Movies for the Day, Tuesday, May 7, 2019

Today's movies mark the birthday of Darren McGavin, Older Americans Month, and the birthday of Tchaikovsky.

Which of today's movies would you watch?

The Night Stalker (1971) is an excellent
TV movie about a newspaper reporter
investigating murders in Las Vegas- by a vampire.
Darren McGavin, born May 7, 1922, stars.





The Night Stalker













Make Way for Tomorrow (1937) is a
very good movie about an elderly couple
in financial difficulty whose children
shunt them aside- it features comedy, drama,
and romance.  May is Older Americans
Month.  October 1 is International Day of
Older Americans.



Make Way for Tomorrow












Black Swan (2010) is a thrilling drama
about a ballerina and Tchaikovsky's Swan
Lake ballet.  Tchaikovsky was born May 7,
1840.  This movie won an Oscar for Best
Actress, to Natalie Portman, born June 9,
1981.  It was also nominated as Best Picture.






Black Swan

Movies for the Day, Monday, May 6, 2019

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Gaston Leroux, Orson Welles, and Sigmund Freud.

Which of today's movies would you watch?






Phantom of the Opera (1943) is about a disfigured
violinist who haunts the Paris Opera House.  This horror
movie won Oscars for Art Direction and Cinematography.
See also the silent The Phantom of the Opera (1925)- on the
National Film Registry, and The Phantom of the Opera (1962, 1983
[TV], 1989, 1990 [TV], and 1999).  The 1990 TV two-part
mini-series won Emmys for Art Direction and Hairstyling.  The
famous Broadway production premiered January 26, 1988.
Phantom of the Opera is based on a novel by Gaston Leroux,
born May 6, 1868.


Phantom of the Opera










The Third Man (1949) is an excellent
movie about intrigue in post World War II
Vienna.  This classic movie won an Oscar for
Cinematography.   It combines mystery and
thrills and features an American Film
Institute Villain, Harry Lime.  It is based on a Graham
Greene novel and stars Orson Welles.  Greene
was born October 2, 1904, and Welles was born
May 6, 1915.


The Third Man












Inside Out (2015) is an animated film
featuring five personified emotions.  This
movie won an Oscar for Best Animated
Feature Film.  Sigmund Freud, the father of psych-
analysis, was born May 6, 1856.




Inside Out

Movies for the Day, Sunday, May 5, 2019

Today's movies mark Cinco de Mayo and the birthday of Tyrone Power.


Which of today's movies would you watch?

Sky High (1922) is about smuggling
Chinese immigrants across the Mexican
border.  Today is Cinco de Mayo (May 5).
This movie is on the National Film Registry.






Sky High










Alambrista! (1977) is about
Mexican illegal immigrants.  May
5 is Cinco de Mayo.







Alambrista!









Crash Dive (1943) is about submarines
and romance.  This World War II movie
won an Oscar for Special Effects.  It stars
Tyrone Power, born May 5, 1914.





Crash Dive

Movies for the Day, Saturday, May 4, 2019

Today's movies mark the birthday of Audrey Hepburn, Star Wars Day, and National Dance Day.

Which of today's movies would you watch?

Roman Holiday (1953) is about a European
princess who runs away and meets and
romances a reporter.  This passionate romantic
comedy is on the National Film Registry and won
Oscars for Best Actress, to Audrey Hepburn, born
May 4, 1929, Original Screenplay, and Costume
Design.


Roman Holiday










The Hidden Fortress (1958) is about
a princess and general who journey
to the homeland in the company of two
misfits.  This movie is said to be an
inspiration for Star Wars.  May 4 is
Star Wars Day.  This is a very good movie.





The Hidden Fortress

Flashdance (1983) is about a woman's
fantasy dance life.  Today, May 4, is National
Dance Day.  This movie won an Oscar
for Original Song, Flashdance...What a Feeling, which
is also an American Film Institute Great Movie
Song selection.





Flashdance

Movies for the Day, Friday, May 3, 2019

Today's movies mark the adoption of Japan's Constitution and the birthdays of William Inge and Pete Seeger.

Which of today's movies would you watch?








Stray Dog (1949) is an excellent movie
about life in post World War II Tokyo- a
classic Japanese film noir detective story.
Japan adopted its Constitution May 3, 1947.





Stray Dog







Picnic (1955) is a passionate and
very good movie about a drifter at
a Labor Day picnic in Kansas.  It is based
on a Pulitzer Prize winning play by William
Inge, born May 3, 1913.  It won Oscars
for Art/Set Decoration and Film Editing.




Picnic

The Weavers:  Wasn't That a Time! (1982)
is an excellent documentary about a reunion
of the controversial folksinging quartet.  The
group was formed in November 1948 by Pete
Seeger, born May 3, 1919, and others.






The Weavers: Wasn't That a Time

Movies for the Day, Friday, May 10, 2019

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Robert E. Burns and Fred Astaire and National Pet Week.

Which of today's movies would you watch?

I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang (1932) is an
excellent movie about an innocent man victimized
by the criminal justice system.  This movie is on the
National Film Registry.  It is based on the
autobiography of Robert E. Burns, born May 10, 1892.






I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang









The Band Wagon (1953) is an excellent musical
comedy and romance about Broadway.  It is on
the National Film Registry.  It features an American
Film Institute Great Song, That's Entertainment.  It stars
Fred Astaire, born May 10, 1899.





The Band Wagon















Air Bud (1997) is a Disney film
about a a boy, a dog, and basketball.
National Pet Week is May 5 to 11,
2019.




Air Bud

Movies for the Day, Thursday, May 2, 2019

Today's movies mark Law Day, the birthday of Vernon Castle, and an execution.

Which of today's movies would you watch?






Victim (1961) is a very good and thrilling
movie about a lawyer who risks his reputation
to confront blackmailers who caused the death
of a gay man in London.  Yesterday, May 1, was
Law Day.





Victim









The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle (1939) is about
an early 20th century husband and wife dance
team.  The movie stars Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
It is based on stories by Irene Castle, My Husband My
Memories of Vernon Castle.  Vernon Castle was born
May 2, 1887, and Irene Castle was born April 17, 1893.



The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle













Cell 2455, Death Row (1955) is based
on the memoirs of death row inmate
Caryl Chessman, who was controversially
executed May 2, 1960.





Cell 2455, Death Row