Movies for the Day, Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthday of Bob Hope, the anniversary of the formation of Great Britain, and the birthday of President Kennedy.









The Paleface (1948) is a comedy western starring
Bob Hope, born May 29, 1903.  Calamity Jane
is played by Jane Russell.  This movie won
an Oscar for the song Buttons and Bows.





The Paleface











The Shooting Party (1984) is about a
1913 weekend shooting party for aristocrats
on a British estate, on the eve of World War
I.  This movie examines class structure
and consciousness.  Great Britain formed
May 1, 1707, and this movie continues our
May movies about England.



The Shooting Party












JFK (1991) is a drama about the assassination
of President Kennedy on November 22, 1963.
The President was born May 29, 1917.  This
movie won Oscars for Cinematography and
Film Editing.





JFK

Movies for the Day, Monday, May 28, 2018

Today's movies mark Memorial Day, the birthday of Ian Fleming, and National Hamburger Month.








A Medal for Benny (1945) is about a small
town that hypocritically honors one of its
own, now a war hero.  Today is Memorial Day.






A Medal for Benny










From Russia With Love (1963) is the
second film in the iconic James Bond
series, starring Sean Connery.  This movie
has great fight scenes, featuring the
English special agent, 007.  The movies are
based on novels by Ian Fleming, born
May 28, 1908.


From Russia With Love













Bob's Burgers (2011- ) is an animated TV
sitcom about a family running a burger
restaurant.  May is National Hamburger
Month.






Bob's Burgers

Movies for the Day, Sunday, May 27, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthday of Dashiel Hammett, Older Americans Month, and Healthy Vision Month.






The Thin Man (1934) is the sophisticated
comedy mystery par excellence, based on a
Dashiel Hammett novel.  Hammett was born May
27, 1894.  This movie is on the National Film Registry.
Stars William Powell and Myrna Loy played detective
Nick Charles and wealthy wife Nora.  Sequels include
After the Thin Man (1936) and Song of the Thin Man
(1947) (the last).  Powell was born July 29, 1892, and
Loy was born August 2, 1905.



The Thin Man







As Young As You Feel (1951) is a
comedy about mandatory retirement.
May is Older Americans Month.  The
Social Security Act anniversary is
August 14, 1935.





As Young As You Feel












When Magoo Flew (1956) is about the
adventure that ensues when the vision-impaired
Mr. Magoo gets on an airplane by mistake.  This
cartoon won an Oscar for Short Films- Cartoons.
May is Healthy Vision Month.




When Magoo Flew

Movies for the Day, Saturday, May 26, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of James Arness and John Wayne and Jewish American Heritage Month.







Gunsmoke (1955 to 1975) is a great
television western series which stars James
Arness, born May 26, 1923.  He played Marshall
Matt Dillion.  It ran for 20 years.





Gunsmoke










The Searchers (1956) is an essential western
about a man who searches for his niece
kidnapped by Indians.  This movie stars
John Wayne, born May 26, 1907.  It is on
the National Film Registry.





The Searchers








The Personals (1999) is a film about a
Jewish senior citizens theater group
in New York City.  It won an Academy
Award for Best Documentary, Short
Subjects.  May is Jewish American
Heritage Month.




The Personals

Movies for the Day, Friday, May 25, 2018

Today's movies mark Africa Freedom Day, the birthday of Robert Ludlum, and Jewish American Heritage Month.









Trader Horn (1931) is an early "talkie" classic
about the adventure of a trader in the African
jungles.  It was remade in 1973.  Today is
African Freedom Day, first observed in 1963.





Trader Horn










The Bourne Identity (1988) was first a novel
by Robert Ludlum, born May 25, 1927, then
a two-episode miniseries starring Richard
Chamberlain, then a movie series juggernaut
starring Matt Damon, born October 8, 1970.
The TV series won an Emmy for Dramatic
Music Underscore.  The action movies include
The Bourne Identity (2002), The Bourne
Supremacy (2004), and The Bourne Ultimatum
(2007) (Oscars for Sound, Editing, and
Sound Editing).  A spy thriller.

The Bourne Identity

School Ties (1992) is about anti-Semitism
at a 1950s prep school.  May is Jewish
American Heritage Month.






School Ties

Movies for the Day, Thursday, May 24, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthday of Queen Victoria, the first Morse telegraph, and Jewish American Heritage Month.








Sixty Glorious Years (1938) is a dramatic
portrayal of England's Queen Victoria,
born May 24, 1819.  This movie is also part
of our England series:  the United Kingdom
formed May 1, 1707.




Sixty Glorious Years














Western Union (1941) is western
based on a Zane Grey novel with
a theme of the struggle westward of
the Western Union telegraph service
in the 1800s.  The first telegraph by
Samuel F. B. Morse was on May 24, 1844.




Western Union










Number Our Days (1976) is about elderly Jewish
people in Venice, California.  It won an Oscar for Best
Documentary, Short Subjects.  May is Jewish
American Heritage Month.






Number Our Days

Movies for the Day, Wednesday, May 23, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthday of Douglas Fairbanks Sr., International World Turtle Day, and Jewish American Heritage Month.

The Mark of Zorro (1920) is a silent classic
swashbuckler featuring the masked avenger and
protector of the oppressed, played by Douglas
Fairbanks Sr., born May 23, 1883.  Zorro is on the
American Film Institute Heroes list.  This movie,
which is on the National Film Registry, was made under
the same title in 1940 and on TV in 1974, both
worthwhile.




The Mark of Zorro










The Tortoise and the Hare (1934)  won
an Oscar for Short Films, Cartoons.
This cartoon is based on the fable
of the race between a tortoise and a hare.
Today is International World Turtle Day.





The Tortoise and the Hare












Thank You and Goodnight! (1991) is the real
story of the decline and death of a Jewish
grandmother and family relationships.  May
is Jewish American Heritage Month.






Thank You and Good Night!