Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Movies for the Day, Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Today's movies mark The Flintstones and the birthdays of Agatha Christie and Truman Capote.

Which of today's movies would you watch?








The Flintstones (1960-1966) was a very
popular animated TV series about the misadventures
of two Stone Age families.  This comedy premiered
September 30, 1960, and was on until April 1,
1966:  six seasons, 167 episodes.





The Flintstones











Murder Ahoy (1964) is a murder
mystery on a naval cadet training
ship.  It features Miss Marple created
by Agatha Christie, born September
15, 1890.  A very good movie.






Murder Ahoy










Murder by Death (1976) features famous
literary detectives to a mansion by Truman
Capote to solve a whodunit.  A bit of a detective
spoof.  Capote was born September 30, 1924.





Murder by Death























































































Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Movies for the Day, Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Today's movies mark the birthday of Gene Autry, a cathedral, and high school.

Which of today's movies would you watch?







Melody Ranch (1940) is about
the singing cowboy, Gene Autry,
who stars.  This film is on the National
Film Registry.  Autry was born September
29, 1907.






Melody Ranch










The Stone Carvers (1987) is about
the stone carvers completing the sculptures
adorning the Washington National
Cathedral.  Construction of the cathedral
started September 29, 1907.  This half-hour
film won an Oscar for Best Documentary,
Short Subject.  The cathedral was added to
the National Register of Historic Places May
3, 1974.



The Stone Carvers











Can't Buy Me Love (1987) is a high
school romantic comedy.  Boy "rents" girl
to pose as girlfriend.  September is
the traditional back to school month.





Can't Buy Me Love






































































































Monday, September 28, 2020

Movies for the Day, Monday, September 28, 2020

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Al Capp and Peter Falk and Hunting and Fishing Day.

Which of today's movies would you watch?









Li'l Abner (1959) is a musical comedy
based on Al Capp's cartoon strip about
hillbillies in Dogpatch.  Capp was born
September 28, 1909.  See also Li'l Abner
(1940).





Li'l Abner













The Price of Tomatoes (1962) is
an episode of The Dick Powell Show
(Powell shown in 1938) in which
Peter Falk stars as a truck driver who
has an adventure.  Falk was born September
16, 1927.  Falk won an Emmy as Leading
Actor.







The Price of Tomatoes












Deadliest Catch (2005-) is a TV reality
series about Alaskan crab fisherman.  Its
274 episodes (thus far) have won many
Emmy awards.  September 26 is National
Hunting and Fishing Day.




Deadliest Catch



















































































Sunday, September 27, 2020

Movies for the Day, Sunday, September 27, 2020

Today's movies mark Jack the Ripper and the birthdays of Jim Thompson and Christopher Reeve.

Which of today's movies would you watch?








Jack the Ripper (1959) is about
the serial killer of women in London
about 1888.  He wrote a famous letter
dated September 27, 1888.  See also
Jack the Ripper (1988), a TV movie.





Jack the Ripper











After Dark, My Sweet (1990)
is about a troubled drifter and crime,
mystery, and romance.  This film
noir is based on the Jim Thompson novel
of the same name.  Thompson was born
September 27, 1906.





After Dark, My Sweet










Without Pity:  A Film About Abilities
(1996) is an informational special about
disabled persons living full, productive
lives.  It is narrated by Christopher Reeve,
pictured here before his paralyzing
accident.  Reeve was born September 25,
1952.





Without Pity: A Film About Abilities































































































Saturday, September 26, 2020

Movies for the Day, Saturday, September 26, 2020

Today's movies mark two sitcoms and the birthday of George Gershwin.

Which of today's movies would you watch?







Ma and Pa Kettle (1949) is the first of
a series of movies about a hillbilly duo.  See
also similar Beverly Hillbillies, which sitcom
premiered September 26, 1962.  The best entry
may have been Ma and Pa Kettle at Home
(1954).




Ma and Pa Kettle









A Very Brady Sequel (1996) is
based on the very popular TV sitcom
The Brady Bunch which premiered
September 26, 1969.





A Very Brady Sequel













'S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous, 'S Gershwin
(1972) is a musical about the Gershwin brothers,
Ira and George, the latter born September 26,
1898.  It won Emmys for Music Direction,
Direction, and Outstanding Single Program.
See also Celebrating George Gershwin (1987)
(a two part special) and Rhapsody and Song:  A
Tribute to George Gershwin (1981).



'S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous, 'S Gershwin































































































Friday, September 25, 2020

Movies for the Day, Friday, September 25, 2020

Today's movies mark the birthdays of William Faulkner, Dmitri Shostakovich, and Michael Douglas.

Which of today's movies would you watch?







The Sound and the Fury (1959) is about
a young woman seeking independence from a
strict and declining aristocratic family in the
South.  It is based on the work by William
Faulkner, born September 25, 1897.




The Sound and the Fury










Testimony (1987) is a biopic of Soviet
era (and Stalin era) composer Dmitri
Shostakovich, born September 25,
1906.






Testimony














The War of the Roses (1989) is a
black comedy about divorce and a satire
on yuppie materialism.  It stars Michael
Douglas, born September 25, 1944.





The War of the Roses













































































Thursday, September 24, 2020

Movies for the Day, Thursday, September 24, 2020

Today's movies mark the birthdays of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Jim Henson.

Which of today's movies would you watch?







Tender is the Night (1962) is
about a mentally unstable wife of a
psychiatrist in 1920s Europe.  It is
based on the novel by F. Scott
Fitzgerald, born September 24, 1896.




Tender is the Night








The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson (1990)
is a short about the famed puppeteer.
Henson was born September 24, 1936.






The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson












The Magical Wand Chase (2017) is
a Muppet adventure which won an
Emmy as Outstanding Children's Program
(2018).  The Sesame Street characters
have been on TV since 1969 when the educational
series began.  Jim Henson, creator of The
Muppets, was born September 24, 1936.




The Magical Wand Chase








































































































Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Movies for the Day, Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Today's movies mark a hunting and fishing day, the Jetsons, and the birthday of Bruce Springsteen.

Which of today's movies would you watch?







The End of the Game (1976)
is about hunting and fishing and
conservation.  It won an Oscar for Best
Documentary, Short Subject.
National Hunting and Fishing Day
is September 26, 2020, the fourth
Saturday in September.





The End of the Game












Jetsons:  The Movie (1990) is based
on the animated TV series that ran
from 1962-1963.  Sort of a Flintstones set
in the future.  The TV premiere was
September 23, 1962.  It was for kids and
focused on the problems of the nuclear
family.




Jetsons: The Movie











Springsteen on Broadway (2018) is a
TV documentary special of Springsteen's
final performance in a 236 show run on
Broadway.  It won an Emmy for Directing.
Springsteen was born September 23, 2020.




Springsteen on Broadway





































































Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Movies for the Day, Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Today's movies mark Business Women's Day, Dear Diary Day, and Deaf Week.

Which of today's movies would you watch?







The Best of Everything (1959) is a drama
about women in the world of the
publishing business in New York City.
September 22 is American Business Women's
Day.





The Best of Everything










Harriet the Spy (1996) is about
a child playing spy and her secret
notebook.  This movie is mostly
for children.  September 22 is Dear
Diary Day.





Harriet the Spy










The Mozart of Pickpockets (2006) is a short
film about a pickpocket gang employing
a deaf-mute in Paris.  This film won an Oscar
for Best Short Film, Live Action.  International
Week of the Deaf is September 21 to September 25,
2020.





The Mozart of Pickpockets

























































































Monday, September 21, 2020

Movies for the Day, Monday, September 21, 2020

Today's movies mark the birthdays of H.G. Wells, Preston Tucker, and Stephen King.

Which of today's movies would you watch?









The Island of Dr. Moreau (1977) is about
a mad scientist creating "humanimals."  It is based
on a story by H. G. Wells, born September 21, 1866.
See also The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996) (not so good)
and Island of Lost Souls (1933) (good).




The Island of Dr. Moreau













Tucker:  The Man and His Dreams (1998)
is a very good movie about Preston
Tucker, born September 21, 1903,
and his 1940s car of the future and his
ill-fated challenge to the auto industry.





Tucker: The Man and His Dreams












Storm of the Century (1999) is a miniseries
set in a small town during a very dangerous
blizzard.  There are three episodes to this
horror movie.  It won an Emmy for Sound
Editing.  It is based on a novel by Stephen King,
born September 21, 1947.





Storm of the Century




























































































Sunday, September 20, 2020

Movies for the Day, Sunday, September 20, 2020

Today's movies mark back to school and a TV series.

Which of today's movies would you watch?







Unman, Wittering and Zigo (1971)
is a boys school murder mystery.
September is the traditional back to school
month.



Unman, Wittering and Zigo










Zebrahead (1992) is about high
school race relations and romance.
September is the traditional back
to school month.






Zebrahead












This Is Us (2016-) is a comedy drama series
about triplets with an ensemble cast.  This
very popular show will premiere its fifth
season November 10, 2020.  It originally
premiered September 20, 2016.





This Is Us


























































































Saturday, September 19, 2020

Movies for the Day, Saturday, September 19, 2020

Today's movies mark the beginning of World War II and Talk Like a Pirate Day.

Which of today's movies would you watch?







Siege (1940) is a 10 minute film
about the German blitzkrieg of Poland and
the siege of Warsaw.  Germany invaded
Poland September 1, 1939, to begin World
War II.  This film is on the National Film
Registry.




Siege










The Golden Hawk (1952) is about
a French privateer during the conflict
among Spain, France and England in the
Caribbean Sea during the 17th century.
It is based on a Frank Yerby novel and stars
Sterling Hayden, born March 26, 1916.
September 19 is International Talk Like a
Pirate Day.



The Golden Hawk













Shipwrecked (1990) is a Disney
movie about pirates, island treasure,
and a boy in 1850s England.  September
19 is International Talk Like a Pirate Day.





Shipwrecked

































































































Friday, September 18, 2020

Movies for the Day, Friday, September 18, 2020

Today's movies mark the Air Force, the birthday of Samuel Johnson, and Chile.

Which of today's movies would you watch?







Air Force (1943) is about a bomber crew in
the Pacific during World War II, which began
September 1, 1939, when Germany invaded Poland.
The United States Air Force was established September
18, 1947.  This movie won an Oscar for Best Film
Editing.   An archetypical World War II movie.





Air Force












The Life of Samuel Johnson (1957)
is about the great figure in English
literature who was the subject of James
Boswell's great biography.  This Omnibus
episode won an Emmy for Best Actor, to
Peter Ustinov (1958).  Johnson was born
September 18, 1709.






The Life of Samuel Johnson










Bear Story (2016) is about an old bear
telling his life story.  This film won an
Oscar for short animated film.  It was inspired
by the director's grandfather, Leopoldo Osorio, who after the
Chilean coup d'tat (December 11, 1973), was
imprisoned for two years and then exiled.  Chile's
National Day is September 18.




Bear Story






























































































Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Movies for the Day, Thursday, September 17, 2020

Today's movies mark the birthday of Esther Ralston, the premiere of Bewitched, and the birthday of Billy the Kid.

Which of today's movies would you watch?








Rome Express (1932) is a mystery thriller
set on a train.  It stars Esther Ralston born
September 17, 1902.






Rome Express













Bell Book and Candle (1958) is a
romantic comedy about a modern-day
witch.  It seems like a precursor to
Bewitched, which sitcom premiered
September 17, 1964.





Bell Book and Candle










One-Eyed Jacks (1961) is a western and
a loose retelling of the story of Pat Garrett
and Billy the Kid, born September 17 or November
23, 1859.  It is on the National Film Registry.







One-Eyed Jacks





































































































Movies for the Day, Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Today's movies mark Mexico's national day and the birthdays of Jennifer Tilly and David Copperfield.

Which of today's movies would you watch?







Under the Volcano (1984) is a very
good movie about an English diplomat
in Mexico who descends into fatal
alcoholism in the 1930s.  September 16
is Mexico's National Holiday.







Under the Volcano










Bound (1996) is about a Mafia
moll and an ex-con handywoman who
are lovers and conspire to run off
with $2 million of criminal money
in a suitcase.  It stars Jennifer Tilly,
born September 16, 1961.





Bound










The Magic of David Copperfield III:  Levitating 
Ferrari (1980) was the third of the illusionist's
TV specials.  Copperfield, pictured in 2010, was
born September 16, 1956.  See also ... IV (1981)
(Emmy for Technical Direction); ... VI:  Floating Over
the Grand Canyon (1984) (Emmy for Technical Direction);
...VII:  Familares (1985) (Emmy for Technical Direction);
...VII:  Walking Through the Great Wall of China (1986);
...IX:  Escape from Alcatraz (1987); ...X:  The Bermuda
Triangle (1988); ...XI:  The Explosive Encounter (1989)
(Emmy for Lighting Direction); ...XIII:  The Niagara
Falls Challenge (1990) (Emmy for Technical Direction);
...XIII: Mystery on the Orient Express (1991) (Emmys for
Lighting Direction, Technical Direcction, and Art Direction);
...XIV:  Flying- Live the Dream (1992) (Emmys for Lighting
Direction, Art Direction, and Editing); ...15 Years of Magic
(1994) (Emmy for Editing); and ...Unexplained Forces (1995)
(Emmys for Lighting Direction, Technical Direction, and
Editing).


The Magic of David Copperfield III: Levitating Ferrari





































































































Tuesday, September 15, 2020

Movies for the Day, Tuesday, September 15, 2020

Today's movies mark WW II and back to school.

Which of today's movies would you watch?








Action in the North Atlantic (1943)
is about the merchant marine and enemy
subs.  World War II began September 1,
1939, when Germany invaded Poland.  Also,
the United States Merchant Marine Academy
at Kings Point, New York, was dedicated
September 30, 1943.





Action in the North Atlantic










Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) is
set in 1900 Australia and is about three
school girls and a teacher on a picnic who
mysteriously disappear (on St. Valentine's Day).
Moody and eerie.  September is the
traditional back to school month.




Picnic at Hanging Rock











Glee (2009-2015) is a popular TV series about
a high school glee club- it features music, comedy,
drama and teenagers.  It was on six seasons and 121
episodes.  It won Emmys for Guest Actor, to Neil
Patrick Harris (2010) and Supporting Actress, to
Jane Lynch (2010), Directing (2010) and Sound Mixing
(2010), Guest Actress, to Gwyneth Paltrow (2011) and
Casting (2011).  September is the traditional back to
school month.



Glee




































































































Monday, September 14, 2020

Movies for the Day, Monday, September 14, 2020

Today's movies mark the birthday of Stephen King, National Wilderness Month, and back to school.

Which of today's movies would you watch?









The Stand (1994) is a Stephen King
miniseries about a depopulated post-plague
world.  King was born September 21, 1947.
There are four episodes and it won Emmys
for Sound Mixing and Makeup.






The Stand











Wild America (1997) is the story
of three brothers' 1967 trek across America
filming animals in natural habitats.  Especially
good for kids.  September is National
Wilderness Month.




Wild America















My Gym Partner's a Monkey (2005-2008)
is a cartoon series about a boy in a school
for anthropomorphic zoo animals.  There are
55 episodes.  It won an Emmy in 2007 for
Individual Achievement in Animation for the
episode Big Field Trip.  September is back to
school month.



My Gym Partner's a Monkey