Michael Bacon Movies
- 1997
Upon the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945, Harry Truman became the 33rd president of the United States. This video captures the exciting details surrounding Truman's later race for re-election against Dewey, along with many other important historical moments. Viewers are reminded that Truman was a combat artillery captain during WWI and a highly respected U.S. senator before becoming vice president. As many recall, it was Truman who made the fateful decision to drop the first atomic bomb on Japan in 1945. Three years later, he chose to recognize the new state of Israel. Truman was also behind such important programs as the Marshall Plan, the Truman Doctrine, and the North Atlantic Treaty, which was designed to stop the Soviets from expanding further into Europe.
~ Elizabeth Smith, All Movie Guide
~ Elizabeth Smith, All Movie Guide
- 1996
- Add American Experience: The Wright Stuff to QueueAdd American Experience: The Wright Stuff to top of Queue
Written, produced, and directed by Nancy Porter, this documentary chronicles how the eccentric Wright brothers overcame their own sibling bickering and the skepticism of the world to build the first successful flying machine. As Tom Crouch of the National Air and Space Museum explains in an interview, "They weren't college graduate engineers, but at the same time, they were two of the best engineers working in the world at the time." Highlights include footage of a replica of the Wright brothers' plane built by Rick and Sue Young and flown at Kitty Hawk by Jacqueline Young and David Young. Narrated by Garrison Keillor. David McCullough hosts this program, which originally aired as an episode of the Emmy award-winning PBS series The American Experience. ~ Steve Blackburn, All Movie Guide
- 1996
- R
Chase Phillips, a chronically depressed, emotionally exhausted mother finally hires a helper while she attempts to recover in a tiny cottage upon Martha's Vineyard where she stays with her sons. The helper is the much younger Elizabeth. At first, Chase despises her and treats her terribly. Elizabeth refuses to be broken by the barrage of verbal battering as she is intimate with the problems of the mentally ill. Elizabeth's sister is in an asylum and treats her worse than Chase does. Elizabeth takes it for as long as she can, but one night breaks and blows up at Chase, forcing the ailing mother's depression to abate. Eventually Chase gets better and things are fine until she drops a bomb on the family and formally declares her love for Elizabeth. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Helen Mirren, Kyra Sedgwick, (more)
- 1992
Years of hard work have put Stanley where he is today, with a wife, a mortgage, and a stable (or boring) career in middle-management. He's looking for some way to liven up the tedium of his life and begins perusing the personal ads. One of them, by a lady billing herself as "Olivia," wins his interest. However, once he begins communicating with her, two things happen. The first is that he grows ever more sure that she embodies whatever he is looking for. The second is that she refuses any contact except by letter. As his fantasies grow more all-consuming, he eventually hires a private detective to track her down. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barbara Summerville
- 1992
This PBS documentary chronicles the highly political and oftentimes tragic dynasty of the Kennedy family, and the profound impact it has made on America throughout the years. Hosted by historian David McCullough, the documentary features several Kennedy experts, including fellow historian Theodore Sorenson, author Doris Kearns Goodwin, the late Speaker of the House Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill, and a bevy of family friends and colleagues who have served the Kennedy clan in their many political endeavors. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- 1992
The American Experience: The Kennedys -- The Later Years (1962-1980) is the second part of a two-part documentary series on PBS. In 1960, John F. Kennedy is elected the 35th president of the U.S., both the youngest president and the first Roman Catholic to hold the office. He is assassinated in 1963. In 1968, Senator Robert Kennedy is killed after winning several presidential primaries. Senator Ted Kennedy loses his post as Majority Whip, but runs for president in 1980. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 1991
This film profiles the life and political career of the powerful United States senator from Texas Lyndon Baines Johnson, who became president of the United States when John F. Kennedy was assassinated. The documentary considers this tragic figure in American history, whose social legislation, including the 1964 Civil Rights Act, has transformed American culture. LBJ may be remembered for the disastrous American involvement in the Vietnam War and the civil unrest it created in this country. Film clips, photographs, interviews, and personal recollections by friends and colleagues, as well as speeches and commentary by historians, tell the story of LBJ. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
- 1990
This documentary, made for PBS' American Masters series, explores the life and career of the renowned screenwriter and director Preston Sturges (1898-1959), whose few but very influential films managed to change the entire film industry. The documentary features clips from his films, and interviews with those who knew him well, including ex-wives. He was the first screenwriter to make the move to become a film director. He is best known for his unerringly light touch in dealing humorously with difficult topics, and directed one of the first widely successful spoofs of Hollywood, The Great McGinty. The director had a life as eventful and fraught with coincidences as anything in the movies, and this is recounted also. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eddie Bracken, Thomas Quinn Curtiss, (more)
