June 30 - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Today’s movie is an action fantasy film with a scenes that occurs on June 30. I hope you will watch this film tonight and enjoy it.

HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE         

Harry Potter,  Hermione Granger, and the Weasleys along with Cedric Diggory and his father travel via a magical portkey to the Quidditch World Cup. The post match celebrations are marred when Voldemort’s followers, the Death Eaters, appear and set fire to the spectator’s campsite. At Hogwarts visitors arrive from Beauxbatons Academy and Durmstrang Institute to participate in the Triwizard Tournament, a magical contest where one student from each school is picked to participate. “Mad Eye” Moody, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher introduces the students to the three unforgivable curses. The Goblet of Fire, a powerful magical artifact selects the three champions who will participate in the Triwizard Tournament: Viktor Krum from  Durmstrang, Fleur Delacour from  Beauxbatons and Cedric Diggory from Hogwarts. Unexpectedly the Goblet also spits out the name of Harry Potter. As the Goblet of Fire has created an unbreakable magical contract Harry cannot withdraw, even though he is technically too young to be a champion. Ron becomes jealous of Harry over his participation. Rita Skeeter, a tabloid journalist, writes untrue stories about the champions. Harry learns from Hagrid that the first challenge involves dragons. Harry is able to use his flying skills to defeat the dragon and retrieve the egg that contains a clue to the second challenge. Harry and Ron reconcile. Harry and Ron take the Patil Twins to the Yule Ball, while Viktor Krum escorts Hermione. Harry opens the egg underwater and learns that is where the next challenge is to occur. Neville Longbottom tells Harry that gillyweed will enable him to breath underwater for an hour.  Krum rescues Hermione, while Harry rescues Ron and Fleur Delacour’s younger sister after Fleur has to drop out of the contest. In Dumbledore’s office, using the pensieve, Harry sees through Dumbledore’s memories that Igor Karkaroff, the headmaster of Durmstrang was once a Death Eater. Harry also learns that Barty Crouch, the ministry official who is supervising the tournament sent his own son, who was a Death Eater and helped tortured Neville Longbottom’s parents into insanity to Azkaban prison, where he died.  Snape accuses Harry of stealing polyjuice potion ingredients from him. The third task is to penetrate a magical maze to reach the Triwizard Cup. Krum and Fleur are soon overcome, while Cedric and Harry grab the Triwizard Cup at the same time.  The cup is actually a portkey that transports them to a graveyard. Cedric is killed by Peter Pettigrew. A magical ritual creates a physical body for Voldemort using a bone from his father’s tomb and some of Harry’s blood.  Voldemort summons the Death Eaters and they watch him duel Harry. Voldemort’s wand emits the spirits of those who were recently killed with it including Cedric and Harry’s parents. The spirits enable Harry to use the portkey to return with Cedric’s  body to Hogwarts.  Everyone is shocked at this turn of events. “Mad Eye” Moody leads a shaken Harry back to the school, but in time McGonnagal, Snape and Dumbledore arrive and  discover that Barty Crouch, Jr., who did not die in Azkaban, but was smuggled out by his father, has been using polyjuice potion to impersonate Moody. The real Moody was locked in a magical trunk. On June 30, 1995 [2:17:28 to 2:19:24] Dumbledore tells the school at the leaving feast how Cedric died. The Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students return home.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling (Scholastic Inc., New York, 2000) pages 720-723. Dumbledore makes these remarks at the leaving feast. (page 720). We learned in  Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban at page 430 that the leaving feast occurs the day before the students go home, which is on July 1.

Producer - David Heyman

Director - Mike Newell

Awards – The film was nominated for the Best Art Direction Oscar at the 78^th Academy

                 Awards.

Screenplay - Steve Kloves

Runtime – 2 hours 37 minutes

Released – November 18, 2005

Starring –

Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter

Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley

Emma Watson as Hermione Granger

Robbie Coltrane as Rubeus Hagrid

Ralph Fiennes as Lord Voldemort

Michael Gambon as Albus Dumbledore

Brendan Gleeson as Alastor “Mad-eye” Moody

David Tennant as Barty Crouch Jr

Jason Isaacs as Lucius Malfoy

Robert Pattinson as Cedric Diggory

Stanislav Ianevski as Victor Krum

Clémence Poésy as Fleur Delacour

Gary Oldman as Sirius Black

Miranda Richardson as Rita Skeeter

Alan Rickman as Severus Snape

Maggie Smith as Minerva McGonagall

Timothy Spall as Peter Pettigrew

Frances de la Tour as Olympe Maxime

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2014

June 29 - Auto Focus

Today’s movie is a biographical drama with a scene on June 29. I hope you will watch this film tonight and enjoy it.   

AUTO FOCUS                               

       

Bob Crane is a popular LA disc jockey. He later moves into acting, becoming the star of the successful comedy Hogan’s Heroes. After the show is cancelled he tours the country doing dinner theatre. Crane was always portrayed in the media as a clean-cut family man. However he has a secret life. He met John Henry Carpenter and was drawn into a world of sex addiction and videotaping. On June 29, 1978 [1:39:38 to 1:41:50] Bob Crane was killed, the night after witnesses reported an argument between Crane and Carpenter.

An unusual biopic. Its accuracy has been questioned by some people. Hoever, it is still an interesting and entertaining film.

Producers – Scott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski, Alicia Allain, Patrick Dollard, Brian

                     Oliver and Todd Rosken

Director – Paul Shrader

Screenplay - Michael Gerbos

Runtime – 1 hour 45 minutes

Released – October 18, 2002

Starring -

Greg Kinnear as Bob Crane

Willem Dafoe as John Henry Carpenter

Rita Wilson as Anne Crane

Maria Bello as Sigrid Valdis

Ron Leibman as Lenny

Michael E. Rodgers as Richard Dawson

Kurt Fuller as Werner Klemperer

Christopher Neiman as Robert Clary

Ed Begley, Jr. as Mel Rosen

Roderick L. Mccarthy as Bartender

John Kapelos as Bruno Gerussi

Lyle Kanouse as John Banner

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2014.

June 28 - Ned Kelly (1970)

Today’s movie is a biographical drama with a scene that happens on June 28. I hope you will watch this film tonight and enjoy it.

NED KELLY                       

Ned Kelly goes through a jailhouse marriage and after being visited by his mother is hung. We then flashback to when Ned was released from jail after serving three years for a stealing a horse, even though he said he was innocent. His family celebrates. Ned is arrested while drunk and beats up four constables who were trying to cuff him. He gets off with a fine. Practice at the time was that animals found on other people’s land were impounded and the owner had to pay a large sum to get them back. When a horse belonging to his step-father is impounded, Ned visits the impound lot, steals all the animals there and later sells them . Constable Fitzpatrick comes to arrest Ned’s brother Dan for horse-stealing and tries to make “advances’ on Ned’s sister Maggie and there is a fight. Fitzpatrick leaves and a whole army of constables comes and arrests Ned’s mother. Ned offers to turn himself in if his mother is released, but this offer is refused. Four constables track Ned. He gets the drop on McIntyre, who surrenders and one is killed. McIntyre agrees to tell other two to surrender if Ned will agree not to shoot them. Ned agrees. McIntyre tells others to surrender, but they do not and a firefight begins. The other two are killed, but McIntyre escapes. Ned’ and his gang are outlawed,, allowing anyone to kill them on sight. Ned starts robbing banks. He writes a letter setting out his case to Donald Cameron, M.P. The police arrest all of those who sympathise with Ned without charge and hold them in jail. Ned and his gang take over a police station and impersonating the officers, rob the bank and burn their mortgages. The sympathizers are released. The constabulary bring in Aborigines to track Ned, but can’t find him. Ned kills Aaron Sherrit, a police spy. Ned goes to Glenrowan and pulls up the railroad tracks, planning to cause the wreck of a train loaded with constables and then shoot them while Ned and his gang wear their homemade armor. The gang takes hostages, but after Thomas Curnow persuades Ned to release him he races to warn the train, so it does not wreck. Constables surround the inn where Ned and his gang are holed up and a firefight begins. At dawn on June 28, 1880 [1:22:51 to 1:39:33] the hostages are released, while Ned marches alone towards the police. Dozens shoot at him and eventually hit his unprotected legs and he is arrested. Ned is convicted and sentenced to death.  

                       

Jagger gives a very good performance as the outlaw hero. This film definitely paints Ned Kelly with sympathy and it appears from the film that he may be entitled to some. The authorities, in part are influenced by anti-Irish bias did not treat the Kellys very well.

Ned Kelly by John Molony (Melbourne University Press, Carlton South, Vic., 2001) at pages 169-179 and 183 tells us about Ned’s arrest on this day

Producer - Neil Hartley                                  

Director - Tony Richardson                                            

Runtime – 1 hour 46 minutes    

Released – October 7, 1970                                                                                   

Starring –

Mick Jagger as Ned Kelly

Geoff Gilmour as Steve Hart

Mark McManus as Joe Byrne

Serge Lazareff as Wild Wright

Peter Sumner as Tom Lloyd

Ken Shorter as Aaron Sherritt

James Elliot as Pat O'Donnell

Clarissa Kaye as Mrs. Kelly

Copyright by Ivan Walters 2014. 

June 27 - Luther

Today’s film is a biographical drama with a scene that happens on June 27. I hope you will watch this movie tonight and enjoy it.

LUTHER                   

       

Martin Luther, caught in a terrible thunderstorm vows to become a monk if God spares him. God does so he does. However after two years, Luther has doubts. He is sent to Rome to deliver a brief from his monastery. Luther is disgusted by what he sees. He thinks Rome has a circus atmosphere of greed and corruption. Luther is sent to Wittenberg as a parish priest. He begins to see God as merciful, defying the church to do so, including personally burying a suicide in holy ground. He is made a teacher at a seminary and begins to attack the doctrines of relics and indulgences. Luther is warned off of this since this could reduce revenue from Frederick of Saxony’s relic collection.  Leo X is elected pope. He authorizes an indulgence to be sold by John Tetzel to help pay for St. Peters basilica. Luther nails the 95 theses on the door of the cathedral in Wittenberg condemning indulgences.  These create a firestorm and Luther is summoned to appear before Cardinal Cajetan. He is told he must recant, but he refuses. He is ordered excommunicated. The pope sends a golden rose to Frederick to try and get him to hand over Luther. The church burns Luther’s writings. Frederick convinces Emperor Charles to preside at a hearing for Luther at Worms. Luther refuses to recant. On the way back from Worms Luther is “kidnapped” by supporters of Frederick and hidden away where Luther works on translating the Bible into German. The Great Peasant Revolt begins.  After seeing its violence, Luther comes out against the revolt. On June 27, 1525 Luther marries Katharina von Bora, a former nun. [1:45:14 to 1:46:08]. At Augsburg in 1530 Charles V summons the princes to outlaw Protestantism, but they refuse and he is forced to allow rulers to opt to be Protestant.

                       

An interesting biopic of this controversial figure. The film does contain numerous, though minor historical inaccuracies. It also glosses over Luther’s opposition to the Great Peasant’s Revolt and does not mention his alleged anti-Semitic writings. Still, all in all a good effort that is well worth watching. 

Out of the Storm: The Life and Legacy of Martin Luther by Derek Wilson (St. Martin’s Press, New York, 2009) at page 233 gives the date of his marriage.

Producer – Brigette Rochow, Christian P. Stehr and Alexander Theis

Screenplay - Camille Thomasson and Bart Gavigan

Director - Eric Till                                     

Runtime – 2 hours 4 minutes                                     

Released – October 30, 2003                                     

Starring –

Joseph Fiennes as Martin Luther

Alfred Molina as John Tetzel

Jonathan Firth as Girolamo Aleandro

Claire Cox as Katharina von Bora

Peter Ustinov as Frederick the Wise

Bruno Ganz as Johann von Staupitz

Uwe Ochsenknecht as Pope Leo X

Mathieu Carrière as Cardinal Cajetan

Benjamin Sadler as George Spalatin

Jochen Horst as Andreas Karlstadt

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2014.

June 26 - Veronica Guerin

Today’s film is a biographical drama with scenes that happen on June 26. I hope you will watch this film tonight and enjoy it.

VERONICA GUERIN                     

On June 26, 1996 [00:23 to 3:42] Veronica Guerin, instead of going to jail for all her unpaid speeding tickets gets off with just a fine, but on the way home she’s assassinated by the Dublin Mob. We flash back to two years ago when she started to write about the drug traffic in Dublin. She meets John Taynor who is involved in the underworld. He is willing to help her to some extent, but also steers her towards Gerry Hutch as the main supplier because he’s afraid of the real boss, John Gilligan. She pursues Hutch as the lead supplier until she figures out he’s not involved and suspect’s he is trying to start a gang war so he can take over the drug trade. Gilligan rules the Dublin underworld with an iron fist. Someone puts a bullet into her house and the shoots her in the leg. Her family begs her to stop, but she refuses.  She continues to work on tracing the illegal proceeds of drug sales to Gilligan. She finally confronts him and he beats her up, but she declines to prosecute so she won’t get taken off the story. Gilligan threatens to kidnap her son and kill her. Taynor betrays her to Gilligan. She is killed leaving traffic court on June 26, 1996. [1:19:45 to 1:27:39]  As a result of her death, the Criminal Assets Branch was given the power to seize unexplained assets. Gilligan was extradited and convicted of drug trafficking. Taynor continues to fight extradition from Portugal. Many of Gilligan’s minions were also convicted of various crimes.    

An interesting film. However it is somewhat clichéd. This is a movie about a crusader who puts themselves and their family in danger. In the end I’m not sure if she accomplished any permanent result that justified the sacrifice.

Veronica Guerin: The Life and Death of a Crime Reporter by Emily O’Reilly (Vintage, London, 1998) at page xi and the movie at 1:07 and 1:19:45 give her death date

Producer - Jerry Bruckheimer

Director - Joel Schumacher

Screenplay - Carol Doyle and Mary Agnes Donoghue

Runtime – 1 hour 38 minutes

Released – July 11,  2003

Starring –

Cate Blanchett as Veronica Guerin

Gerard McSorley as John Gilligan

Ciarán Hinds as John Traynor

Brenda Fricker as Bernie Guerin

Barry Barnes as Graham Turley

Simon O'Driscoll as Cathal Turley

Don Wycherley as Chris Mulligan

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2014.

June 25 - They Died With Their Boots On

Today’s movie is a biographical western with scenes that happen on June 25. I hope you will watch this movie tonight and enjoy it.

THEY DIED WITH THEIR BOOTS ON          

       

George Armstrong Custer makes a flamboyant entrance to West Point and almost gets expelled his first day, only escaping that fate due to a technicality. He racks up a terrible disciplinary record, but meets Libby Bacon at the school. Custer graduates early, due to the need for officers in the Civil War. However, he sits around in Washington until a chance encounter with Gen. Scott, commander of the army gets him an appointment with the 2^nd Cavalry.  At First Manassas, he disregards orders and captures a crucial bridge. He is wounded and after his recovery goes to visit Libby. However, he makes a terrible impression on her father and is thrown out of the house. Custer is accidentally promoted to Brigadier General during the Gettysburg campaign. He leads the Michigan cavalry in a defeat of J.E.B. Stuart that contributes to the north’s victory and makes him a hero. This overcomes the opposition of Libby’s father and the couple are married. After the war Custer suffers from boredom with civilian life and Libby uses her influence to get him assigned to the 7^th Cavalry.  Custer finds Sharpe, an old foe of his from his West Point days is running a bar at the fort, causing drunkenness in the ranks, as well as selling arms to the Indians. Custer ends both practices and restores the unit’s esprit de corp.  However, Sharpe gives each of the troopers a bottle of liquor right before a parade, embarrassing Custer who in anger strikes another old foe Commissioner Taipe, who is working in league with Sharpe.  Custer is court-martialed, while Sharpe and Taipe start a rumor of gold in the Black Hills, causing thousands of whites to enter the Black Hills in violation of a treaty with the Sioux, leading to war. Custer gets his command restored. He leads the regiment after the Sioux and even though outnumbered ten to one attacks in order to save Gen. Terry’s infantry from being massacred. In spite of a brave fight on June 25, 1876 [2:07:39 to 2:15:47] we see Custer and his men annihilated in the battle of the Little Bighorn by the Sioux. Custer is remembered as a hero.  

One of the classic western movies. Interesting on several points. First it is very unusual for the time in that Crazy Horse is presented as a character we are meant to identify with and have sympathy for. Secondly, many of the incidents in Custer’s career and personal life are completely fabricated. If you look at it as entertainment and not history, it’s actually a very exciting and watchable movie.  

The Custer Companion: A Comprehensive Guide to the Life of George Armstrong Custer and the Plains Indian Wars by Thom Hatch (Stackpole Books, Mechanicsburg, PA, 2002) at pages 179-186 and the movie at 2:08:20 give the date of the battle

Producer - Hal B. Wallis and Robert Fellows

Screenplay - Æneas MacKenzie and Wally Kline

Director - Raoul Walsh                       

Runtime -  2 hours 20 minutes                            

Released – November 21, 1941                          

Starring –

Errol Flynn as George Armstrong Custer

Olivia de Havilland as Elizabeth Custer

Arthur Kennedy as Ned Sharp

Charley Grapewin as California Joe

Gene Lockhart as Samuel Bacon

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2014. 

June 24 - The Six Wives of Henry VIII: Part IV - Anne of Cleves

Today’s movie is a period drama with a scene that happens on June 24. I hope you will watch this film tonight and enjoy it.

THE SIX WIVES OF HENRY VIII: PART IV – ANNE OF CLEVES 

Two years after Queen Jane’s death, Thomas Cromwell, the Lord Chancellor is pushing Henry to marry again, both to secure the succession with another son and to form an alliance with the German Protestants against France.  The court painter Hans Holbien and Sir Christopher Motte are sent to Cleves to paint  portraits of Anne and Amalia, sisters of William, Duke of Cleves. Henry decides to marry Anne. When she arrives in England he rushes to see her incognito and is disappointed by her looks.  Henry blames Cromwell, while Anne has second thoughts. The wedding takes place, but is not consummated. Anne is ignored by the king, while the Duke of Norfolk, Wriothosley and Bishop Gardiner plot to get at Cromwell, by getting rid of Anne. Robert Barnes, a rabid Protestant, visits the Queen.  He is followed by Cromwell, who knows that he is the target of intrigue. He asks the Queen to help him. An envoy arrives from her brother. While he is kissing her hands, Henry walks in. He is upset, even more so when Henry finds Robert Barnes and Cromwell are present. However, the envoy is actually Philip, the Landgrave of Hesse who wants to meet with Henry in order to find out how to divorce his wife.  He has committed bigamy, and the Emperor has told him to either abandon his fellow Protestants or suffer the death penalty for bigamy.   Henry won’t advise him, so the Landgrave says he will join the Empire. The collapse of the Protestant League ends the reason for their marriage. She convinces Henry to agree to an annulment and she is asked to leave court on June 24, 1540. [1:15:29 to 1:29:05].   

I think this is the most interesting on the episodes. Anne is portrayed as especially clever, since she thinks up a way out of the box she’s in.  Anne is also shown as probably the nicest of Henry’s Queens.

Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII by David Starkey (HarperCollins Publishers, New York, 2007) at page 639 gives this date when Anne was asked to leave the court

Awards - . The film won the Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Michell) Emmy award. It was also nominated for the Outstanding   Drama Series, Outstanding New Series, Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a leading role in a dramatic series (Michell) and the Outstanding Single Program, drama or comedy at the 24^th Primetime Emmy Awards.

Producers – Ronald Travers and Mark Shivas

Director – John Gleinster                

Screenplay – Jean Morris                                

Runtime – 1 hour 30 minutes    

                    

Released – January 22, 1970                            

Starring –

Keith Michell as Henry VIII

Patrick Troughton as the Duke of Norfolk

Elvi Hale as Anne of Cleves

Bernard Hepton as Thomas Cranmer

Wolfe Morris as Thomas Cromwell

Basil Dignam as Bishop Gardiner

Patrick Godfrey as Sir Thomas Wriothesley

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2014.  

June 23 - The Jokers

Today’s movie is a comedy/drama with a scene that happens on June 23. I hope you will watch this movie tonight and enjoy it.  

THE JOKERS                                  

Michael Tremayne is booted out of Sandhurst. He and his brother David want to do something “big” and they decide to do a crime as a “grand gesture”.  The brothers take Inge, David’s new inamorata, on a tour of London, including the Tower. At a dinner party they learn that you cannot be charged with theft unless you intend to permanently deprive the owner of their property. David proposes stealing the crown jewels and sending letters out beforehand, showing they aren’t intending to permanently deprive. Michael is somewhat jealous of David, as Davis is considered the ‘good’ son and him the ‘bad’ son. They write and deliver the letters. They plant a bomb at the Albert Memorial and observe the police procedure. Next they put a bomb at the lion cage at the London zoo. Then they blow up a ladies lavatory. David gets a laser. They put a bomb at the stock exchange and David goes to the army base, and uses a tape recorder to record the procedures. Finally the day comes. Michael goes to the jewel room in the Tower and hides a bomb there. David and Michael go to the base and tie up the duty officer. They take the place of the bomb disposal expert and his assistant. They ride with the army to the Tower. The pair go into the bomb room and knock out the rather silly Colonel who went in with them who commands the  army base. David and Michael have had the alarms turned of, due to the danger of “vibration” and use the laser to cut into the cabinets with the jewels. The pair set off a small bomb and a smoke bomb. The two stagger out pretending to be hurt. The pair then escape from the ambulance taking them to hospital with the jewels.   The theft causes a huge stink and a worldwide search is undertaken for the robbers. David and Michael enjoy the media frenzy. One week after the robbery on June 23, 1967 the letters are opened and delivered to the police. [1:08:10 to 1:13:59]  They go to get the jewels from their hiding place, but they are not there. When the police arrive to arrest David, Michael says he doesn’t know anything about the robbery. Michael never delivered his letter. David is identified as the bomb expert, but the witnesses can’t identify Michael. The police investigate, but can’t break down Michael’s alibi of being at a party. Michael is released. David is indicted and bail is refused.  The police set up a plan to make Michael think his alibi is breaking down, but Michael evades police surveillance. We then see him digging up the jewels from where he buried them at Stonehenge. Michael calls a telephone he know is tapped to say he’s returning the jewels in Trafalgar Square at 4 a. m. The police set up a cordon, but Michael uses their concentration on the square to put them in the scales of justice on top of the Old Bailey. Michael is arrested. We close with both brothers imprisoned in the Tower, plotting their escape.      

                       

This is a very funny sixties British comedy. Crawford and Reed play off each other perfectly to deliver unforgettable performances. Unfortunately I don’t think this film is on VHS or DVD. 

                       

At Michael’s arraignment at 1:18:50 the date of the crime is given as June 16. They planned to return the jewels a week later, the 23^rd, , as evidenced by some comments at about 36:40 where Michael says they will deliver the letters on Friday and then call to have them released seven days later, on the day they plan to return the jewels. June 16 was on a Friday in 1967.   

Producer - Ben Arbeid and Maurice Foster

Director - Michael Winner

Screenplay - Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais

Runtime – 1 hour 34 minutes

Released – May 15, 1967

Starring –

Michael Crawford as Michael Tremayne

Oliver Reed as David Tremayne

Harry Andrews as Superintendent Marryatt

James Donald as Colonel Gurney-Simms

Daniel Massey as Riggs

Michael Hordern as Sir Matthew

Gabriella Licudi as Eve

Lotte Tarp as Inge

Frank Finlay as Harassed man

Warren Mitchell as Lennie

Rachel Kempson as Mrs. Tremayne

Peter Graves as Mr. Tremayne

Ingrid Boulting as Sarah

Brian Wilde as Sergeant Catchpole

Edward Fox as Lieutenant Sprague

Michael Goodliffe as Lieutenant Colonel Paling 

Copyright by Ivan Walters 2014.

June 22 - Raintree County

Today’s movie is a period drama with a scene that happens on June 22. I hope you will watch this film tonight and enjoy it.

RAINTREE COUNTY                

In 1858 Indiana’s Raintree County, John Shawnessey and Nell Gaither are about to graduate when their professor, Jerusalem Webster Stiles  tells them the legend of the golden raintree. Johnny Appleseed supposedly planted one in a swamp in the county. He uses the tree as a metaphor for the idea of seeking achievement, instead of money. John looks for the tree, but is unsuccessful.  John is challenged to a footrace by ‘Flash’ Perkins and he meets Susanna Drake, a southern belle who now lives in the county. John wins the race and has an amorous interlude with Susanna. He helps professor Stiles get out of the county after Stiles is accused of dallying with someone else’s wife.  Susanna tells John she’s pregnant and they get married. They move to New Orleans, but as an abolitionist John does not fit in well in the South. He learns there is some kind of scandal surrounding the death of her parents in a fire when Susanna starts displaying signs of insanity like her mother. She tells him she lied about being pregnant and they return to Raintree County.  John persuades her to get rid of her large doll collection, including one that is partly burned. Their son Jimmy is born.  Two years later on June 22, 1863 [1:37:55 to 1:40:03] Johnny meets Nell again and they talk about the golden rain tree and Copperheads. Susanna finally tells John about what really happened with the fire. After her mother went insane her father took Henrietta, a woman of color, who was Susanna’s nanny as his mistress. Susanna found out about it and wrote her mother a note. The mother shot her husband and Henrietta and started the fire. Susanna flees to Georgia taking Jimmy with her. John enlists in the army to fight and look for Susanna. He meets ‘Flash’ Perkins and Jerusalem Stiles, who’s now a war correspondent. John reaches Susanna’s plantation, but only Jimmy is there. Susanna has been committed to an insane asylum. He finds her and takes her back to Raintree County. John  is later asked to run for congress, but he declines. Susanna realizes that it is because he has a crazy wife that he won’t run. She decides to find the golden raintree and heads into the swamp, but Jimmy sees her and follows. There is a massive search. Susanna is found dead. John and Nell search on and find Jimmy, not realizing that the child found the golden rain tree.   

This is not Taylor’s best film. Some of her scenes border on being carpet chewers. This melodrama tries to be Gone With the Wind, but it unfortunately doesn’t even come close. The story is interesting enough, with just a hint of mystery to keep it fresh.

Vicksburg: 1863 by Winston Groom (Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 2000) at page 339 gives the date of the start of the siege. Poster put up about results of 35^th day of siege, at 1:38: 05, which was June 22.

Producer - David Lewis

Director - Edward Dmytryk

Awards – The film was nominated for the Best Actress (Taylor), Best Set Decoration,

                 Best Costume Design and Best Music Scoring at the 30^th Academy Awards. 

Screenplay -  Millard Kaufman

Runtime – 3 hours 2 minutes

Released – December 20, 1957

Starring -

Montgomery Clift as John Wickliff Shawnessey

Elizabeth Taylor as Susanna Drake

Eva Marie Saint as Nell Gaither

Nigel Patrick as Prof. Jerusalem Webster Stiles

Lee Marvin as Orville 'Flash' Perkins

Rod Taylor as Garwood B. Jones

Agnes Moorehead as Ellen Shawnessy

Walter Abel as T.D. Shawnessy

Jarma Lewis as Barbara Drake

Tom Drake as Bobby Drake

Rhys Williams as Ezra Gray

Russell Collins as Niles Foster

DeForest Kelley as Southern officer

Copyright by Ivan Walters 2014.

June 21 - The Englishman Who Went Up A Hill and Came Down a Mountain

Today’s movie is a comedy drama with a scene that happens on June 21. I hope you will watch this movie tonight and enjoy it.  

THE ENGLISHMAN WHO WENT UP A HILL AND CAME DOWN A MOUNTAIN                    

       

During World War One two English cartographers, the pompous Garrad and his assistant Anson come to the Welsh village of Ffynnon Garw to measure the height of what the locals call “the first mountain in Wales”. They tell the locals that a mountain must be more than 1000 feet high and the locals bet on the exact height of their mountain. Their announcement that the hill is only 984 feet is met with consternation. After a public meeting to consider what to do a plan is devised to haul enough dirt from the valley to make up the difference.  Morgan the Goat, reprobate owner of the inn where the Englishmen are staying sabotages their car to keep them in the village until the hill is a mountain. On June 21, 1917, [33:04 to 52:46] after Rev. Jones is unable to convince the schoolteacher to dismiss school, parents get their children out of school so they can help with the plan. Working together, with renewed optimism (which was Rev. Jones intent), the villagers start adding dirt to their hill to make it a mountain. Morgan recruits Betty to charm Garrad and keep him there through a rainy spell during which they can’t haul dirt. However she falls for Anson instead.  In spite of their efforts the two Englishmen can’t get out of town until they announce early on Sunday morning that they are leaving by train the next morning. Rev. Jones to the surprise of Morgan takes as his sermon text Psalm 99:9 “Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his holy hill” and tells everyone he is going to haul dirt and that he expects them to do so also.  The villagers haul dirt the entire day, with even Anson helping, until Rev. Jones has a stroke and dies. His burial means the work is not complete until it is too late for Anson to take his measurements. However Betty volunteers to keep him company until the 5 a.m. dawn. The two come down the mountain the next day to announce its height is 1,002 feet and that they are engaged. In an epilogue, when the mountain is re-measured recently it was only 997 feet, so the villagers again haul dirt to the top to  restore it to mountain status.

This is a very low-keyed, dry humor kind of film. However I do like it especially since I’m of part-Welsh ancestry myself. The poor English are no match for the slyness and determination of the Welsh. Hir yn byw Cymru! 

When Rev. Jones goes to the school at 34:17 that date is the one on the calendar

Producers - Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein, Sarah Curtis, Sally Hibbin, Robert Jones,  Scott Maitland and Paul Sarony

Director - Christopher Monger           

Screenplay - Christopher Monger     

Runtime – 1 hour 39 minutes                                                   

Released – May 12, 1995          

                             

Starring –

Hugh Grant as Reginald Anson

Ian McNeice as George Garrad

Tara FitzGerald as Betty

Colm Meaney as Morgan the Goat

Ian Hart as Johnny Shellshocked

Robert Pugh as Williams the Petroleum

Kenneth Griffith as the Rev. Jones

Ieuan Rhys as Sgt Thomas

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2014. 

June 20 - The Stand

Today’s movie is a science fiction disaster film that has a scene which happens on June 20. I hope you will watch this movie tonight and enjoy it.

THE STAND                               

At a top secret government base there is a containment breach releasing a deadly superflu virus. A guard flees with his family infecting people along the way and finally dying in Arnette, Texas home of Stu Redmond. The army tries to contain the infection and takes those who have been exposed to a research facility. Singer Larry Underwood arrives in New York. On June 20, 1994 deaf-mute Nick Andros arrives in the tiny town of Shoyo, Arkansas. [28:37 to 43:21] He gets beaten up and has a visionary dream about “Mother Abigail” a 106 year old black woman who lives in Nebraska who warns him a ‘storm is coming’. The next day the military gives a press conference denying the existence of the superflu, while Stu is confronted about his failure to cooperate with the medical testing program.  A petty criminal Lloyd gets arrested for robbery and murder. Over the next week 99% of the world’s population dies of the superflu.   Stu has a vision of Mother Abigail. He escapes from the facility and meets Glenn Bateman. In New York Larry meets Nadine. Randall Flagg (who appears to actually be the devil) lets Lloyd out of jail. Nadine dreams of Flagg and that she is destined to be his. Nick meets Tom Cullen, a mentally challenged man in a small Kansas town. Fran Goldsmith and Harold Lowder from Maine meet up with Stu and Glenn and they travel towards Nebraska. Nick and Tom meet Julie who tries to kill them. Larry, who has been deserted by Nadine meets Lucy. Nick and Tom meet Ralph and they all arrive in Nebraska and with Mother Abigail move on to Boulder, Colorado. Fran and Stu become closer on the trip to the envy of Harold. Stu’s group arrives in Boulder. They get the power restored and try to organize a new government. Mother Abigail leaves. They decide to spy on Flagg, who has established himself and his followers in Las Vegas. They hypnotize Tom Cullen to carry out this mission. Nadine seduces Harold and persuades him to follow Flagg. Fran is pregnant by Stu. Harold makes a bomb to kill the leaders of the Boulder “Free Zone” Committee. Fran and Stu have a vision and make it out before the bomb goes off, but Nick is killed. Mother Abigail returns and tells them that Stu, Ralph, Glenn and Larry are to go west and confront Flagg. She then dies. In Las Vegas, Dana who had been Lloyd’s mistress is revealed as a follower of Mother Abigail and she kills herself to stop Flagg from learning of Tom Cullen. Harold and Nadine had fled Boulder.  Harold dies repentant. Nadine is impregnated by Flagg, but kills herself. Stu breaks his leg and is left behind. The other three are captured by Flagg and Glenn is executed. On the way back to Boulder Tom Cullen finds a sick Stu and with the help of a vision of Nick nurses him back to health. Meanwhile the “Trashcan Man,” a pyromaniac follower of Flaggs brings a nuclear warhead to Las Vegas where Flagg is preparing to torture Larry and Ralph to death. The “Hand of God” appears and sets off the bomb, killing all of Flagg’s followers. Stu and Tom return to Boulder where they find that Fran’s baby has been born. She gets the superflu, but recovers.

A very good story.  Surprising for its religious overtones. Several characters receive visions that help guide them. The Devil is one of the major characters, who doesn’t cause the tragedy, but takes advantage of it.  

Date given in film at 28:41

Producer - Stephen King

Director - Mick Garris

Screenplay - Stephen King

Awards - The film won the Outstanding Individual Achievement in Makeup for a Miniseries or a Special and Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Drama Miniseries or a Special Emmys. It was also nominated for the Outstanding Individual Achievement in Art Direction for a Miniseries or a Special; Outstanding Individual Achievement in Cinematography for a Miniseries or a Special; Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music Composition for a Miniseries or a Special (Dramatic Underscore); and Outstanding Miniseries at the 46^th Primetime Emmy Awards.

Runtime - 6 hours 6 minutes

Released - May 8, 1994

Starring -

Gary Sinise as Stu Redman

Miguel Ferrer as Lloyd Henreid

Molly Ringwald as Frannie Goldsmith

Jamey Sheridan as Randall Flagg

Laura San Giacomo as Nadine Cross

Ruby Dee as Mother Abagail Freemantle

Ossie Davis as Judge Richard Farris

Corin Nemec as Harold Lauder

Matt Frewer as Trashcan Man

Adam Storke as Larry Underwood

Ray Walston as Glen Bateman

Rob Lowe as Nick Andros

Bill Fagerbakke as Tom Cullen

Peter van Norden as Ralph Brentner

Rick Aviles as Rat Man

Max Wright as Dr. Herbert Denninger

Shawnee Smith as Julie Lawry

Cynthia Garris as Susan Stern

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as Street Preacher

Warren Frost as Dr. George Richardson

Joe Bob Briggs as Deputy Joe-Bob

Troy Evans as Sheriff Johnny Baker

Stephen King as Teddy Weizak

John Landis as Russ Dorr

Sam Raimi as Bobby Terry

Chuck Adamson as Barry Dorgan

Copyright by Ivan Walters 2014.

June 19 - That Thing You Do!

Today’s movie is a comedy/drama with a scene that happens on June 19. I hope you will watch this film tonight and enjoy it.

THAT THING YOU DO!                               

       

In 1964 Erie, Pa.  Guy Patterson works at his dad’s appliance store and dates Tina. After the One-ders drummer breaks his arm, Guy gets drafted to play with them at a college talent show. After Guy speeds up the tempo of a song Jimmy Mattingly, the band’s leader wrote called “That Thing You Do”,  they win the contest. The owner of Vilipanos, a local tavern hires them to play as the house band and they are a big hit. Guy gets his Uncle Bob to  record them and make a single. While playing a Vilipanos on June 19, 1964 there is a riot. [33:09 to 37:01]  Phil Horace becomes the band’s manager, while Tina falls in love with her dentist. The band members are ecstatic when their song is played on the radio. Even though they have technical problems at a show in Pittsburgh, Andy White of Playtone Records, a major label signs them and changes their name to The Wonders. They go on tour and are a huge hit, going from being the opening act to the featured performers and they head to Hollywood.  Once there they appear in a movie and are feted by Playtone Records. Guy meets his idol, jazz great Del Paxton. The band is on the Hollywood Television Showcase, a live national broadcast. During their performance the words ‘careful girls, he’s engaged’ are flashed over Jimmy’s image. After the show this leads him to break up with Fay, his girlfriend who had followed the band from the beginning. The bass player is not on the show as he disappeared with some Marines he met, since he had just enlisted. The bands first real recording session collapses before it begins as Jimmy quits after he is refused artistic control and Lenny, the fourth member of the band, has eloped to Las Vegas with a secretary he met at Playtone. Guy jams with Del Paxton and records an interview with him. This lands Guy a job at KJZZ in LA. He gets together with Fay.  

A very good “feel good” film. Very funny at times, it is a somewhat tongue-in-cheek homage to the early rock–n-roll era and one hit wonder bands.  It’s not a serious film, but if you’re looking for a fun way to spend a couple of hours this is it.

Newspaper the next day is dated  “Saturday, June 20, 1964” at 37:11 [only in the extended cut]

Producers - Jonathan Demme,  Gary Goetzman and Edward Saxon

Awards – It was nominated for Best Original Song Oscar at the 69^th Academy Awards.

Runtime – 1 hour 48 minutes (Theatrical release). 2 hours 29 minutes (Extended cut)

Director - Tom Hanks                     

Screenplay - Tom Hanks                                 

Released – October 4, 1996                             

Starring –

Tom Everett Scott as Guy Patterson

Johnathon Schaech as "Jimmy" Mattingly

Tom Hanks as Mr. White

Liv Tyler as Faye Dolan

Charlize Theron as Tina Powers

Steve Zahn as "Lenny" Haise

Ethan Embry as The Bass Player

Bill Cobbs as Del Paxton

Giovanni Ribisi as Chad

Obba Babatundé as Lamarr

Copyright by Ivan Walters 2014. 

June 18 - Vanity Fair (1998)

Today’s motion picture is a period drama with a scene that happens on June 18. I hope you will watch this film tonight and enjoy it.  

VANITY FAIR                       

The cunning and strong-willed, but poor, Becky Sharp and her friend the good natured and simple-minded but wealthy Amelia Sedley leave Miss Pinkerton’s Academy for young ladies and return to Miss Sedley’s home. There they meet Captain George Osborne, Amelia’s betrothed, Joseph Sedley, Amelia’s brother and Osborne’s friend, William Dobbin. Becky tries to seduce Joseph, but fails. Becky goes to work as a governess for the crude baronet Sir Pitt Crawley. She meets his insipid wife and dull son Pitt. Becky tries to insinuate herself into the household and Sir Pitt’s sister, the extremely wealthy Miss Crawley comes to visit. Her arrival produces a visit by the dashing younger son, Rawdon Crawley.  Becky becomes a favorite and companion of Miss Crawley.  Gossip spreads that Sir Pitt is considering marrying Becky if something happens to his wife. Rawdon asks her about this and offends her. Meanwhile, Osborne is engaged to Amelia but drinks, gambles and ignores her. Amelia’s father goes bankrupt, and Osborne’s father forbids him to marry her.  Becky introduces Amelia and George to Miss Crawley. Lady Crawley dies and when Sir Pitt comes to get Becky, he proposes to her.  She has to refuse, as she is already secretly married to Rawdon. When she finds out about this Miss Crawley disinherits Rawdon. George finally marries Amelia against his father’s wishes. Mrs. Bute tries to poison Miss Crawley against Becky and Rawdon. George immediately becomes bored with Amelia. He starts flirting with Becky, who pretends to encourage him. Meanwhile, Napoleon has returned from exile and the army, including Rawdon, Osborne and Dobbin move into Belgium to oppose him. Becky and Amelia follow them to Brussels. They are all invited to the Duchess of Richmond’s famous ball. George gives Becky a letter asking her to run away with him, but later reconciles with Amelia. Word arrives that Napoleon is advancing and the army marches out to do battle. Becky gets her revenge by refusing to sell her horses to Lady Bareacres, who had cut her previously. She charges an exorbitant price to Amelia’s parents, who want to flee back to England. Becky and Amelia treat a wounded soldier. The Battle of Waterloo occurs. [Part IV 19:17 to 22:26] Osborne is killed in the battle. Both Amelia and Becky have sons. Amelia dotes on hers, while Becky ignores hers. Miss Crawley dies and leaves almost everything to Rawdon’s older bother Pitt. Major Dobbin devotes himself to Amelia and tries to help her. Becky and Rawdon live on credit and wipe out at least two people financially and Becky plies her “favors” to help keep them above water. The elder Pitt Crawley dies and the younger Pitt Crawley inherits Queen’s Crawley. Dobbin moves to India. Mr. Osborne offers to pay Amelia for the custody of her child, but she refuses. Her father had sold and lost the pension Amelia had been getting from her brother. Poverty finally forces her to hand her boy over to his grandfather. Through the influence of Lord Steyne, Becky is presented at court. Then Rawdon is arrested for debt. Since Becky can’t afford to do so, his sister-in-law Jane, Pitt’s wife bails him out. When he returns home Rawdon finds Becky and Lord Steyne in a ‘compromising position’. Rawdon leaves her.   Rawdon wants to duel Lord Steyne, but is talked out of it and goies to take a distant governor’s post that was procured through the influence of Becky with Lord Steyne. Major Dobbin returns to England from India. He professes his love for Amelia, but she refuses him. Becky travels around Europe and in Germany meets Jos Sedly, Major Dobbin and Young George Osborne who are traveling together. Becky again pursues Jos Sedley. Lord Steyne follows Becky around Europe, telling everyone about her bad reputation. Amelia and Becky meet again. In a moment of honesty Becky gives Amelia the note George had given her on the eve of Waterloo. Amelia realizes how stupid she’s been. She reconciles with Major Dobbin and they are wed.

An interesting Regency melodrama that has been the subject of several movie versions. A timeless story showing how greed, jealousy, and infidelity shape the fortunes of a group of characters. We are also shown how sheer bad luck and poor timing can shape someone’s future.

The Battle of Waterloo by Jeremy Black (Random House, New York, 2010) at page 95 gives the date of the battle

Producer – Gillian McNeill

Director - Marc Munden

Screenplay - Andrew Davies

Runtime – 5 hours

Released -  November 1, 1998

Starring -  

Natasha Little as Becky Sharp

Frances Grey as Amelia Sedley

David Ross as Mr. Sedley

Philip Glenister as William Dobbin

Michele Dotrice as Mrs. Sedley

Janine Duvitski as Mrs. Bute Crawley

Anton Lesser as Mr. Pitt Crawley

Nathaniel Parker as Rawdon Crawley

Jeremy Swift as Jos Sedley

Tom Ward  as George Osborne

Stephen Frost as Bute Crawley

Tim Woodward as Mr. John Osborne

Janet Dale as Miss Briggs

Frances Tomelty as Mrs. O'Dowd

Mark Lambert as Major O'Dowd

David Bradley as Sir Pitt Crawley

John Surman as Horrocks

Miriam Margolyes as Miss Crawley

Daniel Hart as Ensign Stubble

Abigail Thaw as Jane Osborne

Bryan Pringle as Raggles

Linal Haft as Moss

Copyright by Ivan Walters 2014

June 17 - A Dry White Season

Today’s movie is a political drama with a scene that happens on June 17. I hope you will watch this movie tonight and enjoy it.

A DRY WHITE SEASON             

        

In apartheid era South Africa, when Jonathan, the son of teacher Ben du Toit’s gardener is swept up in a police action against black protestors, du Toit tells his gardener Gordon Ngubene to “let it go”.  Jonathan and his classmates want to be taught in English not Afrikaans, so they engage in further, peaceful protest. The police open fire on them and many people  are killed. Jonathan is arrested. His father searches for him, but can’t find him. Mr. du Toit finds out that Jonathan is dead. On June 17, 1976 Mr. du Toit reads about the riots and is upset. [19:37 to 20:49]. One of Jonathan’s friends is released and tells his father that Jonathan was tortured by the police. Gordon is arrested. Du Toit tries to get Gordon released, but the police torture Gordon instead. Du Toit finally gets so upset that he sends Gordon’s wife to an attorney. Du Toit gets the word that Gordon is dead in police custody, supposedly a “suicide”. After seeing the body du Toit is convinced Gordon was murdered. Du Toit convinces a barrister, McKenzie to represent Emily at an inquest. Captain Stoltz perjures himself on the stand  to cover up what really happened. The judge rules the death a suicide.  Du Toit starts to work with Melanie Bruwer, a reporter. He starts to feel pressure at work and has problems with his wife.  Du Toit and Bruwer gather evidence. Du Toit comes to the attention of the police, who search his house. Emily gets deported to Zululand and is later killed by the police. Du Toit’ s son gets roughed up, but he tells his father not to stop. Du Toit gets fired and he and his wife separate.   The police don’t find the evidence. Melanie Bruwer goes to Zambia to get an affidavit and is deported on her return. Du Toit’s own daughter hands over what she thinks is the evidence to the police, but his son delivers the real evidence to Bruwer’s newspaper. Stoltz kills du Toit, but Stanley, who had been du Toit’s contact in the black community kills Stoltz.

A brutally honest depiction of apartheid era South Africa. Du Toit finally learns that “Evil flourishes when good men do nothing”. He finally does something and unfortunately pays for it with his life.

Date given in film at 19:38 on a newspaper.

Awards – The film was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor(Brando) Oscar at the 62^nd Academy 

                 Awards. 

Producers - Paula Weinstein, Tim Hampton and Mary Selway

Screenplay - Colin Welland and Euzhan Palcy

Director - Euzhan Palcy                              

Runtime - 1 hour 37 minutes      

                                

Released - September 22, 1989                                   

Starring –

Donald Sutherland as Ben du Toit

Janet Suzman as Susan du Toit

Jürgen Prochnow as Captain Stolz

Marlon Brando as Ian McKenzie

Susannah Harker as Suzette du Toit

Zakes Mokae as Stanley Makhaya

Susan Sarandon as Melanie Bruwer

Copyright by Ivan Walters 2014. 

June - Hollywoodland

Today’s film is a mystery drama with scenes that occur on June 16. I hope you will watch this film tonight and enjoy it.

HOLLYWOODLAND                  

In the early morning hours of June 16, 1959 [00:30 to 2:49] actor George Reeves is found dead and the police say it was suicide by gunshot. Down and out private eye Louis Simo is tracked down by Mr. Sinclair, a client who had hired Louis to track his wife. Louis visits his ex-wife and learns his son and other children are upset by Reeves apparent suicide. A former colleague refers Louis to Helen Bessolo, Reeves mother. She  does not think the death was a suicide and hires Louis to investigate.  We flashback to 1951 when Reeves meets Toni and they have a one night stand. The next day he learns she’s the wife of a powerful Hollywood executive Eddie Mannix. Reeves wants to end the relationship with Toni, as George is convinced Eddie’s hostility would destroy any hope of reviving his sagging career. She convinces him Eddie won’t care and they begin an affair. Toni showers George with gifts, and then he gets the starring role on The Adventures of Superman television show. George wants to play more serious roles. Louis’s son burns the Superman costume Louis had given him and almost burns his mom’s house down. Louis takes Mrs. Bessolo to George’s house and points out some items that are inconsistent with suicide. Louis learns that Reeves was not going to marry Leonore Lemmon, his supposed fiancée. Louis tries and fails to meet with Toni Mannix and at Reeves’ funeral  he’s warned by  Howard Strickling to leave the case alone. Instead Louis becomes even more aggressive in pushing a murder theory. In 1953, The Adventures of Superman becomes super popular with children. At an advance screening of From Here to Eternity, after the audience identifies Reeves with Superman, his part is severely trimmed for the final cut. Louis is assaulted and again warned off the case. He becomes depressed when Mr. Sinclair kills his wife. Drunk Louis goes to his son’s school and scares the boy. Louis learns Mrs, Bessolo was hated by George after she falsely told him his father had committed suicide by shooting himself. In 1958 after Superman is cancelled Reeves goes to New York to find work and meets Lenore Lemmon. Reeves ends it with Toni. Louis imagines three different scenarios for Reeves death. In one Leonore shoots him, in another agents of Eddie Mannix kill him and in the last he kills himself. Louis realizes Reeves life in some ways parallels his own and the ending suggests he’s going to try and reform himself.

A hard film to summarize, due to the flashbacks.  A very good character development film. At the end you feel like you really know Reeves and Simo. Never really comes down conclusively on the question of whether Reeves death was suicide or murder.

Superman vs. Hollywood by Jake Rossen (Chicago Review Press, Chicago, 2008) at page 37 and the film at 1:06 give his death date

Producer - Glenn Williamson                  

Director - Allen Coulter    

                                     

Runtime – 2 hours 6 minutes                                     

Released – September 8. 2006                                  

Starring –

Adrien Brody as Louis Simo

Ben Affleck as George Reeves

Diane Lane as Toni Mannix

Bob Hoskins as Eddie Mannix

Robin Tunney as Leonore Lemmon

Lois Smith as Helen Bessolo

Larry Cedar as Chester Sinclair

Joe Spano as Howard Strickling

Copyright by Ivan Walters 2014.         

                          

June 15 - Mahattan Melodrama

Today’s movie is a melodrama with a scene that happens on July 15. I hope you will watch this film tonight and like it.   

MANHATTAN MELODRAMA                 

On June 15, 1904 [1:23 to 7:46] the excursion ship, the  General Slocum catches fire and sinks in the East River. Two boys on board,  Blackie Gallagher and Jim Wade are rescued by Father Joe, but both are made orphans by the disaster. They live with Poppa Rosen for a time until he is killed when a riot breaks out after he heckles a Leon Trotsky speech. Jim is very studious and graduates from law school. Blackie is much more carefree and ends up owning an illegal casino. His girlfriend Eleanor asks Blackie to give up his illegal activities, but he refuses.  Wade works as an Assistant District Attorney and is then elected District Attorney. Blackie can’t make a celebration of Jim’s victory and sends Eleanor in his place. They talk the night away and when Jim leaves he forgets his overcoat, with a victory doodad in the pocket.  After again unsuccessfully trying to get Blackie to give up his illegal career, Eleanor leaves him. Blackie later kills Manny Arnold who owed him a lot of money. Blackie’s lieutenant leaves Wade’s overcoat in the murder room, having not returned it to Wade as instructed by Blackie. Jim calls in Blackie to tell him that he and Eleanor are getting married, but Blackie is happy for them. Blackie uses the opportunity to give Jim a duplicate overcoat, convincing Jim that the one found in the murder room was not his, so he does not charge Blackie with the murder of Arnold. The coat’s presence had pointed the finger at Blackie, since Jim knew he had left the overcoat at Eleanor’s apartment.  Jim and Eleanor get married and he later runs for governor. His former assistant, Richard Snow, threatens to say that Jim covered up for Blackie in the Arnold murder case. Although untrue, this rumor could cost Jim a close race. By chance Blackie and Eleanor meet and she tells him about Snow’s threats. Blackie kills Snow, but is seen leaving the scene. Jim has no choice but to prosecute Blackie, who is convicted and sentenced to death.  Jim wins the election, in part because the public is convinced of his integrity after prosecuting his childhood friend for murder. Eleanor tells Jim why Blackie killed Snow, but Jim refuses to grant clemency and Eleanor leaves him. In the end Jim sees Blackie and ultimately offers to commute the death sentence, but Blackie refuses to accept the offer. Jim resigns as governor because he feels he was elected because of a murder and that in the end he compromised his principles by offering to commute Blackie’s death sentence. As he leaves, Eleanor says she was wrong about him and they are reunited. 

This film could be used as the definition of melodrama, that is a story where the plot and characters are exaggerated to appeal to your emotions.  The story is contrived, relying on coincidence and the characters are too perfect. Blackie seems to take a very ho-hum attitude towards dying in the electric chair. In real history this was the movie John Dillinger had just been to see when he was shot by the FBI.   

Date given in film at 1:25 and Ship Ablaze: The Tragedy of the Steamboat General Slocum by Edward T. O’Donnell (Broadway Books, New York, 2003) at page 217

Producer - David O. Selznick

Director - W. S. Van Dyke

Awards- The film won the now discontinued Best Original Story Oscar at the 7^th Academy Awards. 

Screenplay - Oliver H. P. Garrett and Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Runtime – 1 hour 33 minutes

Released - May 4, 1934

Starring –

Clark Gable as Blackie Gallagher

William Powell as Jim Wade

Myrna Loy as Eleanor Packer

Leo Carrillo as Father Joe

Nat Pendleton as Spud

George Sidney as Poppa Rosen

Isabel Jewell as Annabelle

Muriel Evans as Tootsie Malone

Thomas E. Jackson as Asst. Dist. Atty. Richard Snow

Isabelle Keith as Miss Adams

Frank Conroy as Blackie's lawyer

Noel Madison as Manny Arnold

Jimmy Butler  as Jim Wade as a Boy

Mickey Rooney as Blackie as a Boy

Shirley Ross as Singer in the Cotton Club

Copyright by Ivan Walters 2014.