August 31 - Diana:Last Days of A Princess

This is a film where a scene happens today – August 31. I hope you enjoy this movie and watch it tonight.

DIANA:THE LAST DAYS OF A PRINCESS

Diana and Dodi leave the Hotel Ritz in Paris in a car driven by Henri Paul and chased by paparazzi early in the morning of August 31, 1997 [00:01 to 3:17]. We then flash back three months to when Diana, the divorced Princess of Wales meets wealthy Mohamed Al-Fayed, who invites her to spend some time on his yacht in the Mediterranean. Diana goes with William and Harry and meets Dodi Al-Fayed, who has been ordered on board by his father, Mohamed even though it means abandoning his girlfriend, Kelly. Diana travels with Dodi to Paris as their relationship deepens and becomes more intimate. They return to the yacht and their relationship becomes public. Problems arise as the Fayeds will not listen to their own security people. The couple suddenly return to Paris and Diana stays at the Ritz. They later leave for Dodi’s apartment. That evening they go to eat at the Ritz. Dodi gets upset with the paparazzi following them everywhere and hatches a plan, against the advice of his security people to avoid them. They will send a decoy car from the front of the hotel while Henri Paul drives him and Diana away in a car from the rear door. Paul has been drinking as he had no idea he might be driving. Early on August 31, 1997 they leave the Ritz, followed by the paparazzi and crash in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel, killing Dodi and Diana. 

An interesting account of Diana’s death. This story if true in my mind accounts for her death without the need to invoke a high level conspiracy theory. She died because Dodi refused to listen to the security experts he had hired.

Hardman, Robert. Her Majesty: Queen Elizabeth II and her Court. New York; Pegasus Books, 2012. This book at page 100 and the film at 11:17 give Diana’s death date

       

Producer – Rebecca Hedderly

Director -  Richard Dale

Screenplay – Jenny Lecoat

Runtime –  2 hours

Released – July 30, 2007

Starring –

Genevieve O'Reilly as Diana, Princess of Wales

Patrick Baladi as Dodi Al-Fayed

Carlo Ferrante as Henri Paul

Shaun Dooley as Trevor Rees-Jones

Nadim Sawalha as Mohamed Al-Fayed

August 30 - Judgment in Berlin

This is movie with a scene that happens today – August 30. I hope you enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

JUDGMENT IN BERLIN

Hans Schuster is a West German who is in love with an East German woman, Sigrid Radke. She, her daughter Marina  and a friend Helmut Thiele are to travel to Gdansk in Poland where Hans will join them and give them the false papers they need to board a ship and sail to the West. However, on the way to meet them Hans is arrested. On August 30, 1978 [6:40 to 14:23], Helmut hijacks the Polish airliner on which they are flying back to East Berlin and forces it to land in West Berlin instead. The United States, in its role as an occupying power in Berlin, decides it must prosecute Helmut in order to preserve a recent international anti-hijacking treaty, as  West Germany will not prosecute him. Judge Herbert Stern agrees to be the judge, He was asked as he has a pro=prosecution history. However, he soon clashes with the prosecutors and rules that the defendants are entitled to a jury trial. Stern also rules that Sigrid’s confession was coerced and cannot be used against her. Without the confession, the government dismisses the case against Sigrid. The defense tries to show the government’s witness, who live behind the iron curtain are being intimidated. Sigrid testifies that after Has did not turn up, Helmut bought a toy gun and Marina smuggled it on the plane on August 30, 1978. [1:13:09 to 1:13:30 and 1:16:08-09]. Guenther, one of the passengers who defected off the plane testifies that he heard Helmut tell the crew it was just a toy gun and that they seemed sympathetic.  Helmut is only convicted of taking a hostage and sentenced by Judge Stern to time served (which was several months). The East Germans free Hans.

An interesting film. Touches on several important legal issues such as due process and duress as justification for committing a crime. There is an error in the film as at one point while Sigrid is teatifying,  Hellring gives the date as the 31^st.

Judgment in Berlin by Herbert J. Stern (Universe Books, New York, 1984) at pages 3-4 gives the date of the hijacking as August 30, 1978.

Producer – Joshua Sinclair and Ingrid Windisch

Director -  Leo Penn

Screenplay – Joshua Sinclair and Leo Penn

Runtime –  1 hour 36 minutes

Released – May 6, 1988

Starring –

Martin Sheen as Judge Herbert J. Stern

Sam Wanamaker as Bernard Hellring

Sean Penn as Guenther

Max Martens as Hans Schuster

Jutta Speidel as Sigrid Radke

Heinz Hoenig as Helmut Thiele

August 29 - 42nd Street

This is a film with a scene that happens today – August 29. I hope you will enjoy this movie and watch it tonight.

42^nd STREET

On August 29, 193__[2:00 to 3:12] Dorothy Brock signs a contract to appear in Pretty Lady on Broadway, which is being financed by Abner Dillon, who has sexual designs on her. Julian Marsh, the renowned director is hired for the show because he needs the money, having lost everything in the Wall Street Crash. He accepts, even though his health is poor.  Greenhorn Peggy Sawyer arrives for tryouts and meets Billy Lawler, the show’s juvenile male lead, who has an instant attraction to her. An experienced chorus line girl, Lorraine, uses her relationship with Andy Lee, the dance director, to get herself and her friend “Anytime” Annie hired. Billy’s recommendation  gets Peggy hired for the last chorus girl slot.  Dorothy has been seeing her old vaudeville partner, Pat Deming. Marsh revamps the show to be more upbeat and Pat takes Peggy on a date.  Thugs hired by Marsh threaten and punch him, warning him to stay away from Dorothy. They had been hired by Marsh because he was afraid if Dillon learned of Deming’s relationship with Dorothy he would withdraw his support for the show. Deming leaves for Philadelphia. After five weeks of exhausting rehearsals, the show goes to Philadelphia for the opening. At a hotel the night before Dorothy becomes angry over Dillon’s  sexually suggestive behavior towards her and tosses him out.  Meanwhile Peggy was invited to a cast party where much the same thing happens to her and she leaves. Deming comes to Dorothy’s room, but is seen by Mac Elroy the stage manager, who plans to have Deming beaten up. Peggy overhears this and goes to warn Dorothy and Deming. Dorothy mistakes her appearance and mistakenly presumes a romance between Deming and Peggy. In a scuffle, Dorothy breaks her ankle.  Dillon suggests his new girlfriend “Anytime” Annie as Dorothy’s replacement, but she proposes Peggy instead. Marsh reluctantly agrees and Dorothy gives her a pep talk. Billy declares he loves Peggy and the show is a hit with the audience.   

One of the first ‘talkie’ musicals and one of the best. It seems fresher and more realistic than many that followed. Busby Berkeley’s great choreography shines in this movie. 

Date given in film at 2:05 on a contract

Director - Lloyd Bacon

Awards – The film was nominated for Best Picture and Best Sound at the 6^th Academy

                 Awards. 

Runtime – 1 hour 29 minutes

Released – February 2, 1933

Starring –

Warner Baxter as Julian Marsh

Bebe Daniels as Dorothy Brock

George Brent as Pat Denning

Ruby Keeler as Peggy Sawyer

Guy Kibbee as Abner Dillon

Una Merkel as Lorraine Fleming

Ginger Rogers as Ann Lowell

Ned Sparks as Barry

Dick Powell as Billy Lawler

Allen Jenkins as Mac Elroy, the stage manager

Edward J. Nugent as Terry, a chorus boy

Robert McWade as Jones

George E. Stone as Andy Lee

August 28 - Billy Budd

This is a movie with a scene that happens today – August 28. I hope you enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

BILLY BUDD

The HMS Avenger, commanded by Captain Edward Vere, impresses Billy Budd off of a merchant ship.  Budd is an optimistic, naïve and humble man who stutters when he is agitated. The master-at-arms on the ship John Claggart is the exact opposite. He is cruel and violent. He and Budd clash over Claggart’s practice of using flogging to discipline the crew. The crew all hate Claggart, but they refuse to speak against him for fear of retaliation. Only Budd dares to questions Claggart’s actions. Claggart is incensed when the captain promotes Budd. On August 28, 1797 [1:20:44 to 1:49:28] Claggart implicates Budd is planning a mutiny. Budd unfortunately stutters in trying to reply to the charges. Budd strikes Claggart and accidentally kills him. Budd is court-martialed. The Captain convinces the court to find Budd guilty as he feels that the striking of an a superior by an inferior can never be tolerated. The verdict almost does incite a mutiny by the crew, as Budd had become very popular. Budd is hung from the yardarm.  Now the crew does refuse to obey orders, but just as the ship’s marines are about to fire on the crew, a French ship appears and opens fire. The crew does return fire on the French ship. In the battle a piece of rigging falls on the Captain and kills him.

A very interesting, but overlooked film. It is the story of two men with opposite worldviews who come into conflict, eventually resulting in both of their deaths. The Captain promotes the idea that the letter of the law is more important than justice, while our sympathies are obviously directed to support for the opposite proposition. 

Date given in film at 1:55:41 –45

Producer - Peter Ustinov

Director - Peter Ustinov

Screenplay - Peter Ustinov

Awards – The movie was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor (Stamp).

Runtime – 1 hour 34 minutes

Released - November 12, 1962

Starring –

Terence Stamp as Billy Budd

Robert Ryan as John Claggart, Master d'Arms

Peter Ustinov as Edwin Fairfax Vere, Post Captain

Melvyn Douglas as The Dansker, sailmaker

Paul Rogers as Philip Seymour, 1st Lieutenant

John Neville as Julian Radcliffe, 2nd Lieutenant

David McCallum as Steven Wyatt, Gunnery Officer

Ronald Lewis as Enoch Jenkins, maintopman

Lee Montague as Squeak, Mr. Claggart's assistant

Thomas Heathcote as Alan Payne, maintopman

Ray McAnally as William O'Daniel, maintopman

John Meillon as Neil Kincaid, maintopman

Cyril Luckham as Hallam, Captain of Marines

Niall MacGinnis as Captain Nathaniel Graveling

Robert Brown as Talbot

August 27 - The Elizabeth Smart Story

This is a movie with a scene that happens today – August 27. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

THE ELIZABETH SMART STORY

Fourteen year old Elizabeth Smart is part of a large and loving Morman family. Her father hired a handyman, self styled prophet Emmanuel to help him with a remodeling job. Months later, Emmanuel returns and takes Elizabeth at knifepoint. Her sister, who was in the bed with her was to terrified to immediately tell her parents. Once she does a massive police investigation begins. The Smarts are angered when the investigation questions whether any family members were involved in Elizabeth’s disappearance.  A massive search effort begins and the story causes a media frenzy. After a false news story that the police suspect a family member, the father takes and passes a lie detector test.  Richard Ricci, who worked for the Smarts until he was fired when jewelry went missing is arrested for a parole violation and the police think he’s involved in Elizabeth’s disappearance. Then Emmanuel tries to kidnap one of Elizabeth’s cousins. On August 27, 2003 [51:44 to 53:06] the Smarts learn Ricci has had an aneurysm and is now brain dead. After this the Mom gives up hope, the story fades into the background and the police stop looking for Elizabeth. The her sister Mary Catherine remembers that it was Emmanuel who took Elizabeth. The police won’t investigate this.  The father appears on John Walsh’s show and tells him in confidence about this new info. When Walsh reveals it on Larry King’s show, the Smarts publish a sketch of Emmanuel, who is later identified as Brian Mitchell. After having taken her to San Diego, Mitchell returns to Salt Lake with his wife and Elizabeth. When they are arrested, Elizabeth finally admits who she is. Elizabeth is reunited with her family.

A good film. I only have one criticism. In a burst of over the top political correctness, it is never mentioned that either the Smarts or Brian Mitchell are Mormon.  

Date given in film at 51:46

Producer - Peter Sadowski

Director - Bobby Roth

Screenplay -  Nancey Silvers

Runtime 2 hours

Released - November 9, 2003

Starring –

Dylan Baker as Ed Smart

Lindsay Frost as Lois Smart

Amber Marshall as Elizabeth Smart

Hannah Lochner as Mary Katherine Smart

Tyler Kyte as Charles Smart

Tom Everett as Brian Mitchell aka “Emmanuel”

Hollis McLaren as Wanda Barzee

Kenneth McGregor as Richard Ricci

Robert Wisdin as Jim Smart

August 26 - Shine

This is a movie with a scene that happens today – August 26. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

SHINE

Australian David Helfgott wanders into a restaurant, talking in a non-stop nonsensical way. A waitress Sylvia takes him back to the hotel where he lives. In a flashback we see David is a child piano prodigy trained by his domineering father. After Mr. Rosen, a local pianist takes over David’s musical training, he wins the state piano competition and Isaac Stern invites him to study in the USA. His father while initially supportive finally says David cannot go. After being the runner up at the national instrumental & vocal competition, David wins a scholarship to the Royal Music School in London. This time David defies his father and goes. David selects Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3, an extremely difficult piece for a competition, which he wins. However, at the same time David has become manic and is hospitalized and receives electric shock therapy. He returns to an institution in Australia. One of the volunteers recognizes him and he stays with her for a while, but his unpredictable and uncontrollable behavior lead her to put him in the hotel he is staying in at the start of the film. David returns to the restaurant and starts playing there. He meets Gillian, with whom he develops a romantic relationship and on August 26, 1984 [1:36:01 to 1:36:32] David marries Gillian. She helps him stage a comeback concert.

An interesting bio. Stands on it’s own merits as a film as I’d never heard of Helfgott before this movie. His Dad must rank as one of the worst cinema fathers of all time.

Love You to Bits and Pieces by Gilliam Helfgott (Penguin Books, New York, 1996) at page 146 gives the wedding date

Producer - Jane Scott

Director - Scott Hicks

Screenplay - Jan Sardi

Awards – The film won the Best Actor(Rush) Oscar. The movie was also nominated for the Best Supporting Actor (Mueller-Stahl), Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Original Dramtic Score, Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay Oscars at the 69^th Academy Awards.

Runtime – 1 hour 45 minutes

Released – January 21, 1996

Starring –

Geoffrey Rush as David Helfgott

Sonia Todd as Sylvia

Armin Mueller-Stahl as Peter Helfgott

Nicholas Bell as Ben Rosen

John Gielgud as Cecil Parkes

Lynn Redgrave as Gillian

August 25 - The Age of Innocence(1993)

This is a film with a scene that happens today – August 25. I hope you will enjoy this movie and watch it tonight.

THE AGE OF INNOCENCE

Newland Archer is a lawyer from a wealthy family in New York. He’s engaged to May Welland, who is also from an upper crust family. However, after he meets May’s cousin Ellen who is separated from her husband, a Polish count, Archer becomes attracted to her. Archer is tasked by the family to talk Ellen out of seeking a divorce, as the scandal would be monumental. Fearful that he is falling for Ellen, Archer asks May to move up their wedding date, but she refuses, at her mother’s insistence. Archer tells Ellen he loves her, while May tells him not to marry her if he loves someone else, but he says he loves her and May’s family eventually agree to move up their wedding date. They are married and tour Europe. His path crosses Ellen’s, but he does not speak to her. Later, on August 25, 1875 [1:18:49 to 1:21:05] Archer visits the Bleakers and finds a parasol belonging to Ellen. Archer wants to stay married to May and have Ellen also, perhaps as his mistress. Ellen plans to return to Europe, but when Archer is about to tell May of his plans to leave her and follow Ellen, May tells him that she is pregnant and that she had already told Ellen this news. Archer stays with May. Many years later on a tour of Europe with his son he does not meet Ellen when his son visits Ellen.  

I cannot give my opinion of Archer Newland in language that can be read in polite society. The Age of Innocence is surely an ironic title as Archer is about as far from innocent as you can get.  He’s a selfish liar and cad and that’s the politest thing I can say about him.

An Edith Wharton Reader ed. By Arthur H. Quinn (Appleton-Century-Croft, New York, 1950) pps. 140-146

Director - Martin Scorsese

Awards – The film won the Best Costume Design Ocar. The movie was also nominated

                 for the Best Supporting Actress(Ryder), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best             

                 Original Score and Best Art Direction Oscars at the 66^th Academy Awards.

Runtime – 2 hours 19 minutes

Released – October 1, 1993

Starring -

Daniel Day-Lewis as Newland Archer

Michelle Pfeiffer as Countess Ellen Olenska

Winona Ryder as May Welland

Alexis Smith as Louisa van der Luyden

Geraldine Chaplin as Mrs. Welland

Mary Beth Hurt as Regina Beaufort

Alec McCowen as Sillerton Jackson

Richard E. Grant as Larry Lefferts

Miriam Margolyes as Mrs. Mingott

Robert Sean Leonard as Ted Archer

Siân Phillips as Mrs. Archer

Carolyn Farina as Jenny Archer

June Squibb as Maid

Jonathan Pryce as Rivière

Michael Gough as Henry van der Luyden

Norman Lloyd as Mr. Letterblair

Stuart Wilson as Julius Beaufort

Joanne Woodward as Narrator 

August 24 - Whip It

This is a film with a scene that happens today – August 24. I hope you enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

WHIP IT

Bliss Cavender is a 17 year old living in Bodine, Texas. Her mother enter her in beauty pageants, but Bliss hates them. Bliss works in the Oink Joint, a local BBQ restaurant as a waitress with her best friend Pash. On day while shopping in Austin, Bliss sees a flyer for a local roller derby match. On August 24, 2008 [9:56 to 10:45] Pash picks up Bliss at the Oink Joint and they decide to attend after lying to their parents about where they’re going. After seeing the match Bliss lies to the team and says she’s 22,  and to her parents about what she’s doing, so she can try out for the Hurl Scouts, the perennial doormat of the roller derby league. Bliss makes the team and is soon nicknamed ‘Babe Ruthless’. At a party after the first match she meets Oliver, an aspiring musician and they later take a day long road trip. Her mother pushes Bliss to get ready for the Miss Bluebonnet pageant. The team starts to win, and make the finals, in part due to Bliss, who becomes so good she is selected as the league’s new poster girl. Of course the league finals and the pageant are scheduled for the same day. After a match the police raid the event, resulting in Pash being arrested for underage drinking. Bliss is unaware of this as she has gone off with Oliver for a romantic midnight swim before he leaves on tour with his band, taking Bliss’s favorite t-shirt as a memento. Her parent’s find out what Bliss has been up to as a result of Pash’s arrest, leading to Bliss moving in with a fellow teammate, ‘Maggie’ Mayhem” and having a falling out with Pash.  Bliss finally confesses to the team that she’s only 17 and thus can’t skate unless one of her parents gives permission. Bliss finds an online photo of Oliver standing with a girl who is wearing the  t-shirt Bliss gave him. She is devastated, moves back home and decides to compete in the Miss Bluebonnet pageant. Bliss and Pash make up after Pash gets accepted to an Ivy league school in spite of her arrest. Her father investigates roller derby and gives Bliss permission to skate. Bliss skates in the finals, but the Hurl Scouts suffer a heart-breaking last second loss. Oliver returns, but Bliss breaks up with him, not believing his vow that he didn’t cheat on her.  At the end of the film Bliss has even reconciled with her mother after her mom learns Bliss planned to name her the person Bliss was most proud of in the pageant.

A quirky coming-of-age story. Very refreshing that this is a girl’s story, but it is still somewhat clichéd. Of course the finals and the pageant are on the same day! Oh well, this movie’s unusual storyline and believable characters make it worth watching.   

The flyer gives the date of Aug 25 at 9:56. At 10:35, looking at the flyer Pash says “that’s tomorrow”

Director - Drew Barrymore

Runtime – 1 hour 51 minutes

Released – September 13, 2009

Starring –

Ellen Page as Bliss Cavendar (Babe Ruthless)

Alia Shawkat as Pash

Marcia Gay Harden as Brooke Cavendar

Daniel Stern as Earl Cavendar

Carlo Alban as Dwayne (Birdman)

Landon Pigg as Oliver

Jimmy Fallon as 'Hot Tub' Johnny Rocket

Kristen Wiig as Maggie Mayhem

Zoë Bell as Bloody Holly

Eve as Rosa Sparks

Drew Barrymore as Smashley Simpson

Andrew Wilson as Razor

Juliette Lewis as Iron Maven

Ari Graynor as Eva Destruction

Har Mar Superstar as Fight Attendants Coach  

August 23 - The Bourne Identity (1988)

This is a movie with a scene that happens today – August 23. I hope you enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

THE BOURNE IDENTITY(1988)

A man is shot and falls off a boat into the sea in the middle of a storm on August 23, 1988. [00:01 to 02:03] He washes ashore and is taken to the house of Geoffrey Washburn, who nurses him back to health. The man has a piece of microfilm implanted in his leg that has the account number from a bank in Zurich.  When he wakes the man has no idea of his name or who he is.  The man travels to Zurich. At the hotel he learns his name is “Jason Bourne” and that he works for Treadstone71. He goes to the bank and finds he has an account with $15 million dollars in it. On leaving the bank two men try to kill Bourne, but he escapes. At his hotel when he spots two  of the men who tried to kill him. Bourne kidnaps Marie St. Jacques, a Canadian economist, and uses her car to get away. He takes her to a restaurant, where the terrified owner tells him INTERPOL has been there looking for Bourne. He also tells Bourne that Chernak gave him an envelope  to give to Bourne that is connected to the assassination of US ambassador Leland.  Bourne takes Marie to Chernak’s apartment and he ends up killing Chernak. Bourne is wounded and Marie escapes, but she falls into the hand of the men looking for Bourne and tells them where he has gone.  At the boardinghouse Bourne escapes one killer, but is then captured and identified by Marie, who was led to believe the men tracking Bourne are the police. They order Marie killed. He overpowers his two guards and is successful in saving Marie. He tells Marie to go, but she refuses. She drives them to an isolated hotel in the country where they have an intimate encounter. They go to Paris to retrieve the $7 million he transferred there and start to think he might be Carlos the Jackal. Meanwhile the real Carlos is looking for Bourne. Marie goes in to get the cash, but two of the men from Zurich enter the bank just after her. However Bourne lures them away and browbeats a bank official into revealing Bergeron’s dress shop is a point of contact for the men tracking Bourne. Marie learns her boss in Canada was killed when he started asking questions about  Treadstone71. She is very upset by this and almost leaves Jason.   At an NSA meeting the members discuss what happened to Bourne, who was to pretend to be a contract killer who would take credit for hits performed by Carlos the Jackal to draw Carlos out into the open. Some think Bourne really has become a hitman for hire.  Bourne goes to the dress shop, whose owner tells him she thinks Bourne wants to replace Carlos. Marie runs from the Canadian Embassy when they say they’re looking for Bourne and later she is named as a suspect in the Zurich murders. Carlos’s men attack Treadstone’s New York office and frame Bourne for the murders there. The NSA decides to eliminate Bourne. A phone number Bourne found at the dress shop is that of Gen. Villiers. From his house they follow the dress shop owner to a meeting with Carlos. Bourne shoots at him, but he escapes. They confront the General and convinces him that his wife is Carlos’s lover. A guy from the dress shop tells him he is not Bourne, but has been surgically altered to look like him. Bourne arranges a midnight meeting with David Abbott, who Villiers said was the one man at Treadstone who could be trusted. The traitor Gillette kills Gen Conklin and fatally wounds Abbott. Bourne’s real name is David Webb and Abbott tells him he was altered so he could assume the identity of Jason Bourne, who was a vicious killer in order to flush out Carlos. He shames Gen. Villiers, who has killed his wife into helping him. He goes to Treadstone’s HQ in New York, where he confronts and kills Carlos.  He’s reunited with Marie.       

                    

An interesting old style spy thriller. This version is much darker than the Matt Damon vehicles. Here, for instance Bourne kidnaps Marie at gunpoint and forces her to help him.

The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum (Richard Marek Publishers, NY, 1980) at page 154 gives the date he was found as August 24, so he went in water day before

Producer - Frederick Muller

Director – Robert Young

Screenplay - Carol Sobieski

Awards – The film won the Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Mini-Series or Special Emmy. It was also nominated for the Outstanding Editing for a Mini-Series or Special – Single Camera Production Emmy at the 40^th Primetime Emmy Awards.

Runtime – 3 hours 5 minutes

Released -  May 8, 1988

Starring –

Richard Chamberlain as Jason Bourne

Jaclyn Smith as Marie St. Jacques

Anthony Quayle as Gen. Francois Villiers

Donald Moffat as David Abbott

Denholm Elliott as Geoffrey Washburn

August 22 - Michael Collins

This is a film with a scene that happens today – August 22. I hope you will enjoy this movie and watch it tonight.

MICHAEL COLLINS

The English crush the 1916 Easter Uprising in Dublin. Many of the leaders are shot, but Eamon de Valera is spared because he was born in the United States. Michael meets Kitty Kiernan, who starts a relationship with Boland.  Collins and Boland start organizing the IRA as a underground guerilla force. Collins get word from an informant, Ned Broy,  that the entire Irish cabinet is to be arrested. Valera says they should let  themselves be arrested in order to provoke public protest and they are all arrested, except for Collins and Boland. However, there are no protests.  After seeing the extent of the English files on the IRA, Collins starts to compile files on the English police. The IRA starts killing informants. Collins breaks Valera out of jail.  Valera and Boland leave for the USA. The English send in a special squad of MI5 men, the Cairo gang to get Collins. Broy is caught burning papers and killed, while Collins saves Kitty from arrest. Collins arranges to have fourteen of the Cairo gang  killed in one day. In retaliation the English fire into the crowd at an soccer match. When Valera returns from America he insists on an attack against the Custom House against Collin’s advice. The attack fails, but the English ask for a cease fire.  Collins is selected to go to London to negotiate with the English. Kitty breaks it off with Boland because she’s fallen in love with Collins. Collins negotiates the Irish Free State that is still tied to the English crown. In the Irish parliament the treaty is approved by the narrow vote of 64-57. Valera and his deputies who opposed the treaty leave the government. Collins and Kitty pursue a relationship as the Free State comes into existence. He asks Kitty to marry him. After the people vote to approve the treaty, Valera orders the IRA to attack the Four Courts. Collins reluctantly attacks the IRA since the  English from returning to deal with the IRA as they had threatened. During the battle Boland is killed. Collins tries to arrange a meeting with Valera to discuss peace. Valera’s representative tells Collins that they can meet the next day. On August 22, 1922 [1:59:35 to 2:04:10] while traveling to the meeting site Collins is ambushed by the IRA and assassinated. Kitty mourns his death.

An interesting biopic. Collins is portrayed as a brilliant guerrilla leader who tried to work for peace. He was in fact the father of Irish independence.

Ireland: A History by Thomas Bartlett (Cambridge University Press, New York, 2010) at page 419 gives the date of Collins assassination as August 22, 1922.

Producer - Stephen Woolley

Director - Neil Jordan

Screenplay - Neil Jordan

Runtime – 2 hours 13 minutes

Released -  October 11, 1996

Starring –

Liam Neeson as Michael Collins

Aidan Quinn as Harry Boland

Stephen Rea as Ned Broy

Alan Rickman as Éamon de Valera

Julia Roberts as Kitty Kiernan

Ian Hart as Joe O'Reilly

Brendan Gleeson as Liam Tobin

Seán McGinley as Smith

Gerard McSorley as Cathal Brugha

Owen O'Neill as Rory O'Connor

Charles Dance as Soames

Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Collins' Assassin

Ian McElhinney as Belfast Detective

August 21 - Ride With the Devil

This is a movie with a scene that happens today – August 21. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.  

RIDE WITH THE DEVIL

Jake Rodel and Jack Bull Chiles join the pro-Southern Bushwhackers after  Jack’s father is murdered by pro-Union Jayhawkers. Their band is fed by Southern sympathizers, but they are ambushed at a house and almost killed, while the house is burned to the ground. Jake sends a neighbor of his who has been captured to Union headquarters with an offer to trade three other prisoners of the Bushwhackers for two Southern prisoners, but this offer is refused, so the three are killed. The neighbor later kills Jake’s father. The band split up for the winter. Jake, Jack Bull, George Clyde and his former slave Holt live in a shack built into the hillside on the Evans farm. Jack Bull and the Evans widowed daughter Sue Lee Shelly become romantically involved. Jack Bull later dies of wounds received in a skirmish.  In the spring they join Quantrill’s forces. On August 21, 1863 [1:31:02 to 1:49:02]  Quantrill leads them on a raid on Lawrence, Kansas. When Rodel spares a young boy, he arouses the wrath of Pitt Mackeson, who intentionally shoots Jake in the leg during the retreat from Lawrence.  When they return to Missouri they learn Sue Lee has had Jack Bull’s child, but everyone thinks Jake is the father and he eventually decides to marry her. They leave for California and Holt heads for Texas. 

A decent war film. Really more of a character study as this film does not have a lot of combat scenes. This movie explores the Civil War in the West, an area that is rarely touched on.

Black Flag: Guerilla Warfare on the Western Border 1861-1865 by Thomas Goodrich (Indiana University Press, Bloomington, In, 1995) at pages 71-92 gives the date of the raid

 Producer - James Schamus, Robert F. Colesberry and Ted Hope

Director -Ang Lee

Screenplay - James Schamus

Runtime – 2 hours 18 minutes        

Released – November 26, 1999

Starring -

Skeet Ulrich as Jack Bull Chiles

Jewel as Sue Lee Shelley

Jeffrey Wright  as Daniel Holt

Simon Baker as George Clyde

Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Pitt Mackeson

Jim Caviezel as Black John Ambrose

Tom Guiry as Riley Crawford

Jonathan Brandis as Cave Wyatt

Mark Ruffalo as Alf Bowden

Tom Wilkinson as Orton Brown

Margo Martindale as Wilma Brown

John Ales as William Quantrill

August 20 - All The King's Men (1949)

This is a movie with a scene that happens today – August 20. I hope you enjoy this film and watch it tonight.  

ALL THE KING’S MEN

Reporter Jack Burden is sent to Konoma County to cover Willie Stark’s run for county treasurer. He loses due to dirty tricks by the entrenched political opposition. Burden comes from a wealthy family, but wants to be independent of his mother. He is dating Anne, niece of Judge Stanton  and sister of Dr. Adam Stanton. Stark gets his law degree, then there is an accident at a local school caused, many people belief by political graft. This causes a firestorm of public discontent with the current politicians.  Willie is recruited by some of the powers that be to run for governor, splitting the reform vote and enabling the establishment candidate to win. This is what happens, but Willie discovers he can be an spellbinding political speaker. Burden quits his newspaper job.  Four years later Willie runs for governor a second time on a platform of building schools, hospitals, roads and taxing the rich. However, he accepts campaign contributions, including $1,000 from the Lorain Oil Company on August 20, 193___ [39:24 to 39:29] in exchange for later political influence. Burden who now works for Willie, introduces him to his wealthy friends and relations. Stark wins the election and proceeds, overcoming a lot of opposition to carry out his program.  He also begins affairs with his henchwoman Sadie and more surprisingly Anne Stanton. When Pillsbury, the state auditor is caught in a corruption scandal, Stark refuses to let him be prosecuted, using the incident to gain total control over Pillsbury. This causes Judge Stanton, who had been Attorney General to resign. Stark orders Burden to ‘get something’ on the Judge. He does, but after revealing the information to Anne, Burden promises her not to use it. Then Willie Stark’s son is involved in a drunk driving wreck that kills a young girl. Her father protests and suggests a cover-up, but he later disappears amid allegations he was paid off. Stark forces his son to play football against medical advice and he becomes paralyzed. Then the body of the girl’s father is found, suggesting that Stark had him murdered. Judge Stanton and others get Stark impeached.  Stark starts working to get enough votes to ensure his acquittal in his legislative trial. Jack refuses to hand over the damaging info he has on the Judge, who admits that it is true. Stark has discovered the damaging info about the judge, who rather than knuckle under commits suicide. It is clear that Anne gave the info to Stark. Willie is acquitted by the legislature. The judge’s son, Adam Stanton assassinates Stark, but is in turn killed.            

A film about the truth if the adage, “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. Stark began as a man of the people but in the end finished up looking out for number one. This movie suggests everyone has a skeleton in the closet and a price.

Date given in film at 39:27

Producer - Robert Rossen

Director - Robert Rossen

Awards – The film won the Best Picture, Best Actor(Crawford) and Best Supporting

                 Actress(McCambridge) Oscars. It was also nominated for the Best Director,

                 Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor(Ireland) and Best Film Editing Oscars

                 at the 22^nd Academy Awards

Screenplay - Robert Rossen

Runtime – 1 hour 49 minutes

Released – November 8, 1949

Starring –

Broderick Crawford as Willie Stark

John Ireland as Jack Burden

Joanne Dru as Anne Stanton

John Derek as Tom Stark

Mercedes McCambridge as Sadie Burke

Shepperd Strudwick as Adam Stanton

Ralph Dumke as Tiny Duffy

Anne Seymour  as Mrs. Lucy Stark

Katherine Warren as Mrs. Burden

Raymond Greenleaf as Judge Monte Stanton

Walter Burke as Sugar Boy

Will Wright  as Dolph Pillsbury

Grandon Rhodes as Floyd McEvoy

A.C Tillman as Sheriff

August 19 - Treasure of the Sierra Madre

This is a film with a scene that happens today – August 19. I hope you will enjoy this movie and watch it tonight.

THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE

Fred C. Dobbs is a hobo living in Tampico, Mexico on handouts. He and Bob Curtin, another drifter takes jobs on an oil well, but get cheated out of their wages. They listen with interest when an older man, Howard talks about gold prospecting. Curtin and Dobbs beat up the man who cheated them and take their wages. This and Dobbs lottery win gives the three enough cash to go prospecting. They trek into the bush and start mining. The work is hard and Curtain saves Dobbs in a tunnel collapse, but they eventually do find gold. On August 19, 1925 [34:00 to 36:45] the three protagonists decide to divide up the gold they have found as the first faint stirrings of suspicion and greed start to take hold of them. Curtain is followed back from town where he went to get supplies by Cody.  The three decide to kill Cody to keep from having to share the gold with him, but just as they are about to do so they see bandits preparing to attack their camp. They with the help of some Federales, drive the bandits off, but Cody is killed. Howard cures a native boy, but when they are leaving the area, the men of the boy’s village forcefully insist he return to be honored. Curtain and Dobbs march on, with Dobbs becoming more and more paranoid. He finally shots Curtain and steals all the gold. Dobbs is later killed by bandits who steal their donkeys and equipment and scatter the bags of unrefined gold, believing it to be sand. Curtain, who was only wounded is found by Indians and taken to Howard who fixes him up. The bandits try to sell the donkeys and equipment, but it is recognized as stolen property, so they are arrested and shot. Curtain and Howard discover the wind has blown away all the gold. They two part company.   

A powerful story about the power of greed. Even though Howard tries to warn them the others refuse to accept the truth that ‘the love of money is the root of all evil”. Curtain ends up almost dead and Dobbs does lose his life in the pursuit of a dream. 

At 1:00 the year is given as 1925. At 34:48 the calendar shows a month starting on Saturday. In 1925 that could only be August. The 19th is crossed off and it’s evening, so it is almost certainly that day. 

Producer - Henry Blanke

Director - John Huston

Awards – The film won the Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Supporting

                 Actor(Huston) Oscars. It was also nominated for Best Picture at the

                 21^st Academy Awards

Screenplay - John Huston

Runtime – 2 hours 6 minutes

Released – January 6, 1948

Starring -

Humphrey Bogart as Fred C. Dobbs

Walter Huston as Howard

Tim Holt as Bob Curtin

Bruce Bennett as James Cody

Barton MacLane as Pat McCormick

Alfonso Bedoya as Gold Hat

Arturo Soto Rangel as El Presidente

Manuel Dondé as El Jefe

José Torvay as Pablo

Margarito Luna as Pancho

August 18 - Nemesis

This is a movie with a scene that happens today – August 18. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

NEMESIS

Multimillionaire Jason Rafiel, who once helped Jame Marple prevent a murder, dies. Jane Marple reads about it in the newspaper.  The next day August 18, 1955 [6:30 to 6:52] Mr. Rafiel’s lawyers discuss his death. Jane Marple gets a letter from Mr. Rafiel, sent to her by the lawyers. He asks her to undertake an investigation, but provides no hints as to what she is to investigate. Miss Marple is being observed by a young woman. Mr. Rafiel has paid for Miss Marple to go on a Historic Homes and Gardens tour. Miss Marple learns from Elizabeth Temple, a fellow tourist that she taught Verity Hunt, who was engaged to Michael Rafiel, Jason Rafiel’s son. Verity was murdered and Michael was a suspect, but never tried for the crime. Michael and his father became estranged over this and he has lived as a hobo ever since. Miss Temple tells Miss Marple that Verity Hunt was loved very much. Miss Marple is invited to stay at the Old Manor house by Lavinia Glynn and her two sisters Clothilde and Anthea Bradbury-Scott. They were the guardians of Verity Hunt and Clothilde especially loved Verity very much.  Miss Marple learns that about the same time as Verity’s murder another girl, Nora Brent disappeared in the area. Miss Temple writes a letter to an unknown person. During the tour of Kingsminster Castle an attempt is made to kill Miss Temple.  Miss Marple discovers that Verity Hunt’s grave has a very plain marker.  Miss Temple asks to speak to Miss Marple in the hospital, but dies without revealing very much. When Miss Marple returns to the Bradbury-Scott’s house, she tells them she knows who really killed Verity. Miss Marple does not drink the poisoned milk Clothilde prepared for her. We learn Clothilde was so attached to Verity, she refuse to accept the possibility of her marrying Michael Rafiel and poisoned her to prevent this. Clothilde buried her body under the crumbling greenhouse. She killed and disfigured Nora Brent, then identified her body as Verity’s. When she starts to take  more direct steps to kill Miss Marple, the woman who had been watching Miss Marple and her companion, who are actually bodyguards hired by Mr. Rafiel, emerge and stop her. Miss Marple allows Clothilde to drink the poisoned milk and she dies. Michael Rafiel is found and cleared of all suspicion in Verity’s death.    

Another good Christie who-dun-it yarn. Interesting in that it is quite a while before we (and Miss Marple) find out what the mystery is in this film. A good psychological film. 

At 6:32 the newspaper date is “Thursday, August 18, 1955’.

Producer – George Gallaccio

Director - David Tucker

Screenplay – T. R.  Bowen

Runtime – 1 hour 42 minutes

Released – February 6, 1987

Starring –

Joan Hickson as Miss Jane Marple

Barbara Franceschi as Miss Kurnowitz

Frank Gatliff as Jason Rafiel

Peter Tilbury as Lionel Peel

John Horsley as Professor Wanstead

Jane Booker as Miss Cooke 

Alison Skilbeck as Miss Barrow

Valerie Lush as Lavinia Glynne

Margaret Tyzack as Clothilde Bradbury-Scott

Anna Cropper as Anthea Bradbury-Scott

Jonathan Adams  as Carter

Oliver Parker as London Policeman

Bruce Payne as Michael Rafiel

Roger Hammond as Mr. Broadribb

Patrick Godfrey as Mr.  Schuster

Joanna Hole as Madge

Helen Cherry as Miss Temple

Ann Queensbury as Miss Wimpole

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-P0LrwfckM

August 17 - Gung Ho!

This is a movie with a scene that happens today – August 17. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

GUNG HO!

The Marines ask for volunteers for a special combat unit. Many men volunteer. Tedrow has already killed someone with a knife. Harbison is seminary graduate who wants to join to be able to help the other men. Frankie is a no-good kid who wants to prove himself.  Col. Thorwald tells Transport that before Pearl Harbor he had joined the Chinese army on a fact finding mission. Two half-brothers Ritcher and O’Ryan want to join to show up each other. Pigiron wants to join to show he is worth something.  The men begin training. Richter and O’Ryan spend an evening with the girl they both love, Kathleen Corrigan. Later Richter meets Kathleen and asks her to wait for him, but they are interrupted by O’Ryan before he gets an answer. The Marines ship out from San Diego. At Pearl Harbor the 210 Maries in the battalion get on two submarines. They struggle to keep up morale in the sub, even celebrating Gunner’s birthday. The men learn they are landing on Makin Island and that as they are defending the Japanese will have a six to one advantage. However, all the Marines training has been focused on the specifics of this mission. They dive to avoid Japanese planes, but an exhausted Tedrow is left on deck. The sub recovers Tedrow and they get depth charged, but aren’t hit. On August 17, 1942 [46:20 to 1:25:35] they land on the island. They take out snipers in trees and then O’Ryan is killed. They take out a machine gun nest when Frankie races forward and tosses grenades. The  wounded Pigiron, who has been shot in the throat and can’t yell a warning saves the doc’s life by throwing a knife into the back of a wounded Japanese who revived and tried to shoot the doc. When Japanese aircraft appear the Marines attack the radio station controlling them, but are pinned down until the Marines use a captured steamroller to flatten the station. When the Japanese launch a major air raid, the Marines retreat, luring the Japanese troops to the hospital, where they have painted a large American flag on the roof. The Japanese bomb their own men. The Marines evacuate just in time to avoid Japanese destroyers. 

A decent action film. Made during the war it sometimes drifts over into propaganda. The combat sequences are well done and tries to create believable, real characters, instead of cardboard cut-outs.

2194 Days of War ed. by Cesare Salmaggi and Alfredo Pallavisini (Gallery Books, New York, 1977) at page 285 gives the date of the landing.

Producer - Walter Wanger

Director - Ray Enright

Screenplay - W. S. LeFrançois and Lucien Hubbard

Narrator - Chet Huntley

Runtime – 1 hour 28 minutes

Released - December 20, 1943

Starring –

Randolph Scott as Col. Thorwald

Alan Curtis as Pvt. John Harbison

Noah Beery Jr. as Cpl. Kurt Richter

J. Carrol Naish as Lt. C.J. Cristoforos

Sam Levene as Plt Sgt. Victor 'Transport' Magakian

David Bruce as Larry O'Ryan

Richard Lane as Capt. Dunphy

Walter Sande as Gunner McBride

Louis Jean Heydt as Lt. Roland Browning

Robert Mitchum as Pvt. 'Pig-Iron' Matthews

Rod Cameron as Pvt. Rube Tedrow

Grace McDonald as Lt. Kathleen Corrigan

Milburn Stone as Cmdr. Blake

Peter Coe as Pvt. Kozzarowski

Harold Landon as Pvt. Frankie Montana

Irving Bacon as Harry the Hamburger Man

Eddie Coke as Chief Clerk

Dudley Dickerson as Submarine Steward

August 16 - Ed Wood

This is a movie with a scene that happens today – August 16. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

 

ED WOOD

Ed Wood desperately wants to direct movies, while working in the studio’s plant nursery. When he reads a story in Variety that George Weiss is going to produce a movie based on the life of the transsexual Christine Jorgenson, he begs him to be allowed to direct it. Ed tells him that he is a secret cross-dresser. Ed meets his idol, one time horror star,  Bela Lugosi.  Ed talks Weiss into letting him direct the sex change film, called Glen or Glenda. Ed reveals his cross-dressing secret to Dolores Fuller, his girlfriend. This causes some problems between them. He starts filming, but Bela acts like a diva. When filming is over Ed tries to get a major studio interested, but they think the film is a joke. He saves Bela from a drug overdose. Ed tries to arrange independent financing for his next picture. When Bela appears on a local TV show, Ed meets the Amazing Criswell. He meets Loretta King, who he thinks can invest in the film and ends up casting her in the lead female role. After getting the brush-off from Vampira, who refuses to appear in the film, he convinces Don McCoy to put up the money if the movie ends with a bang and his son is cast as the lead. They break into the Studio’s prop department and steal a giant rubber octopus prop to use in the film. At the wrap party for Bride of the Monster, Delores breaks up with Ed. Bela tries to talk Ed into a double suicide, but Lugosi commits himself instead. Ed meets Kathy O'Hara who is more accepting of his cross-dressing. At the premiere of Bride of the Monster, the audience is so incensed they chase Ed and his pals out of the theater. Then, on August 16, 1956 [1:35:13 to 1:35:34] Ed gets word that Bela Lugosi has died.  He talks his landlord into getting his church to finance his next picture by promising that the profits will be enough to finance their planned religious pictures. Ed drafts Kathy’s chiropractor,  Tom Mason as Lugosi’s body double so he can use some footage he shot of Lugosi before his death. Vampira agrees to appear, if she has no speaking lines, so hopefully her involvement won’t be noticed. The church insists on changing the title to Plan 9 From Outer Space.  They also criticize his film making style and discover his cross-dressing. Ed flees to a bar and meets his other idol, Orson Welles. They commiserate over the problems of making movies. Ed returns and finishes the film his way. After the premiere, Ed and Kathy head to Las Vegas to get married.

This is a very funny movie. Depp’s over-the-top portrayl of Ed Wood is hilarious. Martin Landau also turned in an Oscar deserving performance as Bela Lugosi. A good film about the worst director ever.

Bela Lugosi by Gary D. Rhodes (Collectables, Narberth, Pa., 2007) at page 255 gives his death date

Producer - Tim Burton and Denise Di Novi

Director - Tim Burton

Screenplay - Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski

Awards – The film won the Best Supporting Actor(Landau) and Best Makeup Oscars at 

                 the 67^th Academy Awards

Runtime – 2 hours 7 minutes

Released – September 30, 1994

Starring -   

Johnny Depp as Ed Wood, cult film director

Martin Landau as Bela Lugosi, famous horror film star

Sarah Jessica Parker as Dolores Fuller, Ed's girlfriend before his relationship with Kathy

Patricia Arquette as Kathy O'Hara: Ed's girlfriend after his relationship with Dolores

Lisa Marie as Vampira: Hostess of the local ''The Vampira Show''

Jeffrey Jones as The Amazing Criswell: A local psychic TV entertainer

Max Casella and Brent Hinkley as Paul Marco and Conrad Brooks: production assistants

Bill Murray as Bunny Breckinridge: Ed's openly-gay friend

George Steele as Tor Johnson: A Swedish professional wrestler hired by Wood

Juliet Landau as Loretta King: she replaces Dolores in the movie "Bride of the Monster" Ned Bellamy as Tom Mason: Kathy's chiropractor

Mike Starr as George Weiss: Foul-mouthed Z movie producer

Vincent D'Onofrio as Orson Welles, world famous movie producer and director

August 15 - True Grit(2010)

This is a movie with a scene that happens today – August 15. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

TRUE GRIT(2010)

Frank Ross is murdered by his hired man, Tom Cheney on a trip to Fort Smith, Arkansas when Ross tries to stop Cheney from shooting the other players in a poker game after Cheney believed he was cheated. Cheney stole two gold pieces off of Ross’s body and stole his horse. Frank’s daughter 14 year old Mattie Ross comes to Fort Smith to get her father’s body and find Cheney. When the sheriff says Cheney has fled with Lucky Ned Pepper to the Indian Territory, where he has no jurisdiction, he names three US Marshals who might find Cheney for a reward. She approaches Marshall Rueben “Rooster” Cogburn, described as the’ meanest” marshal, but he rebuffs her, because Mattie is a child and he does not believe she actually has the reward money. In spite of her youth Mattie out-trades Col. Stonehill, who had done business with her father and gets $320.00. Mattie meets a Texas Ranger named Le Boeuf, who has  been tracking Cheney and wants to take him back to Texas to answer for a murder committed there, but Mattie opposes this and will not partner with him. Mattie buys a horse from Stonehill and hires Cogburn for $100.00. Cogburn heads out after Cheney without her, but she swims the river and catches up to Cogburn, who has partnered with LeBoeuf. LeBoeuf later goes off on his own, but Cogburn and Mattie get directed to a dugout where they capture two members of Ned Pepper’s gang. One kills the other, but not before they learn Pepper is coming to the dugout. They set an ambush, but LeBoeuf shows up at the dugout just before Pepper’s gang arrives. In a shoot-out some outlaws are killed, but Pepper escapes. After an argument, LeBoeuf leaves again. One morning Mattie is going to get water and finds Cheney. After he taunts her she (much to his surprise) shoots him with her father’s pistol. Only wounded Cheney carries Mattie back to Pepper’s camp. By threatening Mattie, Pepper forces Cogburn to ride off. The gang leaves, but Cheney is forced to stay behind with Mattie, as he lost his horse in the earlier fracas. Cheney tries to kill Mattie, but is knocked out by LeBoeuf. Cogburn and Pepper’s gang charge each other, with Cogburn killing all but Pepper himself, who is killed by an amazing rifle shot by LeBoeuf. Cheney knocks out LeBoeuf. Mattie uses his rifle to kill Cheney, but the recoil knocks her into a pit filled with rattlesnakes. She is bit and Cogburn has to ride with her until the horse dies and then carries her to get help. Mattie had to have most of her left arm amputated. Years later, she travels to Memphis to see Cogburn at the Cole Younger Wild West Show on August 15, 1903 [1:41:00 to 1:43:12] but learns he died three days ago,

This film is a good western and if we didn’t have to compare it to the 1969 version, might be considered a great film. However, while this film is good, the performances in the 1969 version are great. However, this version was at least filmed using the correct topography as background.

At 1:42:28 Cole Younger says Cogburn died three days ago. At 1:43:31 his tombstone

shows he died August 12, 1903, so three days later is the 15^th.

Producer - Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, Scott Rudin and Megan Ellison

Director - Joel Coen and Ethan Coen

Screenplay - Joel Coen and Ethan Coen

Narrator - Elizabeth Marvel

Awards – This movie was nominated for the Best Actor(Bridges), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Director, Best Picture, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing and Best Supporting Actres(Steinfeld) at the 83^rd Academy Awards.

Runtime – 1 hour 51 minutes

Released – December 22, 2010

Starring -

Jeff Bridges as Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn

Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie Ross

Matt Damon as LeBoeuf

Josh Brolin as Tom Chaney

Barry Pepper as "Lucky" Ned Pepper

Domhnall Gleeson as Moon

Ed Corbin as Bear Man (Dr. Forrester)

Roy Lee Jones as Yarnell Poindexter

Paul Rae as Emmett Quincy

Nicholas Sadler as Sullivan

Dakin Matthews as Colonel Stonehill

Elizabeth Marvel as 40-year-old Mattie

Leon Russom as Sheriff

Jake Walker as Judge Isaac Parker

Don Pirl as Cole Younger

Jarlath Conroy as The Undertaker

August 14 - Evil Under the Sun(2001)

This is a movie with a scene that happens today – August 14. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

EVIL UNDER THE SUN                    

In an English village Miss Corrigan is found strangled by a woman cyclist, but the prime suspect, her fiancée has an ironclad alibi. Hercule Poirot goes to eat at Capt. Hastings new Argentine restaurant, but passes out. His doctor says he’s obese and orders him to the Sandy Cove Hotel for a health cure. Poirot and Hastings arrive there on August 14, 1936.[9:35 to 28:46]. The actress Arlena Stuart is staying there with her husband Kenneth Marshall and step-son Lionel. Patrick and Christine Redfern also arrive. It soon becomes apparent Patrick is having an affair with Arlena and Christine and Kenneth both know about it. The next day Arelena goes alone to Pixie Cove. Christine and Lionel go to Gull Cove. Patrick and the older Emily Brewster take a rowboat around around the island. When they stop at Pixie cove they find Arlena’s body. She had been strangled. Inspector Japp arrives and with Poirot and Hastings begins investigating the murder. Christine suggests, based on an overheard phone conversation that Arlena was being blackmailed, but this is later disproved. Drug smugglers are arrested, but this has nothing to do with the murder. Rev. Lane who is on the island came from the village where the other murder occurred. Poirot tells what really happened. Christine set Lionel’s watch ahead and then back. She left and went to Pixie cove. Arlena was waiting to meet Patrick so when Christine arrived she hid in a cave. Christine disguised her self to look like Arlena and pretended to be dead when Patrick and Miss Brewster arrived. After Miss Brewster left to get help, Christine left and Patrick killed Arlena. Rev. Lane identifies Patrick and Christine as the ones involved in the Corrigan murder and they are arrested. Capt. Hastings restaurant is shut down as it is discovered Poirot was actually a victim of food poisoning.         

Another superbly plotted mystery by Agatha Christie creates a wonderful mystery film. There are plenty of red herrings thrown about, but none of them deflect Poirot from the truth. All in all a very enjoyable brainteaser of a mystery.

At 42:49, on the day after they arrive,  Hastings references a telegram dated ‘three days ago’. At 1:11:52 we see the telegram is dated August 12, meaning Hastings reads it on the 15^th, so they day they arrive is the 14^th. 

Producer –  Brian Eastman

Director – Brian Farnham

Screenplay – Anthony Horowitz

Runtime – 1 hour 40 minutes

Released – April 20, 2001

Starring –

David Suchet as Hercule Poirot

Hugh Fraser as Capt. Hastings

Philip Jackson as Chief Inspector Japp

Pauline Moran as Miss Lemon

Michael Higgs as Patrick Redfern

Tamzin Malleson as Christine Redfern

Louise Delamere as Arlena Stuart

Tim Meats as Stephen Lane

Carolyn Pickles as Emily Brewster

David Mallinson as Kenneth Marshall

August 13 - Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

This is a film with a scene that happens today – August 13. I hope you enjoy this movie and watch it tonight.

MARY SHELLEY’S FRANKENSTEIN

Captain Robert Walton is trying to reach the north pole. On August 13, 1794 [3:14 to 7:28] he picks up a man traveling across the ice alone. The man sees how obsessed Walton is with reaching the pole, and asks if he shares his “madness.” The man gives his name as Victor Frankenstein and tells his story in a very long flashback.  He is raised in a wealthy family with Elizabeth, a girl taken in by his parents. Later after his mother dies he vows to conquer death.  Victor and Elizabeth become engaged and he goes off to college. There he pursues studies that eventually lead him to conclude that the only way to defeat death is to create life. His mentor Professor Waldman advises against this, as his own experiments led to an abomination.   However when Waldman is killed, Victor steals his notes and continues his work. He creates a living creature, but is appalled. The creature escapes and once it learns how it was created vows revenge on Victor. Victor returns home. His younger brother has been murdered and a servant Justine is executed for the crime.  Victor meets the creature in order to destroy it, but fails due to it’s greater speed and strength. The creature promises to leave if Victor will make him a bride. When Victor refuses to use Justine’s body, the creature again vows revenge. After Victor and Elizabeth are married, the creature eventually succeeds in killing her. Victor revives her using parts from Justine’s body, but when she realizes what has been done to her she kills herself.   The flashback ends as Victor explains he has been pursuing the creature to kill it. When Victor dies of pneumonia, the creature kills himself on Victor’s funeral pyre. Walton takes his ship home.

This is the version that sticks the closest to the plot of the book. It’s an unusual film, more bloody than most previous versions, but it doesn’t quite make it as a real horror film. The script is too manic and tries to fit too much into the story.

Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus by Mary W. Shelley (Aldine Press, London, 1970) at pages 17-18 gives date and year given in film at 1:37

Producer – Francis Ford Coppola

Director – Keneth Branagh

Awards – The film was nominated for the Best Makeup Oscar at the 67^th Academy

                 Awards.

Screenplay – Steph Lady and Frank Darabont

Runtime – 2 hours 3 minutes

Released- October 12, 1994

Starring –

Robert DeNiro as the creature

Kenneth Branagh as Victor Frankenstein

Tom Hulce as Henry Clerval

Helena Bonham Carter as Elizabeth

Ian Holm as Baron Frankenstein

John Cleese as Professor Waldman

Aidan Quinn as Captain Walton

Trevyn McDowell as Justine

Cherie Lunghi as Victor’s mother