Top 10 Father’s Day Movies

It’s Father’s Day, so rent a movie to watch with your dad. Here’s my list of my 5 favorite classic and 5 favorite contemporary Father’s Day movies.

Top 5 Classic Father’s Day Movies

Cheaper By the Dozen

Released 1950

Directed by Walter Lang

Starring: Clifton Webb, Myna Loy, Jeanne Crain, Betty Lynn

This is the best Father’s Day movie of them all. It’s touching, funny, sad, and nostalgic. If you haven’t watched this earlier version, you’re in for a treat.

The Courtship of Eddie’s Father

Released 1963

Directed by Vincente Minnelli

Starring: Glenn Ford, Shirley Jones, Ron Howard, Stella Stevens

After his mother dies, a young boy plays matchmaker for his father. This is a great movie, but don’t watch it unless you have tissues handy. It’s a real tearjerker.

Three Godfathers

Released 1948

Directed by John Ford

Starring: John Wayne, Harry Carey Jr., Pedro Armenderez

This is a wonderful classic John Wayne movie where Wayne is an outlaw running from the law. He comes across a baby in the desert and becomes the child’s adoptive father. He risks his life and his freedom to save the child.

Life With Father

Released 1947

Directed by Michael Curtiz

Starring: William Powell, Irene Dunne, Elizabeth Taylor

Funny movie about the exasperations of fatherhood at the turn of the century. William Powell is a hoot in this, and Irene Dunne should have been a blond.

The Champ

Released 1979

Directed by Franco Zeffirelli

Starring: Rick Schroder, Jon Voight, Faye Dunaway, Jack Warden

This version of the classic movie about a father of a boxer is better than the original 1938 version. Keep tissues handy. This is a tearjerker.

 

There are a series of classic movies that I would like to also list that are the forerunner of every “Father Knows Best” TV Show. These are “The Hardy Family” Movies popular during the 1930’s and 1940’s starring Mickey Rooney as a teen-ager. I’ll list these movies on Thursday.

 

5 Favorite Contemporary Father’s Day Movies

Pursuit of Happyness

Released 2006

Directed by Gabriele Muccino

Starring: Will Smith

The best movie about a father and son and about the perseverance of the human spirit ever made. This is based on the true story of Chris Gardner who went from rags to riches to make a life for his son.

Frequency

Released 2000

Directed by Gregory Holbilt

Starring: Dennis Quaid, James Caviezel

A great thriller movie about a father and son with a little sci-fi and time travel mixed in.

Liar, Liar

Released 1997

Directed by Tom Shadyak

Starring: Jim Carey

Comedy about the effects of lying to our children.

The Incredibles

Released 2004

Directed by Brad Bird

Starring: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter

Great kid’s movie about the struggles of raising a family when you’re a superhero.

Daddy Day Care

Released 2003

Directed by Steve Carr

Starring: Eddie Murphy

Comedy about a father who starts a day care.

Another series of father/son movies not mentioned in the top ten list are The Hardy Family Movies made in the 1930′s and 1940′s. They star Mickey Rooney and are well worth seeing.

The Hardy Family Movies

Starring:

Lewis Stone as Judge James K. Hardy

 Mickey Rooney as Andy Hardy

Cecilia Parker as Marian Hardy

 Fay Holden as Mrs. Emily Hardy

A couple of the movies also star Judy Garland as a family friend and love interest of Andy Hardy.

You’re Only Young Once (1937)

Judge Hardy’s Children (1938)

Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938)

Out West with the Hardys (1938)

The Hardys Ride High (1939)

Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever (1939)

Judge Hardy and Son (1939)

Andy Hardy Meets Debutante (1940)

Andy Hardy’s Private Secretary (1940)

Life Begins for Andy Hardy (1941)

The Courtship of Andy Hardy (1942)

Andy Hardy’s Double Life (1942)

Andy Hardy’s Blonde Trouble (1944)

Love Laughs at Andy Hardy (1946)

Andy Hardy Comes Home (1958)

Most of these movies can be ordered on DVD through Amazon. Just click here to order from my website.

Tomorrow, I’ll list my favorite classic father TV Shows.

10 Rules to a Happy Life

Here’s a few rules to have a happy and fulfilled life. They are not the only ones. You can find the rest in the Bible.

10. Don’t worry so much. Most of what we worry about never happens.

9. Remember failure is an event, not a person.

8. Simplify your life. Keep what you need and what makes your life run smoothly. Give away the rest.

7. Remember that the story of your life is not about you. It’s about God in you.

6. Our lives are remembered by how we bless others.

5. If we don’t have anything worth dying for, we don’t have anything worth living for.

4. Love others enough to tell the truth.

3. Stay true to your convictions, but disagree agreeably.

2. God’s opinion is the only one that counts.

1. A life without God at the center is a wasted life.

So, can you think of any I missed. Leave a comment.

 

10 Things You Can Do To Show Your Husband You Love Him

1. Write love notes and tuck them in his lunch, briefcase, or on the visor of his car.

2. Text him on the cell phone and say “I miss you”.

3. Tell someone else how much you respect him or how proud you are of him in front of him.

4. When he shares his dreams, don’t tell him why they won’t work.

5. Say I love you everyday and mean it.

6. Initiate sex, and tell him you can’t get enough of him.

7. Wear nothing to bed.

8. Let him decide which movie to watch.

9. Ask him how his day went.

10. Make him his favorite meal and serve it on your best dishes.

So what’s on your top 10 list?

Top 10 Classic Romantic Movies

Here’s my list of my 10 favorite romantic movies. I couldn’t keep the list to 10, so at the end, I have 5 honorable mentions.

10. Miracle In the Rain

1956

Directed by Rudolf Mate

Starring: Jane Wyman, Van Johnson

This obscure film nobody’s heard of is guaranteed to put a lump in your throat.

9. Sabrina

1954

Directed by Billy Wilder

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn

One of my many favorite Humphrey Bogart movies. This one has an ugly duckling turning into a swan theme.

8. Gigi

1958

Directed by Vincent Minelli

Starring: Leslie Caron, Louis Jourdan

Touching story of a romance of a girl whose been raised to be a mistress.

7. Notorious

1946

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

Starring: Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman

Technically this isn’t a love story, but the passion between the two main characters explodes on the screen.

6. The African Queen

1951

Directed by John Huston

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Katherine Hepburn

Two unlikely people fall in love during World War 1. The acting can’t get any better than this.

5. West Side Story

1961

Directed by Jerome Robbins, Robert Wise

Starring: Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer

Make sure you have tissues handy for this modern take of Romeo and Juliet.

4. Casablanca

1942

Directed by Michael Curtiz

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman

This movie is brilliant in it’s simple triangle love story in the middle of political upheaval and war.

3. To Have and Have Not

1945

Directed by Howard Hawks

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Becall

This was the first movie Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Becall starred in together, and it can’t be beat. It was based on a novel by Ernest Hemingway, and William Faulkner wrote the screenplay.

2. The Sound of Music

1965

Directed by Robert Wise

Starring: Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer

One of my all time favorite movies.

1. An Affair To Remember

1957

Directed by Leo McCarey

Starring: Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr

This is my all time favorite classic love story. It brings a tear to my eye every time I watch it.

Honorable Mentions:

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947)

Starring: Gene Tieny, Rex Harrison

It Happened One Night (1934)

Starring: Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert

Test Pilot (1938)

Starring: Clark Gable, Myra Loy, Spencer Tracy

Made For Each Other (1939)

Starring: Jimmy Stewart, Carole Lombard

My Fair Lady (1964)

Starring: Audrey Hepburn, Rex Harrison

Favorite Books I’ve Read in 2012

Here’s a list of my favorite books I read and reviewed in 2012. Not all of these books were published this year, but I did read them this year. I separated them into novels and non-fiction. To read my review, click on the book link.

Novels:

10. Sarai by Jill Eileen Smith

9. Where Wildflowers Bloom by Ann Shorey

8. The Calling of Mike Malone by M.L. Archer

7. Placebo by Steven James

6. If We Survive by Andrew Klaven

5. The Rook by Steven James

4. A Love Surrendered by Julie Lessman

3. A Light in the Window by Julie Lessman

2. The Pawn by Steven James

1. A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers

Non-Fiction:

2. Flirting With the Forbidden by Steven James

1. The Resignation of Eve by Jim Henderson

Children’s Books:

The First Christmas by Janice D. Green

Top 10 Classic Christmas Stories

10. The Little Match Stick Girl by Hans Christian Anderson: A sad tear-jerker about a poor little girl who gets to have the Christmas of her dreams. Don’t read it unless you have tissues handy.

9. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg: This newer classic tells a story about a boy learning the importance of belief.

8. Christmas Day In the Morning by Pearl S. Buck: A classic tale about showing love at Christmas.

7. The Other Wise Man by Henry Van Dyke: The wise man who didn’t make it to birth of Christ in time finds out why Jesus really came to Earth.

6. How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss: “Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!” Who could ever forget this line from this classic story?

5. The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry: The best Christmas romance ever written. It shows how we sacrifice for the ones we love.

4. T’was the Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore: The original story about Santa Claus

3. The Three Trees by Author Unknown: This story tells about three trees who served a great purpose.

2. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens: This story of repentance set at Christmas is the best Christmas story other than the real story in the Bible.

1. The Nativity Story (Luke 2:1-20): This is the story of Christmas. Without Christ being born in Bethlehem, this would be a very dark world.

Top 10 Classic Christmas Movies of All Time

These are 10 classic must watch every year Christmas movies. Since everyone has their favorite version of A Christmas Carol, I didn’t include those movies. To see my favorite 10 renditions of A Christmas Carol, check next Wednesday’s blog.

10. Remember the Night

Released 1940

Directed by Mitchell Leisen

Starring Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwick

A prosecuting attorney asks for a pretty thief to be let out on bail for Christmas. When the thief is placed in his custody, interesting things occur.

9. The Homecoming: A Christmas Story

Released 1971

Directed by Fielder Cook

Starring Patricia Neil and Richard Thomas

This movie became the pilot of the TV series, The Waltons, and tells of a family during the depression.

8. Santa Claus, The Movie

Released 1985

Director: Jeannot Szwork

Starring David Huddleston and Dudley Moore

The best film that tells the story of Santa Claus.

7. 3 Godfathers

Released 1948

Director: John Ford

Starring John Wayne

A Christmas western where three outlaws must get a baby safely to the cow town of Bethlehem while running from a posse. This is my personal favorite John Wayne movie.

6. Home Alone

Released 1990

Director: Chris Columbus

Starring Macauley Culkin

First of many movies about a boy accidentally left home alone at Christmas time.

5. White Christmas

Released 1954

Director: Micheal Curtiz

Starring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye

Best Christmas musical ever made with great singing and dancing features the song, “White Christmas”.

4. A Charlie Brown Christmas

Released 1965

Created by Charles M. Shultz

Animated

This animated classic helps Charlie Brown learn the true meaning of Christmas. The best part is where Linus tells the Christmas story word for word from the Bible and ends with “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”

3. Miracle on 34th Street

Released 1947

Directed by George Seaton

Starring Maureen O’Hara, John Payne, Edmund Gween, and a very young Natalie Wood

This is the best movie made about believing in Santa Clause. It also featured the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

2. A Holiday Affair

Released 1949

Directed by Don Hartman

Starring Janet Leigh and Robert Mitchum

This is the best Christmas love story ever filmed. It’s sad more people don’t know about it.

1. It’s a Wonderful Life

Released 1946

Directed by Frank Capra

Starring James Stewart and Donna Reed

This touching story of an ordinary man who sacrifices his own ambitions for others is my all time favorite Christmas movie.

Top Ten Things You Should Do During Election Season

Warning: This top ten list will not tell you who you should vote for.

10. Get bumper stickers and yard signs to campaign for your candidate. Get involved in politics this year. Be a part of the political campaign of the candidate of your choice. There’s no better way to feel like you’ve contributed.

9. Go to a political rally. Political rallies are a lot of fun and very informative. There’s music, high school bands, cheers, and speeches. If one is being staged near you, consider going.

8. After studying, decide what role you believe government should play. This is vital to deciding who you should vote for. Do you think  the private sector should be responsible for making lives better or should the government be in control of that.

7. Watch the speeches. This is one way to become informed. But remember to check out the facts politicians give in speeches. It’s hard to believe, but sometimes politicians lie.

6. Watch the debates. Debates are one of the best ways to tell what each candidate supports because the candidates have the opportunity to challenge each other.

5. Listen to liberal and conservative news commentators. One of the best ways to stay informed is to listen to commentators on both sides of the aisle. That means listen to CNN and FOX. That way you get a balanced approach to the news.

4. Study the platforms and records. One minute commercials are not the best way to stay informed. Study the records of the candidates.

3. Be respectful of people whose opinions are different than yours. Not everyone who disagrees with you is stupid or uninformed. They may be seeing things from a different perspective. No matter who you’re voting for, be respectful.

2. Pray for our leaders. This is important no matter who wins the election.

1. Vote. Too many people died for your right to vote. Don’t give it away. Vote every election.

Top 10 Patriotic Movies

1. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Released 1939

Directed by Frank Capra

Starring: Jimmy Stewart, Jean Arthur, Claude Rains

This is one of my favorite movies of all time. Jimmy Stewart is the underdog fighting corruption in Washington D.C.

2. Independence Day

Released 1996

Directed by Roland Emmerich

Starring: Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Mary McDonnell

What’s not to love about this film? Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum have the funniest lines, and Bill Pullman is the president who fights for not just the US but for the world. In this movies, the United States saves the day.

3. Air Force One

Released 1997

Directed by Wolfgang Peterson

Starring: Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman, Glenn Close

The president of the United States will not negotiate with terrorists, and in this movie, he takes them down.

4. 1776 The Musical

Released 1972

Directed by Peter H. Hunt

Starring: William Daniels, Howard da Silva, Ken Howard

Great musical comedy about the founding fathers of America. William Daniels plays John Adams who is so passionate about independence, he ends up being a jerk.

5. State of the Union

Released 1948

Directed by Frank Capra

Starring: Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn, Van Johnson

Another movie taking on corruption in Washington D.C. What’s not to love about Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn?

6. Apollo 13

Released 1995

Directed by Ron Howard

Starring: Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon

This is the true story of the Apollo 13 space mission where 3 astronauts almost didn’t make it home. This shows the true heroism and enterprise of Americans.

7. National Treasure

Released 2004

Directed by John Turtelbaub

Starring: Nicholas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Jon Voight

A wonderful movie laced with historical trivia that makes the point that sometimes you have to do what others consider wrong to do what’s right.

8. National Treasure: The Book of Secret

Released 2007

Directed by John Turtelbaub

Starring: Nicholas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Jon Voight

This sequel is as good as the original.

9. The Patriot

Released 2000

Directed by Roland Emmerich

Starring: Mel Gibson, Heath Ledger

This movie gives us a taste of what people endured to fight for the independence of the United States of America.

10. Sergeant York

Released 1941

Directed by Howard Hawks

Starring: Gary Cooper

This is a true story about the reluctant hero of World War 1 and the part his faith played in his heroism. 

10 Life Lessons We Can Learn From Writing A Novel

Theme: Every novel has a theme, and your life should also. Without God directing your paths, the theme will be missing from your life.

Voice: Every writer has a voice, a way of telling the story that uniquely them. You are also unique. You were created to be different than every other person on Earth. In your writing, you’re encourage to find and develop that voice. In life, develop the parts of you that are unique.

Cut unnecessary parts: When we write, we’re admonished to cut anything in the story that doesn’t move in forward. In our lives, we should also fine tune our priorities by cutting out the things that aren’t important. When you’re spending most of your time on activities that don’t move your life forward, you’ll have business and stress, but at the end of your life, there won’t be any lasting significance to your story.

Strong verbs: Writers are encouraged to replace adverbs and weak verb with strong verbs that say the same thing. Are you developing the strengths in your life or are you focusing on the weaknesses.

Outlining and pre-planning: Not every writer preplans his novel, but every person should preplan his life. Set goals and dreams for your life, and plan how you’ll achieve those goals. Writers who outline know that when the story takes them in unexpected directions, they should change the outline to accommodate it. Life sometimes throws us curves. When it does, just rework your goals to accommodate the changes in your life.

Character Arcs: Main characters in a novel have to have arcs. They have to grow and change throughout the course of the story. What are you doing in your life to grow?

Relationships: Every good novel, even non-romances, has character relationships in it. A good life will develop relationships with others.

Plots and subplots: Not every part of our lives fits in a straight line that makes sense. As in a good novel, our lives will have main plots and subplots that sometimes take us in different direction. The important thing is to make sure a subplot doesn’t take over the story from the main plot. Keep your focus.

Scene and Sequel: Every novel has a series of scenes and sequels. Something will happen. The character will make a decision on what to do next or react in some way. That decision or reaction will determine what happens next. In life, we can’t always control what happens to us. But when events happen we can’t control, the decisions and reactions we make determine what will happen next.

Satisfying Ending: We’ve all read novels that don’t have satisfying endings. No matter how good the novel is, a bad ending can ruin it. We also need a satisfying ending to our lives. We all will die someday. When we do, we’ll meet God. A satisfying ending would be for Him to say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into my joy.” An bad ending would be for Him to say, “Depart from me. I never knew you.” Which ending do you want?