January 31 - Lincoln

Today’s historical drama movie has a scene that happens on January 31^st. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

LINCOLN                      

At the start of 1865 the First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln is beginning her slide towards insanity, when President Abraham Lincoln is told that if the 13^th Amendment abolishing slavery comes up for a vote in the House of Representatives, it will lose by twenty votes. Lincoln suggests offering jobs to the 64 Democrats who lost their seats in the last election, but remain in office until March in return for their vote. Lincoln asks Preston Blair, leader of the conservative wing of the Republican Party for help in ensuring that all his supporters will support the amendment. Blair agrees if Lincoln will let him go to Richmond to start negotiations with the Confederacy to end the war. Lincoln agrees and Blair heads to Richmond.  Lincoln is afraid that after the war the courts will declare the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation unconstitutional. The abolitionist Republicans think Lincoln wants the 13^th to pass to force an immediate Confederate surrender, then when the southern states are readmitted they will refuse to ratify the amendment, insuring it is not ratified. As debate begins in the House on the Amendment, the President’s agents start to pick up Democratic votes in favor of the Amendment. Lincoln agrees to meet with the delegates sent by the Confederate government. Thaddeus Stevens tempers his rhetoric about his post war proposed policy plans, thus keeping those who want to end slavery, but not grant civil rights to African-Americans in favor of the amendment. Lincoln agrees to make his son Robert an adjutant to General Grant, arousing the ire of his wife. Lincoln makes an in person effort to win over some Democrats. On January 31, 1865 [1:46:31 to 2:05:00] the amendment comes up for a vote. The Democrats say there are Confederate delegates with a peace offer thus there is no need to take this vote. The conservative Republicans agree, until Lincoln sends a letter that there are no peace delegates in Washington. (This is technically true, as he has kept them at Hampton Roads, Virginia)  With this the conservatives consent to a vote. By two votes the amendment passes. Lincoln meets with the Confederates and offers nothing, so the war continues. Lee later surrenders and Lincoln is assassinated.

An interesting film. Shows that Lincoln was a consummate politician, if nothing else.      

A. Lincoln: A Biography by Ronald C. White, Jr. (Random House, New York, 2009) at page 654 and the film at 1:46:38 give the date the House passed the 13^th Amendment.

Producers -Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy

Director - Steven Spielberg

Awards – This movie won the Best Actor (Day-Lewis) and Best Production Design Oscars. It was also nominated for the Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Jones), Best Supporting Actress (Field), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Sound Mixing, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design and Best Film Editing at the 85^th Academy Awards. 

Screenplay - Tony Kushner

Runtime – 2 hours 30 minutes

Released – October 8, 2012

Starring –

Daniel Day-Lewis as President Abraham Lincoln

Sally Field as First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln

Gloria Reuben as Elizabeth Keckley

Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Robert Todd Lincoln

Gulliver McGrath as Tad Lincoln

Stephen Henderson as Lincoln's valet, William Slade

Elizabeth Marvel as Mrs. Jolly

David Strathairn as Secretary of State William H. Seward

Bruce McGill as Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton

Joseph Cross as Major John Hay, Lincoln's military secretary

Jeremy Strong as John George Nicolay, Lincoln's Secretary

Grainger Hines as Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles

Richard Topol as Attorney General James Speed

Dakin Matthews as Secretary of the Interior John Palmer Usher

Walt Smith as Secretary of the Treasury William P. Fessenden

James Ike Eichling as Postmaster General William Dennison, Jr.

Tommy Lee Jones as Congressman Thaddeus Stevens

Lee Pace as Congressman Fernando Wood

Peter McRobbie as Congressman George H. Pendleton

Bill Raymond as Speaker of the House Schuyler Colfax

David Costabile as Congressman James Mitchell Ashley

Stephen Spinella as Congressman Asa Vintner Litton

Michael Stuhlbarg as Congressman George Yeaman

Boris McGiver as Congressman Alexander Coffroth

Walton Goggins a Congressman Clay Hawkins of Ohio

Hal Holbrook as Francis Preston Blair

James Spader as Republican Party operative William N. Bilbo

Tim Blake Nelson as lobbyist Richard Schell

John Hawkes as Republican operative

Byron Jennings as Montgomery Blair

Julie White as Elizabeth Blair Lee

S. Epatha Merkerson as Lydia Smith

Wayne Duvall as Senator Benjamin Wade

John Hutton as Senator Charles Sumner

Jackie Earle Haley as Confederate States Vice President Alexander H. Stephens

Gregory Itzin as John Archibald Campbell

Michael Shiflett as Senate President Robert M. T. Hunter

Jared Harris as Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant/>

Colman Domingo as Private Harold Green

David Oyelowo as Corporal Ira Clark

January 30 - Bloody Sunday

Today’s drama  film has a scene that happens on January 30. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

BLOODY SUNDAY            

The Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association, led by a non-sectarian Protestant parliamentarian Ivan Cooper plans a peaceful march in LondonDerry for civil rights on January 30, 1972 [2:45 to 1:34:35] , while the government has banned all marches.  The British government brings in the Army, which plans if shooting starts to shoot back.  Cooper insists on marching in order to maintain his credibility in the civil rights movement. He communicates through the police that he does not want a confrontation, but this statement is ignored by the army. The march begins. However, British troops appear atop the wall separating Protestant and Catholic areas. Then at a point where the march is supposed to turn right, some of the crowd turn left.  This bring them up against an army barricade. Cooper tries to get the marchers turned around, but then the army opens up with water cannon. Some youths start throwing stones, while the army responds with tear gas. Then the army opens fire hitting 2 people. This infuriates the crowd.   Cooper and his cohorts address the marchers. The army moves forward to arrest the stone throwers. The army start using live ammo, killing twelve and wounding 14.  The army immediately claims its men were fired on. All is chaos at the hospital with relatives of the dead and wounded rubbing elbows with the army. Army troops plant nail bombs on a body. In exactly the opposite effect that the Army’s action was supposed to have, dozens of men join the IRA. Cooper is stunned by what has happened. He makes a speech condemning the army’s action.

A powerful film. This film shows that the violence only begot more violence that lasted for 25 years.  Uses almost a documentary style.

The Troubles: Ireland’s Ordeal 1966-1996 and the Search for Peace by Tim Pat Coogan

(Roberts Rinehart Publishers, Boulder, CO, 1996) at page 134 and the film at 2:50 give the date of the march

Producer - Mark Redhead

Director - Paul Greengrass

Screenplay - Paul Greengrass

Runtime – 1 hour 45 minutes

Released – January 16, 2002     

Starring – James Nesbitt as Ivan Cooper

                 Simon Mann as Col Derek Wilford

                 Tim Pigott-Smith as Major General Ford

                 Nicholas Farrell as Brigadier Maclellan

                 Allan Gildea as Kevin McCorry

                 Gerard Crossan as Eamonn McCann

                 Mary Moulds as Bernadette Devlin

January 29 - The Heroes of Desert Storm

Today’s combat film has a scene that happens today – January 29. I hope you will enjoy this movie and watch it tonight.  

THE HEROES OF DESERT STORM              

Iraq invades and terrorizes Kuwait. In the USA Marine aviator Guy Hunter has just moved with his family to Camp Pendleton, California. US military members and reservists react to the invasion as the American government and the UN try to decide how to react. Due to the activation of American forces Ben Pennington does not get to say goodbye to his father and brother, Lt. Phoebe Jeter does not get to see her dying grandmother, Daniel Maldonado will miss the birth of his child and Gary Buckholz has to get married in rushed ceremony.  A large number of American forces are moved to the Middle East. The bombing campaign begins. Ben Pennington is involved in a mission to destroy Iraqi radar sites. Stealth bombers and battleships attack the Iraqi positions. Capt. Steve Tate is conflicted after he shoots down an Iraqi jet. Back in Pennsylvania, Beverly Clark is dismayed to be activated and other families suffer through the separation. US pilot  Devon Jones is shot down over Iraq, but he is rescued by Ben Pennington. Guy Hunter is shot down and captured, while starving Iraqi soldiers surrender at the border. The Iraqis torture the prisoners they have captured. On January 29, 1991 [50:09 to 53:08] the Iraqis attack Khafji and Marine corp medic Crumes goes forward to treat the wounded. After Iraq stars firing Scuds , Lt. Jeters battery saves Gary Budkholz’s base, but learns that her grandmother has died. The Iraqis blow up oil wells and the invasion begins. Beverly Clark is killed in an Iraqi SCUD strike on a base in Dhahran. Two marines prevent the destruction of an Iraqi ammo dump. Beverly’s family learns of her death. An Iraqi convoy of fleeing vehicles is wiped out, resulting in the “Highway of Death”.   With the war over the troops return home to cheers and hugs.    

A docudrama war film. Combines actual footage with filmed sequences. In tone it is almost a propaganda film. Released only seven months after the events it portrays. 

Desert Victory: The War for Kuwait by Norman Friedman ( Naval Institute Press,

Annapolis, MD, 1991) at page 198 gives the date of the start of the battle.

Producer -  Johanna Persons

Director - Don Ohlmeyer

Screenplay - Lionel Chetwynd

Runtime – 1 hour 32 minutes

Released – October 6, 1991

Starring – Angela Bassett as Phoebe Jeter

                 Daniel Baldwin as Benjamin Pennington

                 Steven Williams as ‘Big John’ Alston

                 Laura Leigh Hughes as Beverly Clark

                 Michael Champion as Guy Hunter

                 Gary Hershberger as Steve Tate

January 28 - The Mechanic (2011)

Today’s action movie has a scene that happens today – January 28. I hope you like this film and watch it tonight.

THE MECHANIC                           

Arthur Bishop is a contract hitman who was mentored by Harry McKenna. Bishop is told by Dean, the head of the organization that hires and pays the hitmen that he needs to kill McKenna, who betrayed a hit that was set in Cape Town to the authorities. Bishop reluctantly takes the job and kills Harry. Bishop meets Harry’s son, Steve and starts to train him as a hitman. Steve carries out an assignment, but poorly. Together Bishop and Steve kill a cult leader. Bishop sees one of the hitmen supposedly killed in the Cape Town job and learns Dean was the one who actually betrayed the hit. Bishop kills the hitmen Dean sends to kill him.  Steve finds his dad’s gun at Bishop’s house and realizes Bishop killed his father. Bishop and Steve together manage to kill Dean. On January 28, 2011 Steve sets off a bomb at a gas station while Bishop sits in his truck. Returning to Bishop’s house Steve takes the 1966 Jaguar Bishop had been restoring. Then Steve sees a note that says if he’s reading this he’s dead and the car blows up. Bishop actually avoided the bomb at the gas station and drives away. [1:19:31 to 1:26:24]

Plenty of action here.  Good at building suspense. Keeps those plot twists coming.  But you know I like it because it was released on the day of the gas station explosion.   

Date given at 1:25:45 on the gas station security cameras. 

Producers - Irwin Winkler, Robert Chartoff, David Winkler and William Chartoff

Director - Simon West

Screenplay - Lewis John Carlino and Richard Wenk

Runtime – 1 hour 33 minutes

Released – January 28, 2011

Starring -  

Jason Statham as Arthur Bishop

Ben Foster as Steve McKenna

Tony Goldwyn as Dean Sanderson

Donald Sutherland as Harry McKenna

John McConnell as Andrew Vaughn

Mini Andén as Sarah

Stuart Greer as Ralph

January 27 - Peter the Great

Today’s movie is a historical drama with a scene that happens today – January 27. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

PETER THE GREAT             

In 1682 Peter’s half-sister Sophia tries to use the Strelsi, a powerful military group to murder both Peter and his half–brother Ivan, so she can become ruler of Russia, by claiming Peter’s mother, Natalia wants to kill Ivan, and make Peter sole ruler. This plot fails, but Sofia is made regent instead of Natalia. Peter and Ivan are both crowned as Tsars of Russia. Later, Sophia pushes a plan to attack Azov, a fortress that controls access to the Black Sea that belongs to the Turks. Peter becomes interested in all things western.  His mother finds a bride for him and they are married on January 27, 1689. [1:08:15 to 1:18:46]  He and his wife don’t get along and he takes a mistress, Anna Mons from among the foreign colony. Peter exposes the fact that Sophia’s attack on Azov was totally crushed, instead of being the victory she proclaimed. Peter survives an assassination attempt and becomes a father to Alexis. Sophia tries to get rid of Peter again, but the troops remain loyal to him, and she is exiled. The church claims he’s possessed by the devil.  Peter’s mother dies. He builds a fleet and uses it to attack and capture Azov. Peter and his wife don’t get along at all. Due to opposition to his policies, Peter sets up the secret police. He goes on a tour of Western Europe and selects a wife for Alexis. People opposed to Peter try to use his son Alexis against him. Sophia and Peter’s wife form a conspiracy against Peter. They convince Alexis that Peter intends for his illegitimate daughter with Anna Mons to become Czarina. Peter returns and stops the attempted coup.  Alexis marries Charlotte, while Peter divorces his wife. He wants everyone to adopt European customs and clothing. Peter’s meeting with Charles XII of Sweden ends in failure and war begins. Peter arouses opposition by expropriating church bells for use in making cannon. Peter is defeated at Narva by Charles XII due to Russian traitors informing the Swedes of his plans. The war continues, with the Russians adopting a scorched earth policy until they finally crush the Swedes at Poltava. Alexis and his mistress flee to Vienna when his involvement in the anti-Peter plot is exposed. Peter sends agents who persuade him to return to Russia. Alexis renounces his right to the throne. He is extensively interrogated about the plot. Alexis is executed for treason.

An interesting and surprisingly well done historical drama about a man and an era that are little known in this country. The acting, sets and costumes are fantastic. It is even mostly historically accurate.

Peter the Great: A Biography by Lindsey Hughes (Yale University Press, London, 2002) at page 63 gives the date of the battle

Producer - Marvin J. Chomsky

Director - Marvin J. Chomsky and Lawrence Schiller

Screenplay - Edward Anhalt

Running Time - 6 hours 11 minutes

Released - February 2, 1986

Awards: The film won the Outstanding Miniseries, Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Miniseries or a Special (Dramatic Underscore), and Outstanding Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special Emmys. It was also nominated for the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie (Redgrave), Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or a Special and Outstanding Sound Editing for a Miniseries or a Special Emmys at the 38^th Primetime Emmy Awards.

Starring -         

Maximilian Schell as Peter the Great

Jan Niklas as Peter the Great (as a young man)

Vanessa Redgrave as Sophia Romanov

Omar Sharif as Prince Feodor Romodanovsky

Laurence Olivier as William III of England

Trevor Howard as Sir Isaac Newton

Mel Ferrer as Frederick I of Prussia

Elsie Sommer as Queen Charlotte

Ursula Andress as Athalie

Renee Soutendijk as Anna Mons

Natalya Andreychenko as Eudoxia Lopukina

Christoph Eichorn as Charles XII of Sweden

Boris Plotnikov as Tsarevich Alexis

January 26 - Dragnet(1969)

Today’s crime drama movie has a scene that happens today – January 26. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

DRAGNET              

Sgt. Joe Friday returns early from vacation and is corralled into returning to work as part of a security detail for a visiting Soviet official. He is pulled off of this to work on a case involving three missing girls. His partner Bill Gannon is getting ready to go on forced medical retirement due to ulcers.  An interview with the brother of one of the missing girls turns up the fact that she was a member of a “Lonely Hearts” dating club. They go to the club.  When the address “J. Johnson” gave turns out to be a fake, they get police artists to draw sketches of the suspect. The sketch from the brother’s description doesn’t match the one given by the dating club owner, Mrs. Kruger. The next day January 26, 1968 [31:58 to 1:23:55] Joe tries to get a child molester to confess.  Then a body is found that matches the sketch given by the girl’s brother. They track the dead man to a hotel and the name Charles LeBorg. They go to the house he called from the hotel and find the dead man’s brother. They get a lead on where the dead man had dinner with someone last night. At the restaurant they get a description of the two men he dined with and their car.  They turn out to be ex-cons, who are arrested by Friday and Gannon. Then another girl Betty Mason is reported missing after the time when LeBorg was killed so he can’t be the one kidnapping girls. At Betty Mason’s apartment they find a receipt for the two candy bar wrappers that were in the apartment. The store where they were purchased gives them a lead to a trailer park, but they find the suspect left the park only twenty minutes ago. The suspect is tracked and trapped in a dead end. He parks the trailer on the edge of a cliff in a driving rainstorm. He holds the police at bay by threatening to push the trailer with the missing girl over the edge. Friday goes around, climbs the cliff from below, beats up the suspect and stops the trailer from going over the edge. After his arrest the suspect, Don Negler tells them where his toolbox is located. Inside are photos of the kidnapped girls in bondage.  Negler confesses to the murders. Gannon takes his forced medical retirement. However eight months later, Gannon has gotten rid of his ulcers and rejoins the force.     

A decent police procedural. Fans of the sixties TV show will especially enjoy this. It is a time capsule view of another era in police procedure.

The date is given in the film at 32:00-01.     

Producer – Jack Webb

Director - Jack Webb

Screenplay – Richard L. Breen

Runtime – 1 hour 35 minutes

Released – January 27, 1969

Starring -

Jack Webb as Sgt. Joe Friday

Harry Morgan as Officer Bill Gannon

Vic Perrin as Don Negler

Virginia Gregg as Mrs. Kruger

Gene Evans as Capt. Hugh Brown

John Roseboro as Sgt. Dave Bradford

Bobby Troup as George Freeman

Tom Williams as Melvin Gannon

Jack Ragotzy as Carl Rockwell

Roger Til as William Smith

Gerald Michenaud as Claude LeBorg

Bruce Watson as Freddie

Herb Ellis as Ricky Markell

Eddie Firestone as Max Shelton

Elizabeth Rogers as Eve Sorenson

January 25 - Open Water

Today’s movie is a horror film with a scene happening on January 25. I hope you enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

OPEN WATER                                  

Susan Watkins and Daniel Kintner are a couple who both have high pressure jobs that are impacting their relationship. They decide to take a scuba vacation to Australia to allow them a chance to work on their relationship. On January 25, 1998 they go out on a scuba trip with 18 other people. However, due to a miscount the boat leaves them behind when it moves to another area. Susan and Daniel surface  and find the boat gone, but they believe it will return for them. They drift from the dive site. Jellyfish bite them and then Susan gets bitten in the leg by a shark. Another shark bites Daniel and the wound bleeds freely. In spite of Susan using her drive belt to try and put pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding, he goes into shock. [10:34 to 1:06:31] At night sharks return and kill Daniel. In the morning their belongings are finally noticed on the boat and a search is begun.  Susan releases Daniel’s body into the water, where sharks attack it in a feeding frenzy. Seeing no sign of rescue, Susan commits suicide by drowning herself. Their camera is later found in a shark’s stomach.

A very scary film.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/01/movies/film-dying-at-sea-probably.html gives the date they were left behind

Producers - Laura Lau and Estelle Lau

Director - Chris Kentis

Screenplay - Chris Kentis

Runtime – 1 hour 19 minutes

Released – October 26, 2003

Starring -

Blanchard Ryan as Susan Watkins

Daniel Travis as Daniel Kintner

January 24 - The One That Got Away

Today’s movie is a military biography with  a scene that happens today – January 24. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY    

Franz von Werra, a Luftwaffe fighter pilot is shot down over Britain and taken prisoner. He resists all attempts to extract information from him and is sent to a camp. He makes an escape attempt but is defeated more by the English weather than by the British army. He is transferred to another camp. Here he is involved in digging a tunnel.  Werra pretends to be a Dutch pilot as part of a plan to steal an airplane. He almost succeeds. After this he is sent to Canada. While traveling by train to the camp on January 24, 1941 [1:27:25 to 1:35:05] Werra jumped from the train. After almost freezing to death he managed to reach and cross the St. Lawrence river into the neutral United States. Werra returned to Germany and the Luftwaffe, but was shot down and killed

An interesting story about a little explored area of World War II history.

Top Secret Tales of World War II by William Breuer (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,

New York, 2000) at page 108 gives the date he leaped from the train

Producers - Julian Wintle and Earl St. John

Director - Roy Ward Baker

Screenplay - Howard Clewes

Runtime – 1 hour 51 minutes

Released -  December 2, 1957

   

Starring -

Hardy Krüger as Franz von Werra

Michael Goodliffe as RAF interrogator Captain Henderson Bell

Colin Gordon as Army interrogator

Alec McCowen as duty officer, Hucknall

Terence Alexander as RAF intelligence officer

Jack Gwillim as Commandant, Grizedale

Andrew Faulds as Lieutenant, Grizedale

Julian Somers as booking clerk

Harry Lockart as German prisoner

Robert Crewdson as German prisoner

George Mikell as German prisoner

George Roubicek as German prisoner

John Van Eyssen as German prisoner

Frederick Jaeger as German prisoner

Richard Marner as German prisoner

Paul Hansard as German prisoner

January 23 - Kramer vs. Kramer

Today’s movie is a drama with a scene that happens today – January 23. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

KRAMER VS KRAMER                 

Ted Kramer is a hard-working ad executive who has just landed a big account after months of effort. When he comes home his wife tells him she is leaving him and their son Billyand departs. After a lot of adjustment both Ted and Billy adjust to their new situation. Ted befriends his neighbor  Margaret Phelps, a divorced mom who had advised Joanna to leave Ted if she was not happy. Billy gets hurt in an accident on the jungle gym and Ted carries him through Manhattan’s streets to the hospital. After 15 months Joanna returns and wants custody of Billy, but Ted fights her.  Ted gets fired because he had spent too much time focused on Billy and not work, but he gets a new, albeit lower paying job within 24 hours.  After a court hearing that shows Joanna is a flake she still wins custody and Ted, to spare Billy further trauma doesn’t appeal. On January 23^rd  when Joanna is supposed to have her first visitation with Billy, she shows up, says she knows Billy’s home is with Ted and leaves without taking him. [1:38:13 to 1:42:34]

A sad movie about the problems caused by divorce.

Date of visitation given in film at 1:34:47-48

Producers - Richard Fischoff and Stanley R. Jaffe

Director - Robert Benton

Awards – The movie won the Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Hoffman), Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress (Streep) Oscars. It was also nominated for the Best Supporting Actor (Henry), Best Supporting Actress (Alexander), Best Film Editing and Best Cinematography Oscars at the 52^nd Academy Awards.

Screenplay - Robert Benton

Runtime – 1 hour 45 minutes

Released – December 19, 1979

Staring –

Dustin Hoffman as Ted Kramer

Meryl Streep as Joanna Kramer

Justin Henry as Billy Kramer

Jane Alexander as Margaret Phelps

Petra King as Petie Phelps

Melissa Morell as Kim Phelps

Howard Duff as John Shaunessy

George Coe as Jim O'Connor

JoBeth Williams as Phyllis Bernard

Howland Chamberlain as Judge Atkins

January 22 - Red Tails

Today’s combat movir has a scene that happens today – January 22. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.  

RED TAILS            

The 332^nd Fighter group made up of African-American pilots and flying antiquated P-40 fighters is only allowed to carry out ground attack missions against the German supply lines and they wonder if the results they achieve are worth the sacrifices they make. Their commander Col. Bullard is in Washington, fighting attempts to have the unit disbanded. They get a break when they are ordered to provide air cover for the Anzio landings a/k/a Operation Shingle. On January 22, 1944  [30:32 to 44:35] they cover the Anzio landings. After "Lightning" Little is almost shot down, they follow a damaged German plane back to its base and destroy the airfield. However, “Junior" Gannon is partially blinded as a result of injuries sustained in the attack. The unit is transferred to provide close bomber support.  Instead of enduring racial insults, Lightning engages in a bar room brawl. The squadron gets brand new P-51 Mustang fighter planes. On their first bomber support mission, no bombers are shot down, but Junior is. Lightning had smooth talked the medical officer into clearing Junior to fly, in spite of his poor vision. Returning from the mission Lightning and Deke Watkins strafe a destroyer, heavily damaging it. However, Deke is hit and barely survives a crash landing back at base and is sent home on a medical discharge. Junior is sent to a POW camp. Lightning, who had often been insubordinate to his commander, Capt. "Easy" Julian makes a deal with him. If Julian will give up the alcohol he had been using to ease his self-doubt, Lighting will obey him from now on. Lightning proposes to his Italian girlfriend Sophia. Junior escapes from the POW camp. Sophia accepts Lightning’s proposal. The unit is informed that Junior was killed in the escape. The unit is supposed to cover the first bomber raid to Berlin only part way, but when the unit that was to relieve them does not show they follow them all the way there. They are attacked by Me 262 jets. Lightning saves Easy, but is shot down and killed. Sophia is devastated by Lightning’s death. Junior returns to the unit having actually managed to escape. The squadron is awarded a Presidential Unit Citation.

A good movie. The aerial combat scenes are very well done. The personal interaction scenes at the base create believable, likeable characters

 A World at Arms: A Global History of World War II by Gerhard L. Weinberg (Cambridge University Press, New York, 1994) at page 661 gives date of Anzio landing.

Producers - Rick McCallum, Chas. Floyd Johnson and George Lucas

Director -Anthony Hemingway

Screenplay - John Ridley and Aaron McGruder

Runtime – 2 hours 1minute

Released – January 20, 2012  

Starring –

Terrence Howard as Col. A.J. Bullard

Cuba Gooding, Jr. as Major Emanuel Stance

Nate Parker as Capt. Martin "Easy" Julian

David Oyelowo as 1st Lt. Joe "Lightning" Little

Tristan Wilds as 2nd Lt. Ray "Ray Gun" or "Junior" Gannon

Ne-Yo as 2nd Lt. Andrew "Smokey" Salem

Elijah Kelley as 2nd Lt. Samuel "Joker" George

Marcus T. Paulk as 2nd Lt. David "Deke" Watkins

Leslie Odom, Jr. as Walter "Winky" Hall

Michael B. Jordan as Flight Officer Maurice "Bumps" Wilson

Kevin Phillips as 2nd Lt. Leon "Neon" Edwards

Andre Royo as 1st Sgt. "Coffee" Coleman

Method Man as Cpl. "Sticks"

Bryan Cranston as Col. William Mortamus

Lee Tergesen as Col. Jack Tomilson

Gerald McRaney as Lieutenant General Luntz

Daniela Ruah as Sofia

Paul Fox as Lt. Miller

Matthew Marsh as Brigadier General Hauser

Lars van Riesen as "Pretty Boy" (the German antagonist pilot)

Ryan Early as Captain Bryce

Henry Garrett as Hart

Robert Kazinsky as Chester Barnes

Rick Otto as Flynt

Josh Dallas as Ryan Fling

Jermaine Johnson as "Sneeky"

Edwina Finley as "CeCe"

Stacie Davis as Mae

Aml Ameen as "Bag O'Bones"

Rupert Penry-Jones as Campbell

January 21 - Curtin

Today’s movie is a biographical drama with a scene that happens today – January 21. I hope you will enjoy this film while watching it tonight.

CURTIN                                  

John Curtin becomes Prime Minister of Australia. He is friends with Tatsuo Kawai, the Ambassador from Japan, who opposes his countries militarist plans. The Australian military tell him the counties armed forces are positioned to promote British interests and not Australian security.  Tatsuo hints a war may be starting very soon.  After the Japanese attack, Curtin delivers the Australian declaration of war to Tatsuo.  It is a blow when the HMS Repulse and Prince of Wales are sunk by the Japanese. At the request of the military Curtin asks that MacArthur be appointed Supreme Commander in Australia. Curtin is incensed when it is proposed that a council to run the Pacific War be set up in London. He pushes for a closer alliance with the USA. On January 21, 1942 [ 26:16 to 28:35] Curtin is angered when he learns of Churchill’s plans to abandon Singapore. Curtin backs up his military and forces the British to send the two Australian divisions returning from the Middle East directly to Australia.  The argument about this aggravates his poor health and he eventually is hospitalized for severe gastritis. The entire country is shocked when the Japanese bomb the city of Darwin. Churchill tries to divert the Australian troops to Burma anyway, but Curtin has the ships sail to Australia without escort or air cover.  He disappears for nine hours and his staff fears that Curtin has fallen off the wagon, but he hasn’t.  He obsesses over the safety of the troops and is overjoyed when they reach Perth.   MacArthur is appointed Supreme Commander.

A very good biopic. As an American I didn’t know very much about Curtin. After seeing this film I can see why some Australians consider him to be their greatest Prime Minister.

Date given in the film at 26:19

                       

Producers - Andrew Wiseman and Richard Keddie

Director - Jessica Hobbs

Screenplay - Alison Nisselle

Runtime – 1 hour 30 minutes

Released – April 22, 2007

Starring –

William McInnes as John Curtin                             

Asher Keddie as Miss Elsie Curtin                        

Geoff Morrell as Ben Chifley                                   

Paul English as H. V. Evatt                                      

William Zappa as General Vernon Sturdee              

Robert Grubb as Percy Spender                                

Noni Hazlehurst as Mrs. Elsie Curtin

Drew Lindo as Arthur Fadden

Tony Rickards as Eddie Ward

Shingo Usami as Tatsuo Kawai

Bille Brown as Robert Menzies

Frank Gallacher as Jack Beasley

Ben Esler as John Curtin, Jr. 

January 20 - Backstairs at the White House

Today’s dramatic mini-series has a scene that happens today – January 20. I hope you will enjoy watching this film tonight.

BACKSTAIRS AT THE WHITE HOUSE         

In 1909 Maggie Rogers and her husband split because he’s a drunk. She goes to work at the White House to support her two kids, Lillian and Emmet. Lillian has polio and walks with a crutch. Maggie has some difficulty adjusting to working at the White House, as the Tafts are very particular. Lillian is put into a convent school and learns to be an expert seamstress. Emmet goes to work as a gardener. Mrs. Taft has a stroke. The Wilsons move in and Lillian comes to work at the White House as a seamstress. Mrs. Wilson comes to pay a call on Maggie at home. Mrs. Wilson dies and Emmet joins the army in World War I.  The staff doesn’t like the second Mrs. Wilson very much. Emmet is gassed in France and Maggie’s husband dies. President Wilson has a stroke and Mrs. Wilson takes over running the country. The Hardings move in and are not too well liked. He’s a party animal, while Mrs. Harding believes in omens and has visions. The Teapot Dome scandal starts and Harding dies, but Mrs. Harding stays on in the White House for a long time. President Coolidge is a super tightwad and nitpicking micromanager. One of the Coolidge’s sons dies and Mrs. Jaffrey, the dictatorial chief housekeeper quits. Hoover is elected president and the stock market crash follows. Lillian had been working in a dress shop, but it closes and she goes to work full time in the White House. Mrs. Hoover is very strange. Maggie and Lillian don’t always see eye to eye at work. They have to take a pay cut and lose their savings in a bank run. The bonus army causes problems, but Lillian smuggles food out of the White House to them. When FDR arrives he orders Lillian to always ride the elevator. Lillian gets married and then Maggie retires. Lillian and her husband separate. Maggie is called out of retirement to help with the visit of Madame Chiang Kai-Shek, but falls and injures herself. The Trumans arrive and after a while are liked a lot by the staff. The White House is falling apart and undergoes reconstruction.  The Trumans move to Blair House with reduced staff, including Lillian. On January 20, 1953 Eisenhower refuses to enter the White House and escort Truman to the inauguration. [Part 4, 54:10 to 56:30] The Eisenhowers adopt a very ‘regal’ style and are not liked by the staff. Maggie dies and Lillian then retires when Kennedy takes office.

A watchable movie. I’m not sure how accurate it is, but it keeps you interested. Gives a behind the scenes view of history.

Eisenhower by Geoffrey Perret (Random House, New York, 1999) at page 430 gives the date of the inauguration

Producers - Ed Friendly and Michael O’Herlihy

Director -   Michael O’Herlihy

Screenplay - Gwen Bagni and Paul Dubov

Running Time - 7 hours 24 minutes

Released - January 29, 1979

Awards - This mini-series won the Outstanding Achievement in Makeup (for Part IV); Outstanding Achievement in Hairstyling (for Part IV); Outstanding Art Direction for a Limited Series or a Special (for Part I); Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Special(Cole), and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or A Special (Gossett). It was also nominated for Outstanding Limited Series; Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special (Flanders and Vaughn); Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Special (both  Heckart and Holm), and Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series or a Special at the 31^st Primetime Emmy Awards.

Starring -         

Leslie Uggams as Lillian Rogers Parks 

Olivia Cole as Maggie Rogers

Louis Gossett, Jr. as Levi Mercer

Cloris Leachman as Mrs. Jaffray

Leslie Nielsen as Ike Hoover

Robert Hooks as Mays

Victor Buono as William Howard Taft

Julie Harris as Helen (Nellie) Taft

Robert Vaughn as Woodrow Wilson

Kim Hunter as Ellen Axson Wilson

Claire Bloom as Edith Bolling Galt Wilson

George Kennedy as Warren G. Harding

Celeste Holm as Florence Harding 

Ed Flanders as Calvin   Coolidge

Lee Grant as Grace Coolidge 

Larry Gates as Herbert Hoover

Jan Sterling as Lou Hoover

John Anderson as Franklin D. Roosevelt

Eileen Heckart as Eleanor Roosevelt 

Harry Morgan as Harry S. Truman 

Estelle Parsons as Bess Truman 

Andrew Duggan as Dwight D. Eisenhower

Barbara Barrie as Mamie Eisenhower 

January 19 - She's Out of My League

Today’s movie is a romantic comedy with a scene that happens today – January 19. I hope you will enjoy this movie while watching it tonight.

SHE’S OUT OF MY LEAGUE       

Kirk Kettner is an awkward twenty-something guy who works for the TSA at the Pittsburgh airport along with fellow agent ‘Stainer’, reservations clerk Devon and baggage handler Jack. Kirk’s self-centered ex-girlfriend Marnie broke up with him two years ago and has since found a new boyfriend Ron, but still remains friends with Kirk’s family. One day Molly McCleish, an extremely attractive event planner comes through the TSA checkpoint. Several of the men flirt aggressively with her, but Kurt treats her correctly.  When Molly realizes she left her cell phone at the checkpoint, she calls her phone and asks Kirk, who found it to return the phone to her. Kirk and Devon go to a party at the Warhol Museum to return the phone to Molly. Molly’s sister Katie bumps into Kirk, causing him to spill his drink on the museum director. Kirk takes the blame for this to protect Katie. A grateful Molly gives him two tickets to a pro hockey game. On January 19, 2010[22:45 to 35:44] Kirk and Stainer along with Molly and her friend Patty attend a Penguins-Islanders game. Kirk thinks Molly wants to set him up with Patty, until Patty tells him that Molly likes him. Kirk and Molly go out on a date where they trade secrets and meet her obnoxious ex-boyfriend Cam, an air force pilot. Stainer tells Kirk the relationship is doomed since Molly is a 10 and Kirk is a 5, while Patty thinks Molly is dating Kirk because he’s ‘safe’. Molly spends the day with Kirk’s family, arousing the jealousy of Marnie. Back at her apartment, Kirk and Molly are necking when Kirk prematurely ejaculates in his pants. Just then her parents arrive for a visit and Kirk flees.  This upsets Molly, but following Jack’s advice Kirk tells Molly the truth and she forgives him. Molly throws a birthday party for her sister. At the party she’s intentionally vague in telling her parents about what Kirk does for a living, while Cam hints to Kirk that Molly has a ‘defect’. Later when they are making out this is revealed to be webbed toes. Kirk thinks this is trivial and decides Molly is too good for him. Molly is hurt at this insinuation that Kirk felt he could only be with her if something was wrong with her. She admits she did go out with Kirk because she thought he was ‘safe’. They break up and Kirk gets back with Marnie. When getting ready to fly with his family and Marnie to Branson, Kirk expresses his unhappiness. Stainer realizes that Kirk and Molly’s relationship ended because he and Patty told them that it would fail and Kirk and Molly believed them. With Patty’s help, Molly is brought to the airport, where after she confesses her feelings for Kirk they are reunited.       

A different romantic comedy. Reverses the usual story of where the plain girl is revealed to be beautiful and gets the guy.  It's interesting that Molly's parents are played by Alice Eve's real-life parents, both of whom are actors. 

Total Penguins by Rick Buker (Triumph Books, Chicago, 2010) at page 591 gives the date of this game

Producers - Jimmy Miller and David Householter

Director - Jim Field Smith

Screenplay - Sean Anders and John Morris

Runtime – 1 hour 44 minutes

Released – March 3, 2010

Starring –

Jay Baruchel as Kirk Kettner

Alice Eve as Molly McCleish

Krysten Ritter as Patty

T. J. Miller as Wendell a.k.a. Stainer

Nate Torrence as Devon

Mike Vogel as Jack

Lindsay Sloane as Marnie

Kim Shaw as Katie McCleish

Jasika Nicole as Wendy

Debra Jo Rupp as Mrs. Kettner

Adam LeFevre as Mr. Kettner

Kyle Bornheimer as Dylan Kettner

Hayes MacArthur as Ron

Geoff Stults as Cam Armstrong

Jessica St. Clair as Debbie

Trevor Eve as Mr. McCleish

Sharon Maughan as Mrs. McCleish  

January 18 - Logan's Run

Today’s movie is a science fiction classic with a scene happening today – January 18. I hope you will enjoy watching this film tonight.

LOGAN’S RUN                               

In a future city sealed away from the world and run by a computer, the inhabitants live a hedonistic lifestyle, but it comes at a price. At age 30 everyone must go onto Carousel, where their bodies are destroyed and people are told they are renewed. A life crystal is implanted in everyone’s palm that turns red when it is time for Carousel. Some people have figured out there is no renewal and become Runners, as those who try to avoid Carousel are called. Sandmen track runners down and kill them. Logan 5 and Francis 7 are Sandmen and best friends. After killing a runner, Logan finds an ankh bracelet on the body. Logan meets Jessica 6, who wears an ankh. When Logan turns in the ankh, he learns there is no renewal, but is ordered to leave the city and destroy Sanctuary, the goal of the runners. His life crystal is turned to red four years early. He meets Jessica and persuades her to help him. After almost being killed several times they escape from the city and meet a group of people who help runners. Traveling on they meet and destroy Box a robot originally designed to freeze seafood delivered to the city from outside, but who now freezes runners.  Eventually they emerge outside into the open air. Jessica and Logan notice their life crystals are now clear. The pair eventually comes upon the ruins of Washington, D.C. They meet an old man who lives in the US Capitol building. Francis 7 has followed them and Logan has to kill him. Logan, Jessica and the man return to the city on January 18, 2274 [1:43:40 to 1:56:39]. Logan is captured and his insistence that there is no Sanctuary causes the control computer to overload, destroying the city’s support systems. The inhabitants flee to the outside.

A classic sci-fi film. Has an excellent plot and for its time good special effects.

The date is given in the film at 1:48:27 as Capricorn 28.  Since the first day of Capricorn is December 22, Capricorn 28 is January 18.

Awards – It won a Special Achievement Oscar for Visual Effects. It was also nominated for the Best Cinematography and Best Art Direction at the 49^th Academy Awards.

Screenplay - David Z. Goodman

Producer - Saul David

Director - Michael Anderson

Runtime – 1 hour 59 minutes

Released – June 23, 1976

Starring - Michael York as Logan 5

    Richard Jordan as Francis 7

                Jenny Agutter as Jessica 6

                Farrah Fawcett as Holly 13

                Peter Ustinov as Old Man

January 17 - Gable and Lombard

Today’s biographical drama movie has a scene that happens today – January 17. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

GABLE AND LOMBARD                       

On January 17, 1943 Clark Gable arrives at the scene of an airplane crash. His wife, actress Carole Lombard was on board. [1:22 to 3:19] He thinks back over the history of their relationship. Hollywood stars Clark Gable and Carole Lombard meet at a party and take an instant dislike to each other. However, events keep throwing them together and they realize they are in love. The problem is Gable is already married and the studio heads don’t want him to divorce, fearing bad publicity. His wife finally divorces him and he and Lombard are married. Gable suffers through a paternity suit filed by a former girlfriend. Gable learns Lombard has been killed in the crash. [2:04:58 to 2:10:47]

A very uneven film. Has its moments, but we never get to the real Gable or Lombard. Portrays the gossip magazine version of theses stars. Still, it is a watchable movie.  

Carole Lombard by Wes D. Gehrig (Indiana Historical Society Press, Indianapolis, 2003) at pages 15-16 gives the date of the crash.

Producer - Harry Korshak

Director - Sidney J. Furie

Screenplay - Barry Sandler

Running Time – 2 hours 11 minutes

Released - October 8, 1976

Starring –

Morgan Brittany as Vivien Leigh

James Brolin as Clark Gable

Red Buttons as Ivan Cooper

Jill Clayburgh as Carole Lombard

Allen Garfield as Louis B. Mayer

Joanne Linville as Ria Gable

Melanie Mayron as Dixie

January 16 - Where the Buffalo Roam

Today’s comedy movie has a scene that happens on January 16. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

WHERE THE BUFFALO ROAM      

Hunter S. Thompson is trying to finish a story about a friend of his, attorney Carl Lazlo. He thinks back over his friendship with Lazlo. In 1968 San Francisco, Lazlo was trying to prevent a group of youths from receiving harsh sentences for drug possession. When they do anyway, Lazlo attacks the Prosecuting Attorney and is jailed for contempt of court. Thompson’s story about the trial is a huge smash. He does not hear from Lazlo until January 16, 1972 [ 44:47 to 1:06:40] the day of Super Bowl VI, which he is covering. He abandons the story to join Lazlo and a group of freedom fighters in smuggling arms to a Latin American country. However, at the airport, when the arms are being loaded on the plane, a police helicopter appears. Lazlo flees in the plane, but Thompson stays behind.   Thompson appears on the college lecture circuit. During the 1972 campaign, he is tossed from the journalist’s plane by the Presidential Press Secretary. He drugs Harris, a journalist from the Washington Post and steals his clothes and credentials. Thompson uses his disguise to finagle an interview with Nixon.  Thompson returns to the press plane. Lazlo appears and tries to convince him to fly off to a socialist paradise. The pair are tossed from the plane. Lazlo vanishes for the last time.

A very strange movie. It’s definitely self-referential. Murray does give a good performance as a strange character.

Producer - Art Linson                        Starring - Bill Murray as Hunter S. Thompson

                                                                            Peter Boyle as Carl Lazlo, Esq.

Director - Art Linson                                         Bruno Kirby as Marty Lewis

                                                                           René Auberjonois as Harris

Screenplay - John Kaye                                     R.G. Armstrong as Judge Simpson

                                                                           Mark Metcalf as Dooley

Runtime – 1 hour 39 minutes                            Craig T. Nelson as Cop on Stand

Released – April 25, 1980

January 15 - Mutiny on the Bounty (1962)

Today’s movie is a drama with a scene set today – January 15. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (1962)    

In 1787 the HMAV Bounty leaves England for Tahiti. There it is to pick up breadfruit trees and take them to Jamaica.  William Brown, who has been sent by the Royal Botanical Gardens to assist, tells Capt. Bligh that the plants cannot be taken during their dormant period. Bligh is an ambitious hard nose, while his first officer, Fletcher Christian is a patrician dilettante. When the ship sails, a crewman, Mills is accused of theft. When he proves and says it was actually the captain who is a thief, Bligh has him flogged. Bligh thinks fear of him is a great motivator for the crew. Bligh decides to try and take the ship around Cape Horn to save time. They run into terrible storms and a crewman is killed. The ship finally is forced to turn around and follow the original intended course, having lost a lot of time. Bligh pushes the crew hard to increase speed, but cuts their rations. They finally reach Tahiti, where the crew revels in the tropical climate and enjoys the easygoing lifestyle of the natives. In order to secure the breadfruit Bligh eventually has to order Christian to engage in a sexual liaison with   Princess Maimiti, daughter of the king. When the time finally comes to set sail for Jamaica, some men try to desert, with an eye towards staying in Tahiti, but they are caught and clapped in irons. Bligh has taken twice as many plants as ordered as atonement for the delay. He cuts water rations in favor of watering the breadfruit trees. When a crewman assaults Bligh over shipboard conditions, Bligh has him keelhauled, even though this is illegal.   When a member of the crew becomes sick from drinking seawater, Christian gives him fresh water. When he ignores the captain’s order to stop, Bligh knocks the ladle way and Christian punches him. Bligh tells Christian he will hang, but instead with the support of a large part of the crew Christian takes over the ship. The mutineers set Bligh and his supporters adrift in the lifeboat. Bligh navigates the boat 3600 miles to a port and he returns to England. Meanwhile the Bounty returns to Tahiti, where they pick up some natives who want to join them, including Maimiti. On January 15, 1790 [2:40:04 to 2:44:00] they reach the mis-charted Pitcairn Island and decide it will make a perfect hiding place. Christian tells the crew they have a duty to return to England to testify against Bligh. The crew instead sets the ship afire and Christian is killed.

A rather long telling of this story. The personalities and backgrounds of Bligh and Christian were nothing like what is portrayed in this film. As entertainment and not history, it’s a fairly good movie.

The Bounty by Caroline Alexander (Viking, New York, 2003) at page 355 gives the date the reach Pitcairn

Producer - Aaron Rosenberg

Director - Lewis Milestone

Awards – The film was nominated for the Best Picture, Best Color Art Direction, Best        Color Cinematography, Best Special Effects,  Best Film Editing, Best Original Score and Best Original Song Oscars at the 35^th Academy Awards.                

Screenplay - Charles Lederer

Runtime - 3 hours 15 minutes

Released - November 8, 1962

Starring - 

Marlon Brando as 1st Lt. Fletcher Christian

Trevor Howard as Capt. William Bligh

Richard Harris as Seaman John Mills

Hugh Griffith as Seaman John Adams

Richard Haydn as Horticulturalist William Brown

Tarita Teriipia as Princess Maimiti

Percy Herbert as Seaman Matthew Quintal

Duncan Lamont as John Williams

Gordon Jackson as Seaman Edward Birkett

Chips Rafferty as Seaman Michael Byrne

Noel Purcell as Helmsman William McCoy

Ashley Cowan as Samuel Mack

Eddie Byrne as John Fryer (Sailing Master)

Tim Seely: Edward 'Ned' Young (Midshipman)

Frank Silvera as Minarii

January 14 - George Wallace

This biographical movie has a scene that happens today – January 14. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

GEORGE WALLACE        

In 1972 Governor George Wallace of Alabama, who’s running for the Democratic presidential nomination travels to Laurel, Maryland and is paralyzed in an assassination attempt. We flashback to 1955 when Wallace was “Big” Jim Folsom’s successful gubernatorial campaign manager. Folsom is a liberal on race matters and Wallace is his political heir.  In 1958 Wallace runs an economically progressive campaign, but the KKK supports the other more racist candidate and he loses and to top it off his wife, Lurleen, wants to leave him. We flash forward to Wallace’s inauguration as governor on January 14, 1963 where he says, “Segregation Today, Segregation Tomorrow, Segregation Forever”. [1:01:17 to 1:14:20] Wallace became the pro-segregation candidate and convinced his wife to stay. He calls out state troopers against demonstrations led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Birmingham. Wallace tells the US Attorney General “Bobbie” Kennedy that he will oppose the integration of the University of Alabama. Wallace makes his infamous ‘stand in the doorway’.  His speech at Harvard University causes a riot. Wallace thinks the Sixth St. church bombing was caused by civil rights agitators, not the KKK. He again calls out the troopers to stop marchers at the Raymond Pettus Bridge. His wife gets cancer. Wallace asks for a constitutional amendment so he can run again, but this is refused, so his wife runs for governor and wins, but dies in office. In 1970 he meets Cornelia Spivey whom he marries and Wallace is elected governor again. After he is paralyzed Wallace and his wife argue and later divorce. However, being shot causes him to have a change of heart and revert back to his earlier views on race. Wallace tries to apologize to “Big” Jim Folsom, whom he had spurned, but is refused. He does go to the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church,  the biggest African-American church in Montgomery, and apologizes to the members.

A good although somewhat sanitized biopic of this controversial figure.

Carry Me Home by Diane McWhorter (Simon & Schuster, New York, 2001) at page 311 gives the date of his inauguration.

Producers - John Frankenheimer and Julian Krainin

Director - John Frankenheimer

Screenplay - Paul Monash and Marshall Frady

Awards - The film won the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie (Sinise), Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie (Winningham) and Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special (Frankenheimer) Emmys. It was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie (Jolie), Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries or a Movie, Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or a Movie, Outstanding Makeup for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special and Outstanding Miniseries at the 50^th Primetime Emmy Awards.   

Running Time – 2 hours 58 minutes

Released - August 24, 1997

Starring -

Gary Sinise as George Wallace

Angelina Jolie as Cornelia Wallace

Mare Winningham as Lurleen Wallace

Joe Don Baker as “Big’ Jim Folsom