Sunday, June 29, 2025

On this day in movie history - War of the Worlds (2005)


War of the Worlds


directed by Steven Spielberg,

written by Josh Friedman and David Koepp,

based on the novel The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells,

was released in the United States on June 29, 2005.

Narrated by Morgan Freeman.

Music by John Williams.


Cast:
Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Miranda Otto, Justin Chatwin, Tim Robbins, Rick Gonzalez, Yul Vazquez, Lenny Venito, Lisa Ann Walter, Ann Robinson, Gene Barry, David Alan Basche, Roz Abrams, Michael Brownlee, Camillia Monet, Marlon Young, John Eddins, Peter Gerety, David Harbour, Miguel Antonio Ferrer, January LaVoy, Stephen Gevedon, Julie White, Marianne Ebert, Rafael Sardina, Amy Ryan, Erika LaVonn, Christopher Evan Welch, John Michael Bolger, Zoe Quist, Ana Maria Quintana, Lorelei Llee, Mark Manley, John Scurti, Becky Ann Baker, Mariann Mayberry, Jerry Walsh, Tommy Guiffre, Daniel Franzese, Ed Schiff, Ellen Barry, Amy Hohn, Dan Ziskie, David Conley, Daniel Eric Gold, Booker T. Washington, Eric Zuckerman, Daniel A. Jacobs, Asha R. Nanavati, Joaquin Perez-Campbell, Dendrie Taylor, James DuMont, Ben Ciaramello, Ricky Luna, Columbus Short, Kent Faulcon, Kevin Collins, Terry Thomas, Clay Bringhurst, Jorge-Luis Pallo, Suanne Spoke, Kirsten Nelson, Melody Garrett, Lauri Johnson, Takayo Fischer, Shanna Collins, Elizabeth Jayne Hong, Art Chudabala, Jeffrey Hutchinson, Dempsey Pappion, Chris Todd, Johnny Kastl, Juan Carlos Hernández, Bruce W. Derdoski Jr., John N. Morales.

On this day in music history - Harp and Soul, by Georgia Kelly (1983)


Harp and Soul


by Georgia Kelly,

was released on June 29, 1983.

Track list:

Evergreen; The Rose; Three Gymnopedies by Eric Satie; Chiavenna; Duration.

On this day in music history - We Are Not Alone, by Breaking Benjamin (2004)


We Are Not Alone


by Breaking Benjamin,

was released on June 29, 2004.

Track list:

So Cold; Simple Design; Follow; Firefly; Break My Fall; Forget It; Sooner Or Later; Breakdown; Away; Believe; Rain.

On this day in music history - The album Beautiful Things, by Lee Aaron (2006)


Beautiful Things


by Lee Aaron

was released on June 29, 2006.

Track list:

Museum; Joan of Arc; The Why Song; Boy Glory; Faith, Hope, Truth, love; Private Billie Holiday; Heart Shaped Hole; Handcuffed to a Fence in Mississippi; Beautiful Things; Lo & Behold; Silent Serenade; Do I Move You.

On this day in music history - The album Top 40: Anastacia, by Anastacia (2017)


Top 40: Anastacia


by Anastacia

was released on June 29, 2017.

Track list:

I’m Outta Love; Paid My Dues; Left Outside Alone; One Day In Your Life; Not That Kind; Cowboys & Kisses; Pieces Of A Dream; Take This Chance; Why’d You Lie To Me; Heavy On My Heart; Lifeline; Welcome To My Truth; Sweet Child O’ Mine; Made For Lovin’ You; Stupid Little Things; What Can We Do (Deeper Love); Time; How Come The World Won’t Stop; Burning Star; Sick And Tired; I Belong To You; Boom; Freak Of Nature; Best Of You; I Can Feel You; Staring At The Sun; Love Is A Crime; Seasons Change; I Dreamed You; You’ll Never Be Alone; I Ask Of You; Army Of Me; Absolutely Positively; Apology; Defeated; Love Is Alive; Who’s Gonna Stop The Rain; I’m Outta Love.

Saturday, June 28, 2025

On this day in movie history - Heaven Can Wait (1978)


Heaven Can Wait


directed by Warren Beatty and Buck Henry,

based on the play by Harry Segall,

was released in the United States on June 28, 1978.

Music by Dave Grusin.


Cast:
Warren Beatty, Julie Christie, James Mason, Jack Warden, Charles Grodin, Dyan Cannon, Buck Henry, Vincent Gardenia, Joseph Maher, Hamilton Camp, Arthur Malet, Stephanie Faracy, Jeannie Linero, Harry D.K. Wong, George J. Manos, Larry Block, Frank Campanella, Bill Sorrells, Dick Enberg, Dolph Sweet, R.G. Armstrong, Ed Peck, John Randolph, Richard O’Brien, Joseph F. Makel, Will Hare, Lee Weaver, Roger Bowen, Keene Curtis, William Larsen, Morgan Farley, William Bogert, Robert E. Leonard, Joel Marston, Earl Montgomery, Robert C. Stevens, Bernie Massa, Peter Tomarken, William Sylvester, Lisa Blake Richards, Charlie Charles, Nick Outin, Jerry Scanlan, Jim Boeke, Marvin Fleming, Deacon Jones, Les Josephson, Jack Snow, Curt Gowdy, Al DeRogatis, Benjie Bancroft, Arline Bletcher, Joe Corolla, Charlie Cowan, Garrett Craig, Paul D’Amato, Robert Fortier, Allan Graf, Bryant Gumbel, Jim Healy, Chick Hearn, Ray Pourchot, Nick Raymond, Elliott Reid, Roberto Rodriguez, Byron Webster.

Recommended reading - Heaven Can Wait (1941)

 

Heaven Can Wait

Comedy-Fantasy in Three Acts
by Harry Segall.

Filmed as:
Here comes Mr. Jordan (1941), directed by Alexander Hall.
Heaven Can Wait (1978), directed by Warren Beatty and Buck Henry.
 
ASIN: B000GVIZMI
Published by Dramatists Play Service, Inc.
Published 1941.

Description:
Mr. Jordan is checking passengers who are to depart in an airplane for the Hereafter. The routine is interrupted by the arrival of Joe Pendleton, an attractive prizefighter, who refuses to admit he is dead and induces Jordan to look up the "records," which reveal that Joe is not scheduled to arrive for another 60 years! But, as Joe starts to return to earth to continue his fighting, word reaches Heaven that Max Levene, Joe's manager, thinking he had been killed, had Joe's body cremated, and Joe has no body to return to. Jordan promises to find Joe another body and is informed that the wealthy Jonathan Farnsworth is about to be murdered by his wife. So, Joe suddenly finds himself in the home of the financier, visible as Joe to the audience but apparently as Farnsworth to Mrs. Farnsworth, and the public. The comedy begins when the pompous "Farnsworth" unaccountably goes into training as a fighter. In addition, "Farnsworth" decides to share his wealth and right the wrong "he" did to charming Bette Logan's father. Bette, having despised Farnsworth, finds herself falling in love with him and he with her. Just as Joe (still in Farnsworth's body) is about to get a chance to become a fighter, Jordan reports that Farnsworth does not approve of Joe's treatment of his body (and money) and is raising a fuss to have it back. While deciding on another body for Joe, Jordan receives a flash that K.O. Murdock, the champion, has been mysteriously shot. As K.O. is about to be counted out Jordan transfers Joe's spirit into the body of K.O. in time to have K.O. remain champ. There are still problems to be straightened out when Joe really becomes Murdock and loses memory of his previous existence-includingBette. Fortunately, they meet and fall in love again-and Mr. Jordan is free to head for the Hereafter, his earthly task accomplished."