Movie-A-Day #168: All the President’s Men (1976).
In the wee hours of June 17, 1972, five men broke into the Democratic Party’s national presidential campaign headquarters in the Watergate hotel and office complex in Washington, D.C. It looked like just a petty burglary and was going to be treated as such by the courts until two Washington Post reporters got a hold of the story. Working together, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein eventually discovered a conspiracy to bring down Democratic candidate George McGovern and a broader illegal campaign that went all the way up to the White House. The pair’s tireless work, which was chronicled in their book and film “All the President’s Men,” set the gold standard for investigative journalism and eventually led President Richard Nixon to resign in disgrace.
Movie-A-Day #167: Monterey Pop (1968).
The legendary Monterey Pop festival began on this day in 1967, boasting a powerhouse lineup that included The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, Ravi Shankar and others. It was an important turning point in rock music that set the stage for the cultural juggernaut that was Woodstock. In much the same way, D.A. Pennebaker’s documentary on the festival also paved the way for Michael Wadleigh’s influential “Woodstock” movie.
Movie-A-Day #166: Smoke Signals (1998).
Today is Native American Citizenship Day, commemorating the day in 1924 when Native Americans were finally recognized as full American citizens. They’ve been treated pretty poorly in movies over the years, even by well-meaning filmmakers, but then again, that’s the same way they’ve been treated in society as well. One exception is the great “Smoke Signals,” which gives a pretty entertaining but clear eyed view of life on the rez. It’s also the first feature film completely created and produced by Native Americans.
Movie-A-Day #165: The Flag (1927).
It’s Flag Day in the United States, time to celebrate the ol’ Stars ‘n’ Stripes. As ubiquitous as the American flag may be, it certainly hasn’t inspired a whole lot of movies in and of itself. Intead it has just become background wallpaper in countless patriotic films, TV shows and political events. One exception is the fairly obscure silent short “The Flag,” which tells the almost entirely fictional tale of Betsy Ross’ creation of the first American flag. Enid Bennett plays Betsy while silent film legend Francis X. Bushman plays George Washington.
Movie-A-Day #164: Let It Be (1970).
On this day in 1970, the Beatles’ “The Long and Winding Road” spent its last week at No. 1 on the pop charts in the United States. It was the band’s last No. 1 song, marking the end of an amazing run of chart dominance. During their reign, the Beatles charted 20 No. 1 singles (holding that position for a combined 59 weeks) and 19 No.1 albums (for a combined 132 weeks) – all records that no other act has come close to breaking. In fact, for the week of April 4, 1964, they had all Top 5 singles in America. “Let It Be” not only features “The Long and Winding Road,” but it also chronicles the group’s tense demise. It was not just the end of the Beatles, but the end of the 1960s era as well.
Desuko Movie Spot. 