Film366.com features a daily movie recommendation selected specifically for every day this leap year. Every post features a video - sometimes the official trailer, sometimes an original video review, and sometimes something else. Keep checking in to see the movie of the day!
This Day in History !!!! On this day in 1908 the Meteorite/Comet Tunkuska Event occurred in Siberia: Wikipedia.org Article for the Tunkuska Event: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunguska_event So let's visit Siberia and learn about some of its history in the foreign film modern classic, directed by legendary Japanese Director Akira Kurosawa in ..... Dersu Uzala (1975)
About 10 years ago myself and a bunch of friends had a movie club and we did the year 1974 and Dersu Uzala (1975) was on the list. Some publications/Web Sites have this film listed in 1975. Here are some of those reviews.
Phil Congleton: This is a mesmerizing Russian film that is directed by Akira Kurosawa that takes place in the Mongolian region in Siberia with a Russian Army Exploration Party running into a little hunter-guide who has lived in this area for years and can find his way around the densely covered forest at ease. I enjoyed reading the broken “Russian” in the English subtitles every time Dersu spoke. It was interesting to me. It proved once again that subtitles work and are better than any form of dubbing. The film is beautifully shot, has great lighting and the use of camera lens filters totally fits the classic Kurusawa style. The best way to describe the film is “Tarzan in Siberia”, especially when they try to take Derzu back to civilization. – Grade: A- Ross Brakman: Who could'a thunk such a thing would exist as a Russian buddy buddy film set in the Siberian outback between a Russian military man and a Mongolian hunter? And who could'a thunk such a film would win the best foreign Oscar for its year? And who could'a thunk it would be an engaging, warm tale of male bonding (with minimal homoeroticism, I might add)? Such a thing exists, and it's called Dersu Uzala after the main character. Set in a desolate Russian landscape that all too often looks like the Philadelphia region without the cookie cutter houses, the film tells of the relationship between two unlikely friends set in a disappearing wilderness close to the middle of nowhere, and how one of those friends, Dersu, cannot conform to the demands of society. A bittersweet story of ageing and displacement, this low-key drama is, as the reviews say, definitely worth a looksee. – Grade: A
Or check out TVGuide.com to see if this film is playing on TV/Cable in your area: http://www.tvguide.com/movies/dersu-uzala/112707/ Check back in tomorrow ...................... For our next Film of the Day .....................
Happy Birthday !!!! Celebrate the birth of Ray Harryhausen today, who was born in 1920, but lived a long 93 years until he passed away in 2013. Wikipedia.org Article for Ray Harryhausen: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Harryhausen One of the pioneering masters of film-making special effects, he laid out the groundwork for today's special effects geniuses, churning out movies that traversed film-history, from Mighty Joe Young (1949) to Clash of the Titans (1981). Celebrate his birthday with one of his most famous creations ... The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958) And for young people ...... no! It wasn't a movie about a basketball playing genie.
Happy Birthday !!!! Today, the great Pat Morita would have been 84 years old !!!! Wikipedia.org Article for Pat Morita: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Morita Morita made a big splash doing TV and Film appearances in the late 60s, but gained fame showing up on the legendary TV show M*A*S*H* (1972-83) playing a South Korean Army Captain and solidified his name by playing the lovable Arnold Takahashi, who owned Arnold's Diner on another legendary TV show Happy Days (1974-84). Pat broke many barriers and is hailed as being the first Asian actor to be the lead in an American TV sitcom.
But, we all know what his crowning achievement was in the movies. He was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 1985 Oscars and that is why we picked for today .......... Karate Kid (1984) Run Time: 126 mins Genre: Action, Drama, Martial Arts Format: Widescreen Format, Color Director: John G. Avildsen Starring: Ralph Macchio, Noriyuki "Pat" Morita and Elisabeth Shue IMDB.com Entry for the Film: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087538/?ref_=nv_sr_1 Wikipedia.org Article for the Film: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Karate_Kid Trailer for the Film on YouTube:
Happy Birthday !!!! Today, Director, Writer, Producer J.J. Abrams turns 50! He is virtually the same age as Star Trek. Wikipedia.org Article for J.J. Abrams: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._J._Abrams 50 years ago the first episodes of the original Star Trek series began airing in 1966 and creator Gene Roddenberry's vision began to take shape.
Film366.com decided that we would honor all the Star Trek movies this year to celebrate Star Trek's 50th Anniversary. We also are celebrating the release of the new Star Trek Beyond (2016), coming out on July 22, 2016. This post is also dedicated to the stunning talent of Anton Yelchin, who plays Chekov in the three re-booted Star trek movies and who was tragically lost to us in a freak car accident about ten days ago. Rest in Peace Chekov.
Back to J.J. After all the great things J.J. Abrams has done so far, nothing beats his accomplishment of rescuing a cherished film/TV franchise. So let's go back to 2009 and watch his masterpeice, in which he was able to successfully change the time continuim in order to allow both Star Trek universes to co-exist with each other in ........... Star Trek (2009)
Run Time: 127 mins Genre: Science Fiction, Action, Adventure, Futuristic Format: Widescreen Format, Color Director: J.J. Abrams Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, John Cho, Zoe Saldana, Anton Yelchin, Eric Bana, Bruce Greenwood and Leonard Nimoy IMDB.com Entry for the Film: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0796366/?ref_=nv_sr_6 Wikipedia.org Article for the Film: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek_(film)
On this day, the Cyclone Roller Coaster opened on Coney Island in 1927. Wikipedia.org Article for the Cyclone Roller Coaster: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coney_Island_Cyclone Celebrate with one of our favorite films from our old "Dying Breed Movie Club" days...
..... THE CROWD (1927) Run Time: 104 mins Genre: Drama Format: Standard 4:3, B&W, Silent Director: King Vidor Starring: James Murray, Eleanor Boardman and Bert Roach
The future holds unlimited potential for newborn John Sims. But dreams soon fade with the death of his father when John is but a lad. Like many before him, John sets out to make his mark in New York City, but ends up a faceless worker in a large office of a large business. Still he is happy with his fate and soon meets a young woman named Mary on a blind double date. As their lives open up together through marriage, pregnancy and plight, the lives of the workaday men and women in urban America is revealed.
About 10 years ago myself and a bunch of friends had a movie club and we did the year 1928 and The Crowd (1928) was on the list. Here are some of those reviews.
Jennifer Congleton: It’s really cool to get a glimpse into 1928. Some things haven’t changed at all in 80 years. You may not catch too many men wearing suits and ties on the beach anymore, but the working man is still stuck in the same old rat race that ends up practically destroying John Simms. John and Mary are on the roller coaster of life, with a few highs and lots of lows, and then finally rock bottom. The worst was when they received that $500 and then a truck hits their kid. The cinematography is awesome. I love all the cool shots of NY. I liked the scene when the horse ambulance comes barreling down the street and then young John slowly walks up the steps, all alone with a huge crowd below, to find out that his father has died. He just looks so alone. Despite the tragedies in the movie, there are many humorous moments as well. John and Bert’s drunk walk home, the husbands at the hospital, and the kids peeing at the beach are just a few. - Grade: A
Ross Brakman: The more exposure I get to films of the silent era, the more I realize how relevant they continue to be in our era. From the slapstick of Keaton to the pretentious of Dreyer to the surrealism of Dali and Bunuel. Okay, maybe surrealism hasn't maintained a presence in contemporary film. The story in "The Crowd" is easily as contemporary as any modern romantic comedy, and likely better than many mainstream films today. You have fair doses of love, despair, quality shtick, failure and redemption all with an underlying pathos that I certainly didn't anticipate when the film began. In short, many filmmakers today either already saw "The Crowd," or should. - Grade: B+
Russ Fama: Again 1928 rules! And just one year shy of the stock market crash. I wonder if the couple's marriage survived that? Wow - the roller coaster ride of human emotions... I was deeply moved by this film and its family relationship dynamics. This movie can make you cry like "Field of Dreams". The one thing I took away from this film is I gotta learn to play the ukulele! It surely may be man's secret to surviving married life. I'm convinced that it's the only thing that is gonna keep it all together for me... Boy do I wish I could experience Coney Island in the 1920's! Now that must have been a fun time. On the technical side this movie really moved along and I didn't mind that it was silent. The forced and angular architecture shots along with the bustling crowd scenes blending into each other were rudimentary "Koyanasquatsi". If you liked the poignancy of corporate America in this film, I highly recommend you view Rod Serling's feature film of the 1950s - "Patterns". Also on the subject of crowd manipulation of the masses may I also recommend the film A Face In The Crowd. - Grade: A
Dana Stevenson: Wow, there is so much great stuff to say about this film that I don’t know where to start. I love, love, love this movie! The story has it all; an early look at corporate America, the American dream of making it big, the ups and downs of marriage, comedy, a heartbreaking tragedy, and it’s just got such a genuine feel to it. Eleanor Boardman and James Murray give exceptional performances as Mary and John, which makes their turbulent relationship all that more believable. There are so many scenes in this movie that stand out in my mind. I love the foreshadowing of Johnny ending up as the pathetic guy juggling and wearing a sign to make a living and the comedy when he and his buddy walk down the street in a drunken stupor. I love the scene when John and Mary are fighting in the kitchen and everything is breaking in the apartment, as well as the scene of their family on the beach. Not to be forgotten is the musical score that is absolutely phenomenal and builds the moment for every scene. The cinematography is also astounding; particularly the shot looking down the stairs at Johnny as he ascends them only to discover his father died, the shots of the crowded city that enable you to feel the expansiveness and frenzy of it, and the final shot in the theater as the camera pans out and the crowd gets bigger and bigger. This movie went way, way, way, beyond what I would expect from a silent film and the fact that the story can hold up no matter what era it is told in amazes me. I almost forgot that it wasn’t taking place during present day. I must admit that I’ve never had much of an appreciation for silent films but this one has changed all of that for me. - Grade: A+
Chris Mich: This is what the Dying Breed Club is all about. This is an awesome, awesome movie that showcases just how inventive directors were in those early years to accomplish "putting you there" right alongside the character. Shots like the camera on the double date going down the fun slide with the four love birds was cool. Editing/double exposure effects like the numbers spinning out of control around a grief stricken Dad who only can see the scene of his daughter getting hit by a truck - which is double exposed as a scene on his actual forehead. The script is great - about how one man dreams big and falls short. And, even though happy endings may have been common place in the day - it had me guessing till the end if it would "all work out." The only reason I didn't give this an A+ is that it has the stereotypical portrayal of Blacks for the era. Historically accurate to a point (and used minimally in the film, I might add), but really not necessary. However, it was funny that it was the lowly conductor that initiates the married couple to get into bed together for the first time. Other great gems were the kissing scene by Niagara Falls, the dominoes of years, and that last killer shot of the crowd in the theater that keeps going and going. What's also cool about this picture is that it does serve as a visual connection to all the stories I've heard my grandparents and members of that generation share about life in the city, politics at the office back in that day, etc. I loved this movie! - Grade: A
Phil Congleton: As I mentioned in my review for "Docks of New York", there are certain areas in silent film that I tend to struggle with because of believability, mostly caused by sign-of-the-times circumstances which cause me to lean towards the positive side because it is something the director can't control, but it is a struggle nonetheless. In the case of this film, and really any film made before 1960, there is a loss of believability, because I really do not believe that people fall in love on their first date or get married within a week of meeting each other. When someone says, "Are you making love to me?", that doesn't really mean saying sweet stuff to your girlfriend, like in the 1934 movie "It Happened One Night". It means, "Let's get F**k'n". This is a problem due to sensibilities of the time and censorship that you don't see today. But again, it is a sign-of-the-time thing. This continuous assault on viewer sensibilities is what made things tough for me and actually became annoying by the end of the film. I was however impressed with the use of the word "pregnant" in this film considering the fact that you couldn't even use the word on television until about 1965. I wasn't buying the two older brothers either. The actors cast for the roles seemed a little too old. The only other problem I had with the film was, even though it was 1928, I still felt a familiarity was apparent in this film and I am sure this story was told before this one in earlier cinema.
On to the good stuff; Excellent camera work was seen through out the film. Great shots and perspective; young Johnny on the steps, framed by the walls and the crowd at his father's passing. Great camera trucking shots; the camera man riding backwards down the slide in front of the actors at Coney Island. The shot going up the building, than over the desks in the office. The shot, pulling back, over the audience in the theater at the end of the film. Great close-ups. They really perfected the use of close-ups by this time in film history. The scene at Niagara Falls was A+ stuff. Even though the story seemed familiar, it still was executed perfectly by hitting all the aspects of life; romance, love, work, birth, tragedy, despair and resolve. Excellent use of paradox with the juggling clown and the sleight of hand - magic cleaner slogan. The future and the past coming together at once. I really wanted to love this film, because of all the great things I heard about it. Maybe if it was shortened by about 20 minutes, than the usual struggles I felt from the film would have been lifted. All-in-all, a great commentary for the silent film era. By the way, the actor who played Bert was named Bert Roach. I was wondering if he was related to Hal Roach, who produced the Laurel and Hardy shorts as well as the Our Gang comedies and I was wondering if the group of kids in the beginning were part of the our gang kids. Something to think about. - Grade: A-
Rich Shumaker: Wow! Yeah I said Wow! The first 30 minutes has some amazing cinematography or at least I think that is when it is. Scenes I have seen in other films are in this one. Amazing camera angles. great use of space. And it is 4 X 3 ish in aspect ratio and it still has POP for those images. The story is excellent and makes me sad. His ship is coming in, and in the end, does it ever really come in? This movie is one step away from a tragedy. Stop this film 10 minutes earlier and it could be a tragedy or make it go 10 more and it might be. I still love the film, I give it an A rating. It makes me want to work harder at my goals, very inspiring. Weird inspiration though. Kind of like dream the dream and make sure to go for it. Don't wait for your ship because it won't show up on the docks. If it does show up that damn Karma is going to kick up and wack you or your kid with a stick. Because you never get something for nothing. The money flows in and you experience a greater loss then is ever imaginable. Yes if you watch this film some if not all of this crazy rant will make some sense. If you never see The Crowd then most of what I am saying is cryptic. Even if you do watch it I am sure I am still cryptic. Great story. Hard story for me to watch. I would watch this film again. - Grade: A Trailer/Scenes for the Film on YouTube:
On this day in history, the Korean War begins in 1950 and what better film to watch about the Korean War, but the one that influenced the acclaimed TV Series ........ M*A*S*H* (1970) Trailer for the film on YouTube:
This Day in History !!!! A meteor, 450 metric tons, lands near Chicora, Pennsylvania on this date in 1938. Wikipedia.org Article for Chicora, Pennsylvania: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicora%2C_Pennsylvania So, why not watch one of the better "meteor" movies like this one ....... Deep Impact (1998)
Happy Birthday !!!!! Modern legendary film-director Joss Whedon turns 52 today! Wikipedia.org Article for Joss Whedon: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joss_Whedon So, let's stay away from the Marvel stuff and the Buffy stuff and get to what really made Joss the best ............ Firefly (2002). Wikipedia.org Article for the TV Series Firefly (2002): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefly_(TV_series) ...... and the theatrical film from the TV Series was fantastic ...... Serenity (2005)
Run Time: 119 Minutes Genre: Action, Adventure, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Western Format: Widescreen Format, Color Director: Joss Whedon Starring: Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Adam Baldwin, Summer Glau, Morena Baccarin, Jewel Staite, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Ron Glass IMDB.com Entry for the Film: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379786/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 Wikipedia.org Article for the Film: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serenity_(film) Trailer for the Film on YouTube:
This Day in History !!!!! On this day in 1941 Germany declares war on the Soviet Union ... Wikipedia.org Article for World War II: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II Let's check in with a critically acclaimed film dealing with the darkness of the war in the Russian foreign-language film ........ Cranes are Flying (1957)
This Day in History !!! On this grim day in 1877, The Molly Maguires met their final fate via a hanging in Pennsylvania. Wikipedia.org Article for the Molly Maguires: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molly_Maguires So, let's watch the film that tells the story about the dark past that has been turned into part of Pennsylvania lore in the Sean Connery drama .......... The Molly Maguires (1970)
Happy Birthday to Errol Flynn, who would have been 107 years old today !!! Wikipedia.org Article for Errol Flynn: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Errol_Flynn Errol Flynn would make a big splash, early in his career, with this huge hit and money-making, critical-favorite ......... Captain Blood (1935)
Happy Birthday to Kathleen Turner! Wikipedia.org Article for Kathleen Turner: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathleen_Turner Let's enjoy a favorite of many and watch the entertaining, Robert Zemeckis directed film .........., Romancing The Stone (1984)
Run Time: 106 Minutes Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Romance Format: Widescreen Format, Color Director: Robert Zemeckis Starring: Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVito and Zack Norman IMDB.com Entry for the Film: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088011/?ref_=nv_sr_1 Wikipedia.org Article for the Film: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romancing_the_Stone Trailer for the Film on YouTube:
On this day in 1815, The Battle of Waterloo commenced... Wikipedia.org Article for the Film: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Waterloo Let's check out the vision, Russian Director Sergei Bondarchuk had for this, the definitive battle of the Napoleonic reign in ............ Waterloo (1970)
Or check out TVGuide.com to see if this film is playing on TV/Cable in your area: http://www.tvguide.com/movies/frostnixon/293206/ Check back in tomorrow ...................... For our next Film of the Day .....................
Happy Birthday !!!!! We haven't had much of a chance to talk about these two guys yet this year, so it is a great thing that today is Stan Laurel's birthday. Today Stan Laurel would have been 126 years old! Wikipedia.org Article for Stan Laurel: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Laurel The closest we have gotten to talking about Stan Laurel was the influences he had on Jerry Lewis in the Film366.com recommended film The Bellboy (1960). Link to our The Bellboy (1960) Post: http://film366.blogspot.com/2016/03/the-bellboy-1960.html
.......... and of course, the other guy was Oliver Hardy: Wikipedia.org Article for Laurel and Hardy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurel_and_Hardy Wikipedia.org Article for Oliver Hardy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Hardy So, let's enjoy one of the funniest and most-perfect comedies ever made in the popular and definitive Laurel and Hardy Feature Film ......... The Flying Deuces (1939)
Run Time: 69 mins Genre: Comedy, War Format: Standard 4:3 Format, Black and White Director: A. Edward Sutherland Starring: Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Jean Parker and Reginald Gardiner IMDB.com Entry for the Film: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031322/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 Wikipedia.org Article for the Film: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Flying_Deuces Here's his whole movie Flying Deuces (1939) on YouTube ...
