Movies for the Day, Saturday, December 15, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Alan Freed and Don Johnson and Christmas.

Which of today's selections would you watch?

American Hot Wax (1978) is loosely based
on the life of Alan Freed, the radio disc jockey
instrumental in popularizing rock 'n' roll in the
1950s.  Freed was born December 15, 1921.







American Hot Wax








Miami Vice (1984 - 1990) was a very
popular TV series about two undercover
detectives in Miami in the 1980s.  It had great
"vibe."  Lead actor Don Johnson was born
December 15, 1949.  It won Emmys for
Cinematography and Sound Editing.  There are
111 episodes.





Miami Vice

Christmas Snow (1986) is a TV movie
about a shop owner being evicted at
Christmas who rescues her Scrooge-like
landlord from an accident.  This movie
won an Emmy for Cinematography.  Christmas
is December 25.




Christmas Snow

Movies for the Day, Friday, December 14, 2018

Today's movies mark Christmas, National Horse Day, and World AIDS Day.

Which of today's movies would you watch?

Star in the Night (1945) is a contemporary
retelling of the Nativity story set at
a desert motel in the Southwest United States.
This movie won an Oscar for Best Short
Film.  Christmas is December 25.





Star in the Night









The Black Stallion (1979) is about a
boy and a horse and is based on the classic
children's story by Walter Farley.  This
inspiring movie won an Oscar for Sound
Editing, and is on the National Film
Registry.  Yesterday was National Day of the
Horse.




The Black Stallion














The Blood of Yingzhou District (2006)
is about children infected with AIDS
in China.  This film won an Oscar for
Best Short Subject Documentary.  December
1 was World AIDS Day.






The Blood of Yingzhou District

Movies for the Day, Thursday, December 13, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Van Heflin and Dick Van Dyke and the Day of the Horse.

Which of today's movies would you watch?







Johnny Eager (1941) is about a gangster
and a romance with a prosecutor's daughter.
This movie won an Oscar for Best
Supporting Actor, to Van Heflin, who was
born December 13, 1908.




Johnny Eager










The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961 - 1966) is a classic
TV sitcom about a New York City writer at home and
at work.  Dick Van Dyke was born December 13, 1925.
The show won many Emmys including for
Directing, Writing, Outstanding Comedy, Individual
Achievement and Lead Actor, to Dick Van Dyke, Outstanding
Program Achievement, Lead Actress, to Mary
Tyler Moore, and Supporting Actor, to Morey
Amsterdam.  There are 158 episodes.


The Dick Van Dyke Show










Bite the Bullet (1975) is an excellent
western adventure movie about a 700
mile horse race.  Today is the Day of the
Horse.





Bite the Bullet

Movies for the Day, Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Edward G. Robinson and Frank Sinatra and a rock concert.

Which of today's movies would you watch?

Little Caesar (1930) is a classic gangster
movie starring Edward G. Robinson, born
December 12, 1893.  It features an American
Film Institute Villain, Caesar Enrico Bandello, and
an AFI Quote, "Mother of mercy, is this the end
of Rico?"  This movie is on the National Film
Registry.



Little Caesar







Frank Sinatra:  A Man and His Music (1965)
is a television special showcasing Sinatra at
his peak.  Sinatra was born December 12, 1915.
This special won an Emmy for Outstanding Musical
Program.  It was followed by Frank Sinatra: A Man and
his Music Part II (1966)  and Frank Sinatra:  A Man and
His Music (and others) (1967).  The third show won an
Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music.




Frank Sinatra: A Man and His Music








Stop Making Sense (1984) is a Talking
Heads concert film considered by some
to be one of the greatest rock movies ever
made.  The concert was held December 12
to 16, 1983.




Stop Making Sense

Movies for the Day, Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Today's movies mark International Mountain Day, the admission date for Indiana, and the birthday of Monique Angela Imes.

Which of today's movies would you watch?








Black Narcissus (1947) is about nuns
establishing a presence in the Himalayas
and romance.  This excellent movie won
Oscars for Cinematography and Art/Set
Decoration.  Today is United Nations International
Mountain Day.




Black Narcissus









Breaking Away (1979) is about a young
man obsessed with bicycle racing and the local
college team in Indiana.  This inspiring
sports movie won an Oscar for Writing.
It is also about friendship and romance.  Indiana
was admitted to the Union on December
11, 1816.  This is a very good movie.




Breaking Away












Precious (2009) is about an overweight abused young woman
who seeks a better school and life.  The movie
won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, to
"Mo'Nique", and Writing.  The movie is set in Harlem
in the 1980s.  Monique Angela Imes was born
December 11, 1967.




Precious

Movies for the Day, Monday, December 10, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthday of Dorothy Lamour, a Nobel Prize anniversary, and the entry of Mississippi into the Union.

Which of today's movies would you watch?

St. Louis Blues (1939) is about a Broadway
musical comedy star who seeks a new life and
finds it as a riverboat performer (incognito).
This musical comedy stars Dorothy Lamour,
born December 10, 1914.






St. Louis Blues








Volver a Empezar (1982), aka Begin the
Beguine, is about a Spanish poet of
medieval literature who receives a Nobel
Prize and returns home to Spain.  The Nobel
Prize date is linked to the death of Alfred
Nobel, who died December 10, 1896.
This movie won an Oscar for Best Foreign
Language Film.


Volver a Empezar













Once Upon a Time...When We Were Colored
(1996) is a story of the black experience in
the segregated South, in Mississippi, in the
1940s to early 1950s.  Mississippi was
admitted to the Union December 10, 1817.





Once Upon a Time...When We Were Colored

Movies for the Day, Sunday, December 9, 2018

Today's movies mark the birthdays of Joel Chandler Harris, Jean de Brunhoff, and John Cassavetes.

Which of today's movies would you watch?

Song of the South (1946) is the classic Disney
animation/live action musical retelling of the Uncle Remus
stories about Br'er Rabbit, Br'er Fox, and Br'er
Bear, based in turn on the writings of Joel Chandler
Harris, born December 9, 1848.  This movie won an Oscar
for Songs and featured the American Film Institute Song,
Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.


Song of the South

The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant
(1968) is a TV movie based on the enchanting
children's story by Jean de Brunhoff, born
December 9, 1899.  The book was published
in script writing.  This film won an Emmy for
Music.






The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant

Faces (1968) is about a suburban middle aged couple and
infidelity.  This excellent movie was directed by
John Cassavetes, born December 9, 1929.  It is on
the National Film Registry.  Cassavetes was also
a producer, writer, and editor.  He was nominated
for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.





Faces