November 18 - Kennedy

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

Producer – Andrew Brown               

Director - Jim Goddard                                    

Screenplay – Reg Gadney

Runtime – 4 hours 42 minutes                                                            

Starring –

Martin Sheen as John F. Kennedy

Blair Brown as Jacqueline Kennedy

Vincent Gardenia as J. Edgar Hoover

John Shea as Robert F. Kennedy

E.G. Marshall as Joseph P. Kennedy

Geraldine Fitzgerald as Rose Kennedy

Kelsey Grammer as Stephen Smith

Kevin Conroy as Edward M. Kennedy

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2014 

November 17 - Lost in Austen

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

Director - Dan Zeff     

Released - September 3, 2008                                   

Runtime - 3 hours                                                                                     

Starring –

Jemima Rooper as Amanda Price

Elliot Cowan as Fitzwilliam Darcy

Tom Mison as Charles Bingley

Christina Cole as Caroline Bingley

Gemma Arterton as Elizabeth Bennet

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2014

November 16 - Infamous

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

Producers - Christine Vachon and Jocelyn Hayes

Director - Douglas McGrath                        

Screenplay - Douglas McGrath                                    

Runtime – 1 hour 58 minutes                                        

Released – August 31, 2006                                        

Starring –

Toby Jones as Truman Capote

Sandra Bullock as Harper Lee

Jeff Daniels as Alvin Dewey

Lee Pace as Richard Hickock

Daniel Craig as Perry Smith

Peter Bogdanovich as Bennett Cerf

Hope Davis as Slim Keith

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2014

November 15 - Miss Potter

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

Director - Chris Noonan

Screenplay - Richard Maltby, Jr.

Running Time - 1 hour 32 minutes

Released - December 3, 2006

Starring -         

Rene Zellweger as Beatrix Potter

Ewan McGregor as Norman Warne

Emily Watson as Millie Warne

Anton Lessor as Harold Warne

David Bamber as Fruing Warne

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2014.

November 14 - We Are Marshall

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

Director - McG

Running Time - 2 hours 4 minutes

Released - December 22, 2006

Starring -         

Matthew McConaughey as Jack Lengyel

Matthew Fox as William "Red" Dawson

Kimberly Williams-Paisley as Sandy Lengyel

Anthony Mackie as Nate Ruffin

David Strathairn as Donald Dedmon

Ian McShane as Paul Griffen

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2014.

November 13 - Silkwood

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 56^th Academy Awards

Screenplay - Nora Ephron and Alice Arlen    

Producer - Michael Hausman                                          

Director - Mike Nichols                                                   

Runtime – 2 hours 11 minutes                                        

Released – December 14, 1983                                      

Starring –

Meryl Streep as Karen Silkwood

Kurt Russell as Drew Stephens

Cher as Dolly Pelliker

Craig T. Nelson as Winston

Fred Ward as Morgan

Diana Scarwid as Angela

Ron Silver as Paul Stone

Josef Sommer as Max Richter

Charles Hallahan as Earl Lapin

Sudie Bond as Thelma Rice

Bruce McGill as Mace Hurley

David Strathairn as Wesley

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2014.

November 12 - Inn of the Sixth Happiness

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 31^st Academy Awards.

Producer - Buddy Adler                       

Director - Mark Robson                                       

Screenplay - Isobel Lennart    

Runtime – 2 hours 38 minutes                             

Released – December 11, 1958                                                         

Starring –

Ingrid Bergman as Gladys Aylward

Curt Jürgens as Captain Lin Nan

Robert Donat as The Mandarin

Michael David as Hok-A

Athene Seyler as Jeannie Lawson

Ronald Squire as Sir Francis Jamison

Moultrie Kelsall as Dr. Robinson

Richard Wattis as Mr. Murfin

Peter Chong as Yang

Tsai Chin as Sui-Lan

Edith Sharpe as Secretary 

Joan Young as Sir Francis' cook

Lian-Shin Yang as Woman with Baby

Noel Hood as Miss Thompson

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2014.