DNA Films
Several notable films made their debuts this week across the decades, with many receiving awards recognition and preservation status. 1925 gave us a very early version of a classic children’s story, 1935 put Perry Mason on the case for the second time, 1955 had James Dean and Ernest Borgnine battling for an Oscar, 1965 took audiences back to the beach, 1985 brought a popular singer to the big screen in her first major role, 1995 brought an SNL character to the silver screen, 2005 revisited a terrifying ‘true life’ story, and 2015 posed a question about artificial intelligence that feels even more relevant today. Scroll down to see the films that debuted this week, and tell us if any of your favorites are celebrating milestone anniversaries.
1925
- April 12 – A Two-Fisted Sheriff (USA, Ben Wilson Productions)
- April 12 – Dangerous Innocence (USA, Universal Pictures)
- April 12 – Déclassé (USA, Corinne Griffith Productions)
- April 12 – One Way Street (USA, First National Pictures)
- April 12 – Tearing Through (USA, Richard Talmadge Productions)
- April 13 – Silent Sanderson (USA, Stellar Productions)
- April 13 – The Sporting Venus (USA, Metro-Goldwyn Pictures Corporation)
- April 13 – The Wizard of Oz (USA, Chadwick Pictures Corporation)
- April 14 – Waking Up the Town (USA, Mary Pickford Company)
- April 16 – The Verdict (USA, Phil Goldstone Productions)
The Wizard of Oz first opened in the UK on January 27, 1925.
Lost films: Dangerous Innocence, One Way Street
Status unknown: A Two-Fisted Sheriff, Tearing Through, Silent Sanderson, The Verdict
Dangerous Innocence was based upon the 1923 novel Ann’s an Idiot by Pamela Wynne. Approximately one half of the scenes were shot on board the SS Calawaii of the Los Angeles Steamship Company during 14 days during a round trip voyage from San Francisco to Honolulu, Hawaii.
An unknown Clark Gable makes an uncredited appearance in Déclassé. The film was remade with sound in 1929 as Her Private Life. A print of the film is held in the British Film Institute National Archive with a trailer surviving at the Library of Congress.
A complete copy of The Sporting Venus survives in MGM’s archives. Waking Up the Town is preserved in the Library of Congress.
The Wizard of Oz differs wildly from the Land of Oz books, and focuses mainly on a farmhand on Uncle Henry’s farm played by the film’s director, Larry Semon. The Scarecrow, Tin Woodman and Cowardly Lion are not characters but disguises worn by the three farmhands after they are swept to Oz. Dorothy is 18-years-old as opposed to the child of the book. In another change, the Tin Woodman is actually a villain who betrays Dorothy, the Scarecrow and Lion. The film has been released on home video several times, the most recent in 2005 with a new original score by Robert Israel.
1935
- April 11 – Eight Bells (USA, Columbia Pictures)
- April 11 – Four Hours to Kill! (USA, Paramount Pictures)
- April 12 – Baby Face Harrington (USA, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer)
- April 12 – It’s a Small World (USA, Fox Film Corporation)
- April 13 – Roaring Roads (USA, William Berke Productions Inc.)
- April 13 – The Case of the Curious Bride (USA, First National Pictures)
- April 15 – Great God Gold (USA, Monogram Pictures)
- April 15 – Stone of Silver Creek (USA, Buck Jones Productions)
- April 15 – Without Children (USA, Liberty Pictures)
- April 16 – Fighting Lady (USA, Fanchon Royer Pictures)
Eight Bells is based on the 1933 play Eight Bells by Percy G. Mandley. Four Hours to Kill! is based on the play Small Miracle by Norman Krasna. It’s a Small World was Wendy Barrie’s American film debut.
Roaring Roads was the second and last film in the ‘Our Young Friends’ series following Adventurous Knights. It featured three member of the Our Gang cast.
The Case of the Curious Bride was the second of four Perry Mason films starring Warren William, and was based on the 1934 novel of the same name by Erle Stanley Gardner. The film marks the debut of Errol Flynn, playing a corpse (he also appears in a flashback near the end).
Great God Gold was the second film directed by Arthur Lubin. Without Children is also known as Penthouse Party.
1945
- April 11 – A Royal Scandal (USA, Twentieth Century Fox)
- April 12 – Eve Knew Her Apples (USA, Columbia Pictures)
- April 12 – Having Wonderful Crime (USA, RKO Radio Pictures)
- April 15 – Crime, Inc. (USA, Producers Releasing Corporation)
- April 16 – A Medal for Benny (USA, Paramount Pictures)
A Royal Scandal is also known as Czarina. It was based on the play Die Zarin (The Czarina) by Lajos Bíró and Melchior Lengyel.
Eve Knew Her Apples is a musical remake of It Happened One Night. It would be remade as a musical again in 1956, titled You Can’t Run Away From It.
A Medal for Benny is also known as Benny’s Medal. J. Carroll Naish won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor, and was nominated for the Oscar in the same category. John Steinbeck & Jack Wagner were also Oscar-nominated for Best Story.
1955
Hecht-Lancaster Productions
- April 10 – An Annapolis Story (USA, Allied Artists Pictures)
- April 10 – East of Eden (USA, Warner Bros. Pictures)
- April 11 – Canyon Crossroads (USA, Bel-Air Productions)
- April 11 – Marty (USA, Hecht-Lancaster Productions)
- April 12 – Strange Lady in Town (USA, Mervyn LeRoy Productions Inc.)
- April 12 – The Man from Bitter Ridge (USA, Universal International Pictures)
- April 15 – A Bullet for Joey (USA, Bischoff-Diamond Corporation)
- April 15 – The Dark Avenger (UK, Monogram Pictures Ltd.)
The Dark Avenger was released in the US on September 11, 1955 as The Warriors.
An Annapolis Story is also known as The Blue and Gold and Navy Air Patrol. Star John Derek insisted on switching roles with Kevin McCarthy at the last minute. With the film’s low budget, director Don Siegel was ordered to use as much stock footage as possible.
East of Eden was based on the fourth and final part of John Steinbeck’s 1952 novel. This was the only of James Dean’s three leading roles to be released during his lifetime. It was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2016. The film was originally announced as a 3D production, then changed to WarnerSuperScope using the studio’s new All-Media camera with no 3D. The film was eventually released in CinemaScope. Director Elia Kazan wanted to cast Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift as Cal and Aron, but they were too old at 30 and 34 respectively. Paul Newman, one year younger than Brando was next in line, but the role went to Dean, who was six years younger than Newman. Executive producer Jack Warner was against the casting of Julie Harris as Abra because she was ten years older than her character. The film earned four Oscar nominations, including Best Director (Kazan) and Best Actor (Dean), winning Best Supporting Actress for Jo Van Fleet. It received three BAFTA nominations, and won its Golden Globe nomination for Best Picture – Drama, and a Special Achievement Award for Dean.
Marty was based on the 1953 teleplay for The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse, with Rod Steiger in the title role. Ernest Borgnine starred in the movie after Steiger declined to reprise the role after he was directed to sign a multi-picture deal with the film’s producers, Harold Hecht and Burt Lancaster. Jerry Orbach has an uncredited role as a ballroom patron. Writer Paddy Chayefsky cameos as Leo. Nancy Marchand was to reprise the role of Clara, but Betsy Blair was interested and campaigned for the part. Blair was married to Gene Kelly at the time, but had been blacklisted due to her Communist sympathies. Kelly used his star power and studio connections to pressure United Artists to give her the role, reportedly threatening to withdraw from It’s Always Fair Weather. The film earned eight Oscar nominations, winning four for Best Picture, Best Director (Delbert Mann), Best Actor (Borgnine) and Screenplay (Chayefsky). It won two of its three BAFTA nominations for Foreign Actor (Borgnine) and Foreign Actress (Blair). It received one Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor – Drama, which Borgnine won. It was the first film to win the Palme d’Or, and is only one of four films to win that award and the Best Picture Oscar, with The Lost Weekend, Parasite and Anora. At 93 minutes it, along with Annie Hall, is the shortest film to win Best Picture. The film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 1994.
A Bullet for Joey was originally titled Canada’s Great Manhunt.
The working title for The Dark Avenger was The Black Prince. It was the last historical action film Errol Flynn would make. Flynn shaved off his mustache to make himself appear younger, but producer Walter Mirish had it written into the script that he was growing it back. Flynn’s drinking frequently held up production, with the actor occasionally taking drinks between takes, unable to remember his lines.
1965
- April 14 – Beach Blanket Bingo (USA, Alta Vista Productions)
- April 14 – Girl Happy (USA, Euterpe)
- April 15 – Crack in the World (US, Security Pictures)
- April 15 – Genghis Khan (Germany, Irving Allen Productions)
Genghis Khan was released in the US on June 23, 1965.
Beach Blanket Bingo is the fifth film in the ‘Beach Party’ film series. Linda Evans’ singing voice is dubbed by Jackie Ward. Evans’ role was intended for Nancy Sinatra, but because the kidnapping plot was reminiscent of her brother’s kidnapping a few months earlier, she was uncomfortable and dropped out. It was the last time Frankie Avalon had the lead in a ‘Beach Party’ film. The character Deadhead is renamed Bonehead in this film because the studio felt it was a bankable noun, and cast Avalon in the upcoming Sergeant Deadhead film. Series regular John Ashley appears opposite his real-life wife, Deborah Walley.
Girl Happy was Elvis Presley’s eighteenth feature film. Though promoted as a beach party film, Presley does not appear shirtless and wears long-sleeve shirts for most of the film, even while water skiing. While set in Ft. Lauderdale, Presley filmed all of his scenes in Southern California. Only second unit filming took place in Florida. It was the first of three movies in which Shelley Fabares co-starred with Presley.
1975
- April 16 – Capone (USA, Santa Fe Productions)
Sylvester Stallone makes an early screen appearance in Capone as Frank Nitti, who eulogizes Capone at his funeral. In real life, Capone outlived Nitti by several years. The film, which was billed as an authentic account of Capone’s life, makes no mention of his wife or daughter, and gives him a fictional love interest. Director Steve Carver said producer Roger Corman wanted to make the film so he could reuse footage from previous films.
1985
Orion Pictures
- April 12 – Cat’s Eye (USA, Dino De Laurentiis Company)
- April 12 – Desperately Seeking Susan (USA, Orion Pictures)
- April 12 – Fraternity Vacation (USA, New World Pictures)
- April 12 – Girls Just Want to Have Fun (USA, New World Pictures)
- April 12 – Ladyhawke (USA, Twentieth Century Fox / Warner Bros. Pictures)
Cat’s Eye is a Stephen King anthology film consisting of the stories ‘Quitter’s, Inc.’ and ‘The Ledge’, from King’s Night Shift collection, and the original story ‘General’. The stories are connected by the presence of a traveling cat and Drew Barrymore, who have small roles in the first two segments and are major characters in the last. The first two stories and Sometimes They Come Back were optioned by Milton Subotsky for an anthology film titled Fright Night, but after failing to find financing he sold to rights to Dino De Laurentiis, with Subotsky retaining a co-producer’s credit, as well as input on the script, casting and editing.
Desperately Seeking Susan, which first opened in limited release in the US on March 29, marked the first major screen role for Madonna, and gave early roles to John Turturro, Giancarlo Esposito, Laurie Metcalf and Steven Wright. Director Susan Seidelman also used a wide range of artists in small roles including Rockets Redglare, Ann Magnuson, John LUrie, Carole Leifer, Michael Badalucco, and the triplets Eddy, David and Robert, who were the subject of the 2018 documentary Three Identical Strangers (supposedly at Madonna’s personal invitation). Orion Pictures chairman Mike Medavoy campaigned for Barbra Streisand to play the title role. The filmmakers wanted Diane Keaton and Goldie Hawn to play Roberta and Susan, but Seidelman went with newcomers Rosanna Arquette and Madonna to appeal to younger audiences. Bruce Willis was up for the role of Dez, which went to Aiden Quinn. Melanie Griffith was also up for the role of Susan, as were Ellen Barkin, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Suzanne Vega. The movie was inspired by the French film Céline et Julie vont en bateau (1973). An alternate ending with Susan and Roberta in Egypt next to the pyramids was cut because Seidelman felt it was unnecessary and test audiences felt the movie should have ended much sooner. Madonna recorded a song for the movie with the film’s title, but it was not used. Instead a demo version of a song she had just recorded was used, ‘Into the Groove’. Arquette was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy, and she won the BAFTA to Best Actress in a Supporting Role. The film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2023.
New World Pictures announced it would make a film based on Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun’, and bought the rights to the original 1979 song and title from songwriter Robert Hazard. Lauper refused to allow her version to be used, and the filmmakers were not allowed to use the changes Lauper made to the song, including the addition of several lyrics. She also did not want to appear in the film. Sarah Jessica Parker, known at the time for the TV series Square Pegs, accepted the lead in the movie because uncredited screenwriter Janis Hirsch was a writer on the series.
Kurt Russell was originally cast as the male lead in Ladyhawke opposite Michelle Pfeiffer. The role of the pickpocket was offered to Sean Penn and Dustin Hoffman before Matthew Broderick was cast. Russell pulled out during rehearsals and Rutger Hauer was cast to replace him. Writer Edward Khmara crafted the idea for the story but Warner Bros. promoted it as being based on an old legend, which denied Khmara full rights of authorship. The Writers Guild undertook actions against the studio and a small monetary compensation was paid, but the studio continues to circulate material stating the old legend story. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards, Best Sound and Best Sound Effects Editing.
1995
- April 12 – Jury Duty (USA, Weasel Productions)
- April 12 – Stuart Saves His Family (USA, Broadway Pictures)
- April 12 – The Pebble and the Penguin (USA, Don Bluth Limited)
- April 13 – Rob Roy (AUS, Talisman Productions)
Rob Roy was released in the US on April 14, 1995.
Jury Duty marked the final film appearance of Billie Bird. The story is loosely based on Twelve Angry Men. Paulie Shore won a Razzie Award for Worst Actor.
Stuart Saves His Family is based on a series of Saturday Night Live sketches from the early to mid-1990s. The title character was created by Al Franken, who also played the character.
The Pebble and the Penguin is based on the true life mating rituals of the Adélie penguins in Antarctica. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures significantly altered the film near the end of production forcing directors Don Bluth and Gary Goldman to demand their names be removed from the film. It was the last film produced by Don Bluth Limited before the studio went bankrupt and ceased operations.
Rob Roy was shot entirely on location in Scotland, much of it in the Highlands which was so remote the locations could only be reached by helicopter. Non-stop Highland rain presented a problem for cast and crew when filming outdoor shots, as did the resulting swarms of midges. Tim Roth received Supporting Actor nominations from the BAFTAs, the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes, winning the BAFTA.
2005
Platinum Dunes
- April 13 – Man to Man (France, Vertigo)
- April 13 – State Property 2 (USA, Dash Films)
- April 14 – Brooklyn Bound (USA, limited, Mean Pictures)
- April 14 – Human Touch (AUS, Illumination Films)
- April 14 – Red Dust (Netherlands, Distant Horizon)
- April 15 – Double Dare (USA, docucmentary, Runaway Films)
- April 15 – The Amityville Horror (USA, Platinum Dunes)
Man to Man, Human Touch and Red Dust have no known US theatrical release dates.
State Property 2 features the final appearance of Ol’ Dirty Bastard, and the only appearance of ‘Fox’ from M.O.P., who died in 2024. The film carries a dedication to ODB.
The Amityville Horror features the debut of Chloë Grace Moretz, and is adapted from the novel by Jay Anson and 1979 film of the same name. While set on Long Island, the film was shot in Chicago and surrounding areas, as well as Salem and Silver Lake, Wisconsin. The address of the house was changed to 412 Ocean Avenue from 112 to deter people from visiting the property. The home used in the film is a real 1800s home that was temporarily converted to add the famous quarter moon ‘eye’ windows at a cost of $60,000. MGM claimed the movie contains new information uncovered during research on the original events but George Lutz, one of the original family members, stated no one spoke to him or his family about the project. Lutz sued the studio claiming they had no rights to the project without his consent, but the case was unresolved before his death in 2006.
2015
- April 10 – Dior and I (USA, docucmentary, CIM Productions)
- April 10 – Ex Machina (Norway, DNA Films)
- April 10 – Kill Me Three Times (USA, Parabolic Pictures Inc.)
- April 10 – Lost River (USA, Bold Films)
- April 10 – The Longest Ride (USA, Fox 2000 Pictures)
- April 11 – Molly Moon and the Incredible Book of Hypnotism (Canada, Amber Entertainment)
- April 14 – Such Good People (USA, limited, Such Good Productions)
Ex Machina first opened in the UK on January 21, 2015, and received a limited release in the US on April 10, 2015 expanding on April 24. Lost River first opened in France on April 8, 2015. Molly Moon and the Incredible Book of Hypnotism received a limited US release on August 14, 2015.
Ex Machina was the directorial debut of Alex Garland. Garland’s inspiration for the story came from his own childhood when he had done some basic coding and experimentation on a computer his parents had bought him. His later ideas came from years of discussions he had been having with a friend with an expertise in neuroscience, who claimed machines could never become sentient. The story came to Garland during pre-production on Dredd while reading a book about consciousness and embodiment, which he wrote down and put aside until later. The film also draws inspiration from 2001: A Space Odyssey, Altered States and Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Garland made the film on as small a budget as possible to maintain creative control. The film was shot digitally at 4K resolution, and fifteen thousand tungsten pea bulb lights were installed into the sets to avoid the fluorescent light often used in science-fiction films. The film was shot as live action with no special effects, greenscreen or tracking markers used. Ava’s body was a detailed costume with lines to make it easier for the VFX company to remove parts of it digitally in post-production. Scenes with Ava were filmed twice, with and without Alicia Vikander, to capture the background behind her. Her hands and face were rotoscoped, the rest was digitally painted out and the background was restored. The film included about 800 VFX shots, 350 of which were ‘robot’ shots. The film’s screenplay was Oscar-nominated, and the visual effects won the Oscar. It also received five BAFTA and one Golden Globe nomination.
Lost River was the feature directorial debut of Ryan Gosling, who also wrote the screenplay. The film was originally titled How to Catch a Monster.