Hotchka Movies by the Decade feature #106 :: August 3•9

Warner Bros. Pictures

Every decade this week saw at least one new film release, and interestingly it’s the early part of the century that produced the more well-known films, many of them still well-regarded to this day. 1922 gave us a classic Valentino silent, 1932 introduced zombies and voodoo to the cinematic landscape, 1942 saw comedy teams Laurel & Hardy and Abbott & Costello competing for audiences, 1952 saw Joan Crawford take charge and earn an Oscar nomination, 1962 brought fairy tales to Cinerama, 1972 introduced Woodstock the bird to movie-goers, 1992 produced an Oscar-winning Clint Eastwood Western, and 2012 gave us a not very good remake of a popular 1990s sci-fi film. And the Summer of 1982 turned on us after weeks of films that have gone on to become classics. Are any of your favorites celebrating this week? Read on and let us know!

1922

August 5 – Blood and Sand (USA)

• Cast: Rosa Rosanova, Leo White, Rosita Marstini, Rudolph Valentino, Lila Lee, Charles Belcher, Fred Becker, George Field, Jack Winn, Harry Lamont, Gilbert Clayton, Walter Long, Nita Naldi, George Periolat, Sidney De Gray, Dorcas Matthews
• Director: Fred Niblo
• Production Company: Famous Players-Lasky, distributed by Paramount Pictures
• Trivia: The film was released in the UK on March 24, 1923. Based on the 1909 Spanish novel Sangre y arena (Blood and Sand) by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez and the play version of the book by Thomas Cushing. Due to new laws protecting the safety of animals, all of the bullfighting scenes are stock footage edited with shots of Valentino. The process not only saved animals but it saved Paramount money.

1932

August 4 – White Zombie (USA)

Halperin Productions

• Cast: Bela Lugosi, Madge Bellamy, Joseph Cawthorn, Robert W. Frazer, John Harron, Brandon Hurst, George Burr Macannan, Clarence Muse, Frederick Peters, Annette Stone, John Printz
• Director: Victor Halperin
• Production Company: Halperin Productions, distributed by United Artists
• Trivia: The film began a New York City engagement on July 28, 1932. It was released in London on September 20, but did not get a general UK release until march 26, 1933. Based on The Magic Island by William Seabrook. Considered to be the first feature length zombie film, which also gave birth to cinematic voodoo. Due to the film’s tight $50,000 budget, it had to be filmed at night. It was completed in 11 days. Filmed mostly on the Universal lot, the film re-used sets from Dracula, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Frankenstein and The Cat and the Canary. Some filming also took place at RKO where a set from The King of Kings was re-used. The film was thought to be lost until it was rediscovered in the 1960s.

August 6 – Downstairs (USA)

• Cast: John Gilbert, Paul Lukas, Virginia Bruce, Hedda Hopper, Reginald Owen, Olga Baclanova, Bodil Rosing, Otto Hoffman, Lucien Littlefield
• Director: Monta Bell
• Production Company: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
• Trivia: The film opened in London on September 5, 1932, and received a general UK release on January 9, 1933. Star John Gilbert had written the story for a proposed silent film in 1928 that was never produced. When MGM revived the project, Gilbert was so happy he sold the story to the studio for $1.00.

1942

August 7 – A-Haunting We Will Go (USA)

• Cast: Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Harry August Jansen, Sheila Ryan, John Shelton, Don Costello, Elisha Cook Jr., Edward Gargan, Addison Richards, George Lynn, James Bush, Lou Lubin, Robert Emmett Keane, Richard Lane, Willie Best, Wade Boteler, Buz Buckley, Barry Downing, Mary Lou Harrington, Terry Moore, Leon Taylor, Roland Carpenter, Violet Church, Mildred Gaye, Les Clark, Harry Benjamin Carter, Edgar Dearing, Tom Dugan, Ralph Dunn, Frank Faylen, Wilbur Mack, Mantan Moreland, Eddy Waller, Bud Geary, Paul Kruger, Margaret Roach, Walter Sande
• Director: Alfred L. Werker
• Production Company: 20th Century Fox
• Trivia: Terry Moore was credited under her real name, Helen Koford. The town of Milledgeville mentioned in the movie does not exist in California, but there is one in the state of Georgia, Oliver Hardy’s home state. Hardy often referred to places near his home in his films as an ‘in-joke’. Actress Brenda Joyce did not want to appear in the film which led to the termination of her contract with Fox. Her role went to Sheila Ryan.

August 7 – Invisible Agent (USA)

• Cast: Ilona Massey, Jon Hall, Peter Lorre, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, J. Edward Bromberg, John Litel, Holmes Herbert, Keye Luke
• Director: Edwin L. Marin
• Production Company: Universal Pictures Company, Inc., Frank Lloyd Productions, Inc, distributed by Universal Pictures
• Trivia: The film’s premiere was held on July 31, 1942. The film was announced under the title The Invisible Spy. The film’s sole connection to the original The Invisible Man is the character Frank Raymond, who is the grandson of Jack Griffin, the inventor of the invisibility formula.

August 7 – The Murderer Lives at Number 21 (France)

• Cast: Suzy Delair, Pierre Fresnay, Noël Roquevert, Pierre Larquey, Jean Tissier
• Director: Henri-Georges Clouzot
• Production Company: Continental Films, Liote, distributed by Films Sonores Tobis (France), Mage Films (USA)
• Trivia: The film did not open in the US until August 16, 1947. Adapted from Stanislas-André Steeman’s 1939 book of the same title. Director Henri-Georges Clouzot’s debut feature film. The fourth film written by Clouzot for the Nazi run film company Continental Films who made films to take the place of banned American films.

August 7 – Pardon My Sarong (USA)

• Cast: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Virginia Bruce, Robert Paige, Lionel Atwill, Leif Erickson, Nan Wynn, William Demarest, Samuel S. Hinds, Marie McDonald, Elaine Morey, Tip, Tap and Toe
• Director: Erle C. Kenton
• Production Company: Universal Pictures
• Trivia: The original draft of the screenplay was titled Road to Montezuma. The film premiered in Lou Costello’s hometown of Paterson, New Jersey at a benefit for St. Anthony’s Church. The second highest grossing film of 1942.

1952

August 6 – Children of Hiroshima (Japan)

• Cast: Nobuko Otowa, Osamu Takizawa, Miwa Saitō, Tsuneko Yamanaka, Hideji Ōtaki, Takashi Itō, Chikako Hosokawa, Masao Shimizu, Yuriko Hanabusa, Tanie Kitabayashi, Tsutomu Shimomoto, Eijirō Tōno, Taiji Tonoyama, Jūkichi Uno
• Director: Kaneto Shindō
• Production Company: Kindai Eiga Kyokai, Mingei, distributed by Hokusei
• Trivia: The film was screened at Cannes on April 25, 1953. The film was sponsored by Japan Teachers’ Union.

August 7 – Sudden Fear (USA)

Joseph Kaufmann Productions

• Cast: Joan Crawford, Jack Palance, Gloria Grahame, Bruce Bennett, Virginia Huston, Mike Connors
• Director: David Miller
• Production Company: Joseph Kaufmann Productions, distributed by RKO Radio Pictures
• Trivia: The film was released in Canada on August 7, 1952, and in the UK on September 19. Future Mannix star Mike Connors was billed under his original screen name Touch Connors in his film debut. Based upon the novel of the same name by Edna Sherry. Jack Palance’s big break, earning him an Oscar nomination and helping secure the role in Shane the following year, for which he earned a second Oscar nomination. Joan Crawford had originally wanted Clark Gable for that role. Crawford received her third and last Oscar nomination for this film, and it was the only year she competed against Bette Davis. They both lost to Shirley Booth for Come Back, Little Sheba. Crawford had 23 costume changes in the film.

1962

August 3 – The Spiral Road (USA)

• Cast: Rock Hudson, Burl Ives, Gena Rowlands, Geoffrey Keen, Neva Patterson, Will Kuluva, Philip Abbott, Larry Gates, Karl Swenson, Edgar Stehli, Judy Dan, Robert F. Simon, Ibrahim Pendek (as Ibrahim Bin Hassan), Reggie Nalder, Leon Lontoc, David Lewis, Parley Baer, Fredd Wayne, Leslie Bradley, Barbara Morrison, Martin Brandt
• Director: Robert Mulligan
• Production Company: Universal Pictures, distributed by Universal International
• Trivia: Final film of Sally Cleaves.

August 5 – The Girl on the Boat (UK)

• Cast: Norman Wisdom, Millicent Martin, Richard Briers, Philip Locke, Sheila Hancock, Athene Seyler, Bernard Cribbins, Noel Willman, Reginald Beckwith, Timothy Bateson, Peter Bull, Martin Wyldeck, William Sherwood, Georgina Cookson
• Director: Henry Kaplan
• Production Company: Knightsbridge Films, distributed by United Artists Corporation
• Trivia: Based on the 1922 novel of the same name by P.G. Wodehouse.

August 7 – The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm (USA)

• Cast: Laurence Harvey, Karl Böhm, Claire Bloom, Walter Slezak, Barbara Eden, Oskar Homolka, Martita Hunt, Betty Garde, Bryan Russell, Ian Wolfe, Walter Rilla, Yvette Mimieux, Russ Tamblyn, Jim Backus, Beulah Bondi, Terry-Thomas, Buddy Hackett, Otto Kruger, Arnold Stang, Stan Freberg, Dal McKennon, Peter Whitney, Tammy Marihugh, Cheerio Meredith
• Director: Henry Levin, George Pal (fairy tale sequences)
• Production Company: George Pal Productions, Avernus Productions, distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Cinerama Releasing Corporation
• Trivia: The film premiered in the UK on July 15, 1963 followed by a general release on July 16. George Pal wanted to cast Peter Sellers and Alec Guinness as the brothers but was over-ruled by the studio. The film was shot in the three-panel Cinerama process. The film has been restored and is available on Blu-ray in both the Cinerama (or ‘Smileboxed’ format) and ‘flat’ versions. The film won the Oscar for Costume Design, and was nominated for Art Direction-Set Decoration (Color), Cinematography (Color) and Scoring.

1972

August 3 – The New Centurions (USA)

• Cast: George C. Scott, Stacy Keach, Jane Alexander, Scott Wilson, Erik Estrada, Clifton James, James Sikking, Rosalind Cash, Burke Byrnes, Charles H. Gray, Pepe Serna, Ed Lauter, Bea Thompkins, Hilly Hicks
• Director: Richard Fleischer
• Production Company: Chartoff-Winkler Productions, distributed by Columbia Pictures
• Trivia: The film opened in the UK on December 26, 1972 under the title Precinct 45: Los Angeles Police. Based on the 1971 novel of the same name by policeman turned author Joseph Wambaugh. Adult film star Kitten Natividad appears uncredited as a Go-Go Dancer, and Anne Ramsey (Throw Momma from the Train) appears uncredited as Wife of Crazy Man.

August 4 – Super Fly (USA)

• Cast: Ron O’Neal, Carl Lee, Julius W. Harris, Sheila Frazier, Charles McGregor, Sig Shore (billed as Mike Richards), Polly Niles, Yvonne Delaine, K.C., Chris Arnett, E. Preston Reddick
• Director: Gordon Parks Jr.
• Production Company: Superfly Ltd., distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures
• Trivia: The film was released in the UK on March 4, 1973. Curtis Mayfield and members of The Curtis Mayfield Experience appear as themselves. The film’s director of photography, James Signorelli, would go on to become the filmed segment director for SNL. The script was only 45 pages long, which explains why there are so many shots of people walking, driving, etc. While a financial success, earning a profit of $4 million, the film’s soundtrack album earned $5 million. The first black-oriented film to be financed entirely by African-Americans and shot by a non-white crew.

August 6 – Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask) (USA)

• Cast: Woody Allen, Jack Barry, John Carradine, Erin Fleming, Elaine Giftos, Geoffrey Holder, Toni Holt, Lou Jacobi, Louise Lasser, Robert Q. Lewis, Heather MacRae, Pamela Mason, Sidney Miller, Regis Philbin, Anthony Quayle, Tony Randall, Lynn Redgrave, Burt Reynolds, Norman Alden, Jay Robinson, Ref Sanchez, Gene Wilder, Titos Vandis, Baruch Lumet
• Director: Woody Allen
• Production Company: Jack Rollins–Charles H. Joffe Productions, Brodsky/Gould Productions, distributed by United Artists
• Trivia: The film also opened in Canada on August 6, 1972. It was released in the UK on March 29, 1973. Loosely inspired by David Reuben’s 1969 book of the same name. The film was banned in Ireland on March 20, 1973. A cut version was passed in 1979 and released theatrically in 1980, removing both a bestiality reference (‘the greatest lay I ever had’, referring to a sheep) and a man having sex with a bread loaf. The ban on the uncut version was eventually lifted. Final theatrical movie of Erin Fleming.

August 9 – Snoopy Come Home (USA)

• Voice Cast: Bill Melendez, Chad Webber, Robin Kohn, Stephen Shea, David Carey, Johanna Baer, Hilary Momberger, Chris De Faria, Linda Ercoli, Linda Mendelson
• Featured Vocalists: Shelby Flint, Thurl Ravenscroft, Guy Pohlman, Linda Ercoli, Ray Pohlman, Don Ralke
• Director: Bill Melendez
• Production Company: Lee Mendelson/Bill Melendez Productions, Sopwith Productions, distributed by National General
• Trivia: The film opened in the UK on September 15, 1972. The film marks the on-screen debut of Woodstock, who had first appeared in the strip in 1967. It is also Franklin’s screen debut. The first of the theatrical ‘Peanuts’ films with Peppermint Patty as a major character. The first ‘Peanuts’ production without a musical score by Vince Guaraldi. Charles M. Schulz wanted a more Disney-like feel to the film and hired the Sherman Brothers (Mary Poppins) to compose the film’s music.

1982

August 4 – Things Are Tough All Over

• Cast: Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong, Evelyn Guerrero, John Steadman, George Wallace, Billy Beck, Senta Moses, Aaron Freeman, Ben Powers, Rip Taylor, Dave Coulier, Ruby Wax, Shelby Chong
• Director: Thomas K. Avildsen
• Production Company: Columbia Pictures
• Trivia: The film premiered in New York City on April 9, 1982. The two girlfriends of the Arabs (played by Cheech and Chong) were played by Cheech and Chong’s real-life partners at the time, Rikki Marin and Shelby Chong.

August 6 – The Pirate Movie (USA)

Joseph Hamilton International Productions

• Cast: Christopher Atkins, Kristy McNichol, Ted Hamilton, Bill Kerr, Maggie Kirkpatrick, Garry McDonald, Chuck McKinney, Kate Ferguson, Rhonda Burchmore, Catherine Lynch
• Director: Ken Annakin
• Production Company: Joseph Hamilton International Productions, distributed by 20th Century Fox
• Trivia: The film opened in Australia on August 19, 1982. Loosely based on Gilbert and Sullivan’s 1879 comic opera The Pirates of Penzance. The film was rushed into production when Joseph Papp announced he was going to produce a filmed version of the Broadway production of The Pirates of Penzance (which was released six months after The Pirate Movie). The film was nominated for nine Razzie Awards, winning three: Worst Song (‘Pumpin’ and Blowin’), Worst Musical Score and Worst Director. Ken Annakin was actually the second director on the film. Richard Franklin had left after production had begun due to creative differences. The film is listed in The Official Razzie Movie Guide as one of ‘The 100 Most Enjoyably Bad Movies Ever Made’. The film gained a cult following in the late 1980s due to repeated showings on HBO.

1992

August 7 – Raising Cain (USA)

• Cast: John Lithgow, Lolita Davidovich, Steven Bauer, Frances Sternhagen, Gregg Henry, Tom Bower, Mel Harris, Teri Austin, Gabrielle Carteris, Barton Heyman, Amanda Pombo, Kathleen Callan, Geoff Callan
• Director: Brian De Palma
• Production Company: Universal Pictures
• Trivia: The film screened at the Venice Film Festival in September 1992. It did not open in the UK until January 8, 1993. The film’s original title was Father’s Day. Brian De Palma’s first thriller since 1984’s Body Double.

August 7 – Unforgiven (USA)

• Cast: Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, Richard Harris, Jaimz Woolvett, Saul Rubinek, Frances Fisher, Anna Thomson, David Mucci, Rob Campbell, Anthony James, Tara Dawn Frederick, Beverley Elliott, Liisa Repo-Martell, Shane Meier, Ron White, Jeremy Ratchford, John Pyper-Ferguson, Frank C. Turner, Lochlyn Munro
• Director: Clint Eastwood
• Production Company: Malpaso Productions, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures
• Trivia: The film’s Los Angeles premiere was held on August 3, 1992. It was released in the UK on September 18. Winner of four Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Supporting Actor (Gene Hackman, who originally turned down the role) and Editing. The film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2004. The concept for the film dated back to 1976 when it was being developed under the titles The Cut-Whore Killings and The William Munny Killings. The Big Whiskey set was built in just 32 days. The film was shot in 39 days, coming in four days ahead of schedule.

August 7 – Whispers in the Dark (USA)

• Cast: Annabella Sciorra, Jamey Sheridan, Anthony LaPaglia, Jill Clayburgh, John Leguizamo, Deborah Unger, Alan Alda, Anthony Heald, Jacqueline Brookes, Gene Canfield, Joe Badalucco, Bo Dietl
• Director: Christopher Crowe
• Production Company: Paramount Pictures
• Trivia: The film was released in the UK on September 25, 1992. Alan Alda received a Razzie nomination for Worst Supporting Actor. The film originally received an NC-17 rating due to an explicit sex scene in the opening credits. The producer called the rating ‘arbitrary’ but after minimal cuts were made the film received an R. An unrated version is available on home video.

2002

August 8 – The Tracker (Australia)

• Cast: David Gulpilil, Gary Sweet, Damon Gameau, Grant Page, Noel Wilton
• Director: Rolf de Heer
• Production Company: Umbrella Entertainment
• Trivia: The film screened at the Venice Film Festival on September 6, 2002. The lead characters in the film have no names and are only credited as their characters, such as The Tracker and The Follower.

2012

August 3 – Celeste and Jesse Forever (Canada)

• Cast: Rashida Jones, Andy Samberg, Elijah Wood, Emma Roberts, Eric Christian Olsen, Ari Graynor, Chris Messina, Will McCormack, Rich Sommer, Chris D’Elia, Rafi Gavron, Matthew Del Negro, Chris Pine, Janel Parrish, Rebecca Dayan
• Director: Lee Toland Krieger
• Production Company: Envision Media Arts, Team Todd, distributed by Sony Pictures Classics
• Trivia: The film screened at Sundance on January 20, 2012. It received a limited US release on August 3, and opened in the UK on December 7. Chris Pine was credited as Kris Pino. The original title was Jesse Loves Celeste. Filmed in 22 days.

August 3 – Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (USA)

• Cast: Zachary Gordon, Steve Zahn, Robert Capron, Devon Bostick, Rachael Harris, Peyton List, Grayson Russell, Karan Brar, Bryce Hodgson, Laine MacNeil, Melissa Roxburgh, Alfred E. Humphreys, Terence Kelly, Dalila Bela, Elise Gatien, Jeff Kinney
• Director: David Bowers
• Production Company: Fox 2000 Pictures, Color Force, Dune Entertainment, distributed by 20th Century Fox
• Trivia: The film also opened in Canada and the UK on August 3, 2012. Based on the third and fourth books of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid book series, ‘The Last Straw’ and ‘Dog Days’. Alfred E. Humphreys’ final film. The third film of the series and the last to feature the original cast, many of whom had aged out of their roles. Robert Capron had to wear a wig for this movie, as his hair was shaved to play the role of Young Curly in The Three Stooges.

August 3 – Total Recall (USA)

Columbia Pictures

• Cast: Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel, Bryan Cranston, Bokeem Woodbine, Bill Nighy, John Cho, Will Yun Lee, Dylan Smith
• Director: Len Wiseman
• Production Company: Columbia Pictures, Original Film. distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing
• Trivia: The film also opened in Canada on August 3, 2012, and in the UK on August 29. Based on the 1990 film of the same name, which was inspired by the 1966 short story ‘We Can Remember It for You Wholesale’ by Philip K. Dick. Ethan Hawke has an uncredited cameo in the Director’s Cut. Jessica Biel claimed the film was not a remake of the original, but based on the short story. However her character Melina only exists in the films. Scarlett Johansson had been up for the role but had to turn it down due to her commitment to The Avengers. The film does differ from the original by keeping the action on Earth instead of Mars. Michael Ironside, who appeared in the original film, was offered a cameo but turned it down.

August 8 – Hope Springs (USA)

• Cast: Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones, Steve Carell, Elisabeth Shue, Jean Smart, Brett Rice, Mimi Rogers, Ben Rappaport, Marin Ireland, Patch Darragh, Becky Ann Baker, Lee Cunningham
• Director: David Frankel
• Production Company: Columbia Pictures, Mandate Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Film 360, Escape Artists, distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing (North America), Lionsgate (International)
• Trivia: The film’s New York City premiere was held on August 6, 2012. The film was also released in Canada on August 8, and it opened in the UK on September 14. Meryl Streep was Golden Globe nominated for best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.

August 8 – Offender (UK)

• Cast: Kimberley Nixon, Shaun Dooley, Joe Cole, Scorcher, Malachi Kirby, Ruth Gemmell, Jacob Anderson, Vas Blackwood, Doon Mackichan
• Director: Ron Scalpello
• Production Company: Gunslinger Films & Revolver Entertainment. An RDT Co-Production, distributed by Revolver Entertainment

August 8 – The Sapphires (France)

• Cast: Chris O’Dowd, Deborah Mailman, Jessica Mauboy, Shari Sebbens, Miranda Tapsell, Tory Kittles, Eka Darville, Kylie Belling, Judith Lucy, Georgina Haig, Rhys Muldoon, Meyne Wyatt, Don Battee
• Director: Wayne Blair
• Production Company: Goalpost Pictures, distributed by Hopscotch Films
• Trivia: The film screened at Cannes on May 19, 2012. It was released in Australia on August 9. It screened at TIFF on September 9, and was released in the UK on November 7. It received a limited release in the US on March 22, 2013. Based on the 2004 stage play The Sapphires by Tony Briggs. Based on a real Australian girl group called The Sapphires, which only had three members instead of the four depicted in the movie. The film’s writer is the son of one of the group’s original members.