Home of Movies to History:

The page is a collage of actors and actresses who have played historical figures in Cinema in the last decade that visually sets up on my homepage my blog about how movies connect to history. The picture includes (starting from the upper left row first) Owen Wilson in Midnight in Paris (2011), Anya Taylor Joy in The Witch (2015), Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe in Hidden Figures (2016), Steve Carell in The Big Short (2015), Van Jones in 13th (2016), David Oyelowo in Selma (2014), Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln (2012), Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams in Spotlight (2015), Matthew McConnaughey in Free State of Jones (2016), Chadwick Boseman in Black Panther (2018), Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave (2013), and Alison Pill with Tom Hiddleston in Midnight in Paris (2011). Photo illustration by Meilan Solly

MOVIES LINK TO THE PAST…

Welcome to my Blog! This is my Home Page! I hope this will be your new home for Movies to History information! My name is Siobhan Marie Day. Im glad you took the time to check out my posts and see how I detail the historical connections weaved into Cinema! Maybe you read the History Book about an event, maybe you just watched the movie that tells you about it. I’ve probably done both, a few times repeated in some cases. Some of the movies will be new. Some of the movies will be old. They will all however, be historical in some way, and therefore connecting Movies to History!

This Blog Site is an in depth opinionated study of how Movies connect to History, globally and locally through written introspection and video clips. It includes a Television section for some posts based on a Movies to History featured connection and personal viewing preferences. This site also includes Critiques, Recommendations, and Reviews for movies discussed. How and why each film connects to history will vary in degrees depending on subject matter. it may be a direct connection, or an indirect connection, it may be a long history or it may be a short history. It may be history here in the United States, or it might be history out there, somewhere on the globe.

MY HOME AND MY HISTORY:

A little bit about me first to bring value to all the posts I write. I have two bachelor’s degrees, focused in History and Movies. The first is a Bachelor of Science in History, I earned in 2012 from Methodist University located in Fayetteville, NC. The second is a Bachelor of Arts in Film, Television and Media Studies. I earned in 2018 from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT. The First PG-13 Movie I Saw in Theaters, was Batman, directed by Tim Burton. It starred Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson and Kim Basinger. My first job, I worked at Blockbuster Video and then I also worked at Tommy K’s Video. Tommy K’s was a video store local to Connecticut, where I grew up. For a more in-depth read about me head to my About Page!

From the top right: Jack Nicholson as "The Joker" Micheal Keaton as Batman and Kim Basinger as Vicky Vale — *Batman* (1989)

“Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight? I ask that of all my prey. I just like the sound of it.”
The Joker (Jack Nicholson) – Batman (1989)

CONTACT ME

REEL BLOG NEWS:

THE TOP TEN LIST…

David Letterman — **My Inspiration for a Top Ten List**!

To commemorate the Featured Film Blog of the month for December, A Civil Action, I have gathered My Top Ten John Travolta Movies! If you’re looking for the best film to watch featuring John Travolta, you came to the right place, have a look at my favorite films featuring John Travolta!

Directed and Written by Steven Zaillian, and Based on "A Civil Action" by Jonathan Harr, and Produced by Scott Rudin, Robert Redford, and Rachel Pfeffer, Starring: John Travolta, Robert Duvall, James Gandolfini, Dan Hedaya, John Lithgow, William H. Macy, Kathleen Quinlan, Tony Shalhoub, with Cinematography by Conrad L. Hall, and Edited by Wayne Wahrman, and Music by Danny Elfman, and Production companies: Touchstone Pictures, Paramount Pictures, and Wildwood Enterprises, Inc, and Distributed by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution (United States and Canada), Paramount Pictures (through United International Pictures; International), Release date: December 25, 1998

THE TOP TEN LIST

IN MEMORIAM…

“Q” the Music…

It was announced in June by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences that Quincy Jones would be among the honorees at the Academy’s Governors Awards that would be presented at an event on Sunday, November 17, 2024, at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood.

When the event was held a month ago, sadly Quincy Jones was not there to accept his honorary Academy Award for his trailblazing contributions to the film community. Jones died exactly two weeks before at his home in the Bel Air neighborhood of Los Angeles at the age of 91 on November 3, 2024. His publicist confirmed his death, while not immediately disclosing the cause of death, it was later revealed in his death certificate he died of pancreatic cancer.

Click on the link below and read my ‘In Memoriam’ tribute to the life and career of Quincy Jones as Movies to History reflects on his legacy in music, and a career that deserves a remembrance.

Quincy Jones was born on March 14, 1933 in Chicago, Illinois, and died on November 3, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Sutherland was 91 years old. Photo Credit: Google Images

IN MEMORIAM

Coming Soon to Movies to History…

1. "Operation Dumbo Drop" (1995) - Movies to History features the 1995 film directed by Simon Wincer. The film stars Danny Glover and Ray Liotta as Green Berets during the Vietnam War in 1968, who attempt to transport an elephant through jungle terrain to a local South Vietnamese village which in turn helps American forces monitor Viet Cong activity. Denis Leary, Doug E. Doug, and Corin Nemec also star. The film deals broadly with themes of war, politics and animal welfare and is based on a four ton true story. 2. "Black Bird" (2022) - Movies to History features the 2022 miniseries developed by Dennis Lehane, based on the 2010 autobiographical novel "In with the Devil: a Fallen Hero, a Serial Killer, and a Dangerous Bargain for Redemption" by James Keene with Hillel Levin. The series received critical acclaim with particular praise toward Jimmy Keene's original story and its cast starring Taron Egerton as Jimmy Keene, as well as Paul Walter Hauser, Sepideh Moafi, Greg Kinnear, and Ray Liotta. 3. "A Civil Action" (1998) - Movies to History features the 1998 film written and directed by Steven Zaillian, and starring John Travolta with Robert Duvall, James Gandolfini, Dan Hedaya, John Lithgow, William H. Macy, Kathleen Quinlan, and Tony Shalhoub. Based on the 1995 book of the same name by Jonathan Harr, it tells the true story of a court case about environmental pollution that took place in Woburn, Massachusetts in the 1980s. The film and court case revolve around the issue of trichloroethylene, an industrial solvent, and its contamination of a local aquifer. A lawsuit was filed over industrial operations that appeared to have caused fatal cases of leukemia and cancer, as well as a wide variety of other health problems, among the citizens of the city. The case involved is Anne Anderson, et al., v. Cryovac, Inc., et al.. The first reported decision in the case is at 96 F.R.D. 431 (denial of defendants' motion to dismiss). Duvall was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance. 4. "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story" (2024) - Movies to History features the 2024 series from showrunners Ryan Murphy, and Ian Brennan, and starring Javier Bardem, Chloë Sevigny, Cooper Koch, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Ari Graynor, and Nathan Lane. "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story" is the second season of the American biographical crime drama anthology television series "Monster", created by Murphy and Brennan for Netflix. The season centers on the 1989 murders of José (Javier Bardem) and Kitty Menendez (Chloë Sevigny), who were killed by their sons, Lyle (Nicholas Alexander Chavez) and Erik (Cooper Koch). It incorporates the Rashomon effect by presenting the story from multiple perspectives, with the brothers' viewpoint serving as the central narrative. 5. "Black Hawk Down" (2001) - Movies to History features the 2001 war film directed and produced by Ridley Scott, and co-produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, from a screenplay by Ken Nolan. It is based on the 1999 eponymous non-fiction book of the same name by journalist Mark Bowden, about the crew of a Black Hawk helicopter that was shot down during the Battle of Mogadishu. The film features a large ensemble cast, including Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Eric Bana, Tom Sizemore, William Fichtner, Jason Isaacs, Sam Shepard, Jeremy Piven, Ioan Gruffudd, Ewen Bremner, Hugh Dancy, and Tom Hardy in his first film role. Orlando Bloom, Ty Burrell, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau also have minor roles. 6. "American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez" is an American sports drama anthology series developed by Stu Zicherman, who also serves as an executive producer alongside Ryan Murphy, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Alexis Martin Woodall, Eric Kovtun, Hernan Lopez, Marshall Lewy, Linda Pizutti Henry, and Ira Napoliello. The series serves as the fourth installment in the American Story media franchise, and is broadcast on the cable network FX. The first season is focused on the rise and fall of former NFL player Aaron Hernandez, and premiered on September 17, 2024.

Operation Dumbo Drop (1995) – Movies to History features the 1995 film directed by Simon Wincer. The film stars Danny Glover and Ray Liotta as Green Berets during the Vietnam War in 1968, who attempt to transport an elephant through jungle terrain to a local South Vietnamese village which in turn helps American forces monitor Viet Cong activity. Denis Leary, Doug E. Doug, and Corin Nemec also star. The film deals broadly with themes of war, politics and animal welfare and is based on a four ton true story.

Black Bird (2022) – Movies to History features the 2022 miniseries developed by Dennis Lehane, based on the 2010 autobiographical novel In with the Devil: a Fallen Hero, a Serial Killer, and a Dangerous Bargain for Redemption by James Keene with Hillel Levin. The series received critical acclaim with particular praise toward Jimmy Keene’s original story and its cast starring Taron Egerton as Jimmy Keene, as well as Paul Walter Hauser, Sepideh Moafi, Greg Kinnear, and Ray Liotta.

A Civil Action (1998) – Movies to History features the 1998 film written and directed by Steven Zaillian, and starring John Travolta with Robert Duvall, James Gandolfini, Dan Hedaya, John Lithgow, William H. Macy, Kathleen Quinlan, and Tony Shalhoub. Based on the 1995 book of the same name by Jonathan Harr, it tells the true story of a court case about environmental pollution that took place in Woburn, Massachusetts in the 1980s. The film and court case revolve around the issue of trichloroethylene, an industrial solvent, and its contamination of a local aquifer. A lawsuit was filed over industrial operations that appeared to have caused fatal cases of leukemia and cancer, as well as a wide variety of other health problems, among the citizens of the city. The case involved is Anne Anderson, et al., v. Cryovac, Inc., et al.. The first reported decision in the case is at 96 F.R.D. 431 (denial of defendants’ motion to dismiss). Duvall was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance.

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story (2024) – Movies to History features the 2024 series from showrunners Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, and starring Javier Bardem, Chloë Sevigny, Cooper Koch, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Ari Graynor, and Nathan Lane. It is the second season of the American biographical crime drama anthology television series Monster, created by Murphy and Brennan for Netflix. The season centers on the 1989 murders of José (Bardem) and Kitty Menendez (Sevigny), who were killed by their sons, Lyle (Chavez) and Erik (Koch). It incorporates the Rashomon effect by presenting the story from multiple perspectives, with the brothers’ viewpoint serving as the central narrative.

Black Hawk Down (2001) – Movies to History features the 2001 war film directed and produced by Ridley Scott, and co-produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, from a screenplay by Ken Nolan. It is based on the 1999 eponymous non-fiction book of the same name by journalist Mark Bowden, about the crew of a Black Hawk helicopter that was shot down during the Battle of Mogadishu. The film features a large ensemble cast, including Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Eric Bana, Tom Sizemore, William Fichtner, Jason Isaacs, Sam Shepard, Jeremy Piven, Ioan Gruffudd, Ewen Bremner, Hugh Dancy, and Tom Hardy in his first film role. Orlando Bloom, Ty Burrell, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau also have minor roles.

American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez (2024) – Movies to History features the 2024 American sports drama anthology series developed by Stu Zicherman, who also serves as an executive producer alongside Ryan Murphy, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Alexis Martin Woodall, Eric Kovtun, Hernan Lopez, Marshall Lewy, Linda Pizutti Henry, and Ira Napoliello. The series serves as the fourth installment in the American Story media franchise, and is broadcast on the cable network FX. The first season is focused on the rise and fall of former NFL player Aaron Hernandez.