September 7 - The Lost Weekend

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

THE LOST WEEKEND                     

Don Birnam and his brother Wick are getting set to go to the country for the weekend. Don is a drunk who has been on the wagon for ten days. When his girlfriend Helen shows up he convinces Wick to take her to a concert to which someone has given her two tickets. Wick thinks he has found all of Don’s hidden liquor and left him with no money to buy any, so it’s okay to leave him alone. However, Don steals the money Wick left to pay the cleaning lady. He immediately goes out to a bar to buy liquor. Wick and Helen return and find Don gone. Wick says he’s fed up and leaves for the country. Don returns to his apartment and sneaks in, dodging Wick and Helen. The next morning, on September 7, 1945 [22:04 to 28:40, 36:50 – 38:00, 49:50 – 59:07] he finds a note pinned to his door from Helen asking him to call her. Instead Don returns to the bar. He tells the bartender how he met Helen three years before at the opera. He and Helen start dating and Don stops drinking for a while because he’s so in love with her. When her parents come to New York to meet him, he overhears them discussing him. The anxiety of this causes him to start drinking again, but he confesses his alcohol problem to her. He reveals he’s suffering from severe self-doubt and he tries to scare Helen off, but she won’t go.  Don leaves the bar and goes home to work on his novel. However, the need for alcohol gets to him. He can’t find the bottle he hid last night. He goes out to a bar and steals a woman’s purse to get money to pay the bar tab. She discovers the theft, but seeing he’s a drunk does not press charges.  Back at his apartment he accidentally finds the bottle he hid and drinks it all. The next morning he wakes to the phone ringing, but he ignores it and goes out to pawn his typewriter to get money for booze. He can’t, as all the pawn shops are closed since it’s Yom Kippur. He meets Gloria who was attracted to him yesterday and she gives him some money. He falls down stairs and is knocked out. He wakes up the next day in the hospital detox ward. He manages to escape. Helen, who spent the night in the hallway outside Don’s apartment, is awakened by the landlady and leaves. Don steals a bottle of whiskey from a store. Back at his apartment he drinks the whole bottle while ignoring the phone. He starts to hallucinate. The landlady hears his screams and calls Helen. She stays in the apartment overnight. In the morning he runs away with her coat and pawns it in exchange for a gun.  Helen tries to get the gun from him before he can kill himself. He wrestles it from her. The barkeep arrives and returns his typewriter that he left in the bar. She convinces Don to start writing a novel about his ‘Lost Weekend’.

               

One of the most realistic accounts of addiction ever filmed. Don will lie, cheat and steal to get alcohol. Fortunately for him he has at least one person who cares for him. Hopefully, he will be able to make a recovery.   

At 1:04:29 he’s told it’s Saturday and on the same day at 1:06:07 that it’s Yom Kippur. This happened in 1945, when the date of Yom Kippur was Saturday, September 8. So the day before is the seventh.

Producer - Charles Brackett

Director - Billy Wilder

Screenplay - Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder

Awards – The film won the Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor(Milland) and Best Screenplay Oscars. It was also nominated for the Best Black and White Cinematography, Best Music Score and Best Film Editing at the 18^th Academy Awards.

Runtime – 1 hour 39 minutes

Released – November 16, 1945

Starring –

Ray Milland as Don Birnam

Jane Wyman as Helen St. James

Phillip Terry as Wick Birnam

Howard Da Silva as Nat

Doris Dowling as Gloria

Frank Faylen as 'Bim' Nolan

Mary Young as Mrs. Deveridge

Anita Bolster as Mrs. Foley

Lillian Fontaine as Mrs. St. James

Frank Orth as Opera cloak room attendant

Lewis L. Russell as Mr. St. James

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015

September 6 - The Producers (1968)

Today’s movie is a comedy with a scene that happens on September 6. Watch it tonight and enjoy.

THE PRODUCERS     

Max Bialystock is a Broadway producer who has fallen on hard times, being reduced to seducing little old ladies so they will invest in his productions. Nerdish accountant Leo Bloom arrives to do his books and discovers that Max raised two thousand more on his last play than he needed, which is fraud. Max persuades Leo to cover this up. Leo has an idea that if someone raised much more than he needed for a play that flopped, the producer could keep all the extra cash. Max immediately decides to put this plan into action with Leo as his partner. After reading many, many terrible scripts, the two settle on Springtime for Hitler: A Gay Romp with Adolf and Eva at Berchtesgaden.  They persuade the insane ex-Nazi author Franz Liebkind to sell them the  rights to the script. Max sells 25, 000% of the play to his little old ladies and hires an attractive  Swedish receptionist who can’t speak English. They hire the cross-dressing Roger DeBris as the director. On September 6, 1967 [49:53 to 57:14] auditions are held for Springtime for Hitler. Lorenzo St. DuBois, a hippie who wandered in by accident is signed on to play Hitler. The show seems doomed to fail, but the audience takes the play as a satire and it is a big hit. Liedkind tries to kill Max and Leo because he is angry at how they presented his story. Eventually he helps them try to blow up the theater in order to stop the show. The are caught, tried, convicted and sent to prison where they oversell the musical they produce with the inmates called Prisoners of Love.  

A hilarious old time comedy. That is the film is funny because of the dialogue, not because of overuse of sexual innuendo or gross out sight gags. Still a very funny movie.

Date given in Variety at 49:47 -50

Producer - Sidney Glazier

Director - Mel Brooks

Screenplay - Mel Brooks

Awards – The film won the Best Original Screenplay Oscar. The movie was also nominated for the Best Supporting Actor(Wilder) at the 41^st Academy Awards.

Runtime – 1 hour 28 minutes

Released - March 18, 1968

Starring –

Zero Mostel as Max Bialystock

Gene Wilder as Leo Bloom

Dick Shawn as Lorenzo St. DuBois (L.S.D.)

Kenneth Mars as Franz Liebkind

Lee Meredith as Ulla

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015.

September 5 - Anger Management

Today’s movie is a comedy with a scene that happens on September 5. Watch it tonight and enjoy.

ANGER MANAGEMENT    

After a traumatic childhood experience Dave Buznik learns to fear PDAs and suppress his emotions. His boss takes credit for his work, while Andrew his girlfriend Linda’s ex still hangs out with her and is condescending to Dave at their common workplace. After an incident on an airplane where Dave gets tasered he is sentenced to anger management therapy with Dr. Buddy Rydell.  After getting in a bar fight caused by another of Buddy’s clients, Dave is threatened with jail, but Buddy moves in with him to offer more interventionist therapy. After Dave jokes with Buddy about the seriousness of an operation Buddy’s mother is having, Buddy promises to get him back. Buddy tries to maneuver Dave into a one-night stand with a girl and then tells Linda, Dave’s girlfriend about it as revenge. Linda suggests a break from their relationship and starts dating Buddy. Then on September 5, 2003 [1:20:09 to 1:31:10] Dave confronts his boss and Andrew after Andrew is given the promotion Dave earned. Dave heads to Yankee stadium where he thinks Buddy is going to propose to Linda. After admitting he has an anger problem and agreeing to kiss Linda in front of the entire stadium, she accepts Dave’s marriage proposal. Dave learns that most of what he’s been through was staged by Buddy and Linda (who weren’t really dating) for his benefit to help him control his anger. .

                    

Producers - Jack Giarraputo and Barry Bernandi

Director - Peter Segal

Screenwriter - David S. Dorfman

Runtime – 1 hour 46 minutes

Released – April 11, 2003

Starring –

Adam Sandler as David "Dave" Buznik

Jack Nicholson as Dr. Buddy Rydell

Marisa Tomei as Linda

Jonathan Loughran as Nate

Kurt Fuller as Frank Head

Krista Allen as Stacy

Clint Black as Masseur

John Turturro as Chuck

Lynne Thigpen as Judge Brenda Daniels

Woody Harrelson as Galaxia the tranvestite prostitute/Gary
the Security Guard

Kevin Nealon as Sam, Dave's Lawyer

Allen Covert as Andrew

Isaac C. Singleton Jr. as Air Marshal

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015

September 4 - A Place In The Sun

Today’s movie is a drama with a scene that happens on September 4. Watch it tonight and enjoy.

A PLACE IN THE SUN      

George Eastman arrives in town to take advantage of a job offer from his wealthy uncle. He is put into an entry level position at the factory, but excluded socially by the wealthy Eastman family. At work George meets Alice Tripp and they begin a relationship in spite of rules forbidding social contact  between employees. At a party where George gets promoted to a supervisors position he meets Angela Vickers who comes from another wealthy and socially prominent family. When Alice tells George she’s pregnant, they unsuccessfully try to find an abortionist. Alice insists he marry her, but he keeps putting it  off and begins a relationship with Angela Vickers. Finally on September 4, 1950 [1:04:18 to 1:17:05] when George and Alice go to get marry, it’s Labor Day so they can’t. They go to nearby Loon Lake. While out on a boat, Alice accidentally drowns. The police investigate Alice’s death, while Angela’s parents finally warm to George. The police finally get on to George and he is arrested for Alice’s murder. He is tried and convicted. In the end George admits that he is guilty because even though he did not try to kill Alice, he had planned her death and after the boat capsized he did not really try to save her.

This first adult role for Elizabeth Taylor is a fine dramatic film. The characters are some what clichéd and sterotyped, but the storyline is still interesting.  All in all one of tinseltown’s better efforts.

Sign at 1:04:46 says “Monday, September 4^th, Labor Day”

Producer - George Stevens

Director - George Stevens

Screenplay - Michael Wilson and Harry Brown

Awards – The movie won the Best Black-and White Cinematography, Best Black-and-White Costume Design, Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score and  Best Screenplay Oscars. It was also nominated for the Best Picture, Best Actor (Clift) and Best Actress(Winters) Oscars at the 24^th Academy Awards

Runtime – 2 hours 2 minutes

Released – August 14, 1951

Starring –

Montgomery Clift as George Eastman

Elizabeth Taylor as Angela Vickers

Shelley Winters as Alice Tripp

Anne Revere as Hannah Eastman

Keefe Brasselle as Earl Eastman

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015.

September 3 - Hope and Glory

Today’s movie is a period drama with a scene that happens on September 3. Watch it tonight and enjoy.

HOPE AND GLORY 

Bill Rowan lives in London with his parents, Clive and Grace, older sister Dawn and younger sister Sue. The family listen to Prime Minister Neville Chamberlin announce on the radio on September 3, 1939, that war has begun with Germany.  [2:48 to 5:36]  His father enlists in the army. His mother considers evacuating the children to Australia, but finds she emotionally cannot go through with it. The family endures the blitz. Bill joins a gang who scavenge through the ruins. There is a hilarious scene when they find a orphan girl and bribe her with jewelry they have found to play doctor.  Dawn falls for Bruce, a Canadian soldier she has met. Meanwhile the mother develops a friendship with Max, her brother-in-law, whom she was attracted to before she got married. Dawn and her soldier have a falling out even though she has become pregnant by him. After their house burns down in an ordinary house fire, they move in with Bill’s maternal grandfather who lives on the river.  Dawn’s soldier lover returns and they are wed.  Dawn’s baby is born.  Bill would have had to attend his old school for a few weeks, until he could transfer, but it was destroyed by a stray bomb.

An interesting view of an ordinary British family during the Blitz. Much more realistic than the melodramatic “Mrs. Miniver”.   Both comic and poignant at the same time. It is a thoroughly enjoyable film. One of John Boorman’s best.

1939: Countdown to War by Richard Overy (Viking, New York, 2009) at page 108 and the film at 2:55 to 2:58 give the date of the speech

Producer - John Boorman and Michael Dryhurst

Director -  John Boorman

Screenplay - John Boorman

Awards – The movie was nominated for the Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Film Oscars at the 60^th Academy Awards. .

Running Time – 1 hour 53 minutes

Released - November 13, 1987

Starring - 

Sebastian Rice-Edwards as Billy Rowan

Sarah Miles as Grace Rowan

David Hayman as Clive Rowan

Geraldine Muir as Sue Rowan

Sammi Davis as Dawn Rowan

Derrick O'Connor as Mac

Ian Bannen as Grandfather George

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015.

September 2 - Friday Night Lights

Today’s movie is a sports drama with a scene that happens on September 2. Watch it tonight and enjoy.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS     

The fans and alumni of the Permian High School Panthers in Odessa, Texas are obsessed about football and expect Coach Gaines to win the state championship. The plays party while hoping their play is good enough to get a college scholarship. On September 2, 1988 [26:12 to 34:04] we see the seasons opening game against Marshall. In this game the star of the team, cocky “Boobie” Miles is injured in a play when the Panthers are way ahead because his back up, Chris Comer can’t find his helmet. They lose their second game but Comer spurs them to a come-from-behind win in their third game and they play on to a 5-1 record. Boobie won’t accept that he can’t play anymore and is unable to when he tries in game seven, which the team loses. Afterwards the father of fullback Dan Billingsley, who always rides him about his playing,  throws his own state championship ring out the window while drunk.  Permian ends up in a three way tie for a playoff spot, but gets lucky and gets one. Bobbie clears out his locker. As a result of contentious negotiations with the opposing team in the state finals game, Dallas Carter, the title game is held in the Houston Astrodome. In the title game Permian falls behind, but comes back and almost wins the game at the last second. The coach manages to keep his job and prepares for next year.

An interesting sports movie. The football action sequences are good and the off field stories don’t drift too far into the soap opera realm. This movie keeps you interested for two hours.     

Date given in film at 27:00    

Producer – Brian Grazer

Director -  Peter Berg

Screenplay – David Aaron Cohen and Peter Berg

Runtime – 1 hour 58 minutes

Released – October 8, 2004

Staring –

Billy Bob Thornton as Coach Gaines

Lucas Black as Mike Winchell

Garrett Hedlund as Don Billingsley

Derek Luke as Boobie Miles

Lee Thompson Young as Chris Comer

Tim McGraw as Charles Billingsley

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015

September 1 - Anne of Green Gables

Today’s movie is a period drama with a scene that happens on September 1. Watch it tonight and enjoy.

ANNE OF GREEN GABLES         

Anne Shirley is an orphan and a dreamer. She lives with the Hammonds as a servant until Mr. Hammond dies and she is sent back to the orphanage. Meanwhile, at Avonlea on Prince Edward Island bachelor Matthew Cuthbert and his spinster sister Marilla have decided to take in an orphan boy to help them on their farm, Green Gables. The Cuthbert’s neighbor Rachel Lynd is shocked at the whole idea. However, by a curious (and providential, as Marilla will later say) mix-up Anne is sent instead. Matthew immediately takes to the lively Anne. Marilla wants to send her back; however when faced with the prospect of handing Anne over to the disliked work-horse, Mrs. Bluett, she declines and accepts Anne “on trial”. Anne insults Mrs. Lynd after she makes some cutting remarks about Anne. Marilla tells her to apologize and Anne refuses so Marilla threatens to send her back. Matthew asks Anne to “smooth things over” and so, only for him, Anne apologizes. Marilla’s amethyst broach turns up missing and Marilla refuses to believe Anne’s protestations of innocence, so she’s confined to her room until she confesses, which she does. Marila is really preparing to send her back when the broach is found, requiring Marilla to apologize to Anne. Anne goes to the Sunday school picnic where she meets her bosom friend Diana Barry and Gilbert Blythe, who takes an interest in her. Anne starts school on September 1, 1876, but when Gilbert teases Anne by calling her ‘carrots’ on account of her hated red hair, she smashes his slate over his head and is punished. [59:01 to 1:05:24] She takes a dislike to Gilbert and becomes best friends with Diana. Anne’s liveliness gets her into trouble, but she’s an excellent student. At the end of the school year party, when dared to walk the roof ridge of a house, she does, but falls and twists one ankle and the other one on the way home. Anne invites Diana for tea. Disaster strikes as Anne unwittingly gets Diana drunk on red currant wine and Diana’s mother forbids her from ever seeing Anne again. When the new teacher from school, Miss Stacy comes to supper, as a result of Anne’s negligence the sauce for the pudding is left uncovered, so a mouse drowns in it, resulting in embarrassment for Anne and hilarity for the adults. When all the adults except Matthew go on an overnight trip Diana’s little sister gets the croup. She almost dies, but is saved by Anne and Diana’s mother finally forgives her.  Matthew has to talk Marilla into letting Anne go with the Barrys to the Christmas ball at Carmody, where Gilbert slights her. Afterwards, Anne talks Diana into running and jumping into bed on top of Aunt Josephine, who threatens to cancel Diana’s music lessons. Anne talks her out of this. Anne and Gilbert take the admissions test to Queens College. Anne re-enacts the death of the “Lilly Maid”, but her boat sinks and Gilbert has to rescue her. Gilbert invites Anne to the White Sands Recital, but she backs out after a talk with Marilla. At the recital she repents of this decision, but Gilbert leaves before she can tell him. She goes to Queens, where Aunt Josephine warns her not to become an old maid like her. Anne wins a scholarship to Redmond College. Matthew dies and Anne is devastated.   When Marilla is forced to consider selling Green Gables, Anne gives up her scholarship and gets hired to teach school at Carmody. Gilbert who had been hired to teach at Avonlea, trades schools with her so she can stay at Green Gables, improving her attitude towards him.

A sweet film. There are many touching and funny scenes in this movie. Always good for lifting your spirits.

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy M. Montgomery (Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., New York, 2004) at page 105 gives the date Anne started school.

Producer - Ian McDougall and Kevin Sullivan

Director - Kevin Sullivan

Screenplay - Kevin Sullivan and Joe Wiesenfeld

Awards - The film won the Emmy for Outstanding Children’s Program. It was also nominated for the Outstanding Writing in a Miniseries or a Special Emmy.

Runtime - 3 hours 19 minutes

Released - December 1, 1985

Starring -

Megan Follows as Anne Shirley

Colleen Dewhurst as Marilla Cuthbert

Richard Farnsworth as Mathew Cuthbert

Patricia Hamilton as Rachel Lynde

Marilyn Lightstone as Miss Stacy

Schuyler Grant as Diana Barry

Jonathan Crombie as Gilbert Blythe

Charmion King as Aunt Josephine Barry

Jackie Burroughs as Amelia Evans

Rosemary Radcliffe as Mrs. Barry

Joachim Hansen as John Sadler

Cedric Smith as Rev. Allan

Christiane Kruger as Mrs. Allan

Paul Brown as Mr. Phillips

Miranda de Pencier as Josie Pye

Copyright by Ivan Walters  in 2015.