were dropped on
Hiroshima and Nagasaki (August 6 and
9, 1945, respectively) and August 29 is
International Day Against Nuclear Tests.



Threads









Study of A  River (1997) is an
experimental film about winter
on the Hudson River.  It was directed
by Peter Hutton, born August
24, 1944.  It is on the National
Film Registry.





Study of a River











In God's Hands (1998) is about
professional surfers seeking a perfect
wave.  The great Hawaiian surfer,
Duke Kahanamoku, was born August 24,
1890.




In God's Hands

Movies for the Day, Friday, August 23, 2019

Today's movies mark the birthday of Gene Kelly, an aviation anniversary, and the death of William Wallace.

Which of today's movies would you watch?









The Cross of Lorraine (1943) is about
a World War II POW camp.  This very
good movie stars Gene Kelly, born
August 23, 1912.






The Cross of Lorraine








Braveheart (1995) is the story
of the Scottish rebel William Wallace
of the 1200s against King Edward I.
This inspiring and thrilling movie won
Oscars for Best Picture, Director-
to Mel Gibson (born January 3), Cinematography,
Sound Effects Editing, and Makeup.
Wallace died August 23, 1305.



Braveheart







The Flight of the Gossamer Condor (1978)
is about the first human powered
aircraft flight on August 23,
1977.  It won an Oscar for Best
Documentary, Short Subject.






The Flight of the Gossamer Condor

Movies for the Day, Thursday, August 22, 2019

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Ray Bradbury, Valerie Harper, and Dorothy Parker.

Which of today's movies would you watch?










It Came From Outer Space (1953) is
a science fiction horror classic about
aliens invading Earth.  It is based on a
story by Ray Bradbury, born August 22,
1920.





It Came From Outer Space











Rhoda (September 9, 1974, to December
9, 1978) is a sitcom starring Valerie Harper,
born August 22, 1939.  It lasted five seasons and
110 episodes.  It won Emmys for Lead
Actress, to Harper (1975) and Supporting Actress,
to Julie Kavner (1978).  It was quite
popular.



Rhoda













Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994)
is a drama about the literati members of
New York City's Algonquin Round Table in
the 1920s.  Dorothy Parker was born August
22, 1893.






Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle

Movies for the Day, Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Today's movies mark the release of Bambi, the birthday of John Henry Faulk, and Hawaii statehood.

Which of today's movies would you watch?









Bambi Meets Godzilla (1969) is a classic cartoon.
The movie Bambi was released August 21,
1942.







Bambi Meets Godzilla











Fear on Trial (1975) is about the
McCarthy era blacklisting of radio and
TV personality John Henry Faulk and
his subsequent career and the trial to clear
his name.  This TV movie won an Emmy
for Writing.  Faulk was born August 21,
1913.




Fear on Trial

The Descendants (2011) is a family
drama set in Hawaii, which was admitted
to the Union August 21, 1959.  It won an
Oscar for Adapted Screenplay.





The Descendants

Movies for the Day, Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Today's movies mark honey bee day and the birthdays of Don King and Mark Borchardt.

Which of today's movies would you watch?







Invasion of the Bee Girls (1973) is a
campy science fiction movie about women
turned into sexually driven "queen bees."
National Honey Bee Day is in August, in
2019 on August 17.




Invasion of the Queen Bees











Don King:  Only in America (1997)
is a dramatic biography of the famous
boxing promoter.  King was born August
20, 1931.  This movie won Emmys for
Writing and as Outstanding Made for
TV Movie.




Don King: Only in America











American Movie (1999) is about a
filmmaker, Mark Borchardt, born
August 20, 1966, trying to complete
his horror short Coven.  It is a comedic
documentary.  A very good movie.





American Movie

Movies for the Day, Monday, August 19, 2019

Today's movies mark aviation day and the birthdays of Bill Clinton and Frank McCourt.

Which of today's movies would you watch?







Top Gun (1986) is about an elite
naval aviators training school.  This
very popular movie won an Oscar for
Original Song- Take My Breath Away.
It features an American Film Institute
Quote- "I feel the need- the need for speed."
August 19 is National Aviation Day.



Top Gun













The War Room (1993) is a
documentary about the 1992
Clinton presidential campaign.  Bill
Clinton was born August 19, 1946.





The War Room














Angela's Ashes (1999) is based on
the best-selling autobiography of Frank
McCourt, born August 19, 1930.  The book
won a Pulitzer Prize.  It is mostly about
Dublin in the 1930s and 1940s.






Angela's Ashes

Movies for the Day, Sunday, August 18, 2019

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Franz Joseph, Shelley Winters, and Denis Leary.

Which of today's movies would you watch?








Forever My Love (1962) is about
the romance between 19th century Austrian
Emperor Franz Joseph I (born August 18,
1830) and his Empress Elizabeth (born
December 24, 1837).





Forever My Love











Patch of Blue (1965) is about the
relationship between a blind white
girl and a black man.  This movie won
an Oscar for Supporting Actress, to
Shelley Winters, born August 18, 1920.




Patch of Blue













Rescue Me (July 21, 2004, to September
7, 2011) is a TV series about a firefighter
combing elements of drama and comedy and
9/11 issues.  It stars Denis Leary as the New York
City firefighter.  It was on for 7 seasons, 95 episodes.
It won an Emmy for Guest Actor, to Michael
J. Fox.  Leary was born August 18, 1957.



Rescue Me

Movies for the Day, Saturday, August 17, 2019

Today's movies mark a steamboat anniversary and the birthdays of Mae West and Robert de Niro.

Which of today's movies would you watch?

Steamboat 'Round the Bend (1935) is about
a steamboat race on the Mississippi.  It combines
drama, comedy and romance.  Fulton first
sailed his steamboat on the Hudson River
August 17, 1807.





Steamboat 'Round the Bend










My Little Chickadee (1940)
is a classic western comedy starring
W.C. Fields and Mae West, the
latter born August 17, 1893.





My Little Chickadee













The King of Comedy (1983) is a
very good movie about a sicko on
a talk show.  This comedy
stars Robert De Niro, born August
17, 1943.




The King of Comedy

Movies for the Day, Friday, August 16, 2019

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Timothy Hutton and Madonna and the death of Idi Amin.

Which of today's movies would you watch?









Ordinary People (1980) is an excellent
movie about a well-to-do family dealing
with the death of the eldest son.  This movie
won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Supporting
Actor, to Timothy Hutton, born August 16,
1960, Director (Robert Redford), and Writing.



Ordinary People










Truth or Dare (1991) is a rockumentary
focusing on Madonna, born August 16,
1958, and especially her 1990 Blonde
Ambition international tour.






Truth or Dare











The Last King of Scotland (2006) is a
dramatic biographical look at Uganda's brutal
dictator, Idi Amin, who died August 16, 2003.
The perspective of his Scottish physician is
integral.  Forest Whitaker, born July 15, 1961,
stars.




The Last King of Scotland