Recommended reading - The Stop-motion Filmography (2007):

The Stop-motion Filmography

A Critical Guide to 297 Features Using Puppet Animation

By Neil Pettigrew.

2-Volume Set.

Published by McFarland & Company.

Published 2007.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 0786431075

ISBN-13: 978-0786431076

Description:

This is a major McFarland reference work providing in-depth analyses of all puppet animation sequences in every film that has featured the process, including King Kong and Jason and the Argonauts. The focus is on how effective the sequence was and how it was executed. In addition to the analysis, each entry provides title, year of release, cast and production credits including producer, director, screenplay, director of photography, art director or production designer, music, stop-motion animators, armature builders, puppet makers, stop-motion cameramen, sequence supervisors, and more. Ratings of the film and of the effectiveness of its stop-motion sequences are also given.

“Gargantuan...an insightful and affectionate tribute to [puppet animation] films. Brilliant color photographs shine out alongside numerous black and white photos...recommended.” – Choice.

“Well-researched, well-written and a solid addition.” – Video Watchdog.

“Detailed…a ‘must have’.” – Famous Monsters of Filmland.

“Amazing...thousands of details...an important work.” – Association Internationale du Film d'Animation (ASIFA) / The International Animated Film Association.

“A mightily impressive tome...exhaustive...an essential book for stop motion fans.” – SFX Magazine.

“Staggeringly comprehensive study...provides shot-by-shot analysis of every stop-motion sequence in every known feature film that uses the process...Pettigrew’s thoroughness and accuracy border on the astounding...a work of impeccable scholarship.” – Scarlet Street.

“A treasure-trove of information.” – Ani-Mato.

“Superbly researched and informative text and illustrations...provides in-depth analyses of all puppet animation sequences...a valuable source of information...immaculately researched and written in a lucid and very readable manner” – Talking Pictures Magazine.

Sylvia Plath, on inspiration and writing:

Let me live, love and say it well in good sentences.

- Sylvia Plath.

Adulterers (2015) - free will ... and its consequences:

Adulterers

Adulterers is a cautionary tale, a powerful drama inspired by true events, and far more compelling than the contrived Fatal Attraction (1987) and Unfaithful (2002).

How you feel at the end of Adulterers may depend on your personal experience of the subject it deals with.

It’s right there in the title.

If you’ve ever been cheated on by your significant other – then this movie might sting.

If you have cheated on your significant other – then this movie should rightly sting if you have any conscience and sense of guilt about the choice you made.

Consequences for making the wrong choice is the theme unflinchingly examined in this movie, released in the United States on January 5, 2016, written, produced and directed by H.M. Coakley.

Lead actor, Sean Farris threw himself into this role of a betrayed husband.

We see the anguish of his character, his pain, regret, broken heart, broken life, and ultimately broken mind.

Sean Farris is Samuel, a store assistant, working extra hours during a sweltering New Orleans afternoon.

It’s his first wedding anniversary; a special day in any marriage.

Samuel is a proud and happy man, deeply in love with his wife, Ashley (Danielle Savre).

He regrets having to work so many hours and laments at their lack of money, but he plans on making it up to Ashley.

He swings by his home halfway through his day, carrying his wife’s favorite flowers and chocolates.

Besides their money troubles, all seems right with Samuel’s world until he catches Ashley and her lover, Damien (Mehcad Brooks), naked, having sex in the bedroom.

Devastated, Samuel shoots them both.

This is not a spoiler; it happens within the first twelve minutes.

Downstairs, he sits on the couch, and drinks whiskey straight from the bottle.

Suffering a psychological break, he rethinks the situation.

This time, in his imagination, he doesn’t pull the trigger.

What if I’d waited instead of acting on impulse?

What would I say to them?

How far would I go to punish them?

What would they say to justify their sin, or lie their way out of the situation? 

These questions are the basis for the imagined trial and torture he puts his wife and her lover through in that stifling room.

As Samuel struggles with the pain of betrayal and infidelity, the wedding ring, crucifix and Bible often the focus of the camera, he struggles with his faith.

Finally, as Samuel himself points out:

"You ain't sorry. You're just sorry that you got caught. It's time that you dealt with the consequences of your actions."

In forcing them to face the consequences of their actions, Samuel is then left to face the consequences of his own.

There are no winners in this story; everyone is destroyed.

Adultery … it’s all fun and games ... until you get caught!

On this day in movie history – The Purple Gang (1959):

The Purple Gang

(1959)

directed by Frank McDonald,

written by Jack DeWitt,

was released in the United States on January 5, 1960.
Music by Paul Dunlap.

Cast:

Barry Sullivan, Robert Blake, Elaine Edwards, Marc Cavell, Jody Lawrance, Suzanne Ridgway, Joe Turkel, Victor Creatore, Paul Dubov, Ray Boyle, Kathleen Lockhart, Nestor Paiva, Lou Krugman, Robert Anderson, Mauritz Hugo, James Roosevelt.

Born on this day – Maurizio Pollini:

Maurizio Pollini

Pianist

Conductor

Actor

January 5, 1942 – March 23, 2024

Credits:

Albums:

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.5; Beethoven: Piano Sonata Nos.13, 14 & 15; Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos.17 "The Tempest", 21 "Waldstein", 25 & 26 "Les Adieux"; Beethoven: Symphony No.6 "Pastorale"; Choral Fantasy; Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage; BRAHMS Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 83, IJB 83: I. Allegro non troppo; Brahms: Piano Concerto No.1; Brahms: Piano Quintet Op.34; Chopin: Etudes; Préludes; Polonaises; Chopin: Scherzi; Berceuse; Barcarolle; Edmond Appia, Maurizio Pollini & Orchestre de la Suisse Romande; FRÉDÉRIC CHOPIN; Liszt: Sonata in B minor; Nuages gris; Unstern! Sinistre; La lugubre gondola; R.W.-Venezia; Manzoni: Masse: Omaggio a Edgard Varèse / Schoenberg: Kammersymphonie op.9; Maurizio Pollini & Frédéric Chopin; Maurizio Pollini & Ludwig van Beethoven; Maurizio Pollini, Berliner Philharmoniker & Claudio Abbado; Maurizio Pollini, Berliner Philharmoniker & Giuseppe Sinopoli; Maurizio Pollini, Johannes Brahms & Quartetto Italiano; Maurizio Pollini, Johannes Brahms, Wiener Philharmoniker & Karl Böhm; Maurizio Pollini, Wiener Philharmoniker & Karl Böhm; Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 23 & 19; Schoenberg: The Piano Music; Schubert: Piano Sonatas D958 & D959; Schubert: The Late Piano Sonatas D 958, 959 & 960; 3 Piano Pieces D 946; Allegretto D 915; Schumann: Piano Concerto Op.54 / Schoenberg: Piano Concerto Op.42; Schumann: Piano Concerto; Symphonic Etudes; Schumann: Sonata for Piano Op.11; Fantasia Op.17; Wiener Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado, Maurizio Pollini, Gabriela Lechner, Gretchen Eder, Elisabeth Mach, Jorge Pita, Andreas Esders, Gerhard Eder, Wiener Staatsopernchor & Walter Hagen-Groll.

Movies, television and video:

Che tempo che fa (2009); Freunde fürs Leben (1999); Maurizio Pollini & Christian Thielemann: Brahms Piano Concerto No.1 (2013); Maurizio Pollini spielt Beethoven (2020); Maurizio Pollini: De Main De Maître (2014); Music on 2 (1972); Mythos Mozart - Musik für die Welt (2006); Récital Maurizio Pollini (2012); The Lively Arts (1976).

Born on this day – Jane Wyman:

Jane Wyman

Actress

January 5, 1917 – September 10, 2007

Credits:

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1993); Falcon Crest (1981); Charlie's Angels (1976); The Love Boat (1977); The Incredible Journey of Doctor Meg Laurel (1979); Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law (1971); The Bold Ones: The New Doctors (1969); Amanda Fallon (1973); The Sixth Sense (1972); The Failing of Raymond (1971); Insight (1960); My Three Sons (1960); How to Commit Marriage (1969); The Red Skelton Hour (1951); Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963); Wagon Train (1957); Bon Voyage! (1962); The Investigators (1961); Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (1958); Checkmate (1960); Pollyanna (1960); Holiday for Lovers (1959); Lux Playhouse (1958); Jane Wyman Presents the Fireside Theatre (1955); Miracle in the Rain (1956); Lucy Gallant (1955); All That Heaven Allows (1955); General Electric Theater (1953); Summer Playhouse (1954); Magnificent Obsession (1954); So Big (1953); Let's Do It Again (1953); Just for You (1952); Campbell Summer Soundstage (1952); The Story of Will Rogers (1952); Starlift (1951); The Blue Veil (1951); Here Comes the Groom (1951); Three Guys Named Mike (1951); The Glass Menagerie (1950); Stage Fright (1950); The Lady Takes a Sailor (1949); It's a Great Feeling (1949); A Kiss in the Dark (1949); Johnny Belinda (1948); Magic Town (1947); Cheyenne (1947); The Yearling (1946); Night and Day (1946); One More Tomorrow (1946); The Lost Weekend (1945); Hollywood Canteen (1944); Crime by Night (1944); The Doughgirls (1944); Make Your Own Bed (1944); Princess O'Rourke (1943); Footlight Serenade (1942); My Favorite Spy (1942); Larceny, Inc (1942); You're in the Army Now (1941); The Body Disappears (1941); Bad Men of Missouri (1941); Honeymoon for Three (1941); Tugboat Annie Sails Again (1940); My Love Came Back (1940); Gambling on the High Seas (1940); Flight Angels (1940); An Angel from Texas (1940); Alice in Movieland (1940); Brother Rat and a Baby (1940); Private Detective (1939); Kid Nightingale (1939); Torchy Blane.. Playing with Dynamite (1939); The Kid from Kokomo (1939); Tail Spin (1939); Brother Rat (1938); The Crowd Roars (1938); Wide Open Faces (1938); Fools for Scandal (1938); He Couldn't Say No (1938); The Spy Ring (1938); Over the Goal (1937); Mr. Dodd Takes the Air (1937); The Singing Marine (1937); Little Pioneer (1937); Slim (1937); Public Wedding (1937); The King and the Chorus Girl (1937); Ready, Willing and Able (1937); Smart Blonde (1937); Gold Diggers of 1937 (1936); Polo Joe (1936); The Sunday Round-Up (1936); Here Comes Carter (1936); Cain and Mabel (1936); Stage Struck (1936); My Man Godfrey (1936); Bengal Tiger (1936); Anything Goes (1936); King of Burlesque (1936); Freshman Love (1935); Broadway Hostess (1935); Stolen Harmony (1935); George White's 1935 Scandals (1935); All the King's Horses (1935); Rumba (1935); College Rhythm (1934); Harold Teen (1934); Elmer, the Great (1933); The Kid from Spain (1932).

Born on this day – Elizabeth "Libba" Cotten:

Elizabeth “Libba” Cotten

Folk and Blues singer

Musician

January 5, 1893 – June 29, 1987

Credits:

Albums:

Elizabeth Cotten Live! (1983); Elizabeth Cotten, Volume 3: When I'm Gone (1979); Euphoria Blues (2023); Folksongs and Instrumentals with Guitar (1958); Freight Train (2014); Freight Train: Essential Folk Masters (2010); Live! (1983); Shake Sugaree (2004); Vol. 2: Shake Sugaree (1967).

Songs:

Ain't Got No Honey Baby Now; Boatman Dance; Buck Dance; Fare You Well, My Darling; Freight Train; Going Down the Road Feeling Bad; Graduation March; Hallelujah, It Is Done; Here Old Rattler Here / Sent for My Fiddle Sent for My Bow / George Buck; Holy Ghost, Unchain My Name; Honey Babe Your Papa Cares for You; I Don't Love Nobody; I'm Going Away; Little Brown Jug; Look and Live, My Brother; Mama, Nobody's Here but the Baby; Oh Babe It Ain't No Lie; Ontario Blues; Praying Time Will Soon Be Over; Run......Run / Mama Your Son Done Gone; Shake Sugaree; Spanish Flag Dang; Sweet Bye and Bye / What a Friend We Have in Jesus; Take Me Back to Baltimore; 'Til We Meet Again; Vastopol; Vestapol; Washington Blues; When I Get Home; When I'm Gone; When the Train Comes Along; Wilson Rag.

Movies and television:

A Love Song (2022); American Folk (2017); American Masters (2009); Asteroid City (2023); Austin City Limits (1979); Big Little Lies (2019); BioShock Infinite (2013); Bleak Moments (1971); Colossal (2016); Dogfight (1991); En på miljonen (1995); Far from Home (2009); Folk Britannia (2006); Four Calories: A "Tic-Tacs" Parody (2013); Nasty Baby (2015); Patriot (2017); Rainbow Quest (1965–1966); Sea Oak (2017); Shindig! (1964–1965); The 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (2022); The Blues (2003); The Johnny Cash Show (1970); The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000); The Mike Douglas Show (1971); Troop Zero (2019); Two Trains Runnin' (2016); Yesspeak (2003).