February 28 - 44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shootout

Today’s movie is a true crime drama with a scene that happens on February 28. Watch it tonight and enjoy.

44 MINUTES: THE NORTH HOLLYWOOD SHOOTOUT   

On February 28, 1997  [1:18 to 1:39:08] while various LAPD officers prepare for their day, Larry Eugene Phillips Jr. and Emil Mătăsăreanu prepare to commit a bank robbery. Donnie Anderson messes up during a SWAT raid and he is told to take some time off.  Detective Frank McGregor has been tracking these exceptionally violent two robbers for the last six months. Officer Nicole Gomez and Officer Henry Jones respond to a domestic violence call.  The robbers enter the bank, but are spotted by a squad car. Other officers including Donnie Anderson rapidly arrive, while the robbers shoot up the ceiling of the bank. The bank is soon surrounded. The robbers empty the vault and lock all the employees and customers inside.  The two robbers come out and open up on the police with their AK-47 machine guns. Henry Jones is wounded. Frank McGregor risks his life and drives a car to picks up the injured Jones. The police have to resort to getting machine guns from a gun store. The robbers leave the bank, with one driving and one walking along side their car. Frank McGregor kills the robber who was on foot. The second robber tries to commander another vehicle just as SWAT arrives with their machine guns. With Donnie Anderson playing a major part, the police arrest the other robber. As a result morale soars on the force as the citizens, at least for a while appreciate the police.

A based on fact docudrama. Lots and lots of violence. Keeps the melodrama to a minimum and concentrates on the real story.

Los Angeles Times (Saturday, March 1, 1997) at pages 1, 19-20 and film at 1:20 give the date of the incident

Producer - Michael R. Goldstein

Director - Yves Simoneau

Screenplay - Tim Metcalfe

Runtime –  1 hour 43 minutes

Released – June 5, 2003

  

Starring –

Michael Madsen as Detective Frank McGregor

Ron Livingston as Officer Donnie Anderson

Douglas Spain as Officer Bobby Martinez

Andrew Bryniarski as Larry Eugene Phillips Jr.

Oleg Taktarov as Emil Mătăsăreanu

Alex Meneses as Officer Nicole Gomez

Mario Peebles as Officer Henry Jones

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015.

February 27 - The Bourne Supremacy

Today’s movie is an action/adventure espionage film with a scene  that happens on February 27. Watch it tonight and enjoy.

THE BOURNE SUPREMACY    

Jason Bourne and Marie are living in Goa, while he tries to remember his past. In Berlin, Pamela Landy, a CIA Deputy Director has arranged to pay $3 million to a Russian who says he has flies that will reveal who stole $20 million from the CIA seven years ago. However, the Russian and the CIA agent who was delivering the cash are killed and the money stolen. A fingerprint left behind indicates the killer was Jason Bourne. A hitman finds Jason in Goa, but ends up killing Marie. On February 27, 2004 [23:03 to 34:16] Jason arrives in Naples. He escapes custody and goes to Berlin. There he tracks Pam Landy and kidnaps Nicky Parsons. He recalls that he killed Russian politician Vladimir Neski, but this job is not in his file.  Bourne exposes the fact that CIA agent Ward Abbott was involved in the theft of the $20 million and tried to frame Bourne for the two recent murders in Berlin. When confronted, Abbott kills himself. Bourne goes to Moscow and in spite of being chased by Abbott’s Russian partners, finds and apologizes to the Neski’s daughter for killing her parents. 

Great action. I was upset that they killed off Marie. I liked her a lot.

Date given in film at 31:25 on a cell phone.

Director - Paul Greengrass

Producers - Frank Marshall, Patrick Crowley and Paul L. Sandberg

Screenplay - Tony Gilroy

Released – July 23, 2004

Runtime – 1 hour 48 minutes

Starring –

Matt Damon as Jason Bourne

Franka Potente as Marie Helena Kreutz

Brian Cox as Ward Abbott

Julia Stiles as Nicky Parsons

Karl Urban as Kirill

Gabriel Mann as Danny Zorn

Joan Allen as Pamela Landy

Marton Csokas as Jarda

Karel Roden as Yuri Gretkov

Tomas Arana as Martin Marshall

Tom Gallop as Tom Cronin

Tim Griffin as John Nevins

Michelle Monaghan as Kim

Oksana Akinshina as Irena Neski

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015. 

February 26 - Bright Star

Today’s movie is a biographical romance with a scene that happens on February 26. Watch it tonight and enjoy.

BRIGHT STAR           

Fanny Brawne is introduced to poet John Keats and his friend Charles Brown. She buys Keats book of poems and visits his brother Tom, who later dies of tuberculosis. Keats spends Christmas with the Brawne family and he later starts to teach her poetry. They like each other, but Keats does nothing to advance the relationship, since he is poor. When Brown sends a Valentine’s card to Fanny, Keats confronts them. Brown says it was a joke, but warns Keats that Fanny is just a flirt. Fanny is angered at Keats lack of trust and ends their association. Then the Brawnes move into the other half of the house occupied by Keats and Brown and Fanny and Keats rapidly develop an intense affection for each other. When Keats and Brown take a summer holiday to the Isle of Wight, Fanny misses him terribly, at times even becoming suicidal. Only his letters sustain her and when he returns they become secretly engaged. Keats becomes ill after a trip to London and back in the rain and his friends plan to send him to the warmer climate of Italy to recover. Then Charles Brown impregnates the maid Abigail and cannot go with him. Keats lives in London, but returns to stay with the Brawnes when he has another attack of tuberculosis. Fanny’s mother agrees they can marry after Keats returns from Italy as his new book of poems has been a success. Keats goes to Italy, where he dies. On February 26, 1821 [1:48:29 to 1: 49:03] Keats’s funeral procession leaves the church in Rome carrying his body to the cemetery. Fanny goes into mourning. 

A psychological biopic/romance. Tries to explore the psychology of the poet as well as be a romance film. Overall, a fairly good movie.

John Keats by Robert Gittings (Little, Brown and Company, Boston, 1968) at page 433

Producers - Jan Chapman and Caroline Hewitt

Director - Jane Campion

Awards – The film was nominated for the Best Costume Design Oscar at the 82^nd Academy Awards. 

Screenplay - Jane Campion

Runtime – 1 hour 59 minutes

Released – May 15, 2009

Starring -        

Ben Whishaw as John Keats

Abbie Cornish as Fanny Brawne

Paul Schneider as Charles Armitage Brown

Kerry Fox as Frances Brawne

Thomas Sangster as Samuel Brawne

Antonia Campbell-Hughes as Abigail O'Donaghue Brown

Claudie Blakley as Mrs Dilke

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015

February 25 - Courage Under Fire

Today’s movie is a war drama with scenes that happen on February 25. Watch it tonight and enjoy.

COURAGE UNDER FIRE             

Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Serling commands a tank battalion at the start of the Gulf War. During the confusion of a night battle his tank destroys a US tank that was firing at an Iraqi tank and not at them, like his crew thought. On February 25, 1991 [15:57 to 16:16; 16:30 to 16:42; 16:46 to 16:49; 17:00 to 17:04; 17:11 to 17:15; 25:40 to 28:24; 32:34 to 36:33; 37:07 to 38:10; 39:18 to 39:49; 1:27:07 to 1:27:16 and 1:27:30 to 1:31:16] a Blackhawk helicopter is shot down in Iraq. The Army refuses to censor Serling and covers up the friendly fire incident. Serling is assigned to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Blackhawk shootdown. Serling interviews the survivors of the Blackhawk’s crew, who tell them that after they were shot down and surrounded by Iraqis, an Army medical Huey helicopter appeared. The Huey strafed the Iraqis, destroyed an enemy tank and was then shot down itself. During the rescue the next day, someone at the Huey used an M-16 to give covering fire.  Serling then learns that the pilot of the Huey was a woman, Captain Karen Walden who is being considered for a posthumous Medal of Honor, a project that has a high level of political support. Serling begins his investigation while suffering from PTSD and guilt himself. The Huey’s co-pilot, Warrant Officer Rady says Walden ordered the crew to dump the choppers fuel bladder on the Iraqi tank and use a flare gun to ignite it. However, he was injured when they were shot down and knows nothing else. Specialist Ilario says that at night the Captain was injured during an Iraqi attack. The next day during the rescue the Captain was the last to leave and was killed. No one fired an M-16 during the rescue. Serling’s boss pushes him to finish the report, but he is troubled by inconsistencies in the stories. Staff Sergeant John Monfriez who was in the Huey to provide covering fire thinks M-16 ammo ran out first thing in the morning. He says Walden was a coward and that it was his idea to use the fuel bladder on the tank. He even says Walden shot at him during the evacuation. Serling asks Garner, a reporter who has been investigating the alleged friendly fire incident involving Serling, to help him find a missing Huey crewman, Sergeant Steven Altameyer. He is found in a hospital where he just mumbles about a fire before passing out. Serling is pulled off the Walden investigation, but nevertheless he goes back to question Monfriez, who gets so upset he pulls a gun on Serling and then commits suicide. Serling then locates Ilario, who had gone AWOL and finally gets the real story. During the night Monfriez, supported by Altameyer and Ilario wanted to sneak off, even though Walden ordered them to stay, as the Captain refused to leave the wounded Rady. Walden and Monfriez end up pointing guns at each other. An Iraqi appears behind Monfriez and is shot by Walden. He returns fire, thinking he was her target and shoots, wounding her. During the rescue Walden stays behind giving covering fire with the M-16. Monfriez tells the rescue chopper pilots Walden is dead. The wounded Altameyer is ignored and Ilario is silent as the rescue choppers napalm the wrecks of the two US helicopters. Gartner’s investigation reveals that while Serling’s tank did cause friendly fire deaths, his actions immediately thereafter prevented any more such incidents.  He gets a medal. Walden is awarded the Medal of Honor.  Serling visits the family of the man who was killed and leaves his medal on Waldens tombstone. Recovered from his PTSD Serling returns to his family.

A good movie. This is a story of the “fog of war’ and the search for truth. In searching for Walden’s truth, Serling is able to accept his own.

Date given in film at 15:09 in speech and on blackboard.

Producers - John Davis, Joseph M. Singer and David T. Friendly
Director - Edward Zwick
Screenplay - Patrick Sheane Duncan
Runtime – 1 hour 57 minutes
Released - July 12, 1996

Starring –

Denzel Washington as Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Serling

Meg Ryan as Captain Karen Emma Walden

Lou Diamond Phillips as Staff Sergeant John Monfriez

Matt Damon as Specialist Ilario

Bronson Pinchot as Bruno, a White House aide

Seth Gilliam as Sergeant Steven Altameyer

Regina Taylor as Meredith Serling

Michael Moriarty as Brigadier General Hershberg

Zeljko Ivanek as Captain Ben Banacek

Scott Glenn as Tony Gartner

Tim Guinee as Warrant Officer One A. Rady

Tim Ransom as Captain Boylar

Sean Astin            as Sergeant Patella

Ned Vaughn as First Lieutenant Chelli

Sean Patrick Thomas as Sergeant Thompson

Manny Perez as Jenkins

Ken Jenkins as Joel Walden

Kathleen Widdoes as Geraldine Walden

Christina Stojanovich as Anne Marie Walden

Tom Schanley as Questioner

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015

February 24 - Testament

Today’s movie is a drama with a scene that happens on February 24.  Watch it tonight and enjoy.

TESTAMENT     

The Wetherly family lives in Hamelin, California 90 miles from San Francisco. One day nuclear war breaks out. Tom Wetherly was in San Francisco, leaving his wife Carol, sons Brad and Scottie and daughter Mary Liz at home. On February 24, 19___ [24:15 - 26:50] the Wetherlys adopt an orphan child, Larry, but Henry Abhart, a ham radio operator can’t learn how the war started or what is happening in the outside world. The town escaped blast damage, but not radiation. Eventually both Scottie and Mary Liz die from this. As society breaks down, Carol decides to kill herself and her surviving family, but in the end she can’t bring herself to do so. 

The date is given in the film at 24:26-27

Director - Lynne Littman

Producer - Jonathan Bernstein

Screenplay - John Sacret Young

Awards – Jane Alexander was nominated for the Best Actress Oscar at the 56^th Academy

                 Awards

Released - November 4, 1983

Runtime – 1 hour 30 minutes

Starring –

Jane Alexander as CarolWetherly

William Devane as Tom Wetherly

Ross Harris as Brad Wetherly

Roxana Zal as Mary Liz Wetherly

Lukas Haas as Scottie Wetherly

Leon Ames as Henry Abhart

Mako as Mike

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015

February 23 - Flags of Our Fathers

Today’s movie is a combat film with a scene that happens on February 23. Watch it tonight and enjoy.

FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS   

In late 1944, US marines train in Hawaii, then sail to Iwo Jima. They land and after an easy landing take heavy casualties. The Marines drive on Mount Surabachi. On February 23, 1945 they reach the top and raise a large flag, an act that is the subject of an iconic photo. . [1:12:09 to 1:20:36] Later during the battle, many of those who were in the photo are killed, leaving only John “Doc” Bradley, Ira Hayes and Rene Gagnon alive. After the battle Rene is asked who was in the photo and he names five men, including himself. He incorrectly identifies Harlon Block as Hank Hansen. Ira threatens to kill him if he identifies him as having been in the picture, but Ira is identified anyway. The three are sent off on a war bond drive. They decide not to correct the mistake about Harlon, as Hank’s mother was honored due to her son being in the photo. Ira has a hard time on the tour, often getting drunk. He hates being considered a hero, thinking those who were killed were the real heroes. After the war Ira can’t escape from the unwanted fame. He finally tells Harlon Block’s family he was actually in the photo, and later dies of exposure after a drunk. Rene Gagnon is a high school janitor, while ‘Doc’ Bradley runs a funeral home.

            An interesting film. The action part and after the war are both good in their own way. A companion film to Letters from Iwo Jima.

Flags of Our Fathers by James Bradley (Bantam Books, New York, 2000) p. 201

Director - Clint Eastwood

Screenplay - Paul Haggis

Awards -  Nominated for the Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing Oscars.

Running Time – 2 hours 7 minutes

Released -  October 20, 2006

Starring -

Ryan Phillippe as John "Doc" Bradley

Jesse Bradford as Rene Gagnon

Adam Beach as Ira Hayes

John Benjamin Hickey as Keyes Beech

John Slattery as Bud Gerber

Barry Pepper as Michael Strank

Jamie Bell as Ralph "Iggy" Ignatowski

Paul Walker as Hank Hansen

Robert Patrick as Col. Chandler Johnson

Neal McDonough as Capt. Dave Severance

Melanie Lynskey as Pauline Georgette Harnois

Thomas McCarthy as James Bradley

Chris Bauer as Alexander Vandegrift

Judith Ivey as Belle Block

Myra Turley as Madeline Evelley

Joseph Michael Cross as Franklin Sousley

Benjamin Walker  as Harlon Block

Alessandro Mastrobuono as Charles W. Lindberg

Scott Reeves as Lundsford

Stark Sands as Walter Gust

George Grizzard as Older John Bradley,

Harve Presnell as Older Dave Severance

              

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015

February 22 - The Assassination of Richard Nixon

Today’s movie is a biographical drama with a scene that happens on February 22. Watch it tonight and enjoy.

THE ASSASSINATION OF RICHARD NIXON   

Samuel Bicke’s life is falling apart. His wife has left him and he has stopped working for his brother. He’s a hypocrite, demanding honesty of others, yet often telling lies himself. He lies about his marital staus to get his new job as a salesman. His boss thinks President Nixon is the greatest salesman ever due his political duplicity about the Vietnam War. Bicke decides to set up a mobile tire sale business with a government loan. His wife files for divoce, and after his boss learns Bicke lied on his job application, Bicke quits.  He breaks into his brother’s tire sale business and arranges for a large tire order to be sent to his friend Bonny, to be paid for with the loan proceeds. However, the loan doesn’t come through and Bonny is arrested for receiving stolen goods.Bicke’s bother bails out Bonny, but severs all ties with Bicke. Bicke steals a gun from Bonny,but can’t kill his old boss. Bicke does kill his dog. On February 22, 1974 [2:01 to 3:04 and 1:19:11 to 1:30:05] Bicke tries to hijack an airliner to crash into the White House. He kills a pilot, but as the police close in he commits suicide. Nixion was not at the White House that day in any event.

Washington Post (Saturday, February 23, 1974) at pages 1 and 10 and the film at 2:50 give the date

Director - Niels Mueller

Producer - Alfonso Cuarón and Jorge Vergara

Screenplay - Niels Mueller and Kevin Kennedy

Released – December 29, 2004

Runtime – 1 hour 35 minutes

Starring –

Sean Penn as Samuel Bicke

Don Cheadle as Bonny Simmons

Jack Thompson as Jack Jones

Naomi Watts as Marie Bicke

Brad William Henke as Martin Jones

Michael Wincott as Julius Bicke

Mykelti Williamson as Harold Mann

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015

February 21 - Madagascar

Today’s movie is a comedy with a scene that happens on February 21. watch it tonight and enjoy.

MADAGASCAR   

February 21, 2003 [00:24 to 20:03] is the tenth birthday of Marty, a zebra in New York’s Central Park zoo. He develops a mid-life crisis and wants to escape to the wilds of Connecticut. His friends Alex the lion, Melman the giraffe and Gloria the hippo follow Marty to Grand Central Station where they are all captured. The zoo decides to ship them to a wildlife preserve in Kenya. However, a group of psychotic penguins take over the ship so they can go to Antarctica. This results in the four friends being knocked over board in their boxes and washing ashore. They eventually learn they are on the island of Madagascar from a group of lemurs who come to accept them after Alex drives off the fossa who usually eat the lemurs. After Alex starts to revert to his naturally carnivorous traits, he is banished to the far side of the island. The ship returns, steered by the penguins and by now Marty wants to return to the Big Apple. Alex at first is resistant, fearing he might attack his friends again, but overcomes his instincts enough to rescue them when they are captured by the fossa. The penguins catch enough fish for Alex to eat since the ship can’t set sail for New York, as it is out of fuel.

Date given in film at 3:23; 20:11 and at http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NYK/2003_games.html

Director - Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath

Producer - Mireille Soria

Screenplay - Mark Burton, Billy Frolick, Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath

Released – May 25, 2005

Runtime – 1 hour 26 minutes

Voice Cast –

Ben Stiller as Alex, a lion

Chris Rock as Marty, a zebra

David Schwimmer as Melman, a giraffe

Jada Pinkett Smith as Gloria, a hippopotamus

Sacha Baron Cohen as King Julien, king of the lemurs

Cedric the Entertainer as Maurice, an aye-aye and King Julien's royal advisor.

Andy Richter as Mort, a Goodman's mouse lemur

Tom McGrath as Skipper, the leader of penguins

Chris Miller as Kowalski, a penguin and Skipper's right hand

Jeffrey Katzenberg as Rico, a smart and silent penguin

Christopher Knights as Private, an eager, lowly penguin

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015

February 20 - The Heroes of Telemark

Today’s movie is a wartime action film with a scene that happens on February 20. Watch it tonight and enjoy.  

THE HEROES OF TELEMARK    

Nilssen, director of the Norsk Hydro plant in German occupied Norway is ordered to increase the facilities production of heavy water by 400%. Nilssen sends a photo through the Norwegian Resistance to Dr Rolf Pedersen, a physicist at the University of Oslo. As a result the Resistance hijacks a coastal steamer to take Pedersen to England through the mine-infested North Sea. The data that Pedersen brings convinces the Allies that Germany is trying to make an atomic bomb. Pedersen and Knut Straud, his Resistance minder parachute back into Norway to see if a commando raid on the factory is possible, as Allied HQ says the factory must be destroyed. The pair ends up coincidentally at the home of Pedersen’s ex-wife. Pedersen concludes a commando raid is out of the question, but Straud opposes bombing, as it would cause too many civilian casualties. London decides on a commando raid. When a hunter, Jensen stumbles across the advance team they keep him a prisoner.  The plane bringing in the 50 British commandoes crashes. Straud decides to proceed with the raid using the ten-man advance team.  They tie up Jensen and leave him behind. The team rappels down a cliff and enters the factory. They blow up the equipment for making heavy water and escape from the factory. Jensen, who turns out to be a traitor helps the Germans try to track down the escaping team. Pedersen ends up having to pose as a pro-German Norwegian to avoid arrest, but is accidentally exposed. He makes a death defying escape off of a bus. Pedersen learns the Nazis have restored full production, but a bomber raid to destroy the factory fails. The Nazis plan to ship the heavy water they have extracted to Germany. Pedersen and Straud plant a bomb on the ferry that will transport the water for part of its journey. On February 20, 1944 after Pedersen sees a woman he knows and her child get on the ferry he gets on board also. He gets all the children onboard into a lifeboat on a pretext, so when the bomb goes off they are saved. The ferry and its cargo of heavy water sink to the bottom of a very deep lake.  [1:59:25 to 2:09:21]

An exciting film. However it introduces unnecessary elements of melodrama. Would have been better as purely an action film.

2194 Days of War ed. by Cesare Salmaggi and Alfredo Pallavisini (Gallery Books, New

York, 1977) at page 492 gives the date the ferry was sunk.

Producer - Benjamin Fisz                                             

Director - Anthony Mann                                              

Screenplay - Ben Barzman and Ivan Moffat     

Runtime – 2 hours 11 minutes   

Released – November 23, 1965                                                                      

Cast –

Kirk Douglas as Dr Rolf Pedersen

Richard Harris as Knut Straud

Ulla Jacobsson as Anna Pedersen

Michael Redgrave as Uncle

David Weston as Arne

Sebastian Breaks as Gunnar

John Golightly as Freddy

Alan Howard as Oli

Patrick Jordan as Henrik

William Marlowe as Claus

Brook Williams as Einar

Maurice Denham as Doctor

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015

February 19 - Australia

Today’s movie is a period drama with a scene that happens on February 19. Watch it tonight and enjoy.

AUSTRALIA      

Lady Sarah Ashley travels to her husband’s cattle station Faraway Downs in Australia. He is murdered shortly before she arrives and an indigenous Australian called “King George” is accused of the crime. When her manager Fletcher mistreats a half-native boy, Nullah after he informs her of cattle thieving by her neighbor, cattle baron “King” Carney, she fires Fletcher. Since she can’t have children of her own, Lady Sarah informally adopts Nullah after his mother is killed. Lady Sarah gets Drover, a ranch hand to take her cattle to Darwin to sell them. In spite of many difficulties, some created by Carney’s men, the cattle are sold and Drover and Lady Sarah start a relationship. Fletcher kills Carney, marries his daughter and continues to harass Lady Sarah. We learn he also killed Lady Sarah’s husband and is Nullah’s father. Two years later Nullah is taken by the authorities to an island near Darwin with other native orphans. Drover and Lady Sarah quarrel and he leaves. On February 19, 1942 [2:03:30 to 2:21:30] when the Japanese bomb Darwin and the island, Lady Ashley fears Nullah is dead. Drover rescues Nullah and the pair are reunited with Lady Sarah. Fletcher tries to kill Nullah, but “King George”; Nullah’s grandfather kills him. Lady Sarah and Drover return to Faraway downs, while Nullah and his grandfather return to the bush.   

Fire in the Sky by Eric M. Bergerud (Westview Press, Boulder, 2000) at page 37 gives the date of the raid

Director - Baz Luhrmann

Producers - Baz Luhrmann, Catherine Knapman and G. Mac Brown

Screenplay - Baz Luhrmann, Ronald Harwood, Stuart Beattieand Richard Flanagan

Awards – The film was nominated for the Best Costume Design Oscar at the 81^st

                 Academy Awards

Released – November 26, 2008

Runtime – 2 hours 45 minutes

Starring –

Nicole Kidman as Lady Sarah Ashley.

Hugh Jackman as Drover.

David Wenham as Neil Fletcher.

Bryan Brown as Lesley 'King' Carney.

Jack Thompson as Kipling Flynn

David Gulpilil as King George

Brandon Walters as Nullah

David Ngoombujarra as Magarri

Ben Mendelsohn as Captain Emmett Dutton

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015. 

February 18 - Chisum

Today’s movie is a western with a scene that happens on February 18. Watch it tonight and enjoy.

CHISUM  

John Chisum is a major rancher in Lincoln County, New Mexico. While stopping some cattle rustlers, he meets Billy the Kid, who is working as a ranch hand for Chisum’s neighboring rancher, Englishman Henry Tustall. A third rancher Lawrence Murphy is trying to take over the county, but after he sees Murphy’s illegal and underhanded tactics, Alexander McSween, lawyer and shopkeeper, who Murphy had brought in to help facilitate his takeover goes to work for Chisum and Tunstall. Chisum’s niece Alice arrives for a visit and is attracted to both Billy Boney (a/k/a “Billy the Kid), as well as Pat Garrett, who Chisum hires as a ranch hand. In an ambush by Murphy’s men Billy is wounded but saved by Garrett. On February 18, 1878 [1:01:04 to 1:08:18] Tunstall, who has fatherly feeling towards him, gives Billy the Kid a Bible. Tunstall killed by men working for Murphy. The killers are arrested by Chisum and Garrett, but they along with the sheriff are killed by Billy the Kid. Murphy stooge Nodeen is appointed sheriff. Billy the kid and his gang go to Mcsween’s store to get supplies and end up in a battle with Murphy’s men, during which McSween is killed by Murphy’s men. Mrs. McSween warns Chisum. He drives a herd of catle through the town and his supporters defeat Murphy’s men, while he personally kills Murphy. Garrett is made sheriff, while Billy the Kid moves on as peace is restored to the county.  

Date given in film at 1:04:02

Director - Andrew McLaglen

Screenplay - Andrew J. Fenady

Released – July 29, 1970

Runtime 1 hour 51 min.

Starring –

John Wayne as John Chisum

Forrest Tucker as Lawrence Murphy

Ben Johnson as James Pepper

Patric Knowles as Henry Tunstall

Geoffrey Deuel as Billy The Kid

Pamela McMyler as Sallie Chisum

Glenn Corbett as Pat Garrett

Andrew Prine as Alexander McSween

Christopher George as Dan Nodeen 

Bruce Cabot as Sheriff Brady

Richard Jaeckel as Jess Evans

Lynda Day George as Sue McSween

John Agar as Amos Patton

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015

February 17 - The Hunley

Today’s film is a war movie with a scene that happens on February 17. Watch it tonight and enjoy.

THE HUNLEY  

H. L. Hunley takes his ship the Hunley, out in Charleston harbor and it sinks with all hands. As the blockade still needs to be broken, Gen. Beauregard has the ship raised and puts George Dixon in charge. He starts looking for a crew and after some difficulty, finally finds enough volunteers to man it. They practice cranking the propeller. The crew do not all get along with each other. Dixon flashes back to the Battle of Shiloh, where a gold coin given to him by his wife (who was later killed in steamboat explosion caused by a drifting mine), deflected a bullet and saved his life.  They take the ship down and sit on the bottom to see how long they can stay down and almost get stuck. The Union navy is warned about the sub. They crew votes that if after an attack they are stuck on the bottom, they will open the valves, flooding the ship rather than suffocating. They go out to attack the U.S.S. Wabash, but the attack fails. Following the warning, the ship has draped metal chain netting over the side. Also the rope which was attached to the torpedo they were to release under the ship gets loose and becomes entangled in the propeller. It has to be cut loose while sailors on the Wabash shoot at the Hunley.  Beauregard proposes putting the torpedo at the end of a long spar. The Housatonic is ordered to change its position in the harbor and always be ready to steam, meaning it can’t hang metal netting over the side. The second in command Lt. Alexander is ordered to Mobile, and a young soldier who had been volunteering to join the crew is allowed to do so.   On February 17, 1864, the C.S.S. H. L. Hunley sails out and attacks the U.S.S. Housatonic. The torpedo is rammed into the side of the ship. It blows up, and the Housatonic is the first ship ever sunk by a sub.  A bullet from the ship breaks a window in the conning tower and wounds Dixon. The explosion opens the seams on the Hunley and it takes on water. It settles to the bottom, and they can’t release the ballast or pump the ship. As agreed the crew opens the valves and the ship floods, killing the entire crew. [1:12: 44 to 1:30:38]

An interesting film about an important, but overlooked moment in naval history. The story of the crew is almost wholly fictional, but is still interesting. Concentrates on the character of Dixon and his private struggles. 

The Encyclopedia of Military History from 3500 b.c. to the Present by R. Ernest Dupuy & Trevor N. Dupuy (Harper & Row, New York, 1977) at page 901 gives the attack date

Director - John Gray                                 Screenplay - John Gray and John Fasano

Awards - Won the Emmy for Outstanding Sound Editing.

Runtime - 1 hour 34 minutes

Released - July 11, 1999

Starring –

Arman Assante as Lt. George Dixon

Donald Sutherland as Gen. Pierre G. T. Beauregard

Alex Jennings as Lt. Alexander

Christopher Bauer as Simkins

Gerry Becker as Capt. Pickering

Michael Dolan as Becker

Sebastian Roche as Collins

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015

February 16 - La Vie En Rose

Today’s  movie is a biographical drama with a scene that happens on February 16. Watch it tonight and enjoy. SPOILER ALERT!

LA VIE EN ROSE  

On February 16, 1959 [00:43 to 2:29] Edith Piaf, famous French chanteuse, collapses while singing in New York City. Edith was born to a street performer mother, but at age 4 her father took her to be raised by his mother, who ran a bordello in Paris. Edith became the pet of the girls who worked there. After several years her acrobat father returned for her and she sang while he performed acrobatics in the street. Edith is hired by Louis Leplee a nightclub owner as a singer and in spite of his murder, she gradually with the help of songwriter Raymond Asso becomes a well known and popular performer. Edith begins an affair with Marcel Cerdan, a famous boxer and is devastated when he is killed in an airplane crash. She later becomes a drug addict and dies of cancer at the young age of 47.

The date is given in the film at 1:00

Director - Olivier Dahan

Producer - Alain Goldman

Screenplay - Isabelle Sobelman and Olivier Dahan

Awards – Marion Cotillard won the Best Actress Oscar and the film won the Best Makeup Oscar. The film was also nominated for the Best Costume Design Oscar at the 80^th Academy Awards

Released – Fenruary 8, 2007

Runtime – 2 hours 20 minutes

Starring –

Marion Cotillard as Édith Piaf

Gérard Depardieu as Louis Leplée

Sylvie Testud as Mômone (Simone Berteaut)

Jean-Pierre Martins as Marcel Cerdan

Emmanuelle Seigner as Titine

Pascal Greggory as Louis Barrier

Catherine Allégret as Louise Gassion

Jean-Paul Rouve as Louis Gassion

Clotilde Courau as Anetta Gassion

Marie-Armelle Deguy as Marguerite Monnot

Marc Barbé as Raymond Asso

Pavlína Němcová as American journalist

Harry Hadden-Paton as Doug Davis

Caroline Sihol as Marlene Dietrich

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015.

February 15 - Just Wright

Today’s movie is a romantic comedy with a scene that happens on February 15. Watch it tonight and enjoy.

JUST WRIGHT      

Leslie Wright is a physical therapist who lives with her girlfriend Morgan Alexander. Lesley meets Scott McKinght, a player for the New Jersey Nets, but Scott ends up proposing to Morgan.  However on February 15, 2009 [32:31 – 34:25] at the NBA All-Star game, Scott is injured. After rumors spread that his career is over, Morgan dumps him.  However Leslie works with Scott and enables him to return to play, as they become close. Then Morgan shows up again and reconciles with Scott. It takes Leslie debating whether to leave town to become the trainer for the Sixers for Scott to realize that he loves Leslie and not Morgan. They get married and she becomes the trainer for the Nets. 

Director - Sanaa Hamri

Producers - Debra Martin Chase, Shakim Compere and Queen Latifah

Screenplay - Michael Elliot

Released – May 14, 2010

Runtime – 1 hour 40 minutes

Starring –
 
Queen Latifah as Leslie Wright
Common as Scott McKnight
Paula Patton as Morgan Alexander
James Pickens Jr. as Lloyd Wright
Pam Grier as Janice Wright
Phylicia Rashad as Ella McKnight
Laz Alonso as Mark Matthews
Mehcad Brooks as  Angelo Bembrey
Michael Landes as  Nelson Kaspian
Leo Allen as Paul
Dwight Howard as  Himself
Dwyane Wade as  Himself
Rashard Lewis as  Himself
Bobby Simmons Jr. as Himself
Jalen Rose as Himself
Rajon Rondo as Himself
Chris Paul as Himself
Doris Burke as Herself
John Legend as Himself
Elton Brand as Himself

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015.

February 14 - Valentine's Day

Today’s movie is a romantic comedy which takes place on February 14. Watch it tonight and enjoy.

VALENTINE’S DAY      

This is the interwoven stories of a group of people and their romantic adventures (and mis-adventures) on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2010  in Los Angeles, centered on Reed Bennett, florist and Sean Jackson, retiring football player. There’s a proposal, an outing, adultery, a decision not to have sex, an “I Hate Valentine’s Day “ party, an outdoor movie screening, a rear end collision and some kissing among other incidents. [00:16 – 1:57:52]  

This is the American version of Love Actually. Fortunately, it’s as entertaining as the British version.

Date given in film at 00:48-49

Director - Garry Marshall

Screenplay - Katherine Fugate, Abby Kohn and

Released – February 12, 2010

Runtime – 2 hours 4 minutes

Starring –

Jessica Alba as Morley

Kathy Bates as Susan Moralez

Jessica Biel as Kara Monahan

Bradley Cooper as Holden Wilson

Eric Dane as Sean Jackson

Patrick Dempsey as Dr. Harrison Copeland

Héctor Elizondo as Edgar Paddington

Jamie Foxx as Kelvin Moore

Jennifer Garner as Julia Fitzpatrick

Topher Grace as Jason Morris

Anne Hathaway as Elizabeth "Liz" Curran

Ashton Kutcher as Reed Bennett

Queen Latifah as Paula Thomas

Taylor Lautner as William "Willy" Harrington

George Lopez as Alphonso Rodriguez

Shirley MacLaine as Estelle Paddington

Emma Roberts as Grace Smart

Julia Roberts as Cpt. Katherine "Kate" Hazeltine

Taylor Swift as Felicia Miller

Carter Jenkins as Alexander "Alex" Franklin

Bryce Robinson as Edison Hazeltine

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015

February 13 - Young Bess

Today’s movie is a period drama waith a scene that happens on February 13. Watch it tonight and enjoy.

YOUNG BESS             

When her mother is executed, Princess Elizabeth is declared illegitimate and out of the line of succession. Her father remarries several times including Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves and Catherine Howard. On February 13, 1542 [10:41 to 11:18] Catherine Howard is executed for adultery.  Elizabeth does become friends with her father’s last wife, Catherine Parr. After her father’s death Elizabeth persuades her half-brother Edward VI to allow their stepmother, Catherine Parr to marry Sir Thomas Seymour. Elizabeth lives with the Seymours, but ends up in a love triangle with Catherine and Thomas. Elizabeth moves out. Later after Catherine dies, Thomas’s brother Edward has Thomas arrested and executed for treason. After the death of her half-siblings, Edward VI and Mary, Elizabeth becomes queen.   

Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII by David Starkey (HarperCollins Publishers, New York, 2007) at pages 683-684 gives the execution date.

Producer - Sidney Franklin

Director - George Sidney

Awards – This film was nominated for the Best Costume Design and Best Art Direction at the 26^th Academy Awards.

Screenplay - Jan Lustig and Arthur Wimperis

Runtime – 1 hour 52 minutes

Released – May 21, 1953

Starring -    

Jean Simmons as Princess Elizabeth

Stewart Granger as Thomas Seymour

Deborah Kerr as Catherine Parr

Charles Laughton as Henry VIII

Guy Rolfe as Edward "Ned" Seymour

Kathleen Byron as Anne Stanhope Seymour

Rex Thompson as Edward VI

Leo G. Carroll as Mr. Mums, Elizabeth's tutor

Alan Napier as Robert Tyrwhitt

Noreen Corcoran as Bess as a child

Elaine Stewart as Anne Boleyn

Dawn Addams as Catherine Howard

Lumsden Hare as Archbishop Thomas Cranmer

Lester Matthews as Sir William Paget

Ann Tyrrell as Mary

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015

February 12 - Black Swan

Today’s movie is a psychological drama with scenes that happen on February 12. Watch it tonight and enjoy.

BLACK SWAN                                    

Nina Sayers is a member of a ballet company that is to perform Swan Lake. The director Tom Leroy forces his longtime star, Beth into retirement and auditions others for the dual role of the white swan and the black swan. He thinks Nina is perfect as the white swan, but doesn’t have the emotional intensity to dance as the black sawn. He tells Nina he is casting Veronica in the part. She asks him to reconsider and he kisses her, but Nina bites him, so he casts her in the role.  Beth is injured in an accident that Tom thinks might have been a suicide attempt. Nina goes out for a party night with Lilly, who she perceives as a rival and hallucinates a lesbian encounter with her. On February 12, 2010 [1:25:17 to 1:42:41] the ballet premieres. After the first act, when Nina returns to her dressing room, she has a fight with Lilly, stabs and apparently kills her after Lilly says she is going to dance the black swan. Nina dances the black swan and learns her fight with Lilly was a hallucination. She dances the white swan and enacts throwing herself off a cliff (actually onto a mattress) where it is discovered she has stabbed herself. 

A very strange film. For much of the movie you wonder if what you see is real or if Nina is just imagining it.

Date given in film at 1:20:58 on a poster

Director - Darren Aronofsky

Producers - Ari Handel, Scott Franklin, Mike Medavoy, Arnold Messer and Brian Oliver

Screenplay - Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz and John McLaughlin

Awards – Natalie Portman won the Best Actress Oscar for her role. The film was also nominated for the Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography and Best Film Editing Oscars at the 83^rd Academy Awards.  

Released -  September 1, 2010

Runtime – 1 hour 48 minutes

Starring –

Natalie Portman as Nina Sayers/The Swan Queen

Mila Kunis as Lily/The Black Swan

Vincent Cassel as Thomas Leroy/The Gentleman

Barbara Hershey as Erica Sayers/The Queen

Winona Ryder as Beth MacIntyre/The Dying Swan

Benjamin Millepied as David Moreau/The Prince

Ksenia Solo as Veronica/Little Swan

Kristina Anapau as Galina/Little Swan

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015

February 11 - Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Today’s movie is a biographical film with a scene that happens on February 11. Watch it tonight and enjoy.

MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM                    

Nelson Mandela becomes a barrister in apartheid era South Africa and gradually drifts into supporting armed revolution against the White dominated government. He is arrested, tried, convicted of treason and sentenced to life imprisonment on Robben Island. However, as violent protest and international condemnation of the government’s repressive policies build up pressure on South Africa, the government finally dedcides to negogiate with the African National Congress and started talks with it’s leader, Mandela. On February 11, 1990 [1:50:52 – 1:55:47] he is released from prison. Mandela goes to to be elected the president of South Afica in the first election with universal sufferage and pursues a policy of racial reconciliation.

Date given in film at 1:50:56

Director -  Justin Chadwick

Producers - David M. Thompson and Anant Singh

Screenplay - William Nicholson

Awards – Nominated for the Best Original Song Oscar at the 86^th Academy Awards

Released – September 7, 2013

Runtime – 2 hours 26 minutes

Starring –

Idris Elba as Nelson Mandela

Naomie Harris as Winnie Madikizela-Mandela

Tony Kgoroge as Walter Sisulu

Riaad Moosa as Ahmed Kathrada

Zolani Mkiva as Raymond Mhlaba

Fana Mokoena as Govan Mbeki

Thapelo Mokoena as Elias Motsoaledi

Jamie Bartlett as James Gregory

Deon Lotz as Kobie Coetsee

Terry Pheto as Evelyn Mase

Sello Maake  as Albert Lutuli

Gys de Villiers as F. W. de Klerk

Carl Beukes as Niel Barnard

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015

February 10 - Rio 2

Today’s movie is an animated  comedy/drama with a scene that happens on February 10. Watch it tonight and enjoy.

RIO 2      

Linda Gunderson and her husband launch an expedition into the Amazon rainforest. After they find evidence of the existence of more blue Spix macaws, Jewel, the mate of Blu, a blue Spix Macaw who used to belong to Linda decides they should go to the Amazon and help the search. Blu and his family set out. However the news to the discovery and Jewel’s trip arouses opposition. Some comes from a gang of illegal loggers who think the discovery of more blue spix macaws could disrupt their operations. Nigel the cockatoo, who is Jewel and Blu’s arch nemesis decides now would be a good time to get revenge.  On February 10, 2014 Jewel and Blue meet the blue spix macaws including Eduardo, Blu’s long lost father. Jewel and Blu manage to defeat both the loggers and Nigel in an action packed conclusion.

Director - Carlos Saldanha
Producer - Bruce Anderson and John C. Donkin
Screenplay - Don Rhymer, Carlos Kotkin, Jenny Bicks and Yoni Brenner
Released – March 20, 2014
Runtime – 1 hour 41 minutes

Voice Cast –

Jesse Eisenberg as  Blu

Anne Hathaway as Jewel

Leslie Mann as Linda Gunderson

Rodrigo Santoro as Tulio

Andy García as Eduardo

Rachel Crow as Carla

Amandla Stenberg as Bia

Pierce Gagnon as Tiago

George Lopez as Rafael

will.i.am as Pedro

Jamie Foxx as Nico

Jemaine Clement as Nigel

Bruno Mars as Roberto

Rita Moreno as Mimi

Kristin Chenoweth as Gabi

Tracy Morgan as Luiz

Janelle Monáe as Dr. Monae

Miguel Ferrer as Big Boss

Kate Micucci as Tiny

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015.

February 9 - Mr. Saturday Night

Today’s movie is a comedy with a scene that happens on February 9. Watch it tonight and enjoy.

MR. SATURDAY NIGHT

Self-deprecating comedian Buddy Young, Jr. tells a reporter how he had a TV show back in the 1950’s where he was called “Mr. Saturday Night”.  Now he does shows at nursing homes. Afterwards his brother/manager Stan gives him bad news. Stan is retiring and Buddy has lost his cruise ship engagement. This leads to an argument between them about how Buddy is ungrateful and Stan never did enough, including mention of how Stan worked for a year to get Buddy on the Ed Sullivan Show.  Unfortunately, his appearance is on February 9, 1964 [13:16 to 15:48] right after the Beatles appearance and Buddy bombs after he turns on the inattentive audience. Stan and Buddy do a comedic living room routine, and while Stan chickens out at their first public appearance, Buddy goes on alone. Buddy works his way up to the Borscht belt of Jewish resorts in the Catskills where he meets his wife Elaine.  Buddy plays in Las Vegas and eventually gets his TV show. In the present Buddy asks Phil Gusman the head of a major agency to represent him, but he sends Annie Wells a young agent in his place. Buddy attacks her for her lack of knowledge concerning comedians of his era.  Buddy plays in dives to keep going. In a flashback we see his show was cancelled when after the ratings took a nosedive, he did a monologue questioning the sexual orientation of Davy Crockett. Buddy also ignored his wife and his daughter and fired Woody Allen as a joke writer. Annie does her homework and wins him over and gets him jobs. Buddy and Stan’s mother dies. Annie gets Buddy an audition with Larry Meyerson, a hot Hollywood director, but Buddy blows the audition, causing an actual physical fight with Stan. However after this Buddy makes up with his daughter and at the end with Stan.

This movie has its up and downs. Both come from the fact that this was Billy’s Crystal’s movie. When he’s good he’s good, but there was no one to tell him when it was bad. 

Gould, Jonathan. Can’t Buy Me Love. New York, Harmony Books, 2007. This book at page 3 gives the date of the Beatles appearance on Ed Sullivan

Producer - Billy Crystal

Director - Billy Crystal

Awards – The movie was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor (Paymer) Oscar at the 65^th Academy Awards

Screenplay - Billy Crystal, Babaloo Mandel and Lowell Ganz

Runtime – 1 hour 59 minutes

Released - September 23, 1992

Starring –

Billy Crystal as Buddy Young, Jr.

David Paymer as Stan Young

Julie Warner as Elaine Young

Helen Hunt as Annie Wells

Jerry Orbach as Phil Gussman

Ron Silver as Larry Meyerson

Mary Mara as Susan Young

Jerry Lewis as Himself

 

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015.

February 8 - Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Today’s movie is a period drama with a scene that happens on February 8. Watch it tonight and enjoy.

ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE  

Elizabeth is Queen of England in 1585, but there is concern as she is unmarried and facing a possible Catholic revolt in favor of her cousin, Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots. Walter Raleigh comes to court and intrigues both the Queen and her chief lady-in-waiting Bess Throckmorton.  An assassin is sent in to kill Elizabeth. A cousin of Bess’s who is Catholic asks for her help in assassinating the Queen, but she refuses. Bess was followed to their meeting and her cousin is later arrested and tortured into revealing the Spanish plan, “the Enterprise of England” an invasion.   Elizabeth’s horoscope foretells one empire will fall and one will rise but can’t disclose which is which. Elizabeth refuses to let Walter Raleigh return to Virginia and he seduces Bess. An attempted assassination fails and Mary Stuart is tried, convicted of treason and executed on February 8, 1587. [1:09:58 to 1:13:18] Bess learns she is pregnant, and she secretly weds Raleigh. The Queen learns of this, is outraged and Raleigh is imprisoned. The Armada is sighted and Raleigh is released to man his ship against them. Elizabeth gives a stirring address to her troops. The English attack the Spanish with fire ships, then storms scatter the Armada, saving the country.  Elizabeth forgives Bess and Raleigh.

A good period drama. Especially good at developing the relationship between the Queen, Bess and Raleigh. Good cinematography and costumes. 

Scotland: The Story of a Nation by Magnus Magnusson (Atlantic Monthly Press, NewYork, 2000) at page 380 gives the execution date

Producer - Tom Bevan, Eric Fellner and Jonathan Cavendish

Director - Shekhar Kapur

Screenplay - William Nicholson & Michael Hirst

Awards - Won Oscar for Best Costume Design and Cate Blanchett was nominated for Best Actress

Running Time - 1 hour 54 minutes

Released - October 12, 2007

Starring - 

Cate Blanchett as Elizabeth I of England

Geoffrey Rush as Sir Francis Walsingham

Clive Owen as Sir Walter Raleigh

Abbie Cornish as Elizabeth 'Bess' Throckmorton

Samantha Morton as Mary, Queen of Scots

Jordi Mollà as Philip II of Spain

Eddie Redmayne as Anthony Babington

Tom Hollander as Sir Amyas Paulet

David Threlfall as Dr. John Dee

Adam Godley as William Walsingham

Laurence Fox as Christopher Hatton

Will Houston as Don Gerau De Spes

Christian Brassington as Archduke Charles of Austria

John Shrapnel as  Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Nottingham

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015. 

February 7 - Aristocrats

Today’s movie s a period drama with a scene that happens on February 7. Watch it tonight and enjoy.

ARISTOCRATS              

After three London seasons, Lady Caroline Lennox has still not found a husband. However, her parents are appalled when she falls in love with commoner Henry Fox, a politician. After her parents refuse to approve the marriage, they elope. Her parents, the Duke and Duchess of Richmond disown Caroline. Her younger sister, Emily is wooed by Lord Kildare, but her family dislikes him, because even though he is very rich, he is also Irish. The Duke of Richmond is promoted to the post of Master of the Horse, but this puts him in the Cabinet and into conflict with Henry Fox. Caroline’s first child is sickly and was lucky not be killed by his doctors.  Emily’s parents finally withdraw their objections to Lord Kildare.   On February 7, 1747 [Part 2 – 2:34 to 7:08] Lord Kildare and Lady Emily are married. Taking advantage of her married state, Emily visits her sister Caroline. Emily starts spending big bucks, while Caroline thinks her husband cares more about politics than her. Emily is finally able to reconcile Caroline with their parents. The Duke of Richmond dies of a stroke and his wife soon dies also. The mother’s will gives the custody of the three younger girls Louisa, Sarah and Cecilia to Emily, not Caroline, which causes a rift between the sisters.  Emily raises the girls and arranges the marriage of Louisa to Thomas Connolly. Caroline is upset when her sons turn out to be wastrels, losing vast sums at gambling and drinking. Lord Kildare wants to keep Irish taxes in Ireland, but Henry Fox thinks he is wasting his time.   Emily sends her sister Sarah to London to be introduced into society by Caroline. The King tries to encourage a match between Lady Sarah and the Prince of Wales. Sarah is sent to the country to make the Prince’s heart grow fonder for her, but she injures her leg. Then George II dies. His advisors suggest that the new King, George III should marry Charlotte of Mecklenburg instead of Sarah, who marries Charles Bunbury. He is an idiot who soon ignores her.  Caroline’s oldest son dies.  Emily hires William Ogilvie as her children’s tutor. Sarah is the subject of gossip due to gambling and flirting. She commits adultery with a Frenchman and then starts an affair with William Gordon and becomes pregnant by him. She then runs away with him. Emily and Caroline become estranged. Louisa tries to restore harmony, but the price for Sarah to return to the family is to never see William Gordon again. The youngest sister Cecelia dies.  Bunbury divorces Sarah. Emily begins an affair with William Ogilvie, while Sarah meets George Napier, a poor army Captain. Both Emily and Caroline’s husbands die.  Caroline and Emily reconcile, but Caroline dies shortly thereafter.  Emily shocks Sarah and Louisa by announcing she is going to marry William Ogilvie. Captain Napier’s wife dies of a fever.  Sarah and George Napier are married and have eight children. Mr. Ogilvie has trouble fitting into society. He and Emily’s grandson Edward support democratic ideas in opposition to the rest of the family.  Edward becomes involved in the French plans to support the United Irishmen in an anti-English revolt. Emily tries to get those involved in this plot to give up their plans, as she is convinced it will not succeed. Some of Louisa’s servants are arrested for being involved in plotting. Mr. Ogilvie visits Edward, who is in hiding, but fails to persuade him to flee the country. Edward is wounded while being arrested and dies shortly thereafter of his wounds.   

An interesting historical movie. For the most part it is accurate. The aristocrats in this film followed their natures instead of morality and paid the price.

The Dictionary of National Biography, Vol. VII ed by Sir Leslie Stephen and Sir Sidney

Lee (Oxford University Press, New York, 1968) at page 130 gives the wedding date.

Producers – Christopher Hall and David Snodin

Director - David Caffrey

Screenplay - Harriet O'Carroll

Runtime – 5 hours

Released – June 20, 1999

Starring –

Serena Gordon as Lady Caroline Lennox Fox

Anne-Marie Duff as Lady Louisa Lennox Conolly

Geraldine Somerville as Lady Emily Lennox FitzGerald, Duchess of Leinster

Siân Phillips as Older Lady Emily Lennox FitzGerald, Duchess of Leinster

Jodhi May as Lady Sarah Lennox (age 16)

Alun Armstrong as Henry Fox, 1st Baron Holland

Ben Daniels as James FitzGerald, 1st Duke of Leinster aka Lord Kildare

Julian Fellowes as Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond

Diane Fletcher as Sarah Lennox, Duchess of Richmond and Lennox

Tom Mullion as Thomas Conolly

Andrew Havill as Sir Charles Bunbury, 6th Baronet

George Anton as William Ogilvie

Clive Swift as George II of Great Britain

Richard Dempsey as Lord Beaufield

John Light as Lord Edward FitzGerald

Eoin O'Driscoll as Little Eddie

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015

February 6 - Klimt

Today’s movie is a biographical drama with a scene that happens on February 6. Watch it tonight and enjoy.

KLIMT                                  

On February 6, 1918 [2:00 to 5:22] Egon Schiele comes to see the dying Gustav Klimt in the hospital. Klimt starts thinking back on his life. He is an artist who is deeply involved in the philosophical debate about the theory of art. Klimt is so avant-garde, he is not happy to win a gold medal at the 1900 Paris Exposition for his art. He meets Lea de Castro and begins a sexual relationship with her, watched by Duke Octavo and her double. His paintings are not as well received in his hometown of Vienna. He throws himself into a decadent lifestyle and soon has a fourteen illegitimate children by Jewish mothers and syphilis. He steals his own painting back from a museum. Klimt meets Egon Schiele. Klimt’s hallucinations become more and more disjointed as he slowly dies on February 6, 1918 [1:27:06 to 1:33:20].

A very mixed up film. Beautiful and innovative cinematography, but even if you know Klimt’s story you could not figure it out from this film or what message you’re supposed to take away. A mysterious movie, rather like Klimt’s art. 

The Lady in Gold: The Extraordinary Tale of Gustav Klimt’s Masterpiece Portrait of

Adele Bloch-Bauer by Anne-Marie O’Conner (Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 2012) at

page 64 gives the date of Klimet’s death

Producers - Matthew Justice, Arno Ortmair, Dieter Pochlatko and Andreas Schmid

Director - Raúl Ruiz

Screenplay - Gilbert Adair, Raúl Ruiz and Herbert Vesely

Runtime – 2 hours 11 minutes(director’s cut), 1 hour 36 minutes (theatrical release)

Released – March 3, 2006      

Starring –

John Malkovich as Klimt

Veronica Ferres as Midi

Stephen Dillane as Secretary

Saffron Burrows as Lea de Castro

Sandra Ceccarelli as Serena Lederer

Nikolai Kinski as Egon Schiele

Aglaia Szyszkowitz as Mizzi

Joachim Bibmeier as Hugo Moritz

Ernst Stötzner as Minister Hartl

Paul Hilton as Duke Octave

Annemarie Düringer as Klimt's Mother

Irina Wanka as Berta Zuckerkandl

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015.