366 Days at the Drive-In: Day 342

The Date: September 6

The Movie: Fahrenheit 451 (1966)

What Is It?: François Truffaut does a fine yet icy job with Ray Bradbury’s dystopic novel about a society in which all books are banned and burned. Although the film has received mixed reactions throughout the years, I continue to admire it as an interesting marriage of sixties style-design and conscience, and Bernard Herrmann’s score is one of the best things he didn’t do for Hitchcock.

Why Today?: Today is National Read a Book Day.

366 Days at the Drive-In: Day 173

The Date: March 21

The Movie: Shoot the Piano Player (1960)

What Is It?: François Truffaut’s kitchen-sink gangster picture goes for humor, heartbreaking pathos, action, and experimental audacity, and nails everything it attempts. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, your mother will drop dead in a sight gag worthy of Monty Python.

Why Today?: Today is National French Bread Day. Eat some while watching a classic of French cinema.