This movie has a
scene that happens today – November 30. I hope you enjoy this film and watch it
tonight.
LUCY AND DESI:
BEFORE THE LAUGHTER
As Lucy anxiously awaits the first taping of the “I Love Lucy” show she
thinks back to how she met Desi. He’s a womanizer and she plays hard to get.
They work together on the film Too Many Girls. On November 30, 1940
[27:29 to 32:00] Lucille Ball and Desi Arnez get married by a notary
public. She refuses to go on location
to shoot films, but he tours with his band. Then Desi gets drafted. Then he
catches him necking with a girl and she threatens divorce. However, she finally agrees to put him on a
year’s probation, with Desi not going on tour. After he gets slighted at the
Oscars, he persuades her to let him return to touring. When she thinks he’s
been involved in a serious accident while on the road they look for a way they
can work together. They renew their
wedding vows in church. Desi’s infidelities continue, while Lucy works on
radio. They try to sell CBS on a show starring the two of them, but can’t until
they go on the road with a successful stage version of the show. She has a
difficult time after a miscarriage, but they get word that the show has been
approved. They have their first child. They begin taping the first episode of
the “I Love Lucy” show.
A pure fluff biopic. It has been
criticised for taking great liberties with the facts. If you’re looking for a
Hollywood biography and not a factual one, it is entertaining enough.
Ball of Fire by Stefan Kanfer (Alfred A. Knopf, New
York, 2003) at page 78 gives their wedding date
Producer – John Thomas Lenox
Director – Charles Jarott
Awards – This film was nominated for the Outstanding
Achievement in Hairstyling for a Miniseries or a Special and the Outstanding
Costume Design for a Miniseries or a Special Emmys at the 43rd
Primetime Emmy Awards.
This movie has a scene that happens today – November 29. I hope you
enjoy this movie and watch it tonight.
THE GODFATHER, PART II
In 1901 Sicily, the local Mafia Boss Don Ciccio kills Vito
Andolini’s father and brother. After his mother is murdered after trying to
kill Ciccio, Vito flees to America, changing his surname to Corleone. In 1958
Don Michael Corleone, head of the Corleone crime family, meets with Senator Pat
Geary to discuss a fourth gambling license for a newly purchased casino. Geary
wants a big payoff, but Michael is willing to pay nothing. Frank Pentangeli is upset when Michael won’t
let him deal with the Rosato brothers who are causing difficulties for the
family back in New York. The Rosatos work for Jewish gangster Hyman Roth, with
whom Michael is working a deal. An attempted hit on Michael fails. In 1917 New
York Vito Corleone works at a grocery store, but is fired to make room for the
nephew of Don Fanucci. Michael hides guns for Peter Clemenza and in return is
allowed to get part of the proceeds from a robbery. On November 29, 1958
[1:00:11 to 1:05:04] Michael Corleone has a meeting with Hyman Roth in Miami in
which Michael tells Roth that Pentangeli tried to have him killed. Later
Michael tells Pentangeli that Roth tried to have him killed. The Rosatos try to
kill Pentangeli. Senator Geary ends up in a brothel run by Michael’s brother
Fredo with a dead prostitute and has to accept the help offered by Tom Hagen (who
is Michael’s lawyer). In Havana Michael becomes convinced that the rebels will
win and so does not turn over $2 million delivered by Fredo to Roth that was to
be invested in Cuban deals. Michael learns that Fredo betrayed him to Roth.
Michael’s attempt to have Roth killed fails. The rebels attack Havana and
Michael flees. He later learns from Tom Hagen that Michael’s wife Kay has
miscarried and that Roth is in Miami. 1920 Vito Corleone and his associates are
directed to pay protection money to Don Fanucci. Vito earns Fanucci’s respect
and pays him less than Fanucci wanted. Michael then follows Fanucci to his
apartment and kills him. The Senate
crime committee thinks it has in Pentangeli a witness who will enable them to
get Michael, but at a hearing after seeing his brother in the audience, Pentangeli
denies his sworn statements and says Michael is innocent. In the 1920’s Vito
Corleone has become a feared Mafia boss. Fredo confesses to Michael that he
betrayed him and Kay tells Michael her miscarriage was actually an abortion.
Vito Corleone returns to Sicily and kills Don Ciccio. Michael’s mother dies.
Tom Hagen tells Pentangeli that his family will be safe if he kills himself.
Hyman Roth, after unsuccessfully seeking asylum in Israel, Argentina and Panama
returns to the USA to be arrested for tax evasion, but is murdered. Pentangeli
kills himself and Michael has Fredo killed. Michael thinks back to Pearl Harbor
day when he tells his brothers that he has left college to join the marines.
An epic film. However, at least
for me it just doesn’t have the oomph of The Godfather. For some reason
you really can’t put your finger on it just falls flat.
The game they are watching is
described as Notre Dame vs. SC at 1:03:26-28. The year is given as 1958 at
11:08. The Notre Dame - Southern California game that year was this date as per
The USA Today College Football Encyclopedia ed by Bob Boyles and Paul
Guido (Skyhorse Publishing, New York, 2008) at page 123
Producers - Francis Ford Coppola,
Gray Frederickson and Fred Roos
Director - Francis Ford Coppola
Screenplay - Francis Ford Coppola
and Mario Puzo
Awards – The movie won the Best
Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor (De
Niro), Best Art-Direction-Set Decoration and the Best Original Dramtic Score
Oscars. The film was also nominated for the Best Actor (Pacino), Best
Supporting Actor (Gazzo), Best Supporting Actor (Strasberg), Best Supporting Actress
(Shire), and Best Costume Design at the 47th Academy Awards.
This is a movie with a scene that happens today - November 28. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.
DUTCH
Blue collar Dutch Dooley stands
out when he attends a swanky party with his new upper crust girlfriend Natalie
Standish. At the party she meets Reed Standish, her snooty ex-husband who tells
her he can’t take their son over Thanksgiving break from his boarding school in
Georgia since he has to go to Europe.
When she complains about this Reed tells her to stop or he’ll take
custody of their son, Doyle from her. Dutch threatens Reed with bodily harm if
he hurts Natalie. In spite of Doyle telling his Mom he does not want to spend
thanksgiving with her, Dutch offers to go and bring him back to Chicago. At the
school Dutch finds that Doyle is as snooty as his father. Doyle hits him with a
book and shoots him in the groin with a BB gun. Dutch has to tie Doyle up to
get him into the car. Dutch buys fireworks, but they end up all going off at
once. Dutch gets so fed up with Doyle that when Doyle jumps out of the car,
Dutch drives off and makes Doyle walk a mile in a snowstorm to their hotel.
Doyle gets revenge by parking Dutch’s car in the path of a semi, which destroys
it. They catch a ride with two prostitutes, but they steal Dutch and Doyle’s
luggage, leaving them stranded at a truck stop. Doyle tries to call his father
and learns he did not go to Europe, but is instead spending the holiday with
his new girlfriend. Doyle also gets upset when Dutch tells him that Doyle
“hates his mother’. They stowaway on the back of an eighteen-wheeler. The guards
at a storage facility attack them but Doyle’s karate and the BB gun allow Dutch
and Doyle to escape. They get a ride to a local homeless shelter. While there
Doyle befriends a little girl and realizes he does miss his mother and likes
Dutch. On November 28, 1991,
Thanksgiving day [1:34:18 to 1:43:27] the girl’s parents drive Dutch and Doyle
the rest of the way to Natalie’s house. Reed is there, but after Doyle tells
his father that he knows Reed lied about having to go to Europe, Doyle decides
to stay with his mother. Reed angrily gives her only until Monday to move out
of the house. However, after Dutch punches him, he agrees to let her stay for
six months and be more respectful to both Natalie and Doyle. Dutch, Natalie and
Doyle enjoy Thanksgiving dinner, but afterwards Dutch shoots Doyle with the BB
gun, getting his revenge as he promised.
An okay film. Not spectacular,
but it does have it’s moments.
This movie has a scene that happens today – November 27. I
hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.
THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Maria is a probationary nun at a
convent near Salzburg, Austria in the 1930’s. She is often in trouble because
she does not conform to the expected modes of behavior, preferring to roam the
hills above the city instead of praying in the chapel. The mother superior
decides to send her to be the governess for the widower Captain Von Trapp and
his seven children. The Captain tries to run his house like a navy ship, and is
cold and distant to his progeny. This causes the children to bitterly resent
the succession of governesses sent to take care of them and they play cruel
practical jokes on them. Maria’s refusal to tell their father about the pranks
they play on her and her truly caring attitude win the children over. The eldest
girl Liesl is in love with Rolf, the telegraph delivery boy, who is a member of
the Austrian Nazi Party. When the Captain goes to Vienna, Maria takes the
children on outings into Salzburg and teaches them to sing. When the Captain
returns from Vienna with his enamota, Baroness Schrader and their friend Max
Detweiler, a musical booking agent he is outraged at what Maria has done and
fires her, but relents when he sees that the children have charmed the Baroness
with their singing. The Captain enjoys a musical puppet show put on by the
children, but rejects Max’s idea that they should form a singing group. After a
ball given by the Captain, the Baroness, who has noticed the attraction between
the Captain and Maria, uses subtle psychology to manipulate Maria into fleeing
back to the convent. However, the mother superior tells her she should return
to the Von Trapps and not try to hide from the world in the convent. The
children are very saddened by her departure. The Captain is also, but tries to
hide it and announces his engagement to the Baroness. However, when Maria
returns, the Captain breaks it off with the Baroness. He and Maria finally
express their true feelings for each other and become engaged. On November 27th
the Captain and Maria are married at the Abby Cathedral in Salzburg [2:15:03 to
2:18:52]. While they are on their honeymoon, the Germans annex Austria. The
Captain who is an ardent Austrian nationalist and anti-Nazi gets an invitation
to join the German navy. Taking advantage of the Captain’s absence, Max has
entered the children in the Salzburg Music Festival as a group. When the family
tries to flee they are caught and have to go through with their cover story of
going to perform at the festival. They win first prize, but they have snuck off
to hide in the Abby. Rolf betrays their hiding place, but the nuns help them
evade the Gestapo. The family escapes
across the border to safety.
One of the better musical films.
Entertaining family fare from the Golden Age of Hollywood. The storyline is good,
even though it does take a great many liberties with the actual facts of the
Von Trapp family’s history. As entertainment and not history it is a great
film.
Memories Before and After The
Sound of Music: An Autobiography by Agathe von Trapp (Harper, NY, 2004) at
page 88 gives the date of their wedding
Producer - Robert Wise
Director - Robert Wise
Awards – The movie won the Best
Picture, Best Director, Best Sound Mixing, Best Film Editing and Best Adapted
Musical Score Oscars. It was also nominated for the Best Actress (Andrews),
Best Supporting Actress (Woods), Best Color Cinematography, Best Color Art
Direction and Best Color Costume Oscars at the 38th Academy
Awards.
Screenplay - Ernest Lehman
Runtime – 2 hours 54 minutes
Released – March 2, 1965
Starring –
Julie Andrews as Maria von Trapp, a free-spirited young
Austrian woman
Christopher Plummer as Captain Georg von Trapp, a veteran
Austrian navy captain
Eleanor Parker as Baroness Elsa von Schrader, the Captain's
lady friend from Vienna
Richard Haydn as Max Detweiler, a good friend of both the
Baroness and the Captain
Charmian Carr as Liesl von Trapp, the first and eldest
child, age sixteen
Nicholas Hammond as Friedrich von Trapp, the second child
and eldest son, age fourteen
Heather Menzies as Louisa von Trapp, the third child, age
thirteen
Duane Chase as Kurt von Trapp, the fourth child and youngest
boy, age eleven
Angela Cartwright as Brigitta von Trapp, the fifth child,
age ten
Debbie Turner as Marta von Trapp, the sixth child, age six
Kym Karath as Gretl von Trapp, the seventh and youngest
child, age five
Peggy Wood as Mother Abbess, the head of Nonnberg Abbey
Anna Lee as Sister Margaretta, a nun who looks fondly on
Maria
Portia Nelson as Sister Berthe, a nun who does not believe
Maria belongs in the abbey
Daniel Truhitte as Rolfe, a messenger who is in love with
Liesl
Ben Wright as Herr Zeller, Gauleiter, an enthusiast for the
Third Reich
Marni Nixon as Sister Sophia, a resident of the convent
This move has a scene that happens today – November 26. I
hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
Elizabeth (“Lizzy”) Bennett and her 4 sisters Jane, Mary,
Kitty & Lydia live in Herefordshire in Regency England. Their mother is
determined to marry all of them to rich men, so when Mr. Bingley leases the
nearby estate of Netherfield Park she selects him for the eldest Jane. At a
dance they meet Mr. Bingley, who is attracted to Jane. The also meet his
haughty, wealthy friend Mr. Darcy and Bingley’s superior acting sisters,
Caroline Bingley and Louisa Hurst. Lizzy overhears Darcy insult her and she
resolves to dislike him, an attitude reinforced when she learns from the
amiable Mr. Wickham that Darcy cheated him. Darcy meanwhile becomes interested
in Lizzy, but buries his interest due to the poor behavior of her mother and
younger sisters. After a ball on
November 26, 1811 Bingley and his party return to London without a word to
Jane. [Vol. 1 1:14:13 to 1:34:14] There, although unknown to Lizzy at the time,
Darcy and his sisters convince Bingley not to return for Jane Bennett as they
convince him that she does not really love him. Meanwhile, Rev. Collins, the
male cousin who will inherit the Bennett estate upon the father’s death comes
to visit to choose a wife from among his cousins. He proposes to Lizzy, but she
rejects him and he instead marries Charlotte Lucas, Lizzy’s best friend, who
cares nothing for romance and doesn’t want to end up an old maid. Lizzy goes to visit Charlotte in the spring.
Her husband is the new rector for Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Mr. Darcy’s aunt.
While Mr. Darcy is visiting his aunt he meets Lizzy again. Much to his surprise
Darcy cannot resist and proposes marriage to Lizzy, first listing out all the
reasons he should not. Lizzy rejects his insulting proposal and tells him
why. The next day he hands her a letter
that reveals he separated Bingley and Jane because he honestly believed Jane
didn’t care for Bingley and proves that he did not cheat Wickham. Lizzy
believes him and begins to fall in love with Mr. Darcy who has returned to his
estate, Pemberly in Derbyshire. Some months later when Lizzy and her aunt and
uncle are on a holiday tour, they visit Pemberly and unexpectedly meet Mr.
Darcy. He is extremely civil to them and introduces them to his sister. Then tragedy strikes when word arrives that
the youngest Bennet sister Lydia has eloped with Mr. Wickham but they do not
marry, threatening to socially ruin the family. Darcy tracks down the couple
and bribes them to wed, saving the day. Although he tried to keep his
involvement secret Lizzy learns of it. Darcy and Bingley return to
Herefordshire where Bingley and Jane become engaged. Lady Catherine visits Lizzy to insist that she never wed Darcy
but she refuses to promise this. Darcy returns and proposes, securing her
father’s consent. The couples wed in a
dual ceremony and live happily ever after.
This popular romance has depth.
The characters are well developed and grow over time. The prototypical
“romantic comedy”. The period setting is faithfully portrayed.
Pride and Prejudice by
Jane Austen (Barnes & Noble Classics, New York, 2003) at page 255 and the
film at Part 2 @53:58 give the date of the Netherfield ball
Producer - Sue Birtwhistle
Director - Simon Langton
Screenplay - Andrew Davies
Awards: The film won the Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costume
Design for a Miniseries or a Special Emmy. It was also nominated for the
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Choreography, Outstanding Individual
Achievement in Writing for a Miniseries or a Special and the Outstanding
Miniseries Emmys.
This movie has a
scene that happens today – November 25. I hope you will enjoy this film and
watch it tonight.
MUST LOVE DOGS
Sarah Nolan is a divorced forty-year-old
preschool teacher. Jake Anderson is a recently divorced boat builder. Both have
friends and family who want them to start dating again.Sarah’s sister Carol creates a profile for her at
perfectmatch.com that includes “must love dogs”. Sarah goes on several
disastrous dates including one where she answers her own father’s ad. Then
Jake’s friend Charlie tells Jake he has set up a date for him with Sarah. They
meet at a park each with a borrowed dog. It is awkward, but Sarah agrees to see
him again. On their next date they start to have sex, but when they realize
neither has protection they go to get it, but by then neither is in the mood.
Later Bob, the father of one of her students calls Sarah, but gets cut off by
Dolly, a friend of Sarah’s father, who needs her help. After dealing with this
Sarah goes to see Bob, but leaves when she discovers he is with June, one of
her co-workers, dropping her phone in her hasty departure. Back at home she
finds Jake has come over and has cared for her drunken brother Michael, who
came to see her to discuss his marital problems. The next day Jake takes Sarah
rowing and they kiss before Jake takes Michael home. Bob shows up, returns her
phone, says he and June aren’t involved, and then kisses Sarah just as Jake returns.
Jake leaves very upset. On November 25, 2004 [1:08:25 to 1:12:49] Jake visits a
strip club on Thanksgiving while Sarah has dinner with all her family. She
calls Bob and they go away for a weekend tryst. When it’s over he admits he had
sex with June and Sarah is just a one-night stand. Sarah feels humiliated by
this. Sarah later sees Jake, but runs away when she realizes he is on a date
with Sherry, a girl his friend Charlie had previously tried to set him up with.
Jake is getting ready to sell his boat to a man who wants to cut it in half to
use a wall decoration when he meets a man, who [unknown to Jake] is Sarah’s
father and in the course of their conversation Jake says a woman recently broke
his heart. Later her father says something that makes Sarah realize her father
had met Jake and that Jake meant her. She races off to find Jake and with the
help of a female scull team catches up to him while out rowing for the last
time in his boat. They reconcile and later get married.
A decent romantic comedy.
However, it takes a deux ex machina in the form of a chance encounter to
resolve the plot. Still both Lane and Cusack play their roles with an
earnestness that raises this movie above the usual sappy chick flick
level.
Thanksgiving was on this date in
2004.
Producers - Polly Cohen, Brad
Hall and Ronald G Smith
This movie has a scene that happens today – November 24. I hope you
enjoy this film and watch it tonight.
JACK AND JILL
Jack Sadelstein is an ad
executive who lives in LA with his wife and two kids. He is not looking forward
to the visit of his twin sister, as she bullied him growing up. Jack is upset when in his opinion Jill ruins Thanksgiving dinner on November 24, 2011 [5:47
to 16:52] by being obnoxious. Meanwhile Jack’s best client wants him to get Al
Pacino to appear in their new ad campaign. Jill announces she is going to stay
until the end of Hanukkah and do various items on her bucket list. Jill signs
up for online dating, but after Jack alters her profile she gets over 100 responses.
However, on her first date, the man hides in the bathroom, leaving Jill feeling
depressed. Jack takes her to a basketball game where they meet Pacino, who
falls for Jill. Jack’s friends throw the siblings a birthday party. Jill and
Pacino go on a date, but she resists his advances and leaves. Jack’s gardener,
Felipe takes Jill to his family’s picnic where Jill has a wonderful time. So
she won’t be alone Jack reluctantly invites Jill to join his family on a cruise
they are taking. Pacino says he will do the ad if Jill will go on a date with
him. Jack disguises himself as Jill and
goes on the date. Jill's suspicion that Jack invited her on the cruise to get
Pacino to do the ad is apparently confirmed and she returns to New York. Jack
flies to New York and makes up with Jill. Pacino shows up and proclaims his
love, but Jill turns him down again.
Felipe then says he loves Jill and they hug. Pacino does the ad, but
doesn’t like it and tells Jack to destroy all the copies.
Some people say this is one of the
worst movies of all time. It’s not the best movie ever made, but it’s not one
of the worst either. It’s really just too much of a good thing.
Director - Dennis Dugan
Producers - Adam Sandler, Jack
Giarraputo and Todd Garner
This film has a
scene that happens today – November 23. I hope you enjoy this movie and watch
it tonight.
AVALON
Sam Krichinsky comes to America
in 1914 and settles with his four brothers in Baltimore. He and his brothers
work as wallpaper hangers and musicians and raise their families. His son Jules is stabbed after a day of
door-to-door selling with his son. They get a TV, even though nothing is on the
screen yet and Sam has to deal with the teachers at his grandson Michael’s
school. Jules and his cousin Izzy open a TV store. Some of the family moves to
the suburbs and when on November 23, 1950 [1:08:09 to 1:15:01] they cut the
turkey when Sam’s brother Gabriel is late, Gabriel and Sam get into a huge
argument. Jules and Izzy open a warehouse discount appliance store. Michael accidentally sets the store on fire
and since Izzy has cancelled the insurance to pay for their expensive TV ads
they have trouble rebuilding. Sam’s wife dies and he moves into a nursing home,
in contrast to his father who the brothers brought to America and supported. Michael
goes to visit him with his son Sam.
A warm family drama. A low-key, but effective story told
with image not dialogue. You often have to read between the lines to figure out
what is really going on.
At 54:21 the date is given as October, 1949 and the next
Thanksgiving was on this date.
Producers - Mark Johnson and Barry Levinson
Director - Barry Levinson
Awards – The movie was nominated for the Best Original
Screenplay, Best Costume Design, Best Cinematography and Best Original Score
Oscars at the 63rd Academy Awards
This movie has a scene that happens today – November 22. I hope you
enjoy this film and watch it tonight.
MERMAIDS
Mrs. Flax is a single mom with two daughters, teen aged Charlotte and
young swim prodigy, Kate. Charlotte is obsessed with Catholic saints, even though
the family is Jewish. After Mrs. Flax (that’s what Charlotte calls her mother)
finds out that her boss, whom she has been dating is married, she moves the
family from Oklahoma to Massachusetts, following her usual pattern of moving on
to avoid trouble. Charlotte is not happy about this until she learns that a
convent is located adjacent to their house. Charlotte becomes smitten with the
convent’s caretaker and local schoolbus driver, Joe. Mrs. Flax meets Lou
Landsky, a Jewish shoe store owner and they start a relationship. Charlotte
pursues Joe and they go on a date. Then on November 22, 1963 [44:25 to
50:21] Charlotte is shocked by the news of President Kennedy’s assassination.
She kisses Joe, but then runs away. Charlotte now thinks she is pregnant, so
she steals her mother’s car and runs away from home, ending up with what she
thinks is the ideal nuclear family. She finally learns she is not pregnant.
Charlotte and Kate like Lou and Mrs. Flax gets jealous of their attachment to
him. On New Year’s Eve, when Lou wants to get married or live together, Mrs.
Flax breaks up with him. Joe drives her home and when Mrs. Flax kisses him,
Charlotte becomes very upset. Charlotte
gets all dressed up and goes up to the convent where she and Joe consummate
their relationship. Unfortunately, she was supposed to be watching Kate, who
almost drowns in the river. This causes a huge fight between Charlotte and Mrs.
Flax. Charlotte talks her mother into staying instead of running away. Mrs. Flax and Lou reconcile.
This is a very funny movie.
Winona Ryder’s narration makes the film. Her voiced thoughts are hilarious. The
soundtrack on this film is fantastic.
The Sixties Chronicle ed. by David J. Hogan (Legacy
Publishing, New York, 2004) at pages 164-167 gives the date of the
assassination
Producer - Lauren
Lloyd, Wallis Nicita, Patrick J. Palmer and Suzanne Rothbaum
This movie has a
scene that happens today – November 21. I hope you will enjoy this film and
watch it tonight.
BRITTANIC
The HMS Britannic sets
sail for Greece to serve as a hospital ship during the Great War. Vera Campbell
is on board as a British agent seeking a suspected German spy. Her cover is a
governess to the two children of Lady Lewis, William and Sarah whose husband is
the new British ambassador to Greece. Chaplin Reynolds is a German spy and is
plotting with Irish crewmen to seize the ship and expose to the world the
weaponry the hospital ship is illegally.
Vera is terrified because she was also on the Titanic. Vera spots
a suspicious meeting of some of the plotters. When a crewman, Evans, sees
Reynolds looking at the weapons, Reynolds kills him. The Irish attempt to seize
the ship is foiled by Vera’s attention to details and quick thinking. Reynolds
deflects any suspicion attaching to himself by shooting one of his own men once
he sees the plot has failed. Reynolds
helps the one man who was caught escape, but the man is killed. Reynolds
remained undetected. Vera’s attention to the details prevents a torpedo attack
on the ship from succeeding. On shore in Naples, Vera sees Reynolds have a
suspicious meeting. The two later share a night of passion. On November 21, 1916 [59:45 to 1:31:54] Vera
finds out Reynolds is the spy because he is missing a button, like the killer
of Evans. Reynolds kills the doctor and
knocks out Vera. He then opens all watertight doors and destroys their control
mechanism. He sets off an explosion, even though Vera shoots him. William Lewis
goes to look for Vera. Reynolds helps her find him and is then trapped. Vera
goes back to save Reynolds. They barely make it off the ship and he sacrifices
himself to save her. The ship sinks with a loss of thirty people.
A completely historically
inaccurate film. There was no evidence the Britannic was carrying
weapons. Nor is there any evidence the Germans tried to sink her. However, it
is better as entertainment than it is as history.
Titanic’s Last Secrets by
Brad Matson (Hachette Book Group, New York, 2008) at page 243 gives the date of
the sinking
This movie has a scene that happens today – November 20. I
hope you enjoy this film and watch it tonight.
THE IRON LADY
In 2008 an elderly Lady Thatcher, suffering from dementia
prepares to dispose of her deceased husband’s personal effects. She talks to a
vision of her deceased husband Denis. Her relationship with both her children
is strained. She thinks back on growing up as the daughter of a grocer who told
Margaret Roberts to ‘go her own way’. She wins a scholarship to Oxford.
Breaking into the male dominated Conservative party she is selected to run for
Parliament, but loses. On her second try, after marrying Denis Thatcher she is
elected. She fights her way into the all male cabinet and is selected as
Secretary of State for education.
Thatcher later becomes leader of the Conservative Party and in 1979 is
elected Prime Minister, after a series of strikes. Shortly before her election
an IRA bomb kills her mentor Airey Neave.
After her election she works to break the unions. Thatcher leads the
country through the Falklands War and survives the IRA’s attempt to kill her in
the Brighton Hotel Bombing. She later institutes the very unpopular poll tax,
works to end the Cold War and opposes European integration. On November 20,
1991[1:26:28 to 1:27:20] whiling dining at Versailles, Thatcher is deposed by
her own party. Back in the present she tells the vision of Denis goodbye.
This is very mixed-up film. The
constant flashbacks and forwards make for a very confusing movie. If you didn’t
know anything about Thatcher, you’d be no more knowledgeable about her at the
end. However, Streep as usual does a fantastic, spot–on job with her portrayal.
Margaret Thatcher: The Downing Street Years by
Margaret Thatcher (HarperCollins Publishers, New York, 1993) at pages 842 – 844
gives the date of this dinner.
Director - Phyllida Lloyd
Awards – The film won the Best Actress (Streep) and Best
Makeup Oscars at the 84th
Academy Awards.
Runtime – 1 hour 44 minutes
Released – December 26, 2011
Starring –
Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher
Alexandra Roach as young Margaret
Jim Broadbent as Denis Thatcher
Harry Lloyd as young Denis
Iain Glen as Alfred Roberts
Olivia Colman as Carol Thatcher
Anthony Head as Geoffrey Howe
Nicholas Farrell as Airey Neave
Richard E. Grant as Michael Heseltine
Susan Brown as June - Margaret Thatcher's live-in caregiver
This movie has a scene that happens today – November 19. I hope you
will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.
SHERLOCK HOLMES
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson stop Lord Blackwell
from completing the sixth ritual murder of a young woman. Three months later,
Holmes has become a recluse. Watson introduces him to Mary Morstan, his
fiancée. Blackwood meets with Holmes and warns of three more deaths that will
change the world. Blackwood is hung and declared dead by Dr. Watson. Holmes is
visited by his former foe and romantic interest, Irene Adler, who asks him to
find a missing dwarf, Luke Reordan. He learns she is working for a professor.
It is reported that Lord Blackwood has risen from the dead. Holmes and Watson find a lab where Reordan
was doing something for Blackwood. They have to fight off the attempt by
Blackwood’s men to destroy the lab, but this results in Holmes and Watson being
arrested. On November 19, 1891 [55:18 to 1:03:04] Lestrade gets Holmes out of
jail. Holmes is taken to a clandestine meeting with the heads of the Temple of
Four Orders, a secret magical society, headed by Sir Thomas Rotheram, the Lord Chief
Justice, Standish, the American Ambassador, and Lord Coward, the Home
Secretary. They ask him to stop Blackwood, a former member of their order and
Rotheram’s son. Lord Rotheram killed and Holmes inspects a secret room he
discovers at the scene of the murder. Lord Coward gets Lord Blackwood elected
as head of the Temple after Standish is killed, apparently by magic. Holmes and
Watson go to a slaughterhouse and rescue Irene Adler, but explosions injure
Watson. Holmes studies the Temple’s rituals and concludes that Blackwood’s next
target is parliament. Holmes, Watson
and Irene slip into the sewers beneath Parliament, where Blackwood has set up a
machine to flood the chamber with cyanide gas, killing everyone except his
supporters to whom he has given the antidote. Irene flees to the incomplete
Tower Bridge. There Holmes confronts Blackwood and explains Blackwood’s
scientific tricks that he used to appear to create apparent magic. Blackwood is
killed and Irene warns Holmes about Moriarity.
A different take on Conan Doyle’s master detective. This
version drifts into steampunk at times.
Holmes is very manic in this version and Watson wants to get away from
him.
Date given in film at 58:27
Producers - Joel Silver, Lionel Wigram, Susan Downey and Dan
Lin
Director - Guy Ritchie
Awards - The film was nominated for the Best Original Score
and Best Art Direction Oscars at the 82nd Academy Awards
Screenplay - Michael Robert Johnson, Anthony Peckham and
Simon Kinberg
Runtime – 2 hours 8 minutes
Released – December 25, 2009
Starring –
Robert Downey, Jr. as Sherlock Holmes, an eccentric
detective-for-hire
Jude Law as Dr. John Watson, Holmes' companion and close
friend
Mark Strong as Lord Henry Blackwood, an aristocratic serial
killer
Rachel McAdams as Irene Adler, an American 'femme fatale''
Kelly Reilly as Mary Morstan, a governess whom Watson wishes
to marry
Eddie Marsan as Inspector Lestrade, an investigator from
Scotland Yard
Hans Matheson as Lord Coward, the Home Secretary and
Blackwood's right-hand man
Geraldine James as Mrs. Hudson, Sherlock Holmes' landlady
James Fox as Sir Thomas Rotheram, father of Lord Blackwood
Robert Maillet as Dredger, a 7-foot, French-speaking
henchman for Blackwood
This movie has a scene that happens today - November 18. I hope you enjoy this film and watch it tonight.
KENNEDY
On the day President Kennedy was
assassinated, the news spreads to his brother, daughter, mother and cabinet
members. The film then flashes back to
the day Kennedy was elected President in a very close election. J. Edgar Hoover
reviews a history of sexual depravity by the Kennedys. The family has to overcome Bobby’s
opposition to taking a post in the administration. On November 18, 1960 [Ep. 2,
17:23 to 23:15] Alan Dulles give JFK his first briefing about the Bay of Pigs
operation. JFK, Jr. is born. Richard
Pavlick tries to kill Kennedy. Kennedy gives a memorable inaugural address.
Jackie starts work on redecorating the White House, while doubts begin to
emerge about the CIA’s proposed operation in Cuba. The invasion fails. JFK had
promised no direct US military involvement and refused to agree to it after the
invaders ran into trouble. J. Edgar Hoover continues to investigate JFK’s
sexual escapades. When Freedom riders test the new anti-discrimination law gets
beaten up there is outrage in some quarters. While dealing with this, JFK has
to also deal with what he perceives as Jackie’s overspending. RFK tries to
prevent violence while J. Edgar Hoover works against them. Even though he has questions about the
forecasts of an easy victory in Vietnam, JFK decides to send military advisors
and Green Berets to the country. When RFK tries to get J. Edgar Hoover to fight
organized crime, he says the FBI is too busy investigating ‘alleged’ civil
rights violations in the South and that he knows things about the Kennedys. JFK
and Jackie make a successful trip to Paris, Vienna and London. RFK tries to tell
JFK that Hoover knows about his affairs and is ready to use it against them,
but JFK won’t listen. His father has a stroke.
Next Kennedy has to deal with double dealing steel executives. Then JFK
guides the country through the Cuban missile crisis. He uses a quarantine to
force Soviet missiles out of Cuba, while keeping American hawks from starting
the third world war. J. Edgar Hoover tells JFK if h ends it with his mistress,
he won’t do anything. On a trip to Berlin JFK says “Ich bin ein Berliner” and
Martin Luther King, Jr gives his “I have a dream speech”. Then his son Patrick
is born, but dies within two days. Three months later JFK takes a trip to
Dallas, Texas. He is shot and killed.
A slick and glossy biopic.
However it does at least stick closely to the actual facts. Good performances
by all the actors, especially Vincent Gardenia as the paranoid megalomaniac J.
Edgar Hoover. Note that JFK’s moral hypocrisy in committing adultery was what
made him vulnerable to Hoover’s machinations. If he hadn’t cheated on his wife,
he could have dumped Hoover without recriminations.
The Brilliant Disaster: JFK, Castro and America’s Doomed
Invasion of Cuba’s Bay of Pigs by Jim Rasenberger (Scribner, New York,
2011) at page 99 give briefing date
This movie has a scene that happens today – November 17. I
hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.
LOST IN AUSTEN
Amanda Price, modern London girl
and Pride and Prejudice fan rejects a
drunken proposal from her boyfriend. She finds Elizabeth Bennet in her bathroom
and steps through a door into Longbourn a few days after Mr. Bingley’s arrival.
The door shuts, trapping Amanda, but she’s accepted as a visiting friend of
Lizzys. At the Assembly, she dances with Darcy, but kisses Bingley, and regrets
it, as Bingley falls for her. Mrs. Bennet dislikes her, but Amanda tries to get
the story on track by sending Jane in the rain to Netherfield. Amanda follows and saves Jane with modern
medicine. To discourage Bingley, Amanda tells him she’s a lesbian. On November
17, 1811 they leave Netherfield. [51:50 to 1:01:13] On the way home their coach
wrecks, but are saved by Wickham. Mr. Collins arrives and ends up proposing to
Amanda and she agrees to save Jane. At the Netherfield ball, Wickham tells
everyone Amanda’s money came from being a fishmonger’s daughter, and Collins
breaks off the engagement. Darcy warns Bingley off Jane. Collins and Jane are
married, but the marriage is not consummated.
Mrs. Bennet throws Amanda out. Amanda and Darcy tell each other off.
Wickham helps Amanda learn how to dress and act correctly. Amanda goes to see
Jane at Hunsford and the visiting Darcy realizes he’s attracted to Amanda. Mrs.
Bennet and Lydia come to see Jane. Darcy and Bingley quarrel and Darcy
apologizes to Amanda, while Bingley goes off on a drunk with Wickham. The
Collins, Mrs. Bennet, Lydia and Amanda go to Pemberley. Wickham brings Bingley
to Pemberley and Darcy confesses he loves Amanda. Georgiana tells Amanda she
offered herself to Wickham, who refused and told a story that he tried to
impose on her to save her reputation. Amanda confesses she’s not a virgin, so
Darcy says he can’t marry her. Caroline Bingley propositions Amanda. Darcy
proposes to Caroline and Bingley and Lydia run away together. Mrs. Bennet and
Amanda return to Longbourn. They, along with Mr. Bennet pursue Bingley and
Lydia to Hanmersmith, Amanda’s supposed home. They meet Wickham, who leads them
to Lydia and Bingley. Darcy arrives and Mr. Bennet and Bingley fight. Mr.
Bennet is hurt. Amanda charges through a door into modern London. On the way to
get Elizabeth, she sees Darcy, who says he still loves her. Darcy, Elizabeth
and Amanda return to Longbourn, where Mr. Bennet has been brought. Darcy
invites Elizabeth to Pemberley. Even though Mrs. Bennet tells the visiting Lady
Catherine de Bourgh off, she agrees to arrange the annulment of Jane and
Collins marriage if Amanda goes away. However Elisabeth returns to modern
London and Amanda goes to Pemberley instead.
Humorous in showing a modern girl
in the nineteenth century. It does help if you’re familiar with Pride and
Prejudice. Otherwise a lot of the in-jokes will go over your head.
Austen, Jane. Pride and
Prejudice. New York; Barnes & Noble Classics, 2003. This book at page
60 says that Jane left Netherfield on Sunday, the day before November 18
Director - Dan Zeff
Released - September 3, 2008
Runtime - 3 hours Starring - Jemima Rooper as Amanda Price Elliot Cowan as Fitzwilliam Darcy Tom Mison as Charles Bingley Christina Cole as Caroline Bingley Gemma Arterton as Elizabeth Bennet
This film has a scene that happens today – November 16. I
hope you enjoy this movie and watch it tonight.
INFAMOUS
On November 16, 1959 [4:20 to
5:44, 7:05 to 9:35] Truman Capote, flamboyant New York homosexual writer and
bon vivant, reads an article in the New York Times about the murder of the
Clutter family in the small town of Holcomb, Kansas. For some reason the story
intrigues him and he decides to write a magazine article about the reaction of
the people in the town. He persuades his childhood friend and fellow author,
Nell Harper Lee to accompany him as his assistant. However his exotic and
abrasive persona rubs the townspeople the wrong way. A chance encounter results
in an invitation to the home of the prosecuting attorney for Christmas dinner.
There Truman regales them with stories about the Hollywood stars that he knows.
This leads to invitations from dozens of residents. Then two suspects are
arrested for the murders and Truman uses his contacts to finagle access to the
suspects. One of them, Richard Hickock quickly agrees to cooperate with Capote.
The other, Perry Smith refuses in spite of Capote’s appeal to a shared interest
in Tennessee Williams and Humphrey Bogart. Harper Lee returns to New York and
Capote follows her to be questioned by his friends about the case and his book.
Capote sends pornographic magazines to Smith who writes and says he wants to be
exposed to truth and beauty during the time he has left, so Capote sends him
copies of his own books. Smith writes and says that he does not want to talk to
Capote because in his books Capote was unkind. Capote goes to see Smith and a
break through is achieved when Capote reveals that his mother, like Smith’s
committed suicide. Smith tells him about his childhood as the son of rodeo
riders who divorced leaving him wanting to be rescued by his absent father,
just like Capote. Smith becomes extremely upset when he learns the book’s title
is to be In Cold Blood, thinking that depicts him as a heartless killer
and he assaults Capote in his cell during a visit. Capote eventually calms
Smith down enough so that Smith finally tells Capote what happened the night he
and Hickcock killed the Clutters. Smith and Hickcock are convicted but their
appeals drag on for four years, during which Capote cannot finish the book.
Finally he is present when the two are hung. Smith leaves his possessions to
Capote.
A gritty biopic. This is no Hollywood biopic of the 1940’s
but a tough, warts and all look at some brutal stuff. This is a very serious
film and not a piece of fluff.
Capote: A Biography by Gerald Clarke (Carroll &
Graf, NY, 1988) at page 317 and the film at 4:30 give the date Truman Capote
read the article about the murders
This film has a scene that happens today – November 15. I hope you will enjoy this movie and watch it tonight.
ANIMAL HOUSE
In 1962 at Faber College decidedly uncool Larry Kroger and obese Kent Dorfman are ignored when they attend a ΩΘΠ fraternity rush party. However, since Kent is a legacy of ΔΤΧ fraternity, they are accepted there as pledges and given the nicknames of Pinto and Flounder. The Omegas are obnoxious and the Deltas are party animals. Dave Jennings is an English professor who later introduces some of the Deltas to pot. Douglas C. Neidermeyer, an arrogant ROTC officer and Omega member harasses flounder. He orders Flounder to muck his horse’s stables. Bluto and D-Day two of the Deltas help Flounder lead the horse into the office of Dean Wormer, head of the college and give him a gun loaded with blanks. However the horse dies of a heart attack in the office. Bluto starts a food fight in the cafeteria and spies on some sorority girls. The Deltas try to steal the key to a psychology test, but learn the Omegas replaced it with a fake. Boon and Otter, two of the Deltas take Pinto and Flounder to the grocery store and force Pinto to shoplift the food needed for an upcoming toga party. Otter meets Dean Wormer’s wife and invites her to the party. Pinto meets a girl, Clorette who he also invites. At the party Otter and Mrs. Werner have sex, but when Clorette passes out Pinto, after wrestling with his conscience doesn’t molest her and takes her home. The events of the party outrage both Dean Wormer and the Mayor. On November 15, 1962 [57:36 to 1:03:26] a disciplinary hearing held by the Pan-Hellenic Council revokes the charter of ΔΤΧ. The boys then take a road trip to Emily Dickinson College, where they use an outrageous, but effective technique to get dates. The boys take their dates to an African-American roadhouse, and later abandon them there. "Babs" Jansen, an overly perky sorority girl who wants to separate Greg Marmalard, president of Omega from his current girlfriend Mandy Pepperidge, so she can have him for herself tells Greg that Mandy and Otter are having an affair. Boon is devastated to find that Katie, who he has often ignored throughout the film, is having an affair with Professor Jennings. Otter is lured to a hotel room for a supposed rendezvous with Mandy. Instead a gang of Omegas beats him up. Since their grades are awful, Dean Wormer expels all the Deltas from Faber. The Deltas create a parade float out of Flounders car and attack the homecoming day parade, wreaking havoc. On screen credits reveal what happened to the major characters in the future.
A funny, if over-the-top film. This movie has many genuinely hilarious scenes. However, don’t take it too seriously. It is only wishful thinking on the part of the film’s creators that students with a 0.0 GPA ever become US Senators.
Date given in film at 1:00:31-33
Producer - Ivan Reitman and Matty Simmons
Director - John Landis
Screenplay - Harold Ramis, Douglas Kenney and Chris Miller
Runtime – 1 hour 49 minutes
Released – July 28, 1978
Starring –
John Belushi as John "Bluto" Blutarsky: A drunken degenerate with his own style
Tim Matheson as Eric "Otter" Stratton: A smooth playboy
Peter Riegert as Donald "Boon" Schoenstein: Otter's best friend
Tom Hulce as Lawrence "Pinto" Kroger: A shy but normal fellow
Stephen Furst as Kent "Flounder" Dorfman: An overweight, clumsy pledge
Bruce McGill as Daniel Simpson Day, "D-Day": A tough biker
James Widdoes as Robert Hoover: The affable clean-cut president of the fraternity
Douglas Kenney as "Stork": Delta member
James Daughton as Gregory "Greg" Marmalard: The president of Omega House
Mark Metcalf as Douglas C. Neidermeyer: An ROTC cadet officer
Kevin Bacon as Chip Diller: A smarmy Omega pledge
John Vernon as Vernon Wormer: Dean of Faber College
Verna Bloom as Marion Wormer: The Dean's alcoholic wife
Donald Sutherland as Professor Dave Jennings: A bored English professor
Karen Allen as Katy: Boon's frustrated girlfriend who has a dalliance with Jennings
Sarah Holcomb as Clorette DePasto: The mayor's 13-year-old daughter
DeWayne Jessie as Otis Day: The leader of the band that plays at the toga party
Mary Louise Weller as Mandy Pepperidge: A cheerleader and sorority girl
Martha Smith as Barbara Sue "Babs" Jansen: A Southern belle who wants Greg
Cesare Danova as Mayor Carmine DePasto: The shady local mayor
Sean McCartin as "Lucky Boy": The Playboy-reading child
Stephen Bishop as Charming Guy with Guitar on stairs at toga party
This movie has a scene that happens today – November 14. I hope you
enjoy this film and watch it tonight.
THE LAST PICTURE SHOW
Sonny Crawford and Duane Jackson,
co-captains of the local high school football team, live in the dying small
town of Anarene, Texas. Duane is dating Jacy Farrow, who’s rich and beautiful.
Sonny was dating Charlene Duggs, but they break up on their first anniversary.
On November 14, 1951 [14:56 to 23:20] the high school English class discusses
Keats. Jacy’s mother is having an affair with Abilene, who works for her
husband. At the town’s Christmas dance, Lester Marlow invites Jacy to a nude
swim party at the home of Bobby Sheen. Duane is upset about Jacy going off with
Lester. The boys set up Billy, a mentally challenged youth with a prostitute,
which for a time earns them the enmity of Sam the Lion, who owns the pool hall,
café and movie theater. Sonny and Ruth Popper, wife of the gay high school
sports coach, start an affair. While Sonny and Duane are in Mexico on a road
trip Sam the Lion dies. He left the pool hall to Sonny. After one unsuccessful
attempt Duane and Jacy have sex, but she only wanted to do so because Bobby
Sheen was only interested in her if she was not a virgin. Jacy dumps Duane and
he leaves town. Jacy seduces Abilene. Joe Bob, a preacher’s son tries to molest
a little girl, but is stopped. Jacy next seduces Sonny, who stands up Ruth to
be with her. Duane returns and beats up Sonny, since he still considers Jacy
his girl. Sonny and Jacy try to elope, but are stopped and taken back to Anarene.
Duane enlists in the army. They see the last picture show at the movie theater,
which is closing. Billy is run over and killed the next morning and Sonny
returns to Ruth for comfort.
An interesting film. This town is
the Peyton Place of the southwest. None of these characters really has any
moral compass. The just do what feels good regardless of the consequences or
harm to others or themselves.
Date given on school blackboard at 15:47
Producer - Stephen J. Friedman
Director - Peter Bogdanovich
Awards – The movie won the Best
Supporting Actor (Johnson) and Best Supporting Actress(Leachman) Oscars. It was
also nominayed for the Best Cinematography, Best Supporting Actor (Bridges),
Best Supporting Actress(Burstyn), Best Director, Best Picture and Best Adapted
Screenplay Oscars at the 44th Academy Awards.
