Today’s movie is a biographical drama with a scene that
happens on November 30. Watch it tonight and enjoy.
LUCY AND DESI: BEFORE THE LAUGHTER
As Lucy anxiously awaits the first taping of the “I Love Lucy” show she
thinks back to how she met Desi. He’s a womanizer and she plays hard to get.
They work together on the film Too Many Girls. On November 30, 1940
[27:29 to 32:00] Lucille Ball and Desi Arnez get married by a notary
public. She refuses to go on location
to shoot films, but he tours with his band until Desi gets drafted. Then Lucy
catches him necking with a girl and she threatens divorce. However, she finally agrees to put him on a
year’s probation, with Desi not going on tour. After he gets slighted at the
Oscars, he persuades her to let him return to touring. When she thinks he’s
been involved in a serious accident while on the road they look for a way they
can work together. They renew their wedding
vows in church. Desi’s infidelities
continue, while Lucy works on radio. They try to sell CBS on a show starring
the two of them, but can’t until they go on the road with a successful stage
version of the show. She has a difficult time after a miscarriage, but they get
word that the show has been approved. They have their first child. They begin
taping the first episode of the “I Love Lucy” show.
A pure fluff biopic. It has been
criticised for taking great liberties with the facts. If you’re looking for a
Hollywood biography and not a factual one, it is entertaining enough.
Ball of Fire by Stefan Kanfer (Alfred A. Knopf, New
York, 2003) at page 78 gives their wedding date
Producer – John Thomas Lenox
Director – Charles Jarott
Awards – This film was nominated for the Outstanding Achievement
in Hairstyling for a Miniseries or a Special and the Outstanding Costume Design
for a Miniseries or a Special Emmys at the 43rd Primetime Emmy
Awards.
Today’s movie is a period drama with a scene that happens on
November 29, Watch it tonight and enjoy.
LORNA DOONE
The Doones, an armed gypsy-like band
raid the town and kill John Ridd’a father. His mother goes to see the Doones in
their stronghold. They say he fired first and thus the Ridd farm is now theirs.
However, in the end the leader sends her away with some cash. John Ridd goes
fishing, gets knocked out accidentally, and is washed downstream into the lair
of the Doones and is rescued by Lorna Doone, who shows him a secret route in
and out of their base. Years pass by and on John Ridd’s birthday, November 29,
16__, his uncle Rueben is attacked by the Doones. [20:40 to 24:45] The local squire is determined to do nothing
about it. Ridd and his uncle take the secret route, where Ridd sees Lorna
Doone, who has been resisting the advances of Carver Doone, grandson of Ensor
Doone, their leader. Ridd is summoned to London, where Lord Chief Jeffries says
he will crush the Doones as he fears they would support James Scott, Duke of
Monmouth, when Charles II dies. Lorna tells Carver to get lost. Ridd is hauled
before Ensor Doone and threatened with death, but Lorna talks him out of it.
Ridd’s sister Annie wants to marry Tom Fergus, a highwayman. Just before he
dies Ensor gives a necklace to Lorna. Ridd rescues Lorna. The Doones attack the
Ridd farm to get her back. They are driven off, but Lorna stops Ridd from
killing Carver. Carver’s dad arrives on a ‘peace’ mission, but instead steals
the necklace. Tom Fergus goes to London to investigate the necklace and
discovers it belonged to the Countess of Dougal, who was Lorna’s mom. Lorna
wants to forget this info, but Capt. Sickles, head of an army detachment sent
to fight the Doones, sends her to London. Ridd’s other sister marries a
sergeant in the squad. Tom and Annie get married. When Ridd’s leters to Lorna
in London are returned unopened he briefly considers marrying his cousin Ruth,
but decides he still loves Lorna. Charles II dies and Monmouth lands an army.
Ridd argues for being neutral, but Tom joins the rebels. Ridd travels to the
battlefield at Sedgmoor and rescues him, but is captured and presumed to be a
rebel. Capt. Sickles speaks up for him and Ridd is spared if he helps get rid
of the Doones. Ridd and Lorna, who’s now the Countess of Dougal meet in London
and find out someone had been stealing their letters to each other. Ridd guides
the army in via the secret route to attack the Doones. Ridd is knighted, gets engaged to Lorna and
wins a pardon for Tom. Carver shows up at the wedding and shoots Lorna. Ridd and Carver have a knock-down drag out
fight and Ridd wins. Ruth nurses Lorna back to health.
A rousing adventure story for
guys. A great romance for women. Has something to keep everyone happy.
Lorna Doone by Richard Blackmore (Penguin Books, New
York, 2005) at page 19 gives his birthdate
Today’s movie is a comedy with a scene that happens on
November 28. Watch it tonight and enjoy.
DUTCH
Blue collar Dutch Dooley stands out
when he attends a swanky party with his new upper crust girlfriend Natalie
Standish. At the party she meets Reed Standish, her snooty ex-husband who tells
her he can’t take their son over Thanksgiving break from his boarding school in
Georgia since he has to go to Europe.
When she complains about this Reed tells her to stop or he’ll take
custody of their son, Doyle from her. Dutch threatens Reed with bodily harm if
he hurts Natalie. In spite of Doyle telling his Mom he does not want to spend
thanksgiving with her, Dutch offers to go and bring him back to Chicago. At the
school Dutch finds that Doyle is as snooty as his father. Doyle hits him with a
book and shoots him in the groin with a BB gun. Dutch has to tie Doyle up to
get him into the car. Dutch buys fireworks, but they end up all going off at
once. Dutch gets so fed up with Doyle that when Doyle jumps out of the car,
Dutch drives off and makes Doyle walk a mile in a snowstorm to their hotel.
Doyle gets revenge by parking Dutch’s car in the path of a semi, which destroys
it. They catch a ride with two prostitutes, but they steal Dutch and Doyle’s
luggage, leaving them stranded at a truck stop. Doyle tries to call his father
and learns he did not go to Europe, but is instead spending the holiday with his
new girlfriend. Doyle also gets upset when Dutch tells him that Doyle “hates
his mother’. They stowaway on the back of an eighteen-wheeler. The guards at a
storage facility attack them but Doyle’s karate and the BB gun allow Dutch and
Doyle to escape. They get a ride to a local homeless shelter. While there Doyle
befriends a little girl and realizes he does miss his mother and likes
Dutch. On November 28, 1991,
Thanksgiving day [1:34:18 to 1:43:27] the girl’s parents drive Dutch and Doyle
the rest of the way to Natalie’s house. Reed is there, but after Doyle tells
his father that he knows Reed lied about having to go to Europe, Doyle decides
to stay with his mother. Reed angrily gives her only until Monday to move out
of the house. However, after Dutch punches him, he agrees to let her stay for
six months and be more respectful to both Natalie and Doyle. Dutch, Natalie and
Doyle enjoy Thanksgiving dinner, but afterwards Dutch shoots Doyle with the BB
gun, getting his revenge as he promised.
An okay film. Not spectacular,
but it does have it’s moments.
Today’s movie is a musical with a scene that happens on
November 27. Watch it tonight and enjoy.
THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Maria is a probationary nun at a
convent near Salzburg, Austria in the 1930’s. She is often in trouble because
she does not conform to the expected modes of behavior, preferring to roam the
hills above the city instead of praying in the chapel. The mother superior
decides to send her to be the governess for the widower Captain Von Trapp and
his seven children. The Captain tries to run his house like a navy ship, and is
cold and distant to his progeny. This causes the children to bitterly resent
the succession of governesses sent to take care of them and they play cruel
practical jokes on them. Maria’s refusal to tell their father about the pranks
they play on her and her truly caring attitude win the children over. The
eldest girl Liesl is in love with Rolf, the telegraph delivery boy, who is a
member of the Austrian Nazi Party. When the Captain goes to Vienna, Maria takes
the children on outings into Salzburg and teaches them to sing. When the
Captain returns from Vienna with his enamota, Baroness Schrader and their
friend Max Detweiler, a musical booking agent he is outraged at what Maria has
done and fires her, but relents when he sees that the children have charmed the
Baroness with their singing. The Captain enjoys a musical puppet show put on by
the children, but rejects Max’s idea that they should form a singing group.
After a ball given by the Captain, the Baroness, who has noticed the attraction
between the Captain and Maria, uses subtle psychology to manipulate Maria into
fleeing back to the convent. However, the mother superior tells her she should
return to the Von Trapps and not try to hide from the world in the convent. The
children are very saddened by her departure. The Captain is also, but tries to
hide it and announces his engagement to the Baroness. However, when Maria
returns, the Captain breaks it off with the Baroness. He and Maria finally
express their true feelings for each other and become engaged. On November 27th
the Captain and Maria are married at the Abby Cathedral in Salzburg [2:15:03 to
2:18:52]. While they are on their honeymoon, the Germans annex Austria. The
Captain who is an ardent Austrian nationalist and anti-Nazi gets an invitation
to join the German navy. Taking advantage of the Captain’s absence, Max has
entered the children in the Salzburg Music Festival as a group. When the family
tries to flee they are caught and have to go through with their cover story of
going to perform at the festival. They win first prize, but they have snuck off
to hide in the Abby. Rolf betrays their hiding place, but the nuns help them
evade the Gestapo. The family escapes
across the border to safety.
One of the better musical films.
Entertaining family fare from the Golden Age of Hollywood. The storyline is
good, even though it does take a great many liberties with the actual facts of
the Von Trapp family’s history. As entertainment and not history it is a great
film.
Memories Before and After The
Sound of Music: An Autobiography by Agathe von Trapp (Harper, NY, 2004) at
page 88 gives the date of their wedding
Producer - Robert Wise
Director - Robert Wise
Awards – The movie won the Best
Picture, Best Director, Best Sound Mixing, Best Film Editing and Best Adapted
Musical Score Oscars. It was also nominated for the Best Actress (Andrews),
Best Supporting Actress (Woods), Best Color Cinematography, Best Color Art
Direction and Best Color Costume Oscars at the 38th Academy
Awards.
Screenplay - Ernest Lehman
Runtime – 2 hours 54 minutes
Released – March 2, 1965
Starring –
Julie Andrews as Maria von Trapp, a free-spirited young
Austrian woman
Christopher Plummer as Captain Georg von Trapp, a veteran
Austrian navy captain
Eleanor Parker as Baroness Elsa von Schrader, the Captain's
lady friend from Vienna
Richard Haydn as Max Detweiler, a good friend of both the
Baroness and the Captain
Charmian Carr as Liesl von Trapp, the first and eldest
child, age sixteen
Nicholas Hammond as Friedrich von Trapp, the second child
and eldest son, age fourteen
Heather Menzies as Louisa von Trapp, the third child, age
thirteen
Duane Chase as Kurt von Trapp, the fourth child and youngest
boy, age eleven
Angela Cartwright as Brigitta von Trapp, the fifth child,
age ten
Debbie Turner as Marta von Trapp, the sixth child, age six
Kym Karath as Gretl von Trapp, the seventh and youngest
child, age five
Peggy Wood as Mother Abbess, the head of Nonnberg Abbey
Anna Lee as Sister Margaretta, a nun who looks fondly on
Maria
Portia Nelson as Sister Berthe, a nun who does not believe
Maria belongs in the abbey
Daniel Truhitte as Rolfe, a messenger who is in love with
Liesl
Ben Wright as Herr Zeller, Gauleiter, an enthusiast for the
Third Reich
Marni Nixon as Sister Sophia, a resident of the convent
Today’s movie is a period drama with a scene that happens on
November 26. Watch it tonight and enjoy.
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
Elizabeth (“Lizzy”) Bennett and her 4 sisters Jane, Mary,
Kitty & Lydia live in Herefordshire in Regency England. Their mother is
determined to marry all of them to rich men, so when Mr. Bingley leases the
nearby estate of Netherfield Park she selects him for the eldest Jane. At a
dance they meet Mr. Bingley, who is attracted to Jane. The also meet his
haughty, wealthy friend Mr. Darcy and Bingley’s superior acting sisters,
Caroline Bingley and Louisa Hurst. Lizzy overhears Darcy insult her and she
resolves to dislike him, an attitude reinforced when she learns from the
amiable Mr. Wickham that Darcy cheated him. Darcy meanwhile becomes interested
in Lizzy, but buries his interest due to the poor behavior of her mother and
younger sisters. After a ball on
November 26, 1811 Bingley and his party return to London without a word to
Jane. [Part 1 - 1:14:13 to 1:34:14] There, although unknown to Lizzy at the
time, Darcy and his sisters convince Bingley not to return for Jane Bennett as
they convince him that she does not really love him. Meanwhile, Rev. Collins,
the male cousin who will inherit the Bennett estate upon the father’s death
comes to visit to choose a wife from among his cousins. He proposes to Lizzy,
but she rejects him and he instead marries Charlotte Lucas, Lizzy’s best
friend, who cares nothing for romance and doesn’t want to end up an old
maid. Lizzy goes to visit Charlotte in
the spring. Her husband is the new rector for Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Mr.
Darcy’s aunt. While Mr. Darcy is visiting his aunt he meets Lizzy again. Much
to his surprise Darcy cannot resist and proposes marriage to Lizzy, first
listing out all the reasons he should not. Lizzy rejects his insulting proposal
and tells him why. The next day he
hands her a letter that reveals he separated Bingley and Jane because he
honestly believed Jane didn’t care for Bingley and proves that he did not cheat
Wickham. Lizzy believes him and begins to fall in love with Mr. Darcy who has
returned to his estate, Pemberly in Derbyshire. Some months later when Lizzy
and her aunt and uncle are on a holiday tour, they visit Pemberly and
unexpectedly meet Mr. Darcy. He is extremely civil to them and introduces them
to his sister. Then tragedy strikes
when word arrives that the youngest Bennet sister Lydia has eloped with Mr.
Wickham but they do not marry, threatening to socially ruin the family. Darcy
tracks down the couple and bribes them to wed, saving the day. Although he
tried to keep his involvement secret Lizzy learns of it. Darcy and Bingley
return to Herefordshire where Bingley and Jane become engaged. Lady Catherine visits Lizzy to insist that
she never wed Darcy but she refuses to promise this. Darcy returns and
proposes, securing her father’s consent.
The couples wed in a dual ceremony and live happily ever after.
This popular romance has depth.
The characters are well developed and grow over time. The prototypical
“romantic comedy”. The period setting is faithfully portrayed.
Pride and Prejudice by
Jane Austen (Barnes & Noble Classics, New York, 2003) at page 255 and the
film at Part 2 @53:58 give the date of the Netherfield ball
Producer - Sue Birtwhistle
Director - Simon Langton
Screenplay - Andrew Davies
Awards: The film won the Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costume
Design for a Miniseries or a Special Emmy. It was also nominated for the
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Choreography, Outstanding Individual
Achievement in Writing for a Miniseries or a Special and the Outstanding
Miniseries Emmys at the 48th Academy Awards.
Today’s movie is a
romantic comedy with a scene that happens on November 25. Watch it tonight and
enjoy.
MUST LOVE DOGS
Sarah Nolan is a divorced
forty-year-old preschool teacher. Jake Anderson is a recently divorced boat
builder. Both have friends and family who want them to start dating again. Sarah’s sister Carol creates a profile for her at
perfectmatch.com that includes “must love dogs”. Sarah goes on several
disastrous dates including one where she answers her own father’s ad. Then
Jake’s friend Charlie tells Jake he has set up a date for him with Sarah. They
meet at a park each with a borrowed dog. It is awkward, but Sarah agrees to see
him again. On their next date they start to have sex, but when they realize
neither has protection they go to get it, but by then neither is in the mood.
Later Bob, the father of one of her students calls Sarah, but gets cut off by
Dolly, a friend of Sarah’s father, who needs her help. After dealing with this
Sarah goes to see Bob, but leaves when she discovers he is with June, one of
her co-workers, dropping her phone in her hasty departure. Back at home she
finds Jake has come over and has cared for her drunken brother Michael, who
came to see her to discuss his marital problems. The next day Jake takes Sarah
rowing and they kiss before Jake takes Michael home. Bob shows up, returns her
phone, says he and June aren’t involved, and then kisses Sarah just as Jake
returns. Jake leaves very upset. On November 25, 2004 [1:08:25 to 1:12:49],
Jake visits a strip club on Thanksgiving while Sarah has dinner with all her
family. She calls Bob and they go away for a weekend tryst. When it’s over he
admits he had sex with June and Sarah is just a one-night stand. Sarah feels
humiliated by this. Sarah later sees Jake, but runs away when she realizes he
is on a date with Sherry, a girl his friend Charlie had previously tried to set
him up with. Jake is getting ready to sell his boat to a man who wants to cut
it in half to use a wall decoration when he meets a man, who [unknown to Jake]
is Sarah’s father and in the course of their conversation Jake says a woman
recently broke his heart. Later her father says something that makes Sarah
realize her father had met Jake and that Jake meant her. She races off to find
Jake and with the help of a female scull team catches up to him while he is out
rowing for the last time in his boat. They reconcile and later get married.
A decent romantic comedy.
However, it takes a deux ex machina in the form of a chance encounter to
resolve the plot. Still both Lane and Cusack play their roles with an
earnestness that raises this movie above the usual sappy chick flick
level.
Thanksgiving was on this date in
2004.
Producers - Polly Cohen, Brad
Hall and Ronald G Smith
Today’s movie is a comedy/drama with a scene that happens on November
24. Watch it tonight and enjoy.
JACK AND JILL
Jack Sadelstein is an ad
executive who lives in LA with his wife and two kids. He is not looking forward
to the visit of his twin sister, as she bullied him growing up. Jack is upset
when in his opinion Jill ruins Thanksgiving dinner on November 24, 2011 [5:47
to 16:52] by being obnoxious. Meanwhile Jack’s best client wants him to get Al
Pacino to appear in their new ad campaign. Jill announces she is going to stay
until the end of Hanukkah and do various items on her bucket list. Jill signs
up for online dating, but after Jack alters her profile she gets over 100
responses. However, on her first date, the man hides in the bathroom, leaving
Jill feeling depressed. Jack takes her to a basketball game where they meet
Pacino, who falls for Jill. Jack’s friends throw the siblings a birthday party.
Jill and Pacino go on a date, but she resists his advances and leaves. Jack’s
gardener, Felipe takes Jill to his family’s picnic where Jill has a wonderful
time. So she won’t be alone Jack reluctantly invites Jill to join his family on
a cruise they are taking. Pacino says he will do the ad if Jill will go on a
date with him. Jack disguises himself
as Jill and goes on the date. Jill’s suspicion that Jack invited her on the
cruise to get Pacino to do the ad is apparently confirmed and she returns to
New York. Jack flies to New York and makes up with Jill. Pacino shows up and
proclaims his love, but Jill turns him down again. Felipe then says he loves Jill and they hug. Pacino does the ad,
but doesn’t like it and tells Jack to destroy all the copies.
Some people say this is one of
the worst movies of all time. It’s not the best movie ever made, but it’s not
one of the worst either. It’s really just too much of a good thing.
Director - Dennis Dugan
Producers - Adam Sandler, Jack
Giarraputo and Todd Garner
Today’s movie is a
period drama with a scene that happens on November 23. Watch it tonight and
enjoy.
AVALON
Sam Krichinsky comes to America
in 1914 and settles with his four brothers in Baltimore. He and his brothers
work as wallpaper hangers and musicians and raise their families. His son Jules is stabbed after a day of
door-to-door selling with his son. They get a TV, even though nothing is on the
screen yet and Sam has to deal with the teachers at his grandson Michael’s
school. Jules and his cousin Izzy open a TV store. Some of the family moves to
the suburbs and when on November 23, 1950 [1:08:09 to 1:15:01] they cut the
turkey when Sam’s brother Gabriel is late, Gabriel and Sam get into a huge
argument. Jules and Izzy open a warehouse discount appliance store. Michael accidentally sets the store on fire
and since Izzy has cancelled the insurance to pay for their expensive TV ads
they have trouble rebuilding. Sam’s wife dies and he moves into a nursing home,
in contrast to his father who the brothers brought to America and supported.
Michael goes to visit him with his son Sam.
A warm family drama. A low-key, but effective story told
with image not dialogue. You often have to read between the lines to figure out
what is really going on.
At 54:21 the date is given as October, 1949 and the next
Thanksgiving was on this date.
Producers - Mark Johnson and Barry Levinson
Director - Barry Levinson
Awards – The movie was nominated for the Best Original
Screenplay, Best Costume Design, Best Cinematography and Best Original Score
Oscars at the 63rd Academy Awards
Today’s movie is a comedy-drama with a scene that happens on November
22. Watch it tonight and enjoy.
MERMAIDS
Mrs. Flax is a single mom with two daughters, teen aged Charlotte and
young swim prodigy, Kate. Charlotte is obsessed with Catholic saints, even
though the family is Jewish. After Mrs. Flax (that’s what Charlotte calls her
mother) finds out that her boss, whom she has been dating is married, she moves
the family from Oklahoma to Massachusetts, following her usual pattern of
moving on to avoid trouble. Charlotte is not happy about this until she learns
that a convent is located adjacent to their house. Charlotte becomes smitten
with the convent’s caretaker and local schoolbus driver, Joe. Mrs. Flax meets
Lou Landsky, a Jewish shoe store owner and they start a relationship. Charlotte
pursues Joe and they go on a date. Then on November 22, 1963 [44:25 to
50:21] Charlotte is shocked by the news of President Kennedy’s assassination.
She kisses Joe, but then runs away. Charlotte now thinks she is pregnant, so
she steals her mother’s car and runs away from home, ending up with what she
thinks is the ideal nuclear family. She finally learns she is not pregnant.
Charlotte and Kate like Lou and Mrs. Flax gets jealous of their attachment to
him. On New Year’s Eve, when Lou wants to get married or live together, Mrs.
Flax breaks up with him. Joe drives her home and when Mrs. Flax kisses him,
Charlotte becomes very upset. Charlotte
gets all dressed up and goes up to the convent where she and Joe consummate their
relationship. Unfortunately, she was supposed to be watching Kate, who almost
drowns in the river. This causes a huge fight between Charlotte and Mrs. Flax.
Charlotte talks her mother into staying instead of running away. Mrs. Flax and Lou reconcile, while
Charlotte takes up Greek myths.
This is a very funny movie.
Winona Ryder’s narration makes the film. Her voiced thoughts are hilarious. The
soundtrack on this film is fantastic.
The Sixties Chronicle ed. by David J. Hogan (Legacy
Publishing, New York, 2004) at pages 164-167 gives the date of the
assassination
Producer - Lauren
Lloyd, Wallis Nicita, Patrick J. Palmer and Suzanne Rothbaum
Today’s movie is a
historical drama/disaster film with a scene that happens on November 21. Watch
it and enjoy.
BRITTANIC
The HMS Britannic sets
sail for Greece to serve as a hospital ship during the Great War. Vera Campbell
is on board as a British agent seeking a suspected German spy. Her cover is a
governess to William and Sarah, the two children of Lady Lewis, whose husband
is the new British ambassador to Greece. Chaplin Reynolds is a German spy and
is plotting with Irish crewmen to seize the ship and expose to the world the
weaponry the hospital ship is illegally.
Vera is terrified because she was also on the Titanic. Vera spots
a suspicious meeting of some of the plotters. When a crewman, Evans, sees
Reynolds looking at the weapons, Reynolds kills him. The Irish attempt to seize
the ship is foiled by Vera’s attention to details and quick thinking. Reynolds
deflects any suspicion attaching to himself by shooting one of his own men once
he sees the plot has failed. Reynolds
helps the one man who was caught escape, but the man is killed. Reynolds
remained undetected. Vera’s attention to the details prevents a torpedo attack
on the ship from succeeding. On shore in Naples, Vera sees Reynolds have a
suspicious meeting. The two later share a night of passion. On November 21, 1916 [59:45 to 1:31:54] Vera
finds out Reynolds is the spy because he is missing a button, like the killer
of Evans. Reynolds kills the doctor and
knocks out Vera. He then opens all watertight doors and destroys their control
mechanism. He sets off an explosion, even though Vera shoots him. William Lewis
goes to look for Vera. Reynolds helps her find him and is then trapped. Vera
goes back to save Reynolds. They barely make it off the ship and he sacrifices
himself to save her. The ship sinks with a loss of thirty people.
A completely historically
inaccurate film. There was no evidence the Britannic was carrying
weapons. Nor is there any evidence the Germans tried to sink her. Better as
entertainment than history.
Titanic’s Last Secrets by
Brad Matson (Hachette Book Group, New York, 2008) at page 243 gives the date of
the sinking
Today’s movie is a biographical drama with a scene that
happens on November 20. Watch it tonight and enjoy.
THE IRON LADY
In 2008 an elderly Lady Thatcher, suffering from dementia
prepares to dispose of her deceased husband’s personal effects. She talks to a
vision of her deceased husband Denis. Her relationship with both her children
is strained. She thinks back on growing up as the daughter of a grocer who told
Margaret Roberts to ‘go her own way’. She wins a scholarship to Oxford.
Breaking into the male dominated Conservative party she is selected to run for
Parliament, but loses. On her second try, after marrying Denis Thatcher she is
elected. She fights her way into the all male cabinet and is selected as
Secretary of State for education.
Thatcher later becomes leader of the Conservative Party and in 1979 is
elected Prime Minister, after a series of strikes. Shortly before her election
an IRA bomb kills her mentor Airey Neave.
After her election she works to break the unions. Thatcher leads the
country through the Falklands War and survives the IRA’s attempt to kill her in
the Brighton Hotel Bombing. She later institutes the very unpopular poll tax,
works to end the Cold War and opposes European integration. On November 20,
1991[1:26:28 to 1:27:20] whiling dining at Versailles, Thatcher is deposed by
her own party. Back in the present she tells the vision of Denis goodbye.
This is very mixed-up film. The
constant flashbacks and forwards make for a very confusing movie. If you didn’t
know anything about Thatcher, you’d be no more knowledgeable about her at the
end. However, Streep as usual does a fantastic, spot–on job with her portrayal.
Margaret Thatcher: The Downing Street Years by
Margaret Thatcher (HarperCollins Publishers, New York, 1993) at pages 842 – 844
gives the date of this dinner.
Director - Phyllida Lloyd
Awards – The film won the Best Actress (Streep) and Best
Makeup Oscars at the 84th
Today’s movie is a period mystery drama with a scene that happens on
November 19. Watch it tonight and enjoy.
SHERLOCK HOLMES
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson stop Lord Blackwell
from completing a sixth ritual murder of young women. Three months later,
Holmes has become a recluse. Watson introduces him to Mary Morstan, his
fiancée. Blackwood meets with Holmes and warns of three more deaths that will
change the world. Blackwood is hung and declared dead by Dr. Watson. Holmes is
visited by his former foe and romantic interest, Irene Adler, who asks him to
find a missing dwarf, Luke Reordan. He learns she is working for a professor.
It is reported that Lord Blackwood has risen from the dead. Holmes and Watson find a lab where Reordan
was doing something for Blackwood. They have to fight off the attempt by
Blackwood’s men to destroy the lab, but this results in Holmes and Watson being
arrested. On November 19, 1891 [55:18 to 1:03:04] Lestrade gets Holmes out of
jail. Holmes is taken to a clandestine meeting with the heads of the Temple of
Four Orders, a secret magical society, headed by Sir Thomas Rotheram, the Lord
Chief Justice, Standish, the American Ambassador, and Lord Coward, the Home
Secretary. They ask him to stop Blackwood, a former member of their order and
Rotheram’s son. Lord Rotheram is killed and Holmes inspects a secret room he
discovers at the scene of the murder. Lord Coward gets Lord Blackwood elected
as head of the Temple after Standish is killed, apparently by magic. Holmes and
Watson go to a slaughterhouse and rescue Irene Adler, but explosions injure
Watson. Holmes studies the Temple’s rituals and concludes that Blackwood’s next
target is parliament. Holmes, Watson
and Irene slip into the sewers beneath Parliament, where Blackwood has set up a
machine to flood the chamber with cyanide gas, killing everyone except his
supporters to whom he has given the antidote. Irene flees to the incomplete
Tower Bridge. There Holmes confronts Blackwood and explains Blackwood’s
scientific tricks that he used to create apparent magic. Blackwood is killed
and Irene warns Holmes about Moriarity.
A different take on Conan Doyle’s master detective. This
version drifts into steampunk at times.
Holmes is very manic in this version and Watson wants to get away from
him.
Date given in film at 58:27
Producers - Joel Silver, Lionel Wigram, Susan Downey and Dan
Lin
Awards - The film was nominated for the Best Original Score
and Best Art Direction Oscars at the 82nd Academy Awards
Screenplay - Michael Robert Johnson, Anthony Peckham and
Simon Kinberg
Today’s movie is a biographical drama with a scene that happens on
November 18. Watch it tonight and enjoy.
KENNEDY
On the day President Kennedy was
assassinated, the news spreads to his brother, daughter, mother and cabinet
members. The film then flashes back to
the day Kennedy was elected President in a very close election. J. Edgar Hoover
reviews a history of sexual depravity by the Kennedys. The family has to overcome Bobby’s
opposition to taking a post in the administration. On November 18, 1960 [Ep. 2,
17:23 to 23:15] Alan Dulles gives JFK his first briefing about the Bay of Pigs
operation. JFK, Jr. is born. Richard
Pavlick tries to kill Kennedy. Kennedy gives a memorable inaugural address.
Jackie starts work on redecorating the White House, while doubts begin to
emerge about the CIA’s proposed operation in Cuba. The invasion fails. JFK had
promised no direct US military involvement and refused to agree to it after the
invaders ran into trouble. J. Edgar Hoover continues to investigate JFK’s
sexual escapades. When Freedom riders testing the new anti-discrimination law
get beaten up there is outrage in some quarters. While dealing with this, JFK
has to also deal with what he perceives as Jackie’s overspending. RFK tries to
prevent violence while J. Edgar Hoover works against them. Even though he has questions about the
forecasts of an easy victory in Vietnam, JFK decides to send military advisors
and Green Berets to the country. When RFK tries to get J. Edgar Hoover to fight
organized crime, he says the FBI is too busy investigating ‘alleged’ civil
rights violations in the South and that he knows things about the Kennedys. JFK
and Jackie make a successful trip to Paris, Vienna and London. RFK tries to
tell JFK that Hoover knows about his affairs and is ready to use it against
them, but JFK won’t listen. His father has a stroke. Next Kennedy has to deal with double dealing steel executives.
Then JFK guides the country through the Cuban missile crisis. He uses a quarantine
to force Soviet missiles out of Cuba, while keeping American hawks from
starting the third world war. J. Edgar Hoover tells JFK if h ends it with his
mistress, he won’t do anything. On a trip to Berlin JFK says “Ich bin ein
Berliner” and Martin Luther King, Jr gives his “I have a dream speech”. Then JFK’s
son Patrick is born, but dies within two days. Three months later JFK takes a
trip to Dallas, Texas. He is shot and
killed.
A slick and glossy biopic. It
does at least stick closely to the actual facts. Good performances by all the
actors, especially Vincent Gardenia as the paranoid megalomaniac J. Edgar
Hoover.
The Brilliant Disaster: JFK, Castro and America’s Doomed
Invasion of Cuba’s Bay of Pigs by Jim Rasenberger (Scribner, New York,
2011) at page 99 give briefing date
Today’s movie is a fantasy drama with a scene that happens
on November 17. Watch it tonight and enjoy.
LOST IN AUSTEN
Amanda Price, modern London girl
and Pride and Prejudice fan rejects a
drunken proposal from her boyfriend. She finds Elizabeth Bennet in her bathroom
and steps through a door into Longbourn a few days after Mr. Bingley’s arrival.
The door shuts, trapping Amanda, but she’s accepted as a visiting friend of
Lizzys. At the Assembly, she dances with Darcy, but kisses Bingley, and regrets
it, as Bingley falls for her. Mrs. Bennet dislikes her, but Amanda tries to get
the story on track by sending Jane in the rain to Netherfield. Amanda follows and saves Jane with modern
medicine. To discourage Bingley, Amanda tells him she’s a lesbian. On November
17, 1811 they leave Netherfield. [51:50 to 1:01:13] On the way home their coach
wrecks, but are saved by Wickham. Mr. Collins arrives and ends up proposing to
Amanda and she agrees to save Jane. At the Netherfield ball, Wickham tells
everyone Amanda’s money came from being a fishmonger’s daughter, and Collins
breaks off the engagement. Darcy warns Bingley off Jane. Collins and Jane are
married, but the marriage is not consummated.
Mrs. Bennet throws Amanda out. Amanda and Darcy tell each other off.
Wickham helps Amanda learn how to dress and act correctly. Amanda goes to see
Jane at Hunsford and the visiting Darcy realizes he’s attracted to Amanda. Mrs.
Bennet and Lydia come to see Jane. Darcy and Bingley quarrel and Darcy
apologizes to Amanda, while Bingley goes off on a drunk with Wickham. The
Collins, Mrs. Bennet, Lydia and Amanda go to Pemberley. Wickham brings Bingley
to Pemberley and Darcy confesses he loves Amanda. Georgiana tells Amanda she
offered herself to Wickham, who refused and told a story that he tried to
impose on her to save her reputation. Amanda confesses she’s not a virgin, so
Darcy says he can’t marry her. Caroline Bingley propositions Amanda. Darcy
proposes to Caroline and Bingley and Lydia run away together. Mrs. Bennet and
Amanda return to Longbourn. They, along with Mr. Bennet pursue Bingley and
Lydia to Hanmersmith, Amanda’s supposed home. They meet Wickham, who leads them
to Lydia and Bingley. Darcy arrives and Mr. Bennet and Bingley fight. Mr.
Bennet is hurt. Amanda charges through a door into modern London. On the way to
get Elizabeth, she sees Darcy, who says he still loves her. Darcy, Elizabeth
and Amanda return to Longbourn, where Mr. Bennet has been brought. Darcy
invites Elizabeth to Pemberley. Even though Mrs. Bennet tells the visiting Lady
Catherine de Bourgh off, she agrees to arrange the annulment of Jane and
Collins marriage if Amanda goes away. However Elizabeth returns to modern
London and Amanda goes to Pemberley instead.
Humorous in showing a modern girl
in the nineteenth century. It does help if you’re familiar with Pride and
Prejudice. Otherwise a lot of the in-jokes will go over your head.
Austen, Jane. Pride and
Prejudice. New York; Barnes & Noble Classics, 2003. This book at page
60 says that Jane left Netherfield on Sunday, the day before November 18
Today’s movie is a drama with a scene that happens on
November 16. Watch it tonight and enjoy.
INFAMOUS
On November 16, 1959 [4:20 to
5:44, 7:05 to 9:35] Truman Capote, flamboyant New York homosexual writer and
bon vivant, reads an article in the New York Times about the murder of the
Clutter family in the small town of Holcomb, Kansas. For some reason the story
intrigues him and he decides to write a magazine article about the reaction of
the people in the town to the murders. He persuades his childhood friend and
fellow author, Nell Harper Lee to accompany him as his assistant. However his
exotic and abrasive persona rubs the townspeople the wrong way. A chance
encounter results in an invitation to the home of the prosecuting attorney for
Christmas dinner. There Capote regales them with stories about the Hollywood
stars that he knows. This leads to invitations from dozens of residents. Then
two suspects are arrested for the murders and Capote uses his contacts to
finagle access to the suspects. One of them, Richard Hickock quickly agrees to
cooperate with Capote. The other, Perry Smith refuses in spite of Capote’s
appeal to a shared interest in Tennessee Williams and Humphrey Bogart. Harper Lee
returns to New York and Capote follows her to be questioned by his friends
about the case and his book. Capote sends pornographic magazines to Smith who
writes and says he wants to be exposed to truth and beauty during the time he
has left, so Capote sends him copies of his own books. Smith writes and says
that he does not want to talk to Capote because in his books Capote was unkind.
Capote goes to see Smith and a break through is achieved when Capote reveals
that his mother, like Smith’s committed suicide. Smith tells him about his
childhood as the son of rodeo riders who divorced leaving him wanting to be
rescued by his absent father, just like Capote. Smith becomes extremely upset
when he learns the book’s title is to be In Cold Blood, thinking that
depicts him as a heartless killer and he assaults Capote in his cell during a
visit. Capote eventually calms Smith down enough so that Smith finally tells
Capote what happened the night he and Hickcock killed the Clutters. Smith and
Hickcock are convicted but their appeals drag on for four years, during which
Capote cannot finish the book. Finally he is present when the two are hung.
Smith leaves his possessions to Capote.
A gritty biopic. This is no Hollywood biopic of the 1940’s
but a tough, warts and all look at some brutal stuff. This is a very serious
film and not a piece of fluff.
Capote: A Biography by Gerald Clarke (Carroll &
Graf, NY, 1988) at page 317 and the film at 4:30 give the date Truman Capote
read the article about the murders
Today’s movie is a period drama with a scene that happens on
November 15. Watch it tonight and enjoy.
MISS POTTER
Beatrix Potter, daughter of a
wealthy London family is trying to sell an illustrated book of children’s
stories about anthropomorphized animals that she has written. She finds a
publisher, and the partners give it to the youngest brother, Norman Warne, who
has recently joined the firm as a project (since they think this book is
insignificant, even if he messes it up it won’t really hurt). Her father but
not her mother support Beatrix in her writing. Mr. Warne impresses her by
coming up with some ideas for her book. We learn that a trip to the Lake
District at an early age instilled a love of nature in her. Beatrix is very
particular about getting the color plates correct for her book and her mother
is horrified, as this requires Beatrix to actually visit print shops! Norman’s
mother and sister really like Beatrix. Beatrix reminisces about “the suitors’
her mother tried to fix her up with, all very rich and stuffy men. Her book is published and is a surprising
success. When Beatrix invites Mr. Warne and his sister to their Christmas
party, her father agrees and her mother does not. Norman proposes and she
accepts. Her family, even her father disapproves. Beatrix finds out her books
have made her rich and threatens to break with her family. Her family finally
agrees, but ask her to wait until after their holiday to the Lake District to
announce their engagement and she reluctantly agrees. While on holiday she sees
Hilltop farm for sale and likes it. Norman gets ill and Beatrix races back, but
he is dead before she gets there. Beatrix is devastated and goes into a deep
funk. She buys Hilltop farm on November 15th and makes it a working farm.
[1:13:49 to 1:14:25] She buys surrounding farms in order to preserve them
An interesting biopic. The animated segments are good and
not nearly enough. Zellweger does a good job of developing this character.
Lear, Linda. Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature. New
York; St. Martins Press, 2007. This book at page 496 gives the date she bought
Hilltop
Today’s movie is a sports drama with a scene that happens on
November 14. Watch it tonight and enjoy.
WE ARE MARSHALL
The Marshall University
“Thundering Herd” loses a football game at East Carolina University. Asst.
Coach Red Dawson trades places with someone who wants to see his
granddaughter’s piano recital and goes by car on a recruiting trip. On November 14, 1970 the plane carrying the
team home crashes killing all on board. [1:55 to 17:52] The school considers
dropping football, but student pressure causes the board to change its mind.
Many candidates for the coaching job turn them down, but Jake Lengyel calls
them and gets the job. He starts with
only three returning players and the president tries to get the NCAA to waive a
rule and let them play true freshmen, while Lengyel and Dawson recruit players.
The president goes to the NCAA in person and gets the rule waived. The team
begins practice and realizes they’re going to have to run the veer, the
simplest offense there is. Bobby Bowden at West Virginia lets them use his veer
playbooks. The team loses their first game to Morehead State. The president
gets fired. The team comes from behind to win their first home game against
Xavier. They give the game ball to the president.
This is a story about loss and guilt and perseverance. This
is a story about how something good can come out of something bad and help can
often be found in the most unexpected places.
It’s also a story about letting go and moving on. .
Washington Post
(Sunday, November 15, 1970) pps. 1, 14 and in the film at 1:51
Today’s movie is a
biographical drama with a scene that happens on November 13. Watch it tonight
and enjoy.
SILKWOOD
Karen Silkwood lives with her boyfriend Drew Stephens and
her friend Dolly Pelliker. They all work at the Kerr-McGee plutonium processing
facility in Crescent, Oklahoma. The facility is understaffed and working on a
tight schedule that does not allow for carrying out safety drills. The three
travel to Texas so Karen can see her three kids, who live with their father.
After Karen gets blamed for causing a contamination shutdown and appearing to have
caused anther one, she is transferred to another section. There she learns the
company is retouching x-rays of defective nuclear fuel rods. The company finds
enough votes to force a decertification election on the union. Dolly moves her
lesbian lover, Angela, a funeral home beautician in with her. Karen goes to
meetings in Washington, D.C. with the
union and the Atomic Energy Commission. She tells the union leaders about the
touched up x-rays and they ask her to investigate. Drew, upset by the fact that
Karen has become a full time union activist, moves out. The union stays certified, but some workers
blame her for actions that could result in the facility being closed. Karen sets off two more alarms and her house
is found to be contaminated with radiation. The company thinks she did it
herself, while she thinks Kerr-McGee is trying to kill her. When she goes for
treatment she finds her exposure is still below the recommended maximum
exposure levels. On November 13, 1974 [2:02:59 to 2:06:50] Karen Silkwood goes
to meet a reporter for the New York Times. Se never gets there and found dead
the next day in an apparent one-car crash.
A movie where the three leads totally become their
characters. Excellently played low key by Streep, Cher and Russell. The movie
leads you to think she was murdered, but this is still unproven.
Unsolved Crimes: Follow the Trail of the World’s Most
Notorious Cold Cases by John Wright (Amber Books, Ltd., London, 2010) at page 23 and the
film at 2:06:55 give the date of her death
Awards – The movie was nominated for the Best Actress
(Streep), Best Supporting Actress (Cher), Best Director, Best Original
Screenplay and Best Film Editing Oscars at the 56th Academy Awards
Today’s movie is a biographical drama with a scene that happens on
November 12. Watch it tonight and enjoy.
INN OF THE SIXTH HAPPINESS
Gladys Aylward comes to London in
hopes of becoming a missionary in China, but the mission society says she is
not qualified. However, they do get her a job as a second maid with Sir Francis
Jamison. She buys a ticket to China via the Trans-Siberian Railway in
installments. She starts secretly reading Sir Francis’s books about China. When
he learns about this, instead of firing her, Sir Francis writes to Jeannie
Lawson, a friend of his in China. After a long and difficulty journey, she
arrives at Jeannie Lawson’s mission in Yang Cheng. Lawson has bought an inn
that she plans to run and tell Bible stories to the guests. Gladys works hard
to become assimilated, then Miss Lawson is killed in a fall. The missionary
society wants to close the inn, but she refuses to go. At the suggestion of the
Eurasian Captain Lin Nan, the local mandarin appoints Gladys as the inspector
to ensure that the law against foot binding is obeyed. She becomes almost fully
assimilated and is called Jin Ai (The One Who Loves People) by the Chinese. She
gains great face among the Chinese when she goes into the local prison during a
riot and diffuses the situation. Jin Ai and Col. Lin Nan tour the villages and
their attraction grows. Jin Ai starts taking in orphans. Word comes that the
Japanese are preparing to attack China. The Japanese bomb the city. The city is
evacuated and Jin Ai is left behind. Col. Lin Nan finds her when his men reach
the city after a temporary Japanese retreat. Impressed by her bravery and
compassion the Mandarin converts to Christianity. She stays behind with the
orphans when the city is permanently evacuated. She leaves with 100 orphans for the city of Sian. She brings the
orphans through difficult terrain and avoids the Japanese. On November 12, 1938
[2:32:56 to 2:37:27] Jin Ai and the orphans reach the safety of Sian.
A truly inspirational story.
However, Bergman looked nothing like Aylward and a romance was added to the
storyline. Still, as entertainment and not history, it is a decent film.
Date given in film at 2:33:21-22
Awards – It was nominated for Best Director Oscar at the 31st
Academy Awards.
