On this day in history.

[giradman]

June 6, 1944;

D-Day, the allied invasion of mainland Europe begins with landings on the beaches of Normandy. Normandy landings - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Well, just coming in for the morning and about to post on D-Day but you beat me to the punch!

The Longest Day (1962) w/ a star-studded cast is indeed one of the best war films ever made - summary of the movie below from HERE which also rates the BD version w/ excellent showings, including plenty of extras - this is the version I own and can highly recommend - the film is about 3 hours long, so I typically watch over 2 nights. Dave

One of the finest war movies of all time, The Longest Day remains a crowd pleaser and first-rate war epic some 45+ years after its release. Combining the intelligence and pace of a thinking man's behind-the-scenes war movie, much like The Great Raid, with the nonstop action of Black Hawk Down (though decidedly toned down in gore but certainly not in intensity), The Longest Day stands proudly near the top of the list of the all-time great war movies, and this comes from one of the genre's biggest fans. 20th Century Fox has once again gone above and beyond the call of duty, providing fans a glorious transfer that feels larger than life and looks fantastic, too. The audio quality is a marked improvement over any version I've heard before, and the supplemental materials are exhaustive and interesting. As far as classic movies on Blu-ray go, they don't get a whole lot better than this, and The Longest Day comes highly recommended!

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[scifan57]

There's also IKE: Countdown To D-Day, starring Tom Selleck. It covers the last few months of preparation leading up to the D-Day landings. Ike: Countdown to D-Day (TV Movie 2004) - IMDb

 

[J. A.]

June 7, 1848:
Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin, French artist, was born.

Paul Gauguin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[giradman]

June 7, 1848:
Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin, French artist, was born.
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Paul Gauguin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Boy, Susan & I have seen many of Gauguin's paintings throughout the decades, both in the USA at the major museums, and also in Europe, especially in France. His Tahitian works are probably some of my favorite, although his self portraits and works done at Arles when he and Vincent van Gogh were rather unsuitable roommates - more on this relationship can be seen in the 1956 film below, Lust for Life w/ Kirk Douglas as van Gogh and Anthony Quinn as Gauguin - just a few pics below, plus one of the blu-ray disc of the film which I bought last year (superlative restoration - review HERE) - Dave
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[giradman]

Jean Harlow Dies in 1937!

On this day in 1937, Jean Harlow, the original 'Blond Bombshell' and one of the most popular stars of the 1930s died unexpectedly from renal failure at the age of 26 years - story below (Source). Her most important films were made from 1931-1937, the year of her death - in fact, she died during the making of Saratoga w/ Gable and a 'double' had to be used; second quote below is a list of these '30s movies - I've seen nearly all over the years and own about a half dozen of DVD-R (burned from the TCM channel) - probably my two favorites are Red Dust w/ Gable (they made about a half dozen films together) & Dinner at Eight, a screwball comedy of the era - just a few pics below - she starred w/ many of the most popular male actors of the times and was engaged to marry William Powell when she died suddenly. Dave

On this day in 1937, Hollywood is shocked to learn of the sudden and tragic death of the actress Jean Harlow, who succumbs to uremic poisioning (now better known as acute renal failure, or acute kidney failure) at the age of 26.

Harlow appeared in a string of films in 1931, including The Secret Six, The Public Enemy, Goldie and Platinum Blonde. Her roles in these movies, as in Hell’s Angels, relied less on her acting and more on her alluring appearance. After Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer bought Harlow’s contract from Hughes in 1932, she made her breakout appearance in Red-Headed Woman (1932), for which screenwriter Anita Loos created a part especially for Harlow. The film was the first to showcase her comedic talent as well as her bombshell looks. Harlow’s popularity with fans and film critics alike continued to grow throughout the next several years, thanks to smash hits like Red Dust (1932)–one of her numerous movies with Clark Gable–Dinner at Eight (1933), Hold Your Man (1933) and Bombshell (1933).

The Public Enemy (1931) w/ James Cagney
Goldie (1931) w/ Spencer Tracy
Platinum Blond (1931) w/ Loretta Young & Robert Williams
Three Wise Girls (1932) w/ Mae Clarke
Red-Headed Woman (1932) w/ Chester Morris* (DVD-R)
Red Dust (1932) w/ Clark Gable* (DVD-R)
Hold Your Man (1933) w/ Clark Gable
Dinner at Eight (1933) w/ Wallace Beery & Barrymores* (DVD-R)
Bombshell (1933) w/ Lee Tracy et al
The Girl From Missouri (1934) w/ L. Barrymore & F. Tone* (DVD-R)
Reckless (1935) w/ William Powell
China Seas (1935) w/ Clark Gable* (DVD-R)
Riffraff (1936) w/ Spencer Tracy
Wife vs. Secretary (1936) w/ Clark Gable
Suzy (1936) w/ Franchot Tone & Cary Grant
Libeled Lady (1936) w/ William Powell* (DVD-R)
Personal Property (1937) w/ Robert Taylor
Saratoga (1937) w/ Clark Gable* (DVD-R)
* own these films on DVD-R

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[J. A.]

June 8, 1949:
George Orwell's novel "Nineteen Eighty-Four" (1984) is published.

 

[scifan57]

Here's the cover of the British first edition.

Nineteen Eighty-Four - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[giradman]

June 8, 1949:
George Orwell's novel "Nineteen Eighty-Four" (1984) is published.

Several films of that book were made, one in 1956 w/ Edmund O'Brien (not sure that I've seen that one?), and a later one in 1984 w/ John Hurt & Richard Burton, which I remember being a good movie - probably should re-watch? Dave
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[giradman]

Frank Lloyd Wright Born Today in 1867!

Frank Lloyd Wright is considered the greatest American architect of all time - he was a 'hero' to my father who designed and built 3 houses (one in Michigan and two in Arkansas), all w/ flat horizontal features based on Wright's so-called Prairie Style - below, two beginning quotes from his Wiki bio.

Susan & I have toured his home & studio in Oak Park, Illinois (a Chicago suburb) - for me at least 2-3 times - Oak Park includes numerous other houses designed by Wright and also the Unity Temple (inside shown below - typical of Wright, the entrance is almost 'cave-like', then opens into this spectacular interior). We have also been to Falling Water (in one of my travelogues) and Taliesin West near Scottsdale, AZ, where Susan played his piano (still kept well in tune) for the tour group of several dozen. We have not been to Taliesin East in Wisconsin, so maybe a future trip? Pics below of the places mentioned - Dave

Frank Lloyd Wright (born Frank Lincoln Wright, June 8, 1867 – April 9, 1959) was an American architect, interior designer, writer, and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures, 532 of which were completed. Wright believed in designing structures that were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture. This philosophy was best exemplified by Fallingwater (1935), which has been called "the best all-time work of American architecture".[1] Wright was a leader of the Prairie School movement of architecture and developed the concept of the Usonian home, his unique vision for urban planning in the United States. His creative period spanned more than 70 years (Source).

His work includes original and innovative examples of many building types, including offices, churches, schools, skyscrapers, hotels, and museums. Wright also designed many of the interior elements of his buildings, such as the furniture and stained glass. Wright wrote 20 books and many articles and was a popular lecturer in the United States and in Europe. His colorful personal life often made headlines, most notably for the 1914 fire and murders at his Taliesin studio. Already well known during his lifetime, Wright was recognized in 1991 by the American Institute of Architects as "the greatest American architect of all time" (Source).

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[scifan57]

Frank Lloyd Wright Born Today in 1867!

Frank Lloyd Wright is considered the greatest American architect of all time - he was a 'hero' to my father who designed and built 3 houses (one in Michigan and two in Arkansas), all w/ flat horizontal features based on Wright's so-called Prairie Style - below, two beginning quotes from his Wiki bio.

Susan & I have toured his home & studio in Oak Park, Illinois (a Chicago suburb) - for me at least 2-3 times - Oak Park includes numerous other houses designed by Wright and also the Unity Temple (inside shown below - typical of Wright, the entrance is almost 'cave-like', then opens into this spectacular interior). We have also been to Falling Water (in one of my travelogues) and Taliesin West near Scottsdale, AZ, where Susan played his piano (still kept well in tune) for the tour group of several dozen. We have not been to Taliesin East in Wisconsin, so maybe a future trip? Pics below of the places mentioned - Dave




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I've always wanted to visit some of the Frank Lloyd Wright houses but never had the time when I was in Chicago.

 

[giradman]

I've always wanted to visit some of the Frank Lloyd Wright houses but never had the time when I was in Chicago.

Hi Scifan.. - when I was active in academic radiology, I would often (almost annually for a span of years) attend the RSNA meeting held at the McCormick Place - largest radiology meeting in the world (attendance below from just a year ago, i.e. about 55,000 total) - I usually would be presenting posters, scientific papers, and/or speaking at a refresher course.

But two items on my agenda w/ each visit were going to the Art Institute of Chicago & shopping at Rose Records on Wabash - I usually stayed at a hotel on Michigan Avenue near the Chicago river - the record place no longer exists, but I remember bringing back 2-3 dozen CDs (my early expansion years!) from each trip.

But Oak Park is a Chicago suburb (see the map) that was probably like being in the country when Wright lived there at the end of the 1800s - but I probably took 3 tours (one w/ Susan who rarely went w/ me to the RSNA, which is always after Thanksgiving into early December - not a great time to be in Chicago). If you ever go back to Chicago, then try to get on a 2-3 hour tour of Oak Park. Dave
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[J. A.]

June 9, 68 AD:
Roman emperor Nero committed suicide, after quoting Homer's Iliad.

Nero - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[scifan57]

June 9, 1973;

Secretariat becomes the first horse since Citation in 1948 to win the Triple Crown-the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes. The winning time of the 1.5 mile Belmont Stakes was 2 minutes 24 seconds. a dirt track record for that distance. 1973 Belmont Stakes - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The winning jockey was Ron Turcotte. Secretariat (horse) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[giradman]

June 9, 1973;

Secretariat becomes the first horse since Citation in 1948 to win the Triple Crown-the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes. The winning time of the 1.5 mile Belmont Stakes was 2 minutes 24 seconds. a dirt track record for that distance. 1973 Belmont Stakes - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The winning jockey was Ron Turcotte. Secretariat (horse) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
View attachment 72219

Secretariat (1970-1989) was born in Virginia, but died in Paris, Kentucky at the Claiborne Farm, just northeast of Lexington and near the Kentucky Horse Park (topics of my Kentucky travelogue) - pics below of the location of Paris, KY, the grave on the farm (and an interesting anecdote below), and the statue of the horse in the Park.

Also, their is a 2010 film which I own on blu-ray w/ Diane Lane on the horse which may be of interest - Dave

Secretariat was buried at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky, given the rare honor of being buried whole (usually only the head, heart, and hooves of a winning race horse are buried, and the rest of the body is cremated).

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[giradman]

June 9, 68 AD:
Roman emperor Nero committed suicide, after quoting Homer's Iliad.

Nero - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nero the 'Zero'?

Nero (37 AD - 68 AD) seems to always get a 'bad rap' (and probably deserves most of the comments) - just a few: 1) first imperial persecutor of Christians; and 2) presided during the great Roman fire of 64 that consumed much of the city; and he did not play the fiddle. Was he an insane buffoon? About the only portrayal of him is Peter Ustinov in the '51 film Quo Vadis, which I've never enjoyed that much (and do not own) - quote below from Nero Needs a Bioptic, a fun read - Dave

Ustinov’s Nero is insane, of course, but also utterly inept, a failure at his myriad attempts for greatness and immortality. Hollywood’s historical epics of the era were often obsessed with Christian glorification, and Quo Vadis is no exception, with the script making Nero all the more buffoonish as the opponent of that glorification. And we of course get Nero playing the lyre as Rome burns (which at least would have been more historically accurate than a fiddle) and shouting for the city to burn on.

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