Year of Movies - by Ivan Walters (Hardcover)

About the Book

This book lists 365 films, one for each day of the year, organized by the date on which at least one scene in the movie occurs on that date. For example, The Longest Day, a movie about the 1944 Normandy invasion, is the entry for June 6. For some films the scene that occurred...

Book Synopsis

This book lists 365 films, one for each day of the year, organized by the date on which at least one scene in the movie occurs on that date. For example, The Longest Day, a movie about the 1944 Normandy invasion, is the entry for June 6. For some films the scene that occurred on the date only lasts a few moments, but is pivotal to the film; for others it takes up most of the film's running time. The entries note the time in which the representative scene takes place, as well as the evidence for the film choice--either the time in the film when the date is referenced or a source that cites the date. In addition to plot summaries, the entries for each date include details about the film, personnel behind the camera, and major stars and their characters. The book also identifies the release date, running time, major awards, and alternate films. The film buff or the casual movie watcher can use this book to answer the question: What movie should I watch tonight?

Review Quotes

Imagine an undertaking on everyday of a calendar year in which some part of a movie took place. Author Ivan Walters did just that. His new book A Year of Movies author Ivan Walters does just that. Pick any day and flip to the date and he will tell you all the information about the book. Year released, genre, run time, availability, the date in the film, cast/crew and synopsis of the movie. It's quite the undertaking to find a film for each day. It's a comprehensive list of movies.

On February 2nd, Groundhog Day, if it's cloudy when the groundhog emerges from its burrow, spring will come early. If it's sunny, then the groundhog will see its shadow and there will be six more weeks of winter. So goes the folktale. What better way to celebrate this holiday than by viewing 1993's 'Groundhog Day, ' starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell? It's an idea that totally makes sense to author Ivan Walters. He takes that even further by offering you a movie for every single day of the year. He provides vital info on his featured choice, a synopsis, plus an alternate pick. The book is entitled, A Year of Movies: 365 Films to Watch on the Date They Happened. It's quite a brilliant concept. The trick is to find an explicit mention of a date in a movie. Inevitably, the date is either crucial to the plot or is part of a pivotal moment in the movie. . . .This book has a high fun factor to it. Many of the movies are within the last 20 to 30 years with a generous helping of older classics like 1941's 'Citizen Kane.' It is a refreshing and entertaining way to look at movies. It becomes an offbeat game anyone can enjoy while also providing insight.

With A Year in Movies, author Ivan Walters has taken the idea several steps further, painstakingly compiling a list of 366 films, both recent and classic, for every single day of the year. All or a significant part of every movie included takes place on a specific calendar date, so you can look up your birthday (as my family did when the book arrived) and read about a film where that date is significant to the story. And if a particular date isn't mentioned in the film itself, Walters often includes the novel or historical source which does. Other times we just have to take his word for it. . . .[T]his volume makes a nifty historical reference guide. . . .[T]he basic concept of A Year of Movies makes it unique among film reference books, one that'll be fun to grab off the shelf every now and then when pondering a particular calendar date. And I suppose the book also poses the ultimate challenge to any film buff...to view each of these titles on the dates in which they take place. I wish I had the time and resources to accept such a challenge. What a journey that would be.

About the Author

Ivan Walters is a sales representative for a videography company.