Actor James Karen (1923)

The American biographical drama film, The Pursuit of Happyness (2006), directed by Gabriele Muccino, follows the story of Chris Gardner. In 1981, Gardner, a San Francisco salesman, puts all his savings into portable bone-density scanners. He promotes them to doctors and touts their convenience over regular X-rays. These scanners become a key factor in Gardner’s life. Despite being successful in selling most of them, the delay in receiving payments causes tension with his wife Linda, who also works as a hotel maid. As their financial struggles increase, so does the strain on their marriage, even with their young ...

Thirteen Days (2000), directed by Roger Donaldson, is an American historical political thriller film. In October 1962, U-2 aerial surveillance photos show the Soviet Union’s placement of intermediate-range ballistic missiles carrying nuclear weapons in Cuba. As a result, President John F. Kennedy and his team must devise a plan to prevent their activation and demonstrate that the United States will not tolerate a missile threat. The Joint Chiefs of Staff advise immediate military strikes against the missile sites followed by an invasion of Cuba. However, Kennedy hesitates as this could provoke the Soviets to ...

Oliver Stone’s drama film, Wall Street (1987), tells the story of Bud Fox, a junior stockbroker at Jackson Steinem & Co. in New York City. Bud idolizes Gordon Gekko, an influential Wall Street player. Despite calling Gekko’s office 59 days straight in hopes of securing an appointment, Bud finally takes matters into his own hands and shows up at Gekko’s office on his birthday with a box of Cuban cigars – Gekko’s favorite forbidden indulgence. Impressed by Bud’s boldness, Gekko agrees to meet with him and listen to his stock pitches. However, none of them impress Gekko until Bud ...