Movies for the Day, Monday, August 31, 2020

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Mary Shelley and Herman Melville, and Jack the Ripper.

Which of today's movies would you watch?








Terror of Frankenstein (1975) is a
faithful adaptation of the novel by
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, born
August 30, 1797.






Terror of Frankenstein













The Great Whales (1978) is a
documentary about whales.  Moby
Dick, written by Herman Melville,
born August 1, 1819, is the great
novel about a whale.  This movie won an
Emmy for Informational Special.




The Great Whales












Jack the Ripper (1988) is about
investigating the mystery of who
was Jack the Ripper.  It is a two-part
miniseries which won an Emmy for
Hairstyling.  The Whitechapel murders
began August 31, 1888.




Jack the Ripper

Movies for the Day, Sunday, August 30, 2020

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Fred MacMurray, Shirley Booth, and Mary Shelley.

Which of today's movies would you watch?










The Trail of the Lonesome Pine (1936) is
a classic story of feuding families, a train
being built on their land, and romance.  It stars
Sylvia Sidney, Fred MacMurray, born August
30, 1908, and Henry Fonda.





The Trail of the Lonesome Pine











Hazel (1961-1966) is a sitcom
about the Baxter family and their
live-in maid Hazel, played by Shirley
Booth, born August 30, 1898.  It won
Emmys for Lead Actress, to Booth (1962,
1963).





Hazel










Frankenstein:  The True Story (1973)
is a TV movie telling the true story
of Frankenstein, originally penned by
Mary Shelley, born August 30, 1797.







Frankenstein: The True Story

Movies for the Day, Saturday, August 29, 2020

Today's movies mark the birthday of Maurice Maeterlinck, nuclear tests, and the birthday of Elliott Gould.

Which of today's movies would you watch?








The Blue Bird (1918) is a silent fantasy
about children seeking the blue bird of
happiness.  It is on the National Film Registry.
It is based on a play by Maurice Maeterlinck,
born August 29, 1862.  See also The Blue Bird
(1940) and The Blue Bird (1976).




The Blue Bird











Duck and Cover (1952) is a civil defense
film which instructs children on surviving
an atomic blast.  It is a little over nine minutes
long.  It is on the National Film Registry.
August 29 is United Nations International Day
Against Nuclear Tests.






Duck and Cover







The Last Flight of Noah's Ark (1980)
is about a plane carrying animals which
must be turned into a boat to escape a
desert island.  This Disney film stars
Elliott Gould, born August 29, 1938.






The Last Flight of Noah's Ark

Movies for the Day, Friday, August 28, 2020

Today's movies mark bat night, and the birthdays of Donald O'Connor and Mary Shelley.

Which of today's movies would you watch?










The Devil Bat (1940) is a horror film
about giant bats trained to suck blood and
kill people.  International Bat Night falls
during the last full weekend in August.






The Devil Bat












The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950-
1955) was a variety series featuring
comedians and entertainers of the era.
Donald O'Connor, born August 28,
1925, won an Emmy as Best Male Star of a
Regular Series in 1954.  It was on for
six seasons and 221 episodes.




The Colgate Comedy Hour














Frankenstein (2004) is a two-episode
miniseries that adheres closely to the book
by Mary Shelley, born August 30,
1797.  This Hallmark production won an
Emmy for Makeup.





Frankenstein

Movies for the Day, Thursday, August 27, 2020

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Theodore Dreiser, Pee-Wee Herman, and Mary Shelley.

Which of today's movies would you watch?

Carrie (1952) is the story of a provincial
girl in the big city and romance.  It is based
on Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser, born August 27, 1871.






Carrie









Big Top Pee-wee (1988) is
about Pee-wee Herman and the
circus.  Pee-wee (Paul Reubens)
was born August 27, 1952.







Big Top Pee-wee









The Spirit of the Beehive (1973) is about
a lonely little village girl seeking
Frankenstein after seeing the movie.
Frankenstein was created by Mary Shelley,
born August 30, 1797.






The Spirit of the Beehive

Movies for the Day, Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Today's movies mark a volcano, the birthday of Earl Derr Biggers, and Jamaica.

Which of today's movies would you watch?







Krakatoa (1933) is a movie about
the immense eruption of the Krakatoa
volcano in 1883, which began August 26,
1883.  It won an Oscar for Short Films
(Novelty).





Krakatoa











Charlie Chan in London (1934) is
part of a movie serial about a detective
from Honolulu.  The creator was Earl Derr
Biggers, born August 26, 1884.  See also
Charlie Chan in Egypt (1935), Charlie Chan at the
Opera (1936), Charlie Chan on Broadway
(1937), and Charlie Chan at Treasure Island
(1939).


Charlie Chan in London












Cool Runnings (1993) is a Disney
movie about a Jamaican bobsled
team and the 1988 Winter Olympics.
A true story.  Jamaica's Independence
Day is usually celebrated on the
first Monday in August.




Cool Runnings

Movies for the Day, Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Today's movies mark the birthday of Leonard Bernstein and National Dog Day.

Which of today's movies would you watch?








Omnibus Leonard Bernstein (1956)
is about the famed conductor and won an
Emmy for Best Musical Contribution for TV,
to Bernstein, born August 25, 1918.





Omnibus Leonard Bernstein












The Doberman Gang (1972) is an
action comedy about dobermans in a
bank robbery.  National Dog Day is
August 26.




The Doberman Gang










The Amazing Dobermans (1976) is
a family comedy about trained dobermans
catching crooks.  National Dog Day is
August 26.




The Amazing Dobermans

Movies for the Day, Monday, August 24, 2020

Today's movies mark National Dog Day.

Which of today's movies would you watch?







A Boy and His Dog (1946) is a family
drama but especially about a boy and his
hound dog.  This movie won an Oscar
for Best Short Film (Two Reel).  August 26
is National Dog Day.





A Boy and His Dog











A Boy and His Dog (1975) is about
a young man and his smarter telepathic
dog in a post-nuclear war world wandering
until they find an underground
civilization.  National Dog Day is
August 26.




A Boy and His Dog














Man's Best Friend (1993) is a
science fiction thriller horror movie
about a deadly genetically engineered
dog.  National Dog Day is August 26.





Man's Best Friend

Movies for the Day, Sunday, August 23, 2020

Today's movies mark National Dog Day, the birthday of Gene Kelly, and an execution.

Which of today's movies would you watch? 







The Return of Rin Tin Tin (1947) is
about a boy and his dog.  National Dog Day
is August 26.





The Return of Rin Tin Tin












On the Town (1949) is a musical about
sailors on shore leave in New York
City.  It stars Gene Kelly, born August 23,
1912, and Frank Sinatra.  It is based on
a Broadway musical.





On the Town

The Sacco-Vanzetti Story:  Part
1 (1961) is about the controversial
conviction and execution, on August
23, 1927, of the two Italian
immigrant anarchists, pictured right.
It was aired as part of the Sunday
Showcase and won an Emmy for
Direction, to Sidney Lumet.


The Sacco-Vanzetti Story: Part 1

Movies for the Day, Saturday, August 22, 2020

Today's movies mark a robbery, the birthday of Chuck Brown, and the birthday of Ray Bradbury.

Which of today's movies would you watch?

Dog Day Afternoon (1975) is an
adaptation of a true-life robbery on August
22, 1972, which turned into a media circus.
It is on the National Film Registry.  It stars
Al Pacino, born April 25, 1940.





Dog Day Afternoon










Good to Go (1986) is about a
journalist investigating a murder in
the Washington, D.C. go-go scene in the
1970s era.  The movie highlight is the
music.  Chuck Brown, born August 22,
1936, is known as the godfather of Go-Go.




Good to Go














Fahrenheit 451 (2018) is a TV movie
based on the dystopian novel by Ray
Bradbury, born August 22, 1920, in
which "firemen" burn books, all illegal
and banned.  This science fiction movie won
an Emmy for Outstanding TV Movie.




Fahrenheit 451

Movies for the Day, Friday, August 21, 2020

Today's movies mark Hawaii's admission date.

Which of today's movies would you watch?









Blue Hawaii (1961) is an Elvis
Presley vehicle.  Hawaii was admitted to
the Union August 21, 1959.






Blue Hawaii













Ride the Wild Surf (1964) is
a beach boys tale set in Hawaii, which
was admitted to the Union August 21,
1959.  August 24, 1890, is the birthday
of great surfer Duke Kahanamoku.





Ride the Wild Surf













Picture Bride (1994) is set in early
1900s Hawaii and is about the hardships
of a young woman married to an older
man.  It is about the pioneer spirit.
Hawaii was admitted to the Union August
21, 1959.






Picture Bride

Movies for the Day, Thursday, August 20, 2020

Today's movies mark the birthday of a Libyan hero, the launch of Voyager 2, and the birthday of Billy Gardell.

Which of today's movies would you watch?





Lion of the Desert (1981) is about the
battle between Italian occupiers of
Libya under Mussolini and rebels lead by
Omar Mukhtar, born August 20, 1862.
Th period covered is 1911 to 1931.





Lion of the Desert









Starman (1984) is about a widow helping
an alien back to his spaceship.  The alien
had come to Earth in response to the
invitation found on the gold phonograph
record installed on the Voyager 2 space
probe launched August 20, 1977.




Starman













Mike & Molly (2010 to 2016) is a TV
sitcom that was on for six seasons and
127 episodes.  It stars Billy Gardell, born
August 20, 1969, and Melissa McCarthy,
born August 26, 1970.  It won Emmys for
Lead Actress, to McCarthy for playing Molly
Flynn (2011) and Cinematography (2015).





Mike & Molly

Movies for the Day, Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Today's movies mark aviation day, the birthday of an archbishop, and an Afghanistan holiday.

Which of today's movies would you watch?








Test Pilot (1938) is about the
daredevils who test new aircraft.  National
Aviation Day is August 19 which is Orville
Wright's birthday in 1871.  The week of his
birthday is also usually National Aviation
Week.




Test Pilot











Romero (1989) is a biography of
Archbishop Oscar Romero, born
August 15, 1917, who opposed El
Salvador's repressive regime.





Romero













Kandahar (2001) is the story of a woman
who travels through perilous war-torn
Afghanistan to find her troubled sister.
Afghanistan independence day is August 19,
1919.




Kandahar

Movies for the Day, Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Today's movies mark the birthday of Shelley Winters, a religious feast day, and the birthday of Stieg Larsson.


Which of today's movies would you watch?







Two Is the Number (1964) was a
drama episode of Bob Hope Presents the
Chrysler Theatre.  Shelley Winters, pictured right
in 1951, won an Emmy for Lead Actor for
playing Jenny Dworak.  Winters was born
August 18, 1920.






Two Is the Number











The Third Miracle (1999) is about a priest
investigating a sainthood miracle and having a
crisis of faith.  Specifically, a Virgin Mary
statue weeping blood.  The Feast Day of the
Virgin Mary is August 15.





The Third Miracle














The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
is based on the bestseller by Stieg Larsson, born
August 15, 1954.  It is a murder mystery and
adventure set in Sweden.  The heroine is an odd
computer hacker genius.  It won an Oscar
for Film Editing.





The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Movies for the Day, Monday, August 17, 2020

Today's movies mark the birthday of Robert De Niro, a Pixar anniversary, and the birthday of Alex Hannold.

Which of today's movies would you watch?








Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
is about New York City gangsters, especially
Jewish ghetto youths.  It stars Robert De Niro,
born August 17, 1943.







Once Upon a Time in America










Luxo Jr. (1986) is a short
animation of about 2 1/2 minutes
about two lamps and a ball.
It was the first film by Pixar and
was released August 17, 1986.  It is
on the National Film Registry.



Luxo Jr.

Free Solo (2019) is a profile of
free rock climber Alex Honnold,
born August 17, 1985, and especially his
ascent of El Capitan.  It won an Oscar and several
Emmys.





Free Solo

Movies for the Day, Sunday, August 16, 2020

Today's movies mark Betty Boop, the birthday of Napolean, and India's national day.

Which of today's movies would you watch?

Bimbo's Initiation (1931) is a great
and odd cartoon about the saving of
Bimbo the dog from an "initiation" by
Betty Boop who was created by Grim
Natwick, born August 16, 1890.



Bimbo's Initiation















Eagle in a Cage (1965) is a
Hallmark Hall of Fame movie
about Napolean's exile on St.
Helena.  Napolean was born August 15,
1769.  This TV production won Emmys
for Supporting Actor, to James Daly, and
for Writing.




Eagle in a Cage













The Home and the World (1984) is a
very good drama of early 1900s Bengal
in India exploring issues of Western
influence, the role of women, and romance.
August 15, 1947, is India's Independence
Day.





The Home and the World

Movies for the Day, Saturday, August 15, 2020

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Julia Child, Leon Theremin, and Jennifer Lawrence.

Which of today's movies would you watch?









The French Chef (1962-1973) was a
pioneering and very popular cooking
show starring chef and hostess Julia Child,
born August 15, 1912.  There were 216
episodes.  Child won an Emmy in 1966.





The French Chef











Theremin:  An Electronic Odyssey
(1993) is a chronicle of the unusual life
and times of Leon Theremin, born
August 15, 1896, a Russian-born genius
who invented the first electronic musical
instrument (synthesizer), used especially
in Hollywood movies in the 1940s and 1950s.




Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey












Winter's Bone (2010) is an unflinching
story of an Ozarks family.  It was nominated
for four Oscars, including Best Picture.
It stars Jennifer Lawrence, born August 15,
1990.





Winter's Bone