Thursday, May 22, 2025

Recommended reading - Brewster’s Millions, by George Barr McCutcheon (1902):


Brewster’s Millions

By George Barr McCutcheon.

Filmed as Brewster’s Millions (1985), directed by Walter Hill.

Published by Loki's Publishing.
First published 1902.
Paperback.
ISBN-10: 1636004865
ISBN-13: 978-1636004860

Description:

With the passing of his beloved grandfather, Monty Brewster inherits a long-anticipated million dollars. But he suddenly discovers that he can inherit seven times as much from his eccentric uncle if he spends every cent of his grandfather's money within a year. The carefree prospect of running through a fortune in order to receive an even greater windfall turns into a comic burden because of his uncle's Monty must spend responsibly, showing good business sense, limiting his charitable contributions, and maintaining utter secrecy about the second inheritance.

Can Monty run through the million according to his uncle's terms? His friends are aghast at his madcap extravagance – the gambling, the risky investments, the lavish parties – and Monty's romance with a banker's daughter is imperiled by his seemingly reckless spending. This sprightly comedy, originally published in 1902, offers an atmospheric picture of New York City at the turn of the twentieth century and its intriguing premise has served as the source of ten movie adaptations.

Plato, on books:


A library of wisdom, is more precious than all wealth,
and all things that are desirable cannot be compared to it.
Whoever therefore claims to be zealous of truth, of happiness, of wisdom or knowledge,
must become a lover of books.

– Plato.

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

On this day in movie history - Terminator: Salvation (2009):


Terminator: Salvation

directed by McG,
written by John Brancato and Michael Ferris,
was released in the United States on May 21, 2009.
Music by Danny Elfman.


Cast:

Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Moon Bloodgood, Helena Bonham Carter, Anton Yelchin, Jadagrace, Bryce Dallas Howard, Common, Jane Alexander, Michael Ironside, Ivan G’Vera, Chris Browning, Dorian Nkono, Beth Bailey, Victor J. Ho, Buster Reeves, Kevin Wiggins, Greg Serano, Po Chan, Babak Tafti, Bruce McIntosh, Treva Etienne, Dylan Kenin, Michael Papajohn, Chris Ashworth, Diego Joaquin Lopez, Greg Plitt, Omar Paz Trujillo, Terry Crews, Zach McGowan, Isaac Kappy, Boots Southerland, David Midthunder, Rafael Herrera, Maria Bethke, Marc Maurin, Anjul Nigam, Emerson Brooks, Lorenzo Callender, David Douglas, Joe Basile, Esodie Geiger, Roland Kickinger, Brian Steele, Chris Bentley, Scott Flick, John Gibbs, Linda Hamilton, Neil Harbisson, Casey Wayne Hupp, Luke Kearney, Shani Klein-Madden, Cynthia Lee, Gregory Leiker, Aaron Mastriani, Paul J. Porter, Frank Powers, Mark Rayner, Scott Wyman, Foued Zayani.

On this day in music history - The Spell, by Kevin Braheny and Tim Clark (1996):


The Spell

Album by Kevin Braheny and Tim Clark,
released May 21, 1996.

Track list:

The Magician; A Perfect Evening For Flying Carpets; Time In The Mirror (Transporter Version); Palace Of Dreams; The Spell; Merlin’s Last Voyage; The Sail Of Argo Navis; Sorceror’s Parade.

On this day in movie history - Death Hunt (1981):


Death Hunt

directed by Peter Hunt,
written by Michael Grais and Mark Victor,
was released in the United States on May 21, 1981.
Music by Jerrold Immel.
Based on the true 1932 case of Albert Johnson, aka the Mad Trapper of Rat River.


Cast:

Charles Bronson, Lee Marvin, Andrew Stevens, Carl Weathers, Ed Lauter, Scott Hylands, Angie Dickinson, Henry Beckman, William Sanderson, Jon Cedar, James O’Connell, Len Lesser, Richard Davalos, Maury Chaykin, August Schellenberg, Dennis Wallace, James McIntire, Rayford Barnes, Maurice Kowalewski, Sean McCann, Steve Finkel, Denis Lacroix, Tantoo Cardinal, Amy Marie George, Steve Mirer.

On this day in movie history - Mystery House (1938):


Mystery House

directed by Noel M. Smith,
written by Sherman L. Lowe and Robertson White,
based on the novel The Mystery of Hunting's End by Mignon G. Eberhart,
was released in the United States on May 21, 1938.
Music by Howard Jackson.


Cast:

Dick Purcell, Ann Sheridan, Anne Nagel, William Hopper, Anthony Averill, Dennie Moore, Hugh O'Connell, Ben Welden, Sheila Bromley, Elspeth Dudgeon, Anderson Lawler, Trevor Bardette, Jean Benedict, Loia Cheaney, Stuart Holmes, Jack Mower, Paul Panzer, Eric Stanley.

Born on this day – Jill Jacobson:


Jill Jacobson


Actress

Writer

Producer

May 21, 1954 – December 8, 2024

Credits:

Actors Entertainment (2011); After the Storm (2001); An Uncommon Love (1983); Arli$$ (1999); Baby Sister (1983); Bad Georgia Road (1977); Best Performance (2018); Boredom (2015); Breaking the Silence (1992); Bulba (1981); Castle (2014); Cats Dancing on Jupiter (2011); Crazy Like a Fox (1986); Days of Our Lives (1995); Etheria (2020); Excess Flesh (2015); Falcon Crest (1985–1987); Fixed (2005); Forbidden Love (1982); Freddy's Nightmares (1990); Front of the Class (2008); Ghost Whisperer (2006); Harper Valley P.T.A. (1981); Hotel Vernonia (2013); House of Usher (2008); Hung (2011); I Gave at the Office (1984); Instinct to Kill (2001); Last Look (2014); Leo and Loree (1980); Man Against the Mob: The Chinatown Murders (1989); Merrily (2025); Mic Whore (2014); Murphy Brown (1994); My Sister Sam (1988); Newhart (1989–1990); Not Just Another Affair (1982); Nurse Sherri (1977); Nurses Confessions (2017); Obsessive Love (1984); Party Down (2010); Pecoima Can Wait (2014); Perfect Victims (1988); Policewoman Centerfold (1983); Quantum Leap (1989); Reality Queen! (2020); Restless Souls (1998); Sad Girl: Chlorine (2019); Sideliners (2006); Sledge Hammer! (1988); Splash (1984); Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1996); Star Trek: The Next Generation (1989); Strong Medicine (2001); The 16th Annual Satellite Awards (2011); The Back-up Bride (2011); The Circle (2005); The Circle (2005); The Devlin Connection (1982); The Fix (2019); The Jigsaw Murders (1989); The New Gidget (1986–1987); The Perfect Marriage (2012); The Stone Boy (2015); Uncle Buck (1990); Up Yours (1979); Visage (2017); War of the Worlds (1989); Watch Out for Slick (2010); Welcome Home (2010); Who's the Boss? (1990); You Me & Her (2014).