Hotchka Movies by the Decade feature #273 :: October 16•22

It was a pretty decent week for new movie releases as awards seasons approaches, and not a one of them went into Golden Raspberry territory … although one did get lampooned on MST3K. Of the notable films this week, a 1925 film saw a 33-year-old actress return to playing a child role to great audience appreciation, a 1935 film paired two actors who could not find a romantic spark but still pleased audiences enough to make several more films together, a 1945 Western saw a future husband and wife appear together, a 1955 film wanted one star but got another, a 1965 film was filled with ‘nepo babies’, a 1975 film paired two actors with decades of work to their credits for the very first time, a 1985 horror film became a cult classic despite its star thinking no one would see it, a 1995 film had everyone asking the question, ‘Who is Keyser Söze’, a 2005 film had to fictionalize its true story, and a 2015 film made history with its then-unusual release. Scroll down to see all of the films released this week, and tell us if any of your favorites are celebrating milestone anniversaries.

1925

• October 18 – Bustin’ Thru (USA, Blue Streak Western)
• October 18 – Flower of Night (USA, Famous Players-Lasky Corporation)
• October 18 – Hell’s Highroad (USA, DeMIlle Pictures Corporation)
• October 18 – Little Annie Rooney (USA, Mary Pickford Company)
• October 18 – Peacock Feathers (USA, Universal Pictures)
• October 18 – The Fighting Heart (USA, Fox Film Corporation)
• October 18 – The Keeper of the Bees (USA, Gene Stratton Porter Productions)
• October 18 – Under the Rouge (USA, Encore Pictures)
• October 18 – Why Women Love (USA, Edwin Carewe Productions)
• October 19 – The Ace of Spades (USA, serial, Universal Pictures)
• October 19 – One of the Bravest (USA, Gotham Productions)
• October 19 – Seven Keys to Baldpate (USA, Famous Players-Lasky Corporation)
• October 21 – Down Upon the Suwanee River (USA, royal Palm Productions)
• October 22 – Once in a Lifetime (USA, Paul Gerson Pictures Corporation)

The survival statuses of Bustin’ Thru, Hell’s Highroad, Under the Rouge, and Once in a Lifetime are unknown, while Flower of Night, Peacock Feathers, The Fighting Heart, The Keeper of the Bees, Why Women Love, The Ace of Spades, and Seven Keys to Baldpate are all considered lost.

Mary Pickford, known for her portrayals of penniless young girls, wrote the story for Little Annie Rooney after modest box office success playing adults in her two previous films. She was 33 years old when she played the young girl in the film, and it was one of the highest-grossing films of 1925. Little Annie Rooney was restored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2014 from Pickford’s own 35mm tinted nitrate print. Because of that, the restoration contains longer scenes, different camera set-ups, and better shots of her, as well as special tinting effects not seen in any previously available versions. Prior to making the movie, Pickford polled fans on what roles she should play, and the response was overwhelmingly children, with Anne of Green Gables, Heidi and Alice in Wonderland suggested. The basis for her character came from the music hall song ‘Little Annie Rooney’, which is referenced twice in the movie’s intertitles.

A portion of Peacock Feathers was filmed in two-strip Technicolor. Only a trailer for The Keeper of the Bees survives. Why Women Love is also known as Sea Women. A complete print of One of the Bravest is held by the Library of Congress.

Out of seven versions produced of Seven Keys to Baldpate, the 1925 film is the only one that is considered lost. It was previously filmed in Australia in 1916, and by Paramount in 1917. Remakes followed the 1925 version in 1929, 1935, 1946 (as a TV movie) and 1947. It was remade again in 1983 as House of the Long Shadows, which starred John Carradine, Peter Cushing, Vincent Price and Christopher Lee.

Down Upon the Suwanee River, also known as Down Upon the Swanee River, was filmed on location in Florida, where actress Mary Thurman caught malaria. She completed the film, went to New York City and was admitted to the hospital, but died on December 13, 1925 at the age of 30 from a case of pneumonia. The Uncle Jasper character is noted as being an early example of a positive black character in a film.

1935

• October 16 – Confidential (USA, Mascot Pictures)
• October 17 – The Judgement Book (USA, Black King Productions Inc.)
• October 18 – Hands Across the Table (USA, Paramount Pictures)
• October 18 – The Last Days of Pompeii (USA, RKO Radio Pictures)
• October 18 – This Is the Life (USA, Fox Film Corporation)
• October 19 – Born for Glory (USA, Gaumont British Picture Corporation)
• October 19 – Dr. Socrates (USA, Warner Bros. Pictures)
• October 20 – The Case of the Missing Man (USA, Columbia Pictures)
• October 20 – Valley of Wanted Men (USA, Conn Pictures Corporation)
• October 21 – Her Last Affaire (London, New Ideal)
• October 21 – Melody Trail (USA, Republic Pictures)
• October 21 – The Right Age to Marry (UK, George Smith Productions)
• October 21 – 3 Kids and a Queen (USA, Universal Pictures)
• October 22 – $1,000 a Minute (USA, Republic Pictures)
• October 22 – False Pretenses (USA, Chesterfield Motion Pictures Corporation)
• October 22 – Stormy (USA, Universal Pictures)
• October 22 – Wild Mustang (USA, William Berke Productions Inc.)

Her Last Affaire entered general release in the UK on May 25, 1936, but has no known US theatrical release date. The Right Age to Marry first opened in London on June 14, 1935, but has no known US theatrical release date.

Despite not being able to find a romantic chemistry on film during production of Hands Across the Table, Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray became great friends, and director Mitchell Leisen played up that aspect of their relationship. It was such a hit with audiences that the pair made three more films together.

The Last Days of Pompeii was part of a two-picture deal, including She, Marian C. Cooper had with RKO with a budget of $1 million each. RKO then informed Cooper both films had to be made for $1 million total, so Cooper cheated a bit on She to divert the extra money to The Last Days of Pompeii, which was originally to have been filmed in color, coming in at a budget of $818,000.

Born for Glory was released as Brown on Resolution in the UK, and re-issued in the UK as Forever England. John Mills appears in his first lead role. It is the first film to use actual Royal Navy ships. Valley of Wanted Men was known as Wanted Men in the UK. Melody Trail marked the first of four appearances by Ann Rutherford as Gene Autry’s leading lady. $1,000 a Minute was Oscar-nominated for Best Sounds Recording.

1945

• October 16 – Latin Quarter (UK, British National Films)
• October 19 – Code of the Lawless (USA, Universal Pictures)
• October 19 – Paris Underground (USA, Constance Bennett Productions)
• October 20 – Don’t Fence Me In (USA, Republic Pictures)
• October 20 – The Lost Trail (USA, Monogram Pictures)
• October 22 – Murder in Reverse (UK, British National Films)
• October 22 – The Seventh Veil (London, Sydney Box Productions)
• October 22 – You Came Along (UK, Hal Wallis Productions)

Latin Quarter entered general UK release on February 11, 1946, and was released in the US on July 19, 1946 as Frenzy. Murder in Reverse was released in the US on January 10, 1947 as Query. The Seventh Veil received a general UK release on November 12, 1945, and opened in the US on December 25, 1945. You Came Along first opened in the US on July 4, 1945.

Paris Underground is also known as Madame Pimpernel. The film was nominated for Best Original Score. Dale Evans appears with Roy Rogers in Don’t Fence Me In, though they were not yet married. The Lost Trail is the seventeenth film in the ‘Marshal Nevada Jack McKenzie’ series. You Came Along features the film debut of Lizabeth Scott. The film’s working title was Don’t Ever Grieve Me.

1955

• October 18 – Joe MacBeth (UK, Frankovich Productions)
• October 19 – The Treasure of Pancho Villa (USA, Edmund Grainger Productions)
• October 20 – Lucy Gallant (USA, Pine-Thomas Productions)

Joe MacBeth was released in the US on February 1, 1956.

Producers of Lucy Gallant wanted Joan Crawford as the lead, but the part eventually went to Jane Wyman, who was borrowed from Warner Bros. Costume designer Edith Head appears as herself in the film. Her designs were later sold commercially. Jody McCrea made his debut in the film.

1965

• October 18 – The Return of Mr. Moto (UK, Lippert Films)
• October 20 – A Rage to Live (USA, Rage Productions)
• October 20 – Village of the Giants (USA, Berkeley Productions)

The Return of Mr. Moto was released in the US on December 1, 1965. The film is also known as Mr. Moto and the Persian Oil Case.

Village of the Giants features the children of established actors including Beau Bridges, in one of his earliest roles, Ron Howard, Trish Sterling, Toni Basil and Tim Rooney. The large cat in the movie was played by Orangey, who also played a large cat in The Incredible Shrinking Man. He was also famous for the title role of Rhubarb, and as Cat in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Most of the outdoor scenes were filmed on the Columbia Pictures backlot, where portions of I Dream of Jeannie and The Partridge Family were also made. The lot is now owned by Warner Brothers. The scene where the giants convene outside the Hainesville theater was shot at the Courthouse Square lot at Universal Studios, where Back to the Future and Gremlins were later made. The film was lampooned on episode 523 of Mystery Science Theater 3000.

1975

• October 16 – The Divine Nymph (Italy, Filmarpa)
• October 16 – The Removalists (AUS, Margaret Fink Productions)
• October 17 – Bug (Sweden, William Castle Productions)
• October 17 – Rooster Cogburn (USA, Hal Wallis Productions)
• October 19 – Hester Street (USA, Midwest Films)
• October 22 – Diamonds (USA, AmeriEuro Pictures-Euramat Films)

The Divine Nymph was released in the US on October 12, 1979. The Removalists has no known US theatrical release date. Bug first opened in the US on June 6, 1975. Hester Street first opened in France on October 15, 1975.

Bug was written by William Castle, the director known for his gimmicks, and was the last film project he was involved with before his death in 1977.

Rooster Cogburn is a sequel to True Grit. The film was promoted under the title Rooster Cogburn (…and the Lady), and was the final film of producer Hal B. Wallis. This was the only film to star both John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn, despite having parallel careers. Actor Strother Martin appeared in True Grit, and appears in Rooster Cogburn as a different character.

Director Joan Micklin Silver wanted Carol Kane to star in Hester Street after seeing her performance in the Canadian film Wedding in White, but assumed Kane was Canadian and would be difficult to book for a low-budget New York production. Kane, however, lived just a short distance from where the movie was to be shot and was excited to audition for the role after reading the script. After being cast, Kane had to work with a dialect coach to learn Yiddish. Kane earned an Oscar nomination for her performance, and the film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2011. Kane has maintained that the film is her favorite of all of her projects, and her skill with learning Yiddish helped her book the role of Simka on the TV series Taxi, as her character partially speaks a fictional language with a vaguely Eastern European accent. Hester Street received a 4K restoration in 2021.

Diamonds starred Robert Shaw as twins, and Richard Roundtree, best known for his role as Shaft. The film was also marketed as Diamond Shaft to exploit Roundtree’s appearance in the film, though there is no relation between Diamonds and Shaft.

1985

• October 18 – Re-Animator (USA, Re-Animator Productions)
• October 18 – The Holcroft Covenant (USA, Holcroft Films)
• October 18 – Wild Geese II (USA, Frontier Film Productions Limited)

The Holcroft Covenant first opened in the UK on September 20, 1985. Wild Geese II first opened in the UK on May 31, 1985.

Re-Animator was originally conceived as a theatrical stage production, and then a half-hour TV pilot, which was considered unsellable so 13 hour-long episodes were written. Producers were told the only market for horror at the time was in theatrical films, so the scripts were reworked into a feature film screenplay. Makeup effects artist John Naulin later said it was the bloodiest project he had ever worked on, normally using a couple of gallons of fake blood for a project, while Re-Animator required twelve times as much. Jeffrey Combs had never read the works of H.P. Lovecraft and was taken aback by the script, but took the job because he needed to work and figured the project would never reach a wide audience. The ‘reanimating agent’ used in the film is luminol. Composer Richard Band’s score for the film intentionally evoked Bernard Herrmann’s score for Psycho. The film was originally released unrated, but was later re-edited for an R-rating. The unrated version garnered the film’s largest audience on home video. In addition to the unrated and R-rated versions of the film, there is another version labeled the Integral Cut, which combines footage from both versions of the film, expanding the running time from 86 minutes to 105 minutes.

James Caan was originally cast in The Holcroft Covenant, but walked off the set after disagreements with the producers. He was replaced with Michael Caine, and director John Frankenheimer later said that Caan gave him the greatest gift of his career by walking off and having Caine as the lead.

Richard Burton was to reprise his Wild Geese role in Wild Geese II, but died suddenly of an intracerebral hemorrhage just days before production was to begin. He was replaced by Edward Fox playing the brother of Burton’s character. The film opened with a dedication to Burton. Roger Moore was also asked to reprise his role, but he did not like the script and turned it down. Laurence Olivier was in frail health and beginning to experience memory loss during the production, needing the assistance of a nurse while on set. Fox recalled Olivier worked for hours on his one long speech. Patrick Stewart has a small role in the film, which he later said he took to pay for some home repairs and it was the biggest embarrassment of his career.

1995

• October 19 – Billy’s Holiday (AUS, Beyond Films)
• October 19 – The Usual Suspects (AUS, Bad Hat Harry Productions)
• October 20 – Get Shorty (USA, Jersey Films)
• October 20 – Mallrats (USA, View Askew Productions)
• October 20 – Never Talk to Strangers (USA, Alliance Communications Corporation)
• October 20 – Now and Then (USA, Moving Pictures)

Billy’s Holiday was released in the US on May 10, 1996. The Usual Suspects first opened in France on July 19, 1995, followed by the US release on August 16.

The 25-second opening shot of Billy’s Holiday required the cameraman to walk backwards down the length of a bus with a Steadicam, then step onto a giant cherry picker which lifted into the air. It was windy that day so another crew member had to hold the cameraman in place as the platform was lifted. The shot was finished after 17 takes, which shut down King Street in Syndey for six hours.

Writer Chrisopher McQuarrie and director Bryan Singer had difficulties securing financing for The Usual Suspects due to its non-linear story. Only one European financing company was interested. Other potential financers wanted established stars in the film. Offers were made to Christopher Walken, Tommy Lee Jones, Jeff Bridges, Charlie Sheen, James Spader, Al Pacino and Johnny Cash for the role of Agent Dave Kujan. The European money allowed them to assemble a cast with offers much lower than their normal fees, but the actors accepted because of the quality of the writing. The money, however, fell through but Singer was able to use the script and the cast to attract PolyGram to pick up the film. The interrogation scenes with Kevin Spacey and Chazz Paminteri were shot over the course of a week before the rest of the film was shot. The police lineup scene ran into scheduling conflicts because the actors kept blowing their lines. The actors were read questions off-camera and improvised their responses. Stephen Baldwin’s response made the other actors break character. Spacey and Gabriel Byrne said they were often laughing between takes and it was hard to regain composure for the next shot, blaming Baldwin and Kevin Pollak as the worst offenders as they had a goal to get the usually serious Byrne to break. Singer had to scold the five actors in the scene, but they continued to laugh through each take. A combination of takes were used in the final edit, keeping the humor to show the characters bonding. Benicio Del Toro chose to speak with a nearly unintelligible accent as he realized his character’s only purpose in the film was to die. He told Singer about the choice, but not the other actors, and Byrne confronted Singer telling him they had no idea was Del Toro was saying. Singer told the actors that maybe they and the audience don’t need to know what he’s saying, which led to the inclusion of Pollak’s improvised line, ‘What did you say?’ The stolen emeralds in the film were real and on loan for the production. The underground parking garage robbery took one 18-hour day to film, and the next day Singer still did not have all the footage he needed and the bonding company threatened to shut down production. The scene where a cigarette is flicked at Baldwin’s character was meant to hit him in the chest but it hit him in the face. His reaction was genuine. The film earned two Oscar nominations, winning both for Supporting Actor (Spacey) and Original Screenplay. It also earned three BAFTA nominations, winning two for Screenplay and Editing. Spacey was also nominated for a Golden Globe.

Warren Beatty, Dustin Hoffman and Michael Keaton were offered the role of Chili Palmer in Get Shorty but they all declined. John Travolta was eventually cast. Samuel L. Jackson was considered for the role of Bo Catlett, but it went to Delroy Lindo. Steve Buscemi and Matthew McConaughey were considered for the role of Ronnie Wingate, but John Gries was cast. The film was Golden Globe nominated for Best Picture – Musical or Comedy, and Travolta won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.

Mallrats is the second film in the View Askew universe following Clerks. A theatrical and extended version of the film exists, with 100 difference between the films. Hnery Thomas was nearly cast in the role that went to Jeremy London. Shannen Doherty was the most famous actor in the cast. Jason Lee was cast as Brodie Bruce with no prior acting experience. Adam Sandler and Steve Zahn were also up for the role. Scott Mosier was to reprise his Clerks role of William Black, but Kevin Smith and the producers were so impressed with Ethan Suplee that he was cast instead. Universal did not want Jason Mewes to reprise the role of Jay, and he was forced to audition against Seth Green and Breckin Meyer. The role of Jared Svenning was written for William Atherton, but he declined because he didn’t want to be typecast. Smith wanted to film in Seaview Square Mall in Ocean Township, New Jersey, but the production costs were too high so it was filmed in Eden Prairie Center Mall in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

2005

• October 21 – Doom (USA, John Wells Productions)
• October 21 – Dreamer (USA, Tollin/Robbins Productions)
• October 21 – Kids in America (USA, Kids in America LLC)
• October 21 – North Country (USA, Participant Productions)
• October 21 – Stay (USA, Epsilon Motion Pictures)

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Vin Diesel were considered for the lead role in Doom. Dwayne Johnson was offered the role of John Grimm but turned it down in favor of the character Sarge, which he was more drawn to. Karl Urban was cast as Grimm. The film features 350 effects shots, and creature effects were handled by Stan Winston Studios.

Dreamer was the directorial debut of John Gatins, who also wrote the film.

North Country is based on the true story of Lois Jenson, which was detailed in the book Class Action: The Story of Lois Jenson and the Landmark Case That Changed Sexual Harassment Law by Clara Bingham and Laura Leedy Gansler, which chronicled the case of Jenson v. Eveleth Taconite Company and USW Local 2705 which supported the employer’s efforts through the horrific events and ensuing legal battles. Jenson refused an offer to consult on the film and would not sell the rights to her story, so a fictionalized account with original characters had to be created. Charlize Theron and Frances McDormand received Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively.

2015

• October 16 – Beasts of No Nation (USA, limited, Red Crown Productions)
• October 16 – Bridge of Spies (USA, DreamWorks Pictures)
• October 16 – Crimson Peak (USA, Legendary Entertainment)
• October 16 – Experimenter (USA, BB Film Productions)
• October 16 – Goosebumps (USA, Original Film/Scholastic Entertainment Inc. Productions)
• October 16 – Room (USA, limited, Element Pictures)
• October 16 – Truth (USA, limited, Mythology Entertainment Productions)
• October 16 – Woodlawn (USA, Provident Films)

Beasts of No Nation also debuted in the US on October 16 on Netflix. Bridge of Spies first opened in the Philippines on October 14, 2015. Crimson Peak first opened in France on October 14, 2015. Room received a wide US release on January 22, 2016. Truth expanded to a wide US release on October 30, 2015.

Beasts of No Nation was the first film released by Netflix simultaneously to theaters and on its streaming service. Many major chains felt this was a violation of the traditional 90-day theatrical window and boycotted the film. Idris Elba received BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations for his performance.

Bridge of Spies was filmed under the working title of St. James Place. The film received six Oscar nominations, with Mark Rylance winning for Best Supporting Actor.

Benedict Cumberbatch and Emma Stone were originally cast in Crimson Peak but both dropped out. Tom Hiddleston and Mia Wasikowska took over their roles, making it their second collaboration after Only Lovers Left Alive. It’s also the second film for Wasikowska and Jessica Chastain after Lawless. The film’s working title was Haunted Peak.

Jack Black plays a fictionalized version of author R.L. Stine in Goosebumps, while Stine has a cameo as Mr. Black. Kumail Nanjiani and Luka Jones appear as a pair of movers who encounter Slappy in an alternate opening sequence featured on home media releases.

Emma Watson, Rooney Mara, Shailene Woodley and Mia Wasikowska were considered for the role of Joy in Room. Brie Larson was cast based on her work in the film Short Term 12. Larson consulted with a trauma expert and nutritionist for her role, went on a restrictive diet and avoided sunlight. Larson also met with child actor Jacob Tremblay over the course of three weeks to build a relationship. Only one Room set was used in order to create an authentic experience for Tremblay. Each piece of the set was removable for the crew to film. As many as eight cameramen were inside the set with the actors. Larson and Tremblay made the props decorating the set. Everyone was eager to get to the scenes filmed outside of the Room, but then found it hard to adjust to the cold weather, traffic and crowds of Toronto. When they returned to the set for the final scene, everyone felt that it appeared smaller than before. The film received four Oscar nominations including Best Picture, with Larson winning Best Actress. Larson also won the BAFTA and Golden Globe for Best Actress.

Truth marked the directorial debut of James Vanderbilt.