Hotchka Movies by the Decade feature #28 :: February 3•9

First National

The first full week of February saw Hollywood release a lot of new films, some of which have gone on to become classics, some that have set box office records, and some that are easily forgotten. This week sees the first Charlie Chaplin classic; the first Western to win some Oscars; a melodrama that’s been remade a few times; a Bette Davis film that was altered during its premiere; starring roles for Elliott Gould, Paul Newman, Steve Martin and Julia Roberts; and the return of a classic villain everyone loves to hate. Let’s take a look at this week’s releases from the last 100 years and see if any of your favorites are here!

1921

February 6 – Seven Years Bad Luck

• Cast: Max Linder, Alta Allen, Ralph McCullough, Betty Peterson, F. B. Crayne, Chance Ward, Hugh Saxon, Thelma Percy, C. E. Anderson
• Director: Max Linder
• Studio: Robertson-Cole Distributing Corporation
• Trivia: Linder directed, produced, wrote and starred in the film.

February 6 – The Kid

• Cast: Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan, Edna Purviance as the Woman, Carl Miller
• Director: Charlie Chaplin
• Studio: Charles Chaplin Productions, distributed by First National
• Trivia: The film had three premiere engagements before its nationwide release: January 16, 1921 (Chicago), January 21 (New York City) and January 30 (Detroit). Chaplin’s first feature-length film as a director. He also composed the score for the film’s theatrical reissue. It was the second highest grossing film of 1921. The film made Jackie Coogan the first major child star of the movies. The relationship between Chaplin and Coogan in the film is attributed to Chaplin experiencing the death of his own son ten days before production was to commence. An uncredited Lita Grey, who was 12 years old at the time, married Chaplin in 1924 at the age of 16. Chaplin removed scenes he felt were too sentimental for modern audiences, and the re-edited version premiered at the Film Society of Lincoln Center gala tribute to Chaplin on April 4, 1972. They were married for three years. The film was selected for preservation by the National Film Registry in 2011. An animated sci-fi remake was announced in 2017 but has not yet materialized.

1931

February 9 – Cimarron

• Cast: Richard Dix, Irene Dunne, Estelle Taylor, Nance O’Neil, William Collier Jr., Roscoe Ates, George E. Stone, Stanley Fields, Robert McWade, Edna May Oliver, Judith Barrett, Eugene Jackson
• Director: Wesley Ruggles
• Studio: RKO Radio Pictures
• Trivia: The film had a New York City premiere on January 26, 1931 followed by a Los Angeles premiere on February 6 before its nationwide release. Based on the 1930 Edna Ferber novel. It was RKO’s most expensive picture to date, though because of the ongoing Depression it was unable to recoup its money during the initial run. It was the first film to earn more than six Oscar nominations and to be nominated for the ‘Big Five’, and the first Western to win Oscars, three total (Adapted Screenplay, Art Direction, Best Picture), and the first to score the Best Picture win. The next Western to win Best Picture was Dances With Wolves in 1990. It is only one of two films to receive nominations in every eligible category (the other was Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?). It received one of only two Best Picture Oscars for RKO, the other being The Best Years of Our Lives. The land rush scene required more than 38 cameramen and numerous assistants to capture the scene of more than 5,000 costumed extras, covered wagons, buckboards, surreys and bicyclists as they raced across the grassy hills and prairie to stake their claim. The scene became so iconic that the MGM remake copied it virtually shot-by-shot. RKO purchased 89 acres of land in Encino, CA to build a complete town and a three block modern main street to represent Osage, Oklahoma making it one of the first ‘talkies’ to take place almost all outdoors. The sets became RKO’s movie ranch where other RKO and non-RKO films were shot.

1941

February 7 – Back Street

• Cast: Charles Boyer, Margaret Sullavan, Richard Carlson, Frank McHugh, Tim Holt, Frank Jenks, Esther Dale, Samuel S. Hinds, Peggy Stewart, Nell O’Day, Kitty O’Neil, Nella Walker, Cecil Cunningham, Marjorie Gateson, Dale Winter
• Director: Robert Stevenson
• Studio: Universal Pictures
• Trivia: The film held its premiere in Miami on February 4, 1941. A remake of the 1932 film of the same name, and adapted from the 1931 Fannie Hurst novel. The film earned one Oscar nomination for Best Music (Original Score). Sullavan wanted Boyer as her leading man so badly that she gave up top billing to persuade him to take the role. Joan Fontaine has been noted as being originally cast as the female lead but was replaced with Sullavan. A 30-minute radio adaptation of the movie aired on The Screen Guild Theater on June 21, 1943 with Boyer reprising his role. Screen Director’s Playhouse presented a 60-minute radio adaptation on May 24, 1951, again with Boyer. Alfred Hitchcock had been under consideration to direct the film.

1951

RKO Radio Pictures

February 3 – Payment on Demand

• Cast: Bette Davis, Barry Sullivan, Jane Cowl, Kent Taylor, Betty Lynn, John Sutton, Frances Dee, Peggie Castle, Otto Kruger, Walter Sande, Brett King, Richard Anderson, Natalie Schafer, Katherine Emery, Lisa Golm
• Director: Curtis Bernhardt
• Studio: RKO Radio Pictures
• Trivia: The film’s original title was The Story of a Divorce. Howard Hughes was unhappy with the ending and the title, and had the two leads and the director film a new, happy ending just two days before the film’s Radio City Music Hall premiere. The scene was spliced into the final reel and shipped to New York where it arrived after the film had already begun under the original title. The projectionist had just enough time to thread the projector with the new final reel. Davis said the new ending broke their hearts because the one they shot was the true ending. They were also upset about the title change. The film was made in 1949 but was not released until 1951 following the success of All About Eve. Davis’ three-year-old daughter makes her first of two film appearances. This was Jane Cowl’s last film. Lux Radio Theater presented a 60-minute adaptation of the film on September 3, 1951 with Davis and Sullivan reprising their roles. This was Davis’ first freelance film after being under contract to Warner Bros. for 18 years. Davis and Betty Lynn appeared together in June Bride in 1948. Robert Young and Wendell Corey were considered for the male lead before RKO borrowed Sullivan from MGM.

February 5 – Tomahawk

• Cast: Van Heflin, Yvonne De Carlo, Alex Nicol, Preston Foster, Jack Oakie, Tom Tully, John War Eagle, Rock Hudson, Susan Cabot, Arthur Space, Russ Conway, Ann Doran, Stuart Randall
• Director: George Sherman
• Studio: Universal Pictures
• Trivia: The film is loosely based on events such as the Fetterman Fight and the Wagon Box Fight that took place in Wyoming from 1866 to 1868 around Fort Phil Kearny on the Boseman Trail. The film is known as The Battle of Powder River in the UK. Stephen McNally was announced as the lead in May 1949, but he dropped out and was replaced with Heflin. The film was partly shot on location in South Dakota. Jack Oakie’s character Sol Beckworth is based on James Beckwourth, a mountain man, fur trapper, army scout and explorer. A bearded Rock Hudson is barely recognizable in the film until he gets a close-up at about an hour and six minutes into the film.

February 6 – The Long Dark Hall

• Cast: Rex Harrison, Lilli Palmer, Tania Heald, Henrietta Barry, Dora Sevening, Ronald Simpson, Raymond Huntley, William Squire, Ballard Berkeley, Anthony Dawson, Denis O’Dea, Anthony Bushell, Henry B. Longhurst, Patricia Cutts, Meriel Forbes, Brenda De Banzie, Douglas Jefferies, Fletcher Lightfoot, Anthony Shaw, Michael Medwin, Colin Gordon, Lionel Murton, Eric Pohlmann, Lilli Molnar, Frank Tickle, Tom Macaulay, Richard Littledale, Jenny Laird, Tony Quinn, Jill Bennett
• Director: Reginald Beck, Anthony Bushell
• Studio: Cusick International Films Inc., distributed by United Artists
• Trivia: The film opened in the UK on February 6, 1951. It did not open in the US until May 9, 1951. Based on the novel A Case to Answer by Edgar Lustgarten. This was the only directing credit for Reginald Beck. Harrison once said the film was one of the worst pictures he ever made.

1961

• No new films were released this week in 1961.
  

1971

February 9 – Little Murders

• Cast: Elliott Gould, Marcia Rodd, Vincent Gardenia, Elizabeth Wilson, Jon Korkes, John Randolph, Doris Roberts, Donald Sutherland, Lou Jacobi, Alan Arkin
• Director: Alan Arkin
• Studio: Brodsky-Gould Productions, distributed by 20th Century Fox
• Trivia: Arkin’s feature directorial debut. Based on the play by Jules Feiffer, who said he was inspired by the assassination of JFK and the shooting of Lee Harvey Oswald. He originally wrote the story as a novel but was unhappy with his work after two years. He found an old outline for the book and turned it into a play. The original 1967 production starred Elliott Gould but lasted just seven performances. Feiffer called the production atrocious but admitted he was involved in all key creative decisions. A 1967 London production was more successful, voted the best foreign play of the year. An Off Broadway production was mounted in 1969 with Alan Arkin directing. Feiffer had no involvement. The production starred Linda Lavin, Vincent Gardenia and Fred Willard. It ran for over 400 performances and earned Feiffer an Obie Award. Gould formed his own production company in January 1969 with the intention to film Little Murders, with Jean-Luc Goddard directing, and Robert Benton and David Newman writing. Gould was unhappy with the script and Goddard lost interest. Feiffer wrote a new script and Gould asked Arkin to direct. Feiffer was not pleased with Arkin or the finished film, but shouldered some responsibility for changes he made to the script that he admitted were dumb. Gardenia, Wilson and Korkes reprise their 1969 stage roles. The show and film have been referenced in other media. On Mad Men, Megan Draper auditions for the original stage production. Dave Sims says the character of The Judge in his Cerebus comic is based on Lou Jacobi’s portrayal as Judge Stein in the film. Jean Renoir wrote to Arkin telling him the film would never be forgotten. Gould originally wanted Jane Fonda to play the lead role of Patsy, but when meeting her he was so intimidated he could barely speak to her. John Randolph and Doris Roberts, who play the parents of Gould’s character appeared together again in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation as Clark Griswold’s parents. Gould reunited with his MASH co-star Donald Sutherland for the film.

1981

February 6 – Fort Apache, The Bronx

• Cast: Paul Newman, Ed Asner, Ken Wahl, Danny Aiello, Rachel Ticotin, Pam Grier, Kathleen Beller, Tito Goya, Miguel Piñero, Jaime Tirelli, Clifford David, Sully Boyar, Dominic Chianese, Michael Higgins, Paul Gleason, Randy Jurgensen, Gilbert Lewis, Cleavant Derricks, Reynaldo Medina, Norman Matlock
• Director: Daniel Petrie
• Studio: Producers Circle, Time-Life Films, distributed by 20th Century Fox
• Trivia: Filmed on location in the Bronx. Tom Walker sued Time-Life Television claiming the film infringed on his book Fort Apache but lost the case after a lengthy court battle. Steven Bochco has cited the film as the inspiration for Hill Street Blues. Critical review at the time of the film’s release noted it felt more like a TV movie than theatrical film, but Newman’s performance elevated it somewhat. Black and Hispanic groups in the Bronx threatened legal action against the filmmakers for how they and their neighborhoods were portrayed in the film. Some changes were made to the script, and a note was added to the title card at the beginning of the film stating the film dealt with police work and does not focus on the law abiding citizens of the community. Newman also sued Time-Life for underselling the TV rights to HBO without taking any other offers. He was due 15%. The lawsuit also alleged the company understated the foreign box office receipts by $3.75 million on which he was due 12%. An agreement was settled out of court. Pam Grier claimed that she had been up for the female lead of ‘Isabella’ but the role went to Rachel Ticotin, her first major film role. Ticotin was the only cast member actually born in the Bronx. In a bit of coincidence, Ken Wahl’s character is called a ‘wiseguy’ and six years later he starred in the TV series Wiseguy.

February 6 – Goodbye Pork Pie

• Cast: Tony Barry, Kelly Johnson, Claire Oberman, Shirley Gruar, Don Selwyn, Bruno Lawrence, Marshall Napier, John Bach
• Director: Geoff Murphy
• Studio: A.M.A, New Zealand Film Commission, New Zealand United, New Zealand Railways, New Zealand Motor Corporation, Pork Pie Productions, distributed by Pork Pie Productions (New Zealand), The Samuel Goldwyn Company (USA)
• Trivia: New Zealand’s first large-scale local box office hit. The production included just 24 cast and crew, police cars used in the film doubled as crew and towing vehicles, and director Murphy performed some of the stunts himself. The film was shot in chronological order over six weeks. A remake directed by Geoff Murphy’s son Matt, simply titled Pork Pie, was released on February 2, 2017.

1991

February 8 – L.A. Story

• Cast: Steve Martin, Victoria Tennant, Richard E. Grant, Marilu Henner, Sarah Jessica Parker, Susan Forristal, Kevin Pollak, Sam McMurray, Patrick Stewart, Iman
• Director: Mick Jackson
• Studio: Carolco Pictures, StudioCanal, distributed by TriStar Pictures
• Trivia: Chevy Chase, Woody Harrelson, Paula Abdul, Martin Lawrence, and Rick Moranis appear in uncredited cameos (this is the last of four films in which Martin and Moranis appeared together). Terry Jones, John Lithgow and Scott Bakula filmed scenes that did not make it into the film. Martin and Tennant were married at the time of filming. They also starred together in All of Me. The name of the hotel in Santa Barbara is ‘El Pollo del Mar’ which means ‘Chicken of the Sea’. Sarah Jessica Parker credited the film with changing the trajectory of her career from mousy girls and best friends to a sexy woman. The film references Shakespeare’s Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Tempest. The license plate number 2GAT123 is the California standard fictional license plate number and can be seen in other films including Beverly Hills Cop II, Go, Traffic, Mulholland Drive and Two and a Half Men. Martin’s character quotes poems he also quoted in The Man With Two Brains. He spent seven years working on the screenplay. The movie includes three songs by Enya. This was the last film reviewed by Pauline Kael before her retirement. Sometime between the 15th anniversary DVD release and the later digital release, several lines of dialogue have been re-dubbed.

February 8 – Sleeping with the Enemy

• Cast: Julia Roberts, Patrick Bergin, Kevin Anderson, Elizabeth Lawrence, Harley Venton, Sandi Shackelford, Bonnie Johnson
• Director: Joseph Ruben
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• Trivia: The film had its Hollywood premiere on February 4, 1991. The film is based on the 1987 novel by Nancy Price. The film received mostly negative reviews from critics but was a box office hit, earning $175 million against a $19 million budget. Roberts caused controversy after leaving the film’s location shoot of Abbeville, SC calling the town a ‘living hell’ and ‘horribly racist’. At 22 years old, Roberts was the youngest actress to command a seven-figure salary for a single performance … which was originally written for Jane Fonda. Kim Basinger was then attached to the project but felt she wasn’t right for the part, opening the door for Roberts. The film originally received an NC-17 rating because of the opening sex scene which was cut to receive an R. The uncut version was included in the European release. Prior to the film’s debut at Number 1, Home Alone had held the spot for 11 weeks. Sean Connery and Aidan Quinn were originally attached as the male leads. The real estate company American Eagle is also featured in Ruben’s previous film The Stepfather.

2001

Dino De Laurentiis Company

February 9 – Hannibal

• Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Julianne Moore, Gary Oldman, Ray Liotta, Frankie R. Faison, Giancarlo Giannini, Francesca Neri, Željko Ivanek, Hazelle Goodman, Robert Rietti, David Andrews, Francis Guinan, Enrico Lo Verso, Ivano Marescotti, Danielle de Niese
• Director: Ridley Scott
• Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Universal Pictures, Dino De Laurentiis Company, Scott Free Productions, distributed MGM Distribution Co. (North America), Universal Pictures (International)
• Trivia: The film also opened in Canada and Italy on February 9. Adapted from the 1999 novel by Thomas Harris. A sequel to Silence of the Lambs, director Jonathan Demme, writer Ted Tally and star Jodie Foster all declined to be involved in the adaptation. The film broke box office records in the US for a February release. The film rights to the Lechter character were owned by Dino De Laurentiis, who produced the first Lechter film Manhunter. De Laurentiis allowed Orion Pictures to make Silence of the Lambs without his involvement, but after the film’s success he was eager for a new Lechter story to adapt. After Harris finished the novel, he called De Laurentiis who purchased the rights for a record $10 million. Demme said he turned down the offer to direct because he found the sequel to be too lurid and gory. He later said he didn’t think he could make a sequel as good as Silence of the Lambs. Scott was three weeks away from completing Gladiator when De Laurentiis approached him about directing Hannibal, and Scott thought he meant the historical figure who nearly brought down the Roman Empire. Scott nearly turned down the offer because he didn’t want to do two Roman historical epics in a row. Scott was not happy with the novel’s ending where Lechter and Clarice Starling become lovers, and Harris gave him permission to change it. David Mamet’s first draft of the script was called ‘stunningly bad’. Steve Zallian’s re-write was called ‘gripping entertainment’. Foster was originally enthusiastic about a sequel but Hopkins and De Laurentiis expected her to turn it down once she read the book. Foster thought the character in the book betrayed the character she played. Foster later said she turned the film down because she had the opportunity to direct Flora Plum at the same time after Claire Danes became available. Cate Blanchett, Angelina Jolie, Gillian Anderson, Hilary Swank, Ashley Judd, and Helen Hunt were all considered for the role of Clarice before Julianne Moore was cast. Hopkins had worked with Moore on Surviving Picasso and suggested her to Scott. Hopkins agreed to do the film but he also had reservations after reading the book and said the story needed some condensing. The role of Mason Verger was offered to Christopher Reeve, who was interested until he realized the character was a quadriplegic, facially-disfigured child rapist. Gary Oldman was the second choice, but stepped away from the project when De Laurentiis would not give him a substantial credit alongside Hopkins and Moore. He agreed to do the film without credit, buried under horrific makeup that made him unrecognizable which allowed him to perform anonymously. Oldman’s name was included in the closing credits on home video versions of the film. Oldman based the character’s voice on Katharine Hepburn. Some cast and crew thought Oldman was Jared Leto when he showed up on set in full makeup. Ray Liotta took over the role of Paul Krendler as Ron Vawter, who played the character in Silence of the Lambs, had died. Frankie Faison was the only actor to play the same role in Manhunter, Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal and Red Dragon. Moore underwent FBI training at the Bureau’s headquarters in Quantico before filming began. Zeljko Ivanek accepted a role in the film to work with Ray Liotta. When he introduced himself, Liotta reminded him they’d worked together on The Rat Pack (1998). Many Gucci items are featured in the film because of the friendship between Moore and Tom Ford, who was the creative director of Gucci at the time. Three endings were shot as no one was sure Harris’ original ending would work for the film. Scott’s preferred ending prevailed. John Malkovich and Tim Roth were considered for the role of Lechter if Hopkins had declined to participate. Paul Krendler’s lake house is the same house used in What About Bob? Mason Verger’s mansion was also the Rich mansion in Richie Rich.

February 9 – Saving Silverman

• Cast: Steve Zahn, Jason Biggs, Jack Black, Amanda Peet, Amanda Detmer, R. Lee Ermey
• Director: Dennis Dugan
• Studio: Columbia Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures, Original Film, NPV Entertainment, distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing
• Trivia: The film had its US premiere on February 7, 2001. Neil Diamond has a cameo playing himself. Diamond said he was dragged into the project ‘kicking and screaming’. He composed the song ‘I Believe in Happy Endings’ for the film. The magician in the bar is Jack Black’s Tenacious D partner Kyle Gass. A pair of blue briefs were digitally added onto Steve Zahn because the MPAA said the scene was too revealing for general audiences. Amanda Peet went on to co-star with Black in Gulliver’s Travels. Director Dugan has a cameo as a football referee.

2011

February 3 – Sanctum

• Cast: Richard Roxburgh, Ioan Gruffudd, Rhys Wakefield, Alice Parkinson, Dan Wyllie, Christopher James Baker, Nicole Downs, Allison Cratchley, Cramer Cain, Andrew Hansen, John Garvin
• Director: Alister Grierson
• Studio: Relativity Media, Wayfare Entertainment, FilmNation Entertainment, distributed by Universal Pictures
• Trivia: The film opened in Australia, New Zealand, Russia and other territories on February 3. It opened in the US, Canada, Brazil, the UK and other territories on February 4. The film was inspired by co-writer Andrew Wight’s own 1988 cave diving experience in Australia where 13 divers became trapped in one of the world’s largest underwater cave systems. All of the underwater sequences were filmed in a large water tank. Real caves were filmed in South Australia’s cave-diving region. One of the film’s stunt divers, Agnes Milowka, drowned in one of those caves after the film was released. Her own death was eerily similar to the one she portrayed on film. Ioan Gruffudd performed his own BASE jump stunt, and was the only cast member to be a certified diver before production started. Roxburgh asked the art department if they could lighten the pack he has to carry for most of the film. They told him the next morning they removed 2 kg, which they had not but Roxburhg believed them.

February 4 – The Roommate

• Cast: Leighton Meester, Minka Kelly Cam Gigandet, Danneel Harris, Matt Lanter, Nina Dobrev, Aly Michalka, Katerina Graham, Cherilyn Wilson, Billy Zane, Frances Fisher, Tomas Arana, Alex Meraz, Nathan Parsons
• Director: Christian E. Christiansen
• Studio: Vertigo Entertainment, distributed by Screen Gems
• Trivia: Inspired by the 1992 film Single White Female. The film was originally to be released on September 17, 2010. Leighton Meester was cast as Sara but opted for the role of Rebecca. Minka Kelly was then cast as Sara. Kelly was 30 years old when cast as an 18 year old. Billy Zane and Frances Fisher appeared in Titanic together but share no scenes in this movie. Nina Dobrev and Kat Graham also appeared on The Vampire Diaries together. Nathan Parsons, who plays the coffee shop cashier, went on to star in Vampire Diaries spin-off The Originals. Aly Michalka said it took 13 hours to film the shower scene. In the original script, Sara’s favorite movie was Coyote Ugly. In the movie it’s The Devil Wears Prada. The film is set at the fictional University of Los Angeles, which is also the setting of Saved By the Bell: The College Years and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The film originally received an R-rating, but director Christiansen cut the more sexual and violent scenes to score a PG-13. The name of the cafe where Sara works, Råzone, is also the title of one of Christiansen’s other films. The ‘Quality Cafe’ in the movie is also seen in Se7en, Ghost World, Gone in 60 Seconds and Catch Me If You Can. In the scene where Rebecca takes Sara home, the same stairs from the set of Blair Waldorf’s house in Gossip Girl are used (Meester played Blair Waldorf).

February 4 – Waiting for Forever

• Cast: Rachel Bilson, Mia O’Neil, Tom Sturridge, Kellet Cook, Blythe Danner, Richard Jenkins, Scott Mechlowicz, Jaime King, Nikki Blonsky, Nelson Franklin, K.C. Clyde, Roz Ryan, Matthew Davis, Larry Filion, Richard Gant, K. Danor Gerald, Frank Gerrish, Charles Halford, Borzin Mottaghian, Joseph D. Reis, Andrew Roach, John Ross, Michelle Sebekzes, Ace Olson
• Director: James Keach
• Studio: PCH Film, distributed by Freestyle Releasing
• Trivia: The film played the festival circuit from February to April 2010 before its limited release on February 4, 2011. The film was shot on location in Salt Lake City and Ogden, Utah. Jamie King and Rachel Bilson went on to star together in TV series Hart of Dixie.