Hotchka Movies by the Decade feature #115 :: October 5•11

Eon Productions

The first full week of October across the last century brings not just quantity — with new movies premiering in each decade — but quality as well, with several decades producing at least one film that has gone on to be regarded as a classic. 1942 saw a Disney animated feature that was so popular it spawned a companion film two years later, 1952 had a classic of Japanese cinema, and 1962 presented a new British spy to the world, on the big screen, for the very first time (he’d previously been seen as an American on a US TV adaptation). 1982 had a beloved comedy that earned its star an Oscar nomination, 1992 presented Quentin Tarantino to the world, and 2012 turned a live-action short into an animated feature, and introduced a group of ‘pitches’ to the world. Read on to learn more about this week’s movie anniversaries, and tell us about your favorites on the list!

1922

October 10 – Suramis tsikhe (Georgia)

• Cast: Hamo Beknazarian, Mikheil Chiaureli, Shalva Dadiani, Tamar Sakvarelidze, Tatyana Maksimova
• Director: Ivan Perestiani
• Production Company: Kinos Seqtsia
• Trivia: Based on Daniel Chonkadze’s novel. English title is The Suram Fortress.

1932

October 8 – The Big Stampede (USA)

• Cast: John Wayne, Noah Beery, Paul Hurst, Mae Madison, Luis Alberni, Berton Churchill, Sherwood Bailey, Lafe McKee, Joseph W. Girard
• Director: Tenny Wright
• Production Company: Leon Schlesinger Studios, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures
• Trivia: A remake of the 1927 film The Land Beyond the Law, with much of its footage reused in the 1932 film. John Wayne’s costumes were designed to match the original costumes of Ken Maynard. Some discrepancies can be seen in new footage shot at different locations.

1942

October 6 – Saludos Amigos (Argentina)

Walt Disney Productions

• Voice Cast: Lee Blair, Mary Blair, Pinto Colvig, Walt Disney, Norman Ferguson, Frank Graham, Clarence Nash, José do Patrocínio Oliveira, Fred Shields, Frank Thomas, Stuart Buchanan
• Director: Norman Ferguson, Wilfred Jackson, Jack Kinney, Hamilton Luske, Bill Roberts
• Production Company: Walt Disney Productions, distributed by RKO Radio Pictures
• Trivia: The title translates to ‘Greetings, Friends’. Disney’s sixth animated feature. The film was so popular that Disney produced another film about Latin America, The Three Caballeros, two years later. Nominated for three Academy Awards including Best Original Song, ‘Saludos Amigos’.

October 8 – Flying Tigers (USA)

• Cast: John Wayne, John Carroll, Anna Lee, Paul Kelly, Gordon Jones, Mae Clarke, Addison Richards, Edmund MacDonald, Bill Shirley, Tom Neal
• Director: David Miller
• Production Company: Republic Pictures
• Trivia: Also known as Yank Over Singapore and Yanks Over the Burma Road. Archival combat footage was used in some scenes, while miniatures were used for the American and Japanese aerial combat scenes. The film’s special effects were Oscar nominated, but many Academy voters believed much of the footage was real and passed over the film for the Oscar. The film was also nominated for Best Music and Best Sound Recording.

1952

October 9 – Ikiru (Japan)

• Cast: Takashi Shimura, Shinichi Himori, Haruo Tanaka, Minoru Chiaki, Bokuzen Hidari
• Director: Akira Kurosawa
• Production Company: Toho Company
• Trivia: The screenplay was partly inspired by Leo Tolstoy’s 1886 novella The Death of Ivan Ilyich. Kurosawa’s original draft of the screenplay was titled The Life of Kanji Watanabe.

October 9 – Il Cappotto (Italy)

• Cast: Renato Rascel, Yvonne Sanson, Giulio Stival, Antonella Lualdi
• Director: Alberto Lattuada
• Production Company: Faro Film, distributed by Titanus
• Trivia: Released in the US on October 7, 1953 as The Overcoat. Based on the 1842 short story of the same name by Nikolai Gogol. Premiered at the 1952 Cannes Film Festival.

October 9 – The World in His Arms (USA)

• Cast: Gregory Peck, Ann Blyth, Anthony Quinn, John McIntire, Carl Esmond, Sig Ruman, Andrea King, Eugenie Leontovich, Bill Radovich, Rhys Williams, Bryan Forbes, Hans Conried
• Director: Raoul Walsh
• Production Company: Universal-International
• Trivia: Based on the novel by Rex Beach.

October 10 – Captive Women (USA)

• Cast: Robert Clarke, Margaret Field, Gloria Saunders, Ron Randell, William Schallert
• Director: Stuart Gilmore
• Production Company: Albert Zugsmith Productions, distributed by RKO Radio Pictures Inc.
• Trivia: The film is known in the UK as 3000 A.D. Due to so many major issues during production, this was Stuart Gilmore’s last film. He went on to direct a handful of TV series episodes, and was a film editor until his death in 1971 (his last work was on The Andromeda Strain). Re-released in 1956 as 1000 Years From Now, which was one of the film’s original working titles.

October 10 – The Thief (USA)

• Cast: Ray Milland, Martin Gabel, Harry Bronson, Rita Vale, Rex O’Malley, Rita Gam, John McKutcheon, Joe Conlin
• Director: Russell Rouse
• Production Company: Harry Popkin Productions, Fran Productions
• Trivia: The film contains no dialogue, with the only verbal communication represented by close-ups of two telegrams. The film received an Oscar nomination for Best Music, and five Golden Globe nominations for Cinematography, Best Picture – Drama, Best Actor – Drama (Milland), Screenplay, and Most Promising Newcomer – Female (Gam).

October 11 – Horizons West (USA)

• Cast: Robert Ryan, Julie Adams, Rock Hudson, Judith Braun, John McIntire, Raymond Burr, James Arness, Dennis Weaver, Frances Bavier
• Director: Budd Boetticher
• Production Company: Universal Pictures
• Trivia: Robert Ryan was only two years younger than John McIntire, who played his father. Dennis Weaver’s film debut.

1962

October 5 – Dr. No (London)

• Cast: Sean Connery, Ursula Andress, Joseph Wiseman, Jack Lord, Bernard Lee, John Kitzmiller, Anthony Dawson, Zena Marshall, Eunice Gayson, Lois Maxwell
• Director: Terence Young
• Production Company: Eon Productions, distributed by United Artists
• Trivia: Based on the 1958 novel of the same name by Ian Fleming. First film in the Bond series, but the sixth of Fleming’s books. The film makes some references to the earlier books, as well as some of the later works, such as the organization SPECTRE which was introduced in the 1961 novel Thunderball. Fleming first wrote Dr. No as a television outline to promote the Jamaican tourism industry, which fell through and Fleming concentrated on turning the story into a film. A number of Hollywood studios turned the film down, calling to ‘too British’ or ‘too blatantly sexual’. Producers initially wanted to film Thunderball first but a legal dispute between Fleming and the screenplay’s co-author Kevin McClory prevented that. Director Young injected much of the humor into the film, knowing that if the sex and violence were played straight, the film would be objectionable and would never get past the censors. The budget was so low the film only had one sound editor, cardboard paintings in M’s office, and one set that cost just £745 to build. Dr. No’s aquarium was magnified stock footage of goldfish. When art director Syd Cain found out his name was not in the credits, producer ‘Cubby’ Broccoli gave him a golden pen to compensate, saying that he did not want to spend money making the credits again. The total budget for sets was £14,500. Cary Grant was sought for the role of Bond, but he would only commit to one film. Patrick McGoohan was approached but turned it down. David Niven was also considered, He would go on to play Bond in the comedic Casino Royale (1967). Roger Moore was also considered but was too young and, according to Broccoli, ‘too pretty’. Moore said he was never approached and made his debut as Simon Templar on The Saint the day before Dr. No opened. A contest was held to cast the role of Bond (some mistakenly believe that’s how Connery was cast), with the winner being model Peter Anthony, who had a Gregory Peck quality but was unable to cope with the demands of the role. Connery was then invited to meet with the producers, and after the meeting they watched him walk to his car, agreeing he was the man for the job. Young took the rough-around-the-edges Connery to his tailor and introduced him to London’s high life, educating the actor in ‘the ways of being dapper, witty and cool.’ This is the only film in the series featuring Jack Lord as Felix Leiter. He wanted more money and better billing to return in Goldfinger, and was replaced. Leiter does not appear in the novel. Goya’s ‘Portrait of the Duke of Wellington’, which was missing at the time of production, is seen in Dr. No’s possession. Production designer Ken Adam had obtained a slide of the painting from the National Gallery and painted a copy of the weekend before filming. Adam says his painted was also stolen.

October 5 – The Chapman Report (USA)

• Cast: Shelley Winters, Jane Fonda, Claire Bloom, Glynis Johns, Efrem Zimbalist Jr, Ray Danton, Ty Hardin, Andrew Duggan, John Dehner, Harold J. Stone, Corey Allen, Jennifer Howard, Cloris Leachman, Chad Everett, Henry Daniell, Jack Cassidy
• Director: George Cukor
• Production Company: Darryl F. Zanuck Productions, distributed by Warner Bros Pictures
• Trivia: Adapted from Irving Wallace’s 1960 novel, which was based on the Kinsey Reports. The film was originally set up at 20th Century Fox, but problems with the studio and Darryl F. Zanuck during production on Cleopatra and The Longest Day caused the studio to turn down the film. It was sold to Warner Bros. who then replaced the male leads with Warner Brothers Television contract players to attract their fans to the film, and give the actors more interesting and different material. Efrem Zimbalist Jr. was given top billing over the four female stars, but in overseas release his name was shifted down in favor of the more well-known Winters and Fonda. Orry-Kelly dressed each of the female characters in only one color throughout the film. The film’s subject matter was criticized for much of its production by the Catholic League of Decency.

October 10 – If a Man Answers (USA)

• Cast: Sandra Dee, Bobby Darin, Micheline Presle, John Lund, Cesar Romero, Stefanie Powers
• Director: Henry Levin
• Production Company: Universal Pictures, distributed by Universal International
• Trivia: Based on the 1961 novel by Winifred Wolfe. Dee and Darin were married in real life at the time of production. Nancy Kwan, Claudette Collbert and David Niven were originally announced to star. Tammy Grimes was also being considered for the role that went to Dee. Nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Comedy, and Best Supporting Actor (Romero).

October 10 – Long Day’s Journey into Night (USA)

• Cast: Katharine Hepburn, Ralph Richardson, Jason Robards, Dean Stockwell
• Director: Sidney Lumet
• Production Company: First Company, distributed by Embassy Pictures
• Trivia: Adapted from Eugene O’Neill’s Pulitzer-winning play of the same name. Richardson and Hepburn won the Best Actor and Best Actress awards at the Cannes Film Festival. Hepburn was also nominated for the Oscar and Golden Globe. The film was shot in sequence, after three weeks of rehearsal, over 37 days on a budget of $435,000.

1972

October 5 – Die bitteren Tränen der Petra von Kant (West Germany)

• Cast: Margit Carstensen, Irm Hermann, Hanna Schygulla, Gisela Fackeldey, Eva Mattes, Katrin Schaake
• Director: Rainer Werner Fassbinder
• Production Company: Filmverlag der Autoren, Tango Film
• Trivia: Based on the play by Rainer Werner Fassbinder. Released in the US on June 11, 1976 under the title The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant.

October 5 – Endless Night (UK)

• Cast: Hayley Mills, Hywel Bennett, Britt Ekland, Per Oscarsson, George Sanders, David Bauer, Peter Bowles, Patience Collier, Lois Maxwell
• Director: Sidney Gilliat
• Production Company: British Lion Films, EMI Films, National Film Trustee Company, distributed by British Lion Films (British Isles), EMI Films (worldwide)
• Trivia: Based on the 1967 novel Endless Night by Agatha Christie. Christie was initially pleased with the film’s director and casting, but was disappointed with the finished film, finding it flat and less interesting every minute. She also disliked Ekland’s brief nudity in the final sequence. The score was composed by American composer Bernard Herrmann. Hayley Mills’ singing was dubbed by Shirley Jones. With the film a flop in the UK, United Artists opted not to release it in the US.

October 6 – Lo scopone scientifico (Italy)

• Cast: Alberto Sordi, Silvana Mangano, Joseph Cotten, Bette Davis, Mario Carotenuto, Domenico Modugno, Antonella Di Maggio, Daniele Dublino
• Director: Luigi Comencini
• Production Company: Produzioni De Laurentiis Intermaco, distributed by Cinema International Corporation
• Trivia: Also known as The Scientific Cardplayer and The Scopone Game. Davis received the script while on a three-week vacation and flew to Rome on 24-hour notice. She did not know the dialogue was to be recorded in Italian until the first day of filming.

October 10 – Young Winston (USA)

• Cast: Robert Shaw, Anne Bancroft, Simon Ward, Jack Hawkins, Ian Holm, Anthony Hopkins, Patrick Magee, Edward Woodward, John Mills, Jane Seymour
• Director: Richard Attenborough
• Production Company: Open Road Films (II), distributed by Columbia-Warner Distributors (UK), Columbia Pictures (USA)
• Trivia: Based on Churchill’s 1930 book, My Early Life. Nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Screenplay, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design. James Fox was originally announced to play Churchill. Director Attenborough was also offered the role of Lord Randolph Churchill, but turned it down.

1982

October 8 – Lookin’ to Get Out (USA)

• Cast: Jon Voight, Ann-Margret, Burt Young, Bert Remsen, Siegfried and Roy, Samantha Harper
• Director: Hal Ashby
• Production Company: Lorimar, distributed by Paramount Pictures
• Trivia: Seven-year-old Angelina Jolie makes her acting debut as the daughter of her father Jon Voight’s character. Production on the film was interrupted for five months due to an actors’ strike. Ashby and the studio constantly butted heads and he cut the film himself before the studio took it away from him and recut it. It was discovered that Ashby’s cut, which had been thought lost, was screened at the University of Southern California. This was brought to the attention of Warner Bros, which released the director’s cut on DVD in 2009.

October 8 – My Favorite Year (USA)

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

• Cast: Peter O’Toole, Mark Linn-Baker, Jessica Harper, Joseph Bologna, Bill Macy, Lainie Kazan, Anne De Salvo, Basil Hoffman, Lou Jacobi, Adolph Green, Cameron Mitchell, George Wyner, Tony DiBenedetto, Selma Diamond, Cady McClain
• Director: Richard Benjamin
• Production Company: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Brooksfilms Ltd., distributed by MGM/UA Entertainment Co.
• Trivia: Mel Brooks claimed the film’s story was based on Errol Flynn’s guest appearance on Your Show of Shows, but later acknowledged that most of the story was fictional and Flynn’s appearance on the show was uneventful, none of the writers had much interaction with him or became his friend and took him home to dinner. Richard Benjamin’s feature directorial debut. Peter O’Toole received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. The film was turned into a 1992 Broadway musical with Lainie Kazan the only member of the cast to reprise her film role. Tim Curry took on O’Toole’s role, and both were nominated for Tony Awards even though the show was a flop, running for 45 previews and 36 regular performances.

October 8 – Fast-Walking (USA)

• Cast: James Woods, Tim McIntire, Kay Lenz, Robert Hooks, Charles Weldon, M. Emmet Walsh, Susan Tyrrell, Lance LeGault, Helen Page Camp, K Callan
• Director: James B. Harris
• Production Company: Lorimar Productions, distributed by Pickman Film Corporation
• Trivia: Based on Ernest Brawley’s 1974 novel The Rap.

1992

October 7 – By the Sword (France)

• Cast: F. Murray Abraham, Eric Roberts, Mia Sara, Christopher Rydell, Elaine Kagan, Brett Cullen
• Director: Jeremy Paul Kagan
• Production Company: Film Horizon, Foil Productions Inc., The Movie Group, distributed by Sinfonia Films (France), Hansen Entertainment (USA)
• Trivia: The first feature film about the sport of fencing. Reviews were favorable for the acting but most considered the screenplay terrible. The film is believed to have played in only nine theaters in the US.

October 8 – 1492: Conquest of Paradise (Spain)

• Cast: Gérard Depardieu, Armand Assante, Sigourney Weaver, Loren Dean, Ángela Molina, Fernando Rey, Michael Wincott, Tchéky Karyo, Kevin Dunn, Frank Langella, John Heffernan, Arnold Vosloo, Steven Waddington
• Director: Ridley Scott
• Production Company: Gaumont Film Company, Légende Entreprises, France 3 Cinéma, Due West, CYRK Films, distributed by Gaumont (France), Lauren Films (Spain), Guild Film Distribution (UK), Paramount Pictures (USA)
• Trivia: Debuted less than two months after Christopher Columbus: The Discovery, and released to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Columbus’ voyage. The film received criticism for its historical inaccuracies.

October 9 – Blue Ice (UK)

• Cast: Michael Caine, Sean Young, Ian Holm, Bob Hoskins, Jack Shepherd, Bobby Short, Alun Armstrong
• Director: Russell Mulcahy
• Production Company: M&M Productions, Guild, HBO Pictures, Home Box Office (HBO), distributed by Classico Entertainment
• Trivia: The character Harry Anders is based on the character Tad Anders, featured in three novels by Ted Allbeury. The name also references ‘Harry Palmer’, whom Caine portayed in an earlier series of films.

October 9 – Ciao, Professore! (Italy)

• Cast: Paolo Villaggio, Paolo Bonacelli, Isa Danieli, Gigio Morra, Sergio Solli
• Director: Lina Wertmüller
• Production Company: Penta Film, Cecchi Gori Group Tiger Cinematografica, Eurolux Produzione S.r.l., distributed by Variety Distribution
• Trivia: Inspired by the 1990 Italian bestseller Io speriamo che me la cavo (Me, Let’s Hope I Make It).

October 9 – Reservoir Dogs (Italy)

• Cast: Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn, Steve Buscemi, Lawrence Tierney, Randy Brooks, Kirk Baltz, Edward Bunker, Quentin Tarantino, David Steen, Steven Wright
• Director: Quentin Tarantino
• Production Company: Live Entertainment, Dog Eat Dog Productions Inc., distributed by Miramax Films
• Trivia: Tarantino’s feature directorial debut. He originally planned to shoot the film with friends, in black-and-white, on a $30,000 budget. Producer Lawrence Bender gave the script to his acting teacher, whose wife gave it to Keitel, who liked it enough to sign on as a producer which helped Tarantino secure more funding, raising $1.5 million. Jon Cryer was asked to audition for Mr. Pink but backed out at the last minute. Tim Roth’s agents wanted him for the role of Pink or Blonde, but he preferred Mr. Orange so he could be an English actor pretending to be American playing a cop pretending to be a robber. Tarantino has said the film was inspired by Kubrick’s The Killing, 1952’s Kansas City Confidential, 1955’s The Big Combo, 1966’s Django and 1987’s City on Fire. Naming the characters after colors was first used in 1974’s The Taking of Pelham One Two Three. Steve Buscemi won the Best Supporting Male Independent Spirit Award in 1992.

October 9 – Under Siege (USA/Philippines)

• Cast: Steven Seagal, Tommy Lee Jones, Gary Busey, Erika Eleniak, Colm Meaney, Patrick O’Neal, Andy Romano, Dale Dye, Nick Mancuso, Dennis Lipscomb, Bernie Casey, Glenn Morshower
• Director: Andrew Davis
• Production Company: Regency Enterprises, Le Studio Canal Plus, Alcor Films, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures
• Trivia: The only Seagal film to earn Oscar nominations – Best Sound and Best Sound Effects Editing. Harrison Ford saw a rough cut of the film and approved Andrew Davis to direct The Fugitive.

2002

October 9 – Le fils (Belgium)

• Cast: Olivier Gourmet, Morgan Marinne, Isabella Soupart, Nassim Hassaïni, Kevin Leroy, Félicien Pitsaer, Rémy Renaud, Annette Closset, Fabian Marnette, Jimmy Deloof, Anne Gerard
• Director: Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne
• Production Company: Archipel 35, Les Films du Fleuve, RTBF, distributed by Diaphana Films
• Trivia: Released in the US on January 20, 2003 as The Son. Olivier Gourmet won the Best Actor Award at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival.

October 11 – Darkness (Spain)

• Cast: Anna Paquin, Lena Olin, Iain Glen, Giancarlo Giannini, Fele Martínez, Stephan Enquist, Fermin Reixach
• Director: Jaume Balagueró
• Production Company: Fantastic Factory, distributed by Filmax (Spain), Dimension Films (USA)
• Trivia: The film was not released in the US until December 25, 2004 in a heavily edited down PG-13 version. It was not released in the UK until 2005. Director Balagueró cites The Amityville Horror and The Shining as influences.

October 11 – People I Know (Italy)

• Cast: Al Pacino, Kim Basinger, Ryan O’Neal, Téa Leoni, Richard Schiff, Bill Nunn, Robert Klein, Mark Webber
• Director: Daniel Algrant
• Production Company: Myriad Pictures, South Fork Pictures, Pacific Data Images
• Trivia: The film was scheduled for release in 2001 but was delayed until 2002 after the September 11 attacks on New York City. The film featured shots of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, but they were removed before the theatrical release. The shots are included on the home video release.

October 11 – Secretary (USA)

• Cast: Maggie Gyllenhaal, James Spader, Jeremy Davies, Lesley Ann Warren, Stephen McHattie, Jessica Tuck, Patrick Bauchau, Amy Locane, Oz Perkins
• Director: Steven Shainberg
• Production Company: Secretary, Inc., distributed by Lions Gate Films
• Trivia: Based on the short story Secretary by Mary Gaitskill. While set in Florida, the film was shot in Los Angeles. Production accidentally obtained shooting permits for the wrong park, but Maggie Gyllenhaal encouraged them to film in the park they wanted without permits while crew members distracted the police.

2012

October 5 – Frankenweenie (USA/Canada)

Walt Disney Pictures

• Voice Cast: Catherine O’Hara! Martin Short, Martin Landau, Charlie Tahan, Atticus Shaffer, Winona Ryder, Conchata Ferrell, Tom Kenny, Frank Welker, Dee Bradley Baker
• Director: Tim Burton
• Production Company: Walt Disney Pictures, Tim Burton Productions, distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
• Trivia: Feature-length remake of Burton’s 1984 short film of the same name. The first black-and-white feature and the first stop motion film to be released in IMAX 3D. Winner of the Saturn Award for Best Animated Film, and nominated for an Oscar, Golden Globe, BAFTA and Annie Award. The design of the dog Sparky was borrowed heavily from Burton’s animated TV series Family Dog. Three large sets were created for the family attic, the cemetery and a school interior, with each set divided into 30 separate areas to deal with the frame-by-frame animation technique. The Sparky puppet required Swiss watchmakers to create the tiny nuts and bolts for its frame, which had about 300 parts. The human character puppets had about 45 joints. There were 200 puppets used in the film, with 18 different versions of Victor.

October 5 – The Oranges (USA)

• Cast: Hugh Laurie, Catherine Keener, Adam Brody, Alia Shawkat, Oliver Platt, Allison Janney, Leighton Meester, Aya Cash, Sam Rosen, Tim Guinee
• Director: Julian Farino
• Production Company: FilmNation Entertainment, Olympus Pictures, Likely Story, distributed by ATO Pictures
• Trivia: Laurie, Meester, Janney, Platt, and Brody shared a house together during production. While set between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the film was shot in March and April.

October 5 – The Paperboy (USA, limited)

• Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Zac Efron, David Oyelowo, Macy Gray, John Cusack, Nicole Kidman, Scott Glenn, Ned Bellamy, Nealla Gordon
• Director: Lee Daniels
• Production Company: Nu Image, Lee Daniels Entertainment, distributed by Millennium Films
• Trivia: Based on Pete Dexter’s 1995 novel of the same name, which was inspired by a true story. Kidman was nominated for a Golden Globe and SAG Award. Kidman only communicated with John Cusack in character during the production, and as a joke after filming completed he went up to her and formally introduced himself.

October 5 – Pitch Perfect (USA/Canada)

• Cast: Anna Kendrick, Skylar Astin, Rebel Wilson, Adam DeVine, Anna Camp, Brittany Snow, Alexis Knapp, Ester Dean, Hana Mae Lee, Ben Platt, Utkarsh Ambudkar, John Michael Higgins, Elizabeth Banks
• Director: Jason Moore
• Production Company: Gold Circle Films, Brownstone Productions, distributed by Universal Pictures
• Trivia: Loosely adapted from Mickey Rapkin’s non-fiction book, Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate a Cappella Glory, and director Jason Moore’s own experiences at his alma mater, Northwestern University. Anna Kendrick was the first choice for Beca. Rebel Wilson auditioned for the role of Fat Amy by singing Lady Gaga’s ‘The Edge of Glory’ while beating on her chest. Adam DeVine was hand-picked by producer Elizabeth Banks based on his work on the TV series Workaholics. DeVine initially declined the offer saying he could not sing, but he surprised the producers with his vocal skills. Banks and Max Handelman were fans of Anna Camp in True Blood, and cast her in the role of Aubrey.

October 5 – Taken 2 (USA/Canada)

• Cast: Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen, Rade Šerbedžija, Leland Orser, Jon Gries, D. B. Sweeney, Luke Grimes, Olivier Rabourdin, Kevork Malikyan, Luenell
• Director: Olivier Megaton
• Production Company: EuropaCorp, M6 Films, Grive Productions, CanalPlus, M6, CinéPlus
• Trivia: The film was shot for an R-rating, but it was edited down to a PG-13 as was the original and the third film in the series. When production was announced, it was not known if Neeson would return, so Mickey Rourke was considered as a replacement.

October 5 – Winnie Mandela (Canada)

• Cast: Jennifer Hudson, Terrence Howard, Wendy Crewson, Elias Koteas, Justin Strydom, Aubrey Poo, Jonathan Rands, Hlomla Dandala, Leleti Khumalo, Clive Scott
• Director: Darrell Roodt
• Production Company: Ironwood Films, Equinoxe Films, The Movie Channel
• Trivia: Based on Anne Marie du Preez Bezrob’s biography Winnie Mandela: A Life. Winnie Mandela criticized the fact that the filmmakers came to South Africa to make a movie about her life and never consulted her personally. The film was also criticized for casting American actors like Jennifer Hudson in South African roles.