Barton Fink is a 1991 American film, written, directed, and produced by the Coen brothers (pictured). Set in 1941, it stars John Turturro in the title role as a young New York City playwright who is hired to write scripts for a movie studio in Hollywood, and John Goodman as Charlie, the insurance salesman who lives next door at the run-down Hotel Earle. The Coens wrote the screenplay in three weeks while experiencing difficulty during the writing of another film, Miller's Crossing. Premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 1991, Barton Fink won the Palme d'Or, as well as awards for Best Director and Best Actor (Turturro). Although it was celebrated almost universally by critics and nominated for three Academy Awards, the movie grossed only $6,000,000 at the box office, two-thirds of its estimated budget. The process of writing and the culture of entertainment production are two prominent themes of Barton Fink. The worlds of Hollywood and Broadway are contrasted, and the film analyzes superficial distinctions between high and low culture. Barton Fink has defied efforts at genre classification. It has been variously referred to as a film noir, a horror film, a Künstlerroman, and a buddy film.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barton_Fink

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1521:

After an extended siege, forces led by Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés captured Tlatoani Cuauhtémoc and conquered the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fall_of_Tenochtitlan

1704:

War of the Spanish Succession: The Duke of Marlborough led Allied forces to a crucial victory in the Battle of Blenheim. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Blenheim

1898:

Spanish–American War: After a mock battle for Manila, the Spanish commander surrendered to the U.S. in order to keep the city out of Filipino rebel hands. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Manila_(1898)

1954:

The complete version of "Qaumī Tarāna", the national anthem of Pakistan, was broadcast for the first time on Radio Pakistan. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qaum%C4%AB_Tar%C4%81na

2010:

After having been boarded by Canadian authorities, the MV Sun Sea docked and the 492 Sri Lankan Tamil refugee claimants on board were placed into detention. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Sun_Sea_incident

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

erratic: (geology) A rock moved from one location to another, usually by a glacier. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/erratic

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Too much has already been said and written about "women's sphere". Leave women, then, to find their sphere.   --Lucy Stone https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Lucy_Stone