April 11 - Hotel Rwanda

Today’s movie is a drama with a scene that happens on April 11. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

HOTEL RWANDA                     

Paul Rusesabagina, house manager at the Hotel des Mille Collines in Kigali, Rwanda goes to pick up an order of supplies for the hotel and sees frightening signs that a time of ethnic violence between Hutus and Tutsi is coming.  A Tutsi neighbor is arrested, but Paul declines his wife’s request to use his influence with important people to help him. A peace accord is signed in Tanzania between the government and Tutsi rebels. Paul’s brother-in-law tells him trouble is coming, but he refuses to believe it. When Paul arrives home, he finds his Tutsi neighbors hiding in his house, as they trust him. He learns the President’s plane was shot down. The next morning soldiers arrive at his house. They want him to open the safe at the Hotel Diplomate, where Paul used to work and get the room keys, as they’ve going to use it as a headquarters. Paul insists on taking everyone at his house with him and they drive there through scenes of violence. Fortunately, the combination hasn’t been changed and he gets the keys. Paul uses money to bribe the soldiers into not shooting his Tutsi neighbors and wife and letting them all go to the Mille Collines. Paul is made acting manager. He takes in orphans and asks a Red Cross worker to look for his brother-in-law’s family. The UN says it can’t intervene. On April 11, 1984, Paul gets a letter from Belgium so the staff will obey him and some journalists sneak out of the hotel and film atrocities. [37:35 to 44:15]   Western tourists are evacuated from the hotel and more refugees move in. The Hutu army orders everyone out of the hotel, but Paul calls Sabena (the owners of the hotel) and they put pressure on the Hutu army through its French suppliers to have that order reversed. Paul goes out to get supplies and finds a massacre site. Paul tells his wife to kill herself and their children before being captured. Some people get exit visas for other countries, but the Hutu militia force them back to the hotel and won’t let them leave. The Hutu militia are coming to kill everyone, but Paul persuades General Bizimungu that he will help him avoid being prosecuted for crimes against humanity if he stops a massacre at the hotel. The General does so.   The UN finally arranges a deal to get them out of they country and they leave.

A very disturbing true story.  Paul Rusesabagina is a modern day hero who risked his life to save others. This film also highlights the shame we should feel in the West for letting this happen.

Date given in the film on the faxed letter at 40:42

Director - Terry George                               

Screenplay - Keir Pearson & Terry George                    

Running Time – 2 hours 1 minute                 

Released - December 22, 2004

Awards - The film was nominated for the Best Actor (Cheadle), Best Supporting Actress  (Okonedo) and Best Original Screenplay Oscars at the 77^th Academy Awards.

Cast - Don Cheadle (Paul Rusesabagina), Sophie Okonedo (Tatiana Rusesabagina), Nick Nolte (Colonel Oliver), Fana Mokoena (Augustin Bizimungu), Cara Seymour (Pat Archer),  Joaquin Phoenix (Jack Daglish), Jean Reno (Mr. Tillens), Desmond Dube (Dube), Hakeem Kae-Kazim (Georges Rutaganda)

Copyright by Ivan Walters 2014. 

April 10 - Backbeat

Today’s movie is a biography with a scene set on April 10. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

BACKBEAT                                  

In 1960 Liverpool after artist Stu Sutcliffe earns 50 guineas from selling a painting, he uses the money to buy a bass guitar so he can accompany the rock –n-roll band he’s in, the Beatles to Hamburg for an extended gig.  The Beatles made up of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Pete Best and Stu Sutcliffe arrive in Hamburg and begin playing at a dive called the Kaiserkeller between strippers. The music eventually attracts the attention of some of Hamburg’s existentialists, including Klaus Voormann. Tensions arise in the Beatles. Paul is upset that Stu really can’t play very well and the band starts taking speed to keep awake during the long hours they have to play. Then Stu meets Astrid Kirchherr, who takes a series of soon to be iconic photos of the group. Bert Kaempfert recruits them to sing backup on Tony Sheridan’s recording of “My Bonnie”. Stu does not play, because he chose to spend the day with Astrid, who dumps Klaus, her former boyfriend for Stu. The Beatles start playing at the more upscale Top Ten Club until George is deported for working while being underage.  After he turns 18 while the band is performing at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, the band returns to Hamburg. Stu and Astrid resume their relationship. Stu begins to have sudden debilitating headaches. He proposes to Astrid and gets accepted at the Hamburg College of Art. Stu leaves the band and stays in Hamburg when the other members return to England. He has a huge fight when he thinks Klaus is trying to move back in on Astrid, but Stu and Astrid reconcile. Then on April 10, 1962 [1:28:52 to 1:33:17] Stu has a massive brain hemorrhage and dies. The Beatles return to Hamburg the next day and all of the, especially John are devastated. The Beatles go on to superstardom.

An interesting biopic. Paul McCartney says it is not accurate, while Astrid Kirchherr says it is. Focuses on the relationship between John, Stu and Astrid and basically ignores the rest of the group.

The Beatles: The Biography by Bob Spitz (Little, Brown and Company, New York, 2005) at pages 305-306 and the film at 1:35:20 gives Stu’s date of death.

Producers - Finola Dwyer and Stephen Woolley                 

Director - Iain Softley

Screenplay - Iain Softley and Stephen Ward                         

Runtime – 1 hour 40 minutes

Released - April 14, 1994

Cast –

Stephen Dorff as Stuart Sutcliffe

Sheryl Lee as Astrid Kirchherr

Ian Hart as John Lennon

Gary Bakewell as Paul McCartney

Chris O'Neill as George Harrison

Paul Duckworth as Ringo Starr

Scot Williams as Pete Best

Kai Wiesinger as Klaus Voormann

Jennifer Ehle as Cynthia Lennon                       

Copyright by Ivan Walters 2014.

April 9 - John Adams

Today’s movie is a biography with a scene set on April 9.  I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

JOHN ADAMS         

After the Boston Massacre, John Adams defies public opinion, represents the soldiers and gets them acquitted. In the aftermath of the Boston tea party and the Intolerable Acts, Adams turns down a post on the British Admiralty court. Adams is a delegate to the First and Second Continental Congresses. Adams opposes peaceful overtures to Britain, while supporting the establishment of an army and the appointment of George Washington to lead it. Meanwhile, at home Abigail and the children are eyewitness observers of the Battle of Bunker Hill and they are inoculated against smallpox. Independence is declared. Adams is appointed ambassador to France, (overcoming the objections of Abigail) where upon arriving he meets with Ben Franklin on the morning of April 9, 1778. [Ep. 3, 17:36 to 24:31] The morality of Adams and the French don’t line up, while Adams and Franklin disagree about goals and methods in dealing with the French government. When Franklin is made sole ambassador, Adams goes to Holland to try and get a loan for the American government. Adams is deathly ill for a time, but after the victory at Yorktown, gets the loan. Abigail comes to Europe and he is appointed ambassador to Great Britain. Adams returns to Massachusetts, but instead of being able to retire to his family, he is elected Vice-President. He is not included in Washington’s inner circle and he has a running dispute about which side to support in the Anglo-French war of 1792. His daughter marries someone he doesn’t like. Adams is elected President. The XYZ affair with France causes more conflict with the vice-president, Jefferson. Conflict with Jefferson also arises from the Alien and Sedition acts, since Adams sees them as necessary and Jefferson as oppressive. He cuts off contact with his son Charles who has become a drunk. The Adams move into the White House and he loses his re-election bid.  His daughter develops breast cancer and in spite of undergoing a horrific operation (without any anesthesia) dies. After Abigail dies, Adams begins corresponding with Jefferson and they renew their friendship. His son is elected president and Adams dies on the 50^th anniversary of American independence.

A factual not overly dramatized biopic. Casts a lot of light on the private life of its subject. It’s not afraid to show the famous as they really were, people not idealized super heroes. Not totally flattering portrayals of Franklin and Washington. 

John Adams by David McCullough (Simon & Schuster, New York, 2001) at page 189 gives the date of this meeting

Producer - David Coatsworth and Kirk Ellis

Director - Tom Hooper

Screenplay   - Kirk Ellis

Runtime - 8 hours

Released - March 16, 2008

Awards - It won the Outstanding Miniseries, Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries (Giamatti), Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries (Linney), Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries (Wilkinson),. Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries, Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries (Episode 2),  Outstanding Costumes for a Miniseries, Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Miniseries,  Outstanding Sound Editing for a Miniseries (Episode 3), Outstanding sound Mixing for a Miniseries (Episode 3), and Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Miniseries. It was also nominated for the Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Outstanding Supporting Actor for a Miniseries (Dillane), Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries (Morse), Outstanding  Cinematography for a Miniseries (Episode 3), Outstanding Hairstyling for a Miniseries, Outstanding Makeup for a Miniseries, Outstanding Original Dramatic Score for a Miniseries (Episode 2), Outstanding Single Camera Picture editing for a Miniseries (Episode 2), Outstanding Sound Editing for a Miniseries (Episode 6) and Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Miniseries (Episode 5).   

Starring -

Paul Giamatti as John Adams

Laura Linney as Abigail Adams

Stephen Dillane as Thomas Jefferson

David Morse as George Washington

Tom Wilkinson as Benjamin Franklin

Rufus Sewell as Alexander Hamilton

Justin Theroux as John Hancock

Danny Huston as Samuel Adams

Clancy O'Connor as Edward Rutledge

Željko Ivanek as John Dickinson

Ebon Moss-Bachrach as John Quincy Adams

Sarah Polley as Abigail Adams Smith

Andrew Scott  as William Stephens Smith

John Dossett as  Dr. Benjamin Rush

Mamie Gummer as Sally Smith Adams

Caroline Corrie as Louisa Adams

Samuel Barnett as Thomas Boylston Adams

Kevin Trainor as Charles Adams

Tom Hollander as King George III

Damien Jouillerot as King Louis XVI

Guy Henry as Jonathan Sewall

Brennan Brown as Robert Treat Paine

Paul Fitzgerald as Richard Henry Lee

Tom Beckett as Elbridge Gerry

Del Pentecost as Henry Knox

Tim Parati as Caesar Rodney

John O'Creagh as Stephen Hopkins

John Keating as Timothy Pickering

Copyright by Ivan Walters 2014. 

April 8 - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Today’s movie is a western with a scene that happens on April 8. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY           

The notorious gunslinger known as ‘Angel Eyes’ interrogates Stevens about the location of Bill Carson, who knows the location of a cache of stolen Confederate gold. Angel Eyes kills Stevens and the man who hired him to find Stevens. The mysterious, lightning fast gunslinger called ‘Blondie’ teams up with Tuco, a wanted man to make money. Blondie turns Tuco over for the reward then frees him at the last second before Tuco is to be hung. Eventually Blondie tires of Tuco’s complaints about how they divide the money and abandons him in the desert. However, Tuco survives and tracks Blondie to Albuquerque, New Mexico as the Confederate army retreats through the town after its defeat at the Battle of Glorietta Canyon. On April 8, 1862 [41:31 to 49:35] the vengeful Tuco is about to hang Blondie, but a well-timed cannon ball saves him. Tuco finally does capture Blondie and force-marches him through the desert. Just as Tuco is about to kill him, he spots a runaway carriage. In the carriage Tuco finds a dying Bill Carson who mumbles about stolen gold, worth $200,000.00{about $4.78 million dollars in 2013} buried in a cemetery. Tuco gets water to revive Carson, but when he returns, finds Carson dead with Blondie beside him, saying he knows the name on the grave where the gold is buried.  After Blondie recovers, the pair disguise themselves as Confederate solders, but are captured by Union forces. When Tuco gives his name as ‘Bill Carson’, Angel Eyes, now a guard in the camp tortures Tuco for the name of the cemetery, but offers Blondie an equal share in return for the name on the grave. They ride off but after Tuco escapes, Blondie reforms his alliance with Tuco. They head for the cemetery and provoke a battle between Union and Confederate forces blocking their path. Tuco names the cemetery and Blondie names the grave, “Arch Stanton”. Tuco digs up this grave, but there are just bones. Angel Eyes arrives. Blondie writes the real name on a rock and sets it down, while the three men warily eye each other. Angel Eyes draws, but is killed by Blondie while Tuco learns Blondie has removed his bullets earlier. Blondie forces Tuco to dig up the grave marked ‘Unknown” beside Arch Stanton, which does have the gold. Blondie puts a noose around Tuco’s neck, ties his hands behind his back  and rides off, but turns and in a fantastic long shot breaks the rope, dropping Tuco onto his share of the loot as he curses Blondie.

One of the outstanding ‘spaghetti westerns” of the 1960’s. A cinematic classic of plot, cinematography and score. A must see film.

The Civil War in the American West by Alvin M. Josephy, Jr. (Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1991) at page 86 gives the date when the Yankees shelled Albuquerque.

Producer - Alberto Grimaldi

Director - Sergio Leone

Screenplay - Age & Scarpelli, Sergio Leone, Luciano Vincenzoni

Runtime – 2 hours 57 minutes

Released – December 15, 1966

Staring -

Clint Eastwood as Blondie “The Good”

Lee Van Cleef as Angel Eyes “The Bad”

Eli Wallach as Tuco “The Ugly”

Aldo Giuffrè as the Captain

Mario Brega as Corporal Wallace

Luigi Pistilli as Father Pablo Ramirez

Al Mulock as One-armed Bounty Hunter

Antonio Casas as Stevens

Antonio Casale as Bill Carson/Jackson.

Sergio Mendizábal as blond bounty hunter

John Bartha as Sheriff

Claudio Scarchilli as Pedro

Sandro Scarchilli as Chico

Antonio Molino Rojo as Captain Harper

Benito Stefanelli as Angel Eyes Gang Member

Aldo Sambrell as Angel Eyes Gang Member

Lorenzo Robledo as Clem

Enzo Petito as the store keeper

Livio Lorenzon as Baker

Rada Rassimov as Maria

Chelo Alonso as Stevens' Wife

Copyright by Ivan Walters 2014.

April 7 - Easter Parade

Today’s film is a musical with a scene that happens on April 7. I hope you will enjoy this movie and watch it tonight.

EASTER PARADE                         

Don Hewes, a well-known Broadway star buys presents for his dance partner, Nadine Hale, but is stunned when she announces she is going solo. She is in love with a mutual friend of theirs Jonathan Harrow III “Johnny”. He tries to get Don to talk to Nadine, but Don says he doesn’t need her and can turn any dancer into a new partner. Don selects Hannah Brown, a girl singing at the bar where he is drowning his sorrows. She doesn’t believe him at first, but finally agrees to be his partner. Don creates an exotic persona for her and they perform as ‘Juanita and Hewes’ but their initial performance is a dud.  Hannah meets Johnny, who falls in love with her. Don decides that Hannah should be herself in the act. Performing as “Hannah and Hewes” they are a success and soon earn an audition for the Ziegfeld follies, but Don turns it down since Nadine is the star of the show. Johnny confesses his love for Hannah, but she tells him she has fallen in love with Don. Don works up a new act for them and after Hannah tells him he only sees her as a dance partner, he realizes he loves her too. The go to see Nadine’s new show and when she gets Don to dance one of their old numbers with her, Hannah, thinking Don still loves Nadine, flees.  Don tries to apologize and Johnny tells her she should show Don she loves him.  She goes to see him on April 7, 1912 [1:35:55 to 1:43:09] and acts like the argument never happened. They go walk in the Easter Parade on 5^th Avenue where Don proposes to Hannah and they become engaged. 

A big-budget MGM musical. A light and airy piece of fluff. If you’re looking for entertainment, this will fill the bill.

At 57:52 the year is given as 1912. At 1:02-50-52 we are told Easter is on April 7^th, which is the date Easter was on in 1912 as per http://www.easterbunny.com/date-of-easter/easter-date-for-1912.html

Producer - Arthur Freed

Director - Charles Walters

Awards – This movie won the Best Original Score Oscar at the 21^st Academy Awards

Screenplay - Sidney Sheldon, Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett

Runtime – 1 hour 43 minutes

Released – June 30, 1948

Starring –

Judy Garland as Hannah Brown

Fred Astaire as Don Hewes

Peter Lawford as Jonathan Harrow III

Ann Miller as Nadine Hale

Jules Munshin as François

Clinton Sundberg as Mike the bartender

Copyright by Ivan Walters 2014.

April 6 - East of Eden (1955)

Today’s movie is a drama with a scene that occurs on April 6. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

EAST OF EDEN                       

Cal Trasker, the unloved son of rancher Adam Trasker has learned that, contrary to what he has told, his mother is not dead, but is alive and is the madam of a bordello in the nearby town of Monterey, California. He is unsuccessful in talking to her and rides the rails back to his home in the Salinas Valley. Cal’s father is obsessed with plans to ship frozen vegetables to New York.  After a discussion with his father about his mother, Cal returns to the bordello, but again is unable to talk with her. When the vegetables are being loaded on the refrigerated train, Cal has lunch with Abra, his favored twin brother Aron’s girlfriend.  However, the train does not keep the vegetables cold and the shipment is a complete loss. Cal decides to go into the bean planting business with a friend of his father’s Will Hamilton, as he believes that imminent US entry into the Great War will caused the price of food to skyrocket. Cal visits his mother again. This time he is   able to talk to her and convinces her to lend him five thousand dollars, which he invests in bean futures. On April 6, 1917 [1:03:47 to 1:03:52], the USA declares war on Germany. At a fair Abra is waiting to meet Aron, but runs into Cal and they spend time together. They kiss, but she says she still loves Aron. The townspeople attack Gustav Albrecht, who is of German descent. Aron defends him and is helped by Cal, but this causes a fight between them, as Aron thinks Cal helped him to impress Abra. Cal decides to give his father the money he has earned at surprise birthday party that he plans with Abra. At the party Aron announces he and Abra are engaged, to the discomfort of both Cal and Abra. Adam Trasker refuses to accept the money, which he views as being the product of war profiteering. Cal sees this as another rejection. Abra tries to console him with kisses, which infuriates Aron, who orders Cal to stay away from Abra. In revenge Cal tells Aron about their mother and takes him to the bordello to meet her. This so upsets Aron that he gets drunk and enlists in the Army. Adam cannot dissuade him and has a stroke. Cal plans to leave town, but Abra talks to the stricken Mr. Tasker and begs him to show Cal he loves him. When comes to say goodbye, his father asks Cal to stay and care for him, which he does.

A powerful film, with an impressive performance by James Dean. The film references the story of Cain and Abel, but I think it’s more like that of the prodigal son, who wanders but returns to the family fold in the end. A true cinematic classic and must see film.

  

Date given in film at 1:03:50 on a newspaper

Producer - Elia Kazan            

Director - Elia Kazan                   

Screenplay - Paul Osborn

Awards – This film won the Best Supporting Actress (Van Fleet) Oscar. It was also nominated for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actor (Dean) Oscars at the 28^th Academy Awards.

Runtime – 1 hour 55 minutes        

Released – March 9, 1955

Cast –

Julie Harris as Abra

James Dean as Cal Trask

Raymond Massey as Adam Trask

Burl Ives as Sam the Sheriff

Richard Davalos as Aron Trask

Jo Van Fleet as Kate

Copyright by Ivan Walters 2014. 

April 5 - Playing for Time

Today’s move is a drama with a scene that happens on April 5. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

PLAYING FOR TIME                      

Fania Fenelon, a Jewish cabaret singer from Paris is arrested and sent to Auschwitz. She is saved from hard labor by being recruited to join the Women’s Orchestra, which plays to calm arrivals and to entertain the German officers in the camp. The orchestra is led by Alma Rose, the niece of Gustav Mahler, who strives for perfection. She realizes that they must keep the Germans happy to stay alive.  The members try to deal with the horrible conditions in which they find themselves in different ways. They see the camp interpreter, Malla hung after trying to escape and they always are under pressure to keep Dr. Josef Mengele happy with their playing. One of their SS guards, Maria Mandel, ‘adopts” a little Polish boy after his parents are gassed. Alma is told she is to be released to give concerts for soldiers, but before she can leave Alma dies suddenly on April 5, 1944 [1:55:45 to 1:59:16]. The inmates are shocked that the German’s give Alma a funeral, but whisper that Alma was poisoned by a jealous guard. The orchestra continues, although the members argue among themselves. When the little boy dies, Maria Mandel goes mad. As the Soviet army approaches, the camp is evacuated and they are force marched West. Finally they are liberated by the British.

A fascinating film. A character study of people in very difficult surroundings. The movie shows how the various members of the orchestra tried to cope.

The New Grove Encyclopedia of Music and Musicians, 2^nd Ed., Vol. 21, ed by  Stanley

Sadie (Macmillian Publishers, Ltd., New York, 2001) at page 684 gives the date of Alma Rose’s death.

Producers - Linda Yellen and John E. Quill

Directors - Joseph Sargent and Daniel Mann

Screenplay - Arthur Miller

Awards – The film won the Outstanding Made for Television Movie, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie(Redgrave), Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie(Alexander) and Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special Emmys. It was also nominated for the Outstanding Art Direction for a Limited Series or a Special and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie(Knight) at the 33rd Primetime Emmy Awards.

Runtime – 2 hours 30 minutes                                    

Released - September 30, 1980

Starring –

Vanessa Redgrave as Fania Fenelon              

Verna Bloom as Paulette

Jane Alexander as Alma Rose

Donna Haley as Katrina

Maud Adams as Mala 

Lenore Harris as Charlotte

Christine Baranski as Olga 

Mady Kaplan as Varya

Robin Bartlett as Etalina

Melanie Mayron as Marianne

Marisa Berenson as Elzvieta

Viveca Lindfors as Frau Schmidt           

Copyright by Ivan Walters 2014.