Hotchka Movies by the Decade feature #39 :: April 21•27

Marvel Studios

This was a pretty big week for movie releases across the last 100 years. Outside of 1931, each decade had something new to offer. There were a few stinkers, and a lot of money-makers. In 1941, Marlene Dietrich had a flop, while James Stewart and Judy Garland struck a chord with audiences. 1951 gave us what many consider to be the first real Hollywood studio film sequel. 1961 saw the release of a Japanese classic. 1971 gave us the film credited with launching the era of ‘blaxploitation’ films. 1981 had a low-budget cult classic and a Michael Caine ‘paycheck film’. 2001 offered a bit of whimsy, while 2011 gave us the birth of a new Marvel superhero franchise. What are they? Read on to see if any of your favorites were released this week.

1921

April 24 – Peck’s Bad Boy

Cast: Jackie Coogan, Wheeler Oakman, Doris May, Raymond Hatton, James Corrigan, Lillian Leighton, Charles Hatton, K. T. Stevens, Dean Riesner, Queenie the Dog
Director: Sam Wood
Studio:Peck’s Bad Boy Co., distributed by Associated First National Pictures
Trivia: Based on the series of books by George W. Peck. Prints of Peck’s Bad Boy exists at the George Eastman House, Library of Congress, Museum of Modern Art, EYE Film Institute Netherlands, UCLA Film and Television Archive, and Academy Film Archive.

1931

No new films were released this week in 1931.

1941

April 21 – Quiet Wedding

Cast: Margaret Lockwood, Derek Farr, Marjorie Fielding, A. E. Matthews, Athene Seyler, Jean Cadell, Margaretta Scott, David Tomlinson, Sidney King, Peggy Ashcroft, Frank Cellier, Roland Culver, Michael Shepley, Muriel Pavlow, Margaret Halstan, Roddy Hughes, O. B. Clarence, Margaret Rutherford, Wally Patch, Martita Hunt, Charles Carson, Bernard Miles
Director: Anthony Asquith
Studio: Paramount British Pictures, Universal Pictures
Trivia: The film opened in the UK on April 21, but did not reach the US until December 28. Terry-Thomas appears as an uncredited extra. Based on the play Quiet Wedding by Esther McCracken. The film was remade in 1958 as Happy is the Bride. The film’s production was interrupted five times due to bombings by the Nazis.

April 21 – The Farmer’s Wife

Cast: Basil Sydney, Wilfrid Lawson, Nora Swinburne, Patricia Roc, Michael Wilding, Bunty Payne, Enid Stamp-Taylor, Betty Warren, Viola Lyel, Edward Rigby, Kenneth Griffith, A. Bromley Davenport, Jimmy Godden, Gilbert Gunn, James Harcourt, Mark Daly, Davina Craig, Hilda Bayley, David Keir, Patrick Ludlow, John Salew, Olga Slade
Director: Norman Lee, Leslie Arliss
Studio: Associated British Pictures Corporation, distributed by Pathé Pictures
Trivia: The film premiered in London on January 24, but did not go into general release until April 21. The film’s US premiere was on October 29, 1949 on television. Based on the play The Farmer’s Wife by Eden Phillpotts, which had been previously adapted to film in 1928 by Alfred Hitchcock.

April 24 – Penny Serenade

Cast: Irene Dunne, Cary Grant, Beulah Bondi, Edgar Buchanan, Ann Doran, Eva Lee Kuney, Leonard Willey, Wallis Clark, Walter Soderling, Jane Biffle
Director: George Stevens
Studio: Columbia Pictures
Trivia: Cary Grant received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for his performance. This was the third and final film in which Grant and Irene Dunne starred as a married couple. The film was based on a story by Martha Cheavens published in McCall’s. Cheavens was engaged as the script consultant. The film’s passage of time is portrayed through the playing of songs, of which director Stevens kept close track of the chronology to match them to the different time periods of the film. A half-hour radio dramatization was presented on The Screen Guild Theater on November 16, 1941, with Grant and Dunne reprising their roles. Lux Radio Theater presented a one-hour version on April 27, 1942 with Robert Taylor and Barbara Stanwyck, and again on May 8, 1944 with Dunne and Joseph Cotten. Dunne reprised the role one more time on General Electric Theater in July 1953. There was also a television adaptation on Lux Video Theater on January 13, 1955 with Phyllis Thaxter and Don Taylor. The film fell into the public domain resulting in many low-quality home video releases, but the original elements are now with Paramount Pictures, which released a high quality, uncut Blu-ray through Olive Films. Irene Dunne often said this was the favorite of her films, but in a letter to a fan she said it was in her top five. Grant considered this his best performance. There is implication in the film that the Grant and Dunne characters had sex on a train and shared a marital bed, something unheard of in the era of the Hayes Office production code. William Castle worked as a dialogue director on the film.

Universal Pictures

April 25 – The Flame of New Orleans

Cast: Marlene Dietrich, Bruce Cabot, Roland Young, Mischa Auer, Andy Devine, Frank Jenks, Eddie Quillan, Laura Hope Crews, Franklin Pangborn, Theresa Harris, Clarence Muse, Melville Cooper, Anne Revere, Bob Evans, Emily Fitzroy
Director: René Clair
Studio: Universal Pictures
Trivia: The film’s premiere was held in New Orleans on April 24. Shemp Howard appears uncredited as the Oyster Bed Cafe waiter. The film earned an Oscar nomination for Best Art Direction. This was René Clair’s first Hollywood film, and Dietrich was initially resistant to his hiring. Broderick Crawford was initially announced as one of the film’s stars but he did not appear in the film. George Raft wanted to play the male lead but Warner Bros. would not let him out of his contract. Dietrich and Bruce Cabot feuded on the set, with Dietrich complaining that he often could not remember his lines, and director Clair was no help with his limited English. The film’s crew reportedly loathed Clair, probably because of the language barrier. The Hays Office was worried about the film violating the production code because Clair was French, Dietrich was playing a woman of ill repute, and the film was set in the colorful city of New Orleans. Clair offered to film worrisome scenes ten different ways so they would have options if the Hays Office objected to any of them. Universal had Maria Montez waiting in the wings in case Dietrich left the film. This was the last film of Gloria Brewster, who married and retired from acting.

April 25 – They Met in Argentina

Cast: Maureen O’Hara, James Ellison, Alberto Vila, Buddy Ebsen, Robert Barrat, Joseph Buloff, Diosa Costello
Director: Leslie Goodwins, Jack Hively
Studio: RKO Radio Pictures
Trivia: The film was begun with director Goodwins, but was completed by Hively after Goodwins was forced to leave the production after falling ill with pneumonia. This was one of a number of Hollywood films of the era produced under the ‘Good Neighbor policy’ towards Latin American countries. Twelve songs for the film were written by Rodgers and Hart but only seven were included in the final cut. The film was harshly received by critics, and the Argentine government spoke out about the distribution of the film in Latin America, forcing RKO to add footage of Argentine star Alberto Vila before agreeing to a release.

April 25 – Ziegfeld Girl

Cast: James Stewart, Judy Garland, Hedy Lamarr, Lana Turner, Tony Martin, Jackie Cooper, Ian Hunter, Charles Winninger, Eve Arden, Edward Everett Horton, Philip Dorn, Paul Kelly, Dan Dailey, Fay Holden, Al Shean
Director: Robert Z. Leonard
Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Trivia: The film was intended to be a 1939 sequel to 1936’s The Great Ziegfeld, with Eleanor Powell, Joan Crawford, Virginia Bruce and Walter Pidgeon, and recycled some footage from that film. Ziegfeld, however, does not appear as a character in this film. Judy Garland’s song ‘We Must Have Music’ was deleted from the final film and only a fragment of it survives today. This was James Stewart’s last film before serving in World War II. He returned five years later in It’s a Wonderful Life. In the original cut of the film, Lana Turner’s character dies, but after negative reactions from preview audiences, the moment was cut leaving her fate uncertain.

1951

April 21 – Only the Valiant

Cast: Gregory Peck, Barbara Payton, Ward Bond, Gig Young, Lon Chaney, Jr., Neville Brand, Jeff Corey, Warner Anderson, Steve Brodie, Dan Riss, Terry Kilburn, Herbert Heyes, Art Baker, Hugh Sanders, Michael Ansara, Nana Bryant
Director: Gordon Douglas
Studio: William Cagney Productions, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures
Trivia: The film opened in limited release on April 11 before its wide release on April 21. Also known as Port Invincible. Based on the 1943 novel of the same name by Charles Marquis Warren. Gregory Peck considered this a low point in his career. Gary Cooper was originally intended for the lead role.

April 26 – Bullfighter and the Lady

Cast: Robert Stack, Joy Page, Gilbert Roland, Virginia Grey, John Hubbard, Katy Jurado, Ismael Pérez, Rodolfo Acosta, Ruben Padilla, Darío Ramírez
Director: Budd Boetticher
Studio: John Wayne Productions, distributed by Republic Pictures
Trivia: The film’s original title was Torero. Shot on location in Mexico. One stunt man was killed by a bull during production. The film’s story was based on director Boetticher’s own bullfighting experience. Boetticher said the film got made because John Wayne liked the story, but Wayne and John Ford cut 42 minutes to make the film a less-than 90 minutes B-picture. He was able to finally restore the film forty years later, which was released to home video in 2013. Boetticher and Ray Nazarro received Oscar nominations for Best Story.

April 27 – Father’s Little Dividend

Cast: Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett, Elizabeth Taylor, Don Taylor, Billie Burke, Moroni Olsen, Richard Rober, Marietta Canty, Russ Tamblyn, Tom Irish, Hayden Rorke, Paul Harvey, Brent & Brian Tobin
Director: Vincente Minnelli
Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Trivia: The film premiered in Los Angeles on April 5, followed by New York City on April 12 before a nationwide release on April 27. Sequel to Father of the Bride. Leonard Maltin has said the film is the first example of a proper studio sequel. Director Vincente Minnelli was in pre-production on An American in Paris at the time of this film’s production and shot it in twenty-two days while sets were being built for the Gene Kelly musical. Bob Hope was rumored to have had a cameo as the diaper delivery man, but the uncredited actor’s name is Frank Sully.

1961

April 25 – Yojimbo

Cast: Toshiro Mifune, Eijirō Tōno, Tatsuya Nakadai, Seizaburo Kawazu, Kyū Sazanka, Isuzu Yamada, Daisuke Katō, Takashi Shimura, Hiroshi Tachikawa, Yosuke Natsuki, Kamatari Fujiwara, Ikio Sawamura, Atsushi Watanabe, Susumu Fujita, Yoko Tsukasa, Yoshio Tsuchiya
Director: Akira Kurosawa
Studio: Kurosawa Production, Toho
Trivia: The film opened in Japan on April 25, but did not get a US release until September 13. Because of the film’s success, Kurosawa’s next film Sanjuro was altered to incorporate the lead character from this film. The film was unofficially remade by Sergio Leone as A Fistful of Dollars, leading to a lawsuit from Toho which held up the release for three years. Leone paid Kurosawa a sum plus 15% of the profits. Ironically, Kurosawa stated the major influence for the film was 1942’s noir classic The Glass Key, based on Dashiell Hammett’s 1931 novel, but others have noted the film’s plot more closely resembles Hammett’s 1929 novel Red Harvest. Hammett received no credit for the story. Walter Hill’s Last Man Standing (1996) was also a remake of Yojimbo, but the film was credited as the original source. 1966’s Django was also inspired by Yojimbo. After being scolded by Kurosawa one day for arriving late, Toshiro Mifune made it a point to be on-set in full costume and makeup every day at 6 AM ready to shoot. ‘Yojimbo’ means ‘bodyguard’ in Japanese. Film composer Masaru Satô was only given one week to compose the film’s entire score.

1971

Yeah, Inc.

April 23 – Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song

Cast: Melvin Van Peebles, Hubert Scales, Simon Chuckster, John Dullaghan, West Gale, Niva Rochelle, Rhetta Hughes, Nick Ferrari, Ed Rue, John Amos, Lavelle Roby, Ted Hayden, Mario Van Peebles
Director: Melvin Van Peebles
Studio: Yeah, Inc., distributed by Cinemation Industries
Trivia: John Amos is credited as Johnny Amos, and Mario Van Peebles is credited as Mario Peebles. The film was developed as part of a three-picture deal between Van Peebles and Columbia Pictures, but the studio would not finance the film so Van Peebles funded it himself and shot it independently over 19 days to prevent the cast from showing up with different clothing and hairstyles from the prior day. He received a $50,000 loan from Bill Cosby to complete the film. Van Peebles received a permit to set a car on fire but had done so on a Friday to there was no time to file the paperwork before the scene was shot. As a result, a fire truck showed up which ended up in the final cut of the film. The film’s score was composed by the then-unknown Earth, Wind and Fire. The film was only screened at two theaters in the US. It became required viewing for members of the Black Panther Party. The film’s success led to the creation of the ‘blaxploitation’ genre. The film received an X-rating upon its release, which aided the film’s promotion with the tagline ‘Rated X by an all-white jury’. The film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2020.

1981

April 23 – Gregory’s Girl

Cast: John Gordon Sinclair, Dee Hepburn, Clare Grogan, Caroline Guthrie, Jake D’Arcy, Robert Buchanan, Graham Thompson, Allison Forster, William Greenlees, Carol Macartney, Allan Love, Chic Murray, Alex Norton, Douglas Sannachan
Director: Bill Forsyth
Studio: Scottish Television, National Film Finance Corporation, distributed by ITC Entertainment (UK)
Trivia: After playing the London Film Festival on November 29, 1980 and the Göteborg Film Festival on January 31, 1981, the film opened in the UK on April 23. It did not receive a general US release until May 26, 1982. Many of the cast were members of the Glasgow Youth Theatre and had appeared in Forsyth’s previous film The Sinking Feeling. Because of the film’s low budget, the cast supplied many of their own clothes. The film was re-dubbed with Anglicized Scottish accents for the original US release. The film won the BAFTA for Best Original Screenplay. A sequel, Gregory’s Girl Two, was released in 1999. The chip shop in the film, Capaldi’s, is owned by a member of the family of actor Peter Capaldi. All of Clare Grogan’s close-ups are filmed from the right to hide scars on her left cheek which she received when broken glass was thrust into her face while she attempted to flee a brawl in a Glasgow brawl.

April 24 – Ms .45

Cast: Zoë Tamerlis, Albert Sinkys, Darlene Stuto, Helen McGara, Nike Zachmanoglou, Abel Ferrara, Peter Yellen, Editta Sherman, Vincent Gruppi, S. Edward Singer, James Albanese, Bogey the Dog
Director: Abel Ferrara
Studio: Navaron Films, distributed by Rochelle Films
Trivia: Also known as Angel of Vengeance. The title is often mistyped as Ms. 45. Director Abel Ferrara was credited as ‘Jimmy Laine’ in his role as ‘First Rapist’. Zoë Tamerlis, in her film debut, was only 17 years old when the movie was shot. Her character’s name Thana is a play on the name Thanatos, the Greek god of death.

April 24 – The Hand

Cast: Michael Caine, Andrea Marcovicci, Annie McEnroe, Bruce McGill, Viveca Lindfors, Rosemary Murphy, Mara Hobel, Pat Corley, Charles Fleischer
Director: Oliver Stone
Studio: Orion Pictures, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures
Trivia: Based on the novel The Lizard’s Tail by Marc Brandel. This was Oliver Stone’s second feature film as director, his first in seven years, and his first major studio film. Stone also has a cameo as a bum, his first acting role in a major Hollywood film. The film’s premise resembles earlier films The Hands of Orlac and The Beast with Five Fingers, leading some to label the film a remake or spiritual adaptation of those films. Several animatronic hands were built by Stan Winston and Carlo Rambaldi, each with a specific function. Marvel Comics artist Barry Windsor-Smith drew the film’s comic book character. Stone first choice for the lead was Jon Voight, who declined the role. Also approached were Dustin Hoffman and Christopher Walken. James Brolin also turned down the role because he though the script was terrible but regretted not having the chance to work with Stone. Michael Caine was interested in doing another horror film after the success of Dressed to Kill, and was looking to earn enough to put a down payment on a new garage he was having built (known as another of his notorious ‘paycheck movies’ which included The Swarm, Jaws: The Revenge, The Island, Blame It On Rio and Beyond the Poseidon Adventure). Caine and Stone became good friends while making the movie, though they have not worked together since.

1991

April 26 – A Kiss Before Dying

Cast: Matt Dillon, Sean Young, Max von Sydow, Diane Ladd, James Russo, Ben Browder, Martha Gehman, Jim Fyfe, Lachele Carl, Shane Rimmer, Adam Horovitz
Director: James Dearden
Studio: Initial Pictures, Kellgate Limited, distributed by Universal Pictures (United States), United International Pictures (United Kingdom)
Trivia: Based on Ira Levin’s 1953 novel. The story had been previously filmed in 1956. Producers wanted River Phoenix for the lead, but he turned them down multiple times saying he was not right for the part. Kiefer Sutherland was the second choice but had scheduling conflicts. Matt Dillon was third choice, but after seeing his performance the producers said he should have been first choice all along. Diane Lane and Penelope Ann Miller were considered for the dual female lead but rejected the offer. Bridget Fonda was cast but quit due to scheduling conflicts and Sean Young replaced her. Unfortunately, Young received the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress and Worst Supporting Actress for her dual roles, the first actress to ‘win’ two Razzies in the same year. This was the last film to use Universal’s 75th Anniversary logo. The film’s original ending set in a steel mill was not received favorably by a test audience, so it was re-shot at the childhood home of Jonathan (Dillon) in Pittsburgh.

April 26 – Oscar

Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Ornella Muti, Don Ameche, Peter Riegert, Tim Curry, Vincent Spano, Marisa Tomei, Eddie Bracken, Linda Gray, Chazz Palminteri, Kurtwood Smith, Art LaFleur, Robert Lesser, Yvonne De Carlo, Martin Ferrero, Harry Shearer, Richard Romanus, Arleen Sorkin, Joey Travolta, Jim Mulholland, Kirk Douglas, Elizabeth Barondes, Joycelyn O’Brien
Director: John Landis
Studio: Touchstone Pictures, Silver Screen Partners IV, distributed by Buena Vista Pictures
Trivia: Based on the Claude Magnier stage play. Remake of the 1967 French film of the same name but set in Depression-era New York City. John Landis said the film was influenced by screwball comedies of the era in which the film is set. Al Pacino was Landis’ first choice for the lead at a $2 million salary, but Pacino was offered $3 million for Dick Tracy. During production, a fire destroyed several sets, many of the actors’ trailers, all of the costumes and 21 valuable vintage cars. Production was shut down for two weeks while the costumes were re-made. A Universal security guard hired to guard the cars later admitted to setting the fire. This was the first feature film to be shot at MGM-Disney Studios in Orlando, Florida. The club seen in the film is Club 33, a real private club hidden in Disney World. The film had originally been planned with Landis directing and John Belushi starring but it was abandoned when Belushi died. The last major studio film of Yvonne De Carlo. Victor Mature was approached for the role that ultimately went to Kirk Douglas.

April 26 – Talent for the Game

Cast: Edward James Olmos, Lorraine Bracco, John E. Coleman, Jeff Corbett, Jamey Sheridan, Terry Kinney, Thomas Ryan, Felton Perry, Tom Bower, Janet Carroll, Daniel A. Haro, Murphy Sua, David Riley, James Keane, Zachary I. Young, Dennis Boutsikaris, Leslie Bevis, John Yajko
Director: Robert M. Young
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Trivia: The film opened in limited release in the US on April 26, but quickly went to home video after disappointing at the box office.

April 26 – Toy Soldiers

Cast: Sean Astin, Wil Wheaton, Louis Gossett Jr., Keith Coogan, George Perez, T.E. Russell, Shawn Phelan, Knowl Johnson, Denholm Elliott, Jerry Orbach, Andrew Divoff, Michael Champion, Mason Adams, R. Lee Ermey, Stan Kelly
Director: Daniel Petrie Jr.
Studio: Island World, distributed by TriStar Pictures (US and UK), Warner Bros. Picture (International)
Trivia: Based on the novel of the same by William P. Kennedy. The first screenplay was written for director John Schlesinger and was set in a European boarding school. After Schlesinger dropped out, the script was rewritten to be set in the US. Andrew Divoff has said this was his favorite role as a villain. Sean Astin and Keith Coogan are the respective stepsons of John Astin and Jackie Coogan, who both starred on The Addams Family. Sean Phelan’s character is nicknamed Yogurt, a real nickname given to the actor after he spilled yogurt on himself during a bumpy car ride. Corey Feldman had auditioned for that role. The film is also known as Boy Soldiers in countries outside of the US.

2001

Miramax

April 25 – Amélie

Cast: Audrey Tautou, Flora Guiet, Mathieu Kassovitz, Amaury Babault, Rufus, Serge Merlin, Lorella Cravotta, Clotilde Mollet, Claire Maurier, Isabelle Nanty, Dominique Pinon, Artus de Penguern, Yolande Moreau, Urbain Cancelier, Jamel Debbouze, Maurice Bénichou, Kevin Fernandes, Michel Robin, Andrée Damant, Claude Perron, Armelle, Ticky Holgado, Fabienne Chaudat
Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Studio: Claudie Ossard Productions, UGC, Victoires Productions, Tapioca Films, France 3 Cinéma, MMC Independent, Sofica Sofinergie 5, Filmstiftung, Canal+, France 3 Cinéma, distributed by UGC-Fox Distribution (France), Prokino Filmverleih (Germany), Miramax (US)
Trivia: The film opened in France, Belgium and Switzerland on April 25, then received a limited US release beginning November 16, then expanded to a wider release on February 8, 2002. Also known as Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain. The film earned five Oscar nominations including Best Foreign Language Film and Best Original Screenplay. It was also nominated for nine BAFTAs, winning two (Original Screenplay & Production Design), and eleven César Awards, winning five (Best Film, Director, Production Design, Costume Design, Music). Jean-Pierre Jeunet originally wrote the title role for English actress Emily Watson. Watson’s French was not strong, and when she became unavailable due to conflicts with Gosford Park, the role was re-written for a French actress. Audrey Tautou was the first actress to audition after Jeunet saw her on the poster for the 1999 film Venus Beauty Institute. Vanessa Paradis was considered for the role. The Café des 2 Moulins where Amélie works is a real place. The chairs outside the cafe had to be changed after the film’s release to keep them from being stolen. Jeunet originally wanted Michael Nyman to score the film but was unable to get him. He fell in love with a CD someone had given him by Yann Tiersen, and purchased the rights to existing music to score the film. Additionally, Tiersen composed an original main theme for the film. The film’s traveling gnome inspired Travelocity’s Roaming Gnome ad campaign and mascot. The funeral in the documentary Amélie watches is 1923 newsreel footage from the funeral of Sarah Bernhardt. The whimsical film heavily influenced Bryan Fuller’s whimsical TV series Pushing Daisies.

April 27 – Driven

Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Burt Reynolds, Kip Pardue, Til Schweiger, Gina Gershon, Estella Warren, Cristián de la Fuente, Stacy Edwards, Robert Sean Leonard, Brent Briscoe, Renny Harlin, Frank Blanch, Barry Stillwell, Verona Pooth, Jasmin Wagner, Alison Armitage
Director: Renny Harlin
Studio: Franchise Pictures, Champs Productions, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures
Trivia: Racers Mario Andretti, Jacques Villeneuve, Juan Pablo Montoya, Adrian Fernandez, Mark Blundell, Roberto Moreno, Kenny Bräck, Tony Kanaan, Maurício Gugelmin, Max Papis, Paul Tracy, and Dario Franchitti make cameo appearances as themselves. Dustin Hoffman can be seen, briefly, in racing gear perhaps as part of a participating team’s sponsorship, and just happened to be captured on film. Stallone became interested in the world of racing while in Europe making Judge Dredd. The film’s premiere was held at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, with several CART competitors driving and demonstrating pit stops in modified Champ Cars down Hollywood Blvd. Director Renny Harlin has said his first cut of the film ran four hours. Fifty-one minutes of deleted footage was included as a special feature on the DVD release. The film earned seven Golden Raspberry Awards nominations including Worst Picture, Worst Director, Worst Screen Couple (Stallone and Reynolds) and Worst Supporting Actors (Stallone and Reynolds). Estrella Warren ‘won’ her Razzie for Worst Supporting Actress for this film and Planet of the Apes. Leonardo DiCaprio was considered for the role of Jimmy Bly, which went to Kip Pardue. The film’s working title was Champs.

April 27 – One Night at McCool’s

Cast: Matt Dillon, Liv Tyler, Paul Reiser, John Goodman, Michael Douglas, Andrew Silverstein, Reba McEntire, Richard Jenkins, Leo Rossi, Andrea Bendewald, Sandy Martin
Director: Harald Zwart
Studio: October Films, Furthur Films, distributed by USA Films
Trivia: Helen Hunt appeared as a truck driver but her scene was cut. The film is dedicated to screenwriter Stan Seidel, who died on July 14, 2000. Michael Douglas’ character’s hairstyle is modeled after the character Frank Booth’s hair in Blue Velvet. The real McCool’s in St. Louis was considered too drab to film in. First film from Michael Douglas’ production company Further Films. Spice Girl Geri Halliwell is said to have been the influence for Liv Tyler’s character Jewel Valentine.

April 27 – The Forsaken

Cast: Kerr Smith, Brendan Fehr, Izabella Miko, Johnathon Schaech, Phina Oruche, Simon Rex, Carrie Snodgress, Alexis Thorpe, F. J. Flynn, Sara Downing
Director: J. S. Cardone
Studio: Screen Gems
Trivia: J. S. Cardone was influenced by the films Badlands and Near Dark. Kerr Smith was cast based on his performance as a gay teenager on Dawson’s Creek. Brendan Fehr was cast from his role on the sci-fi TV series Roswell. Polish actress Izabella Miko had to take ‘accent training’ to pull off a convincing American accent. This was Carrie Snodgrass’ last feature film.

April 27 – Town & Country

Cast: Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton, Goldie Hawn, Garry Shandling, Andie MacDowell, Jenna Elfman, Nastassja Kinski, Charlton Heston, Marian Seldes, Josh Hartnett, Katharine Towne, Ian McNeice, Bill Hootkins, Terri Hoyos, Tricia Vessey, Azura Skye, Buck Henry
Director: Peter Chelsom
Studio: FR Production, Longfellow Pictures, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, Simon Fields Productions, distributed by New Line Cinema
Trivia: The film was a major box office disaster, grossing around $10 million worldwide against a $90 million production budget. It was Beatty’s last screen role until Rules Don’t Apply 15 years later. Production actually began on June 8, 1998 with a budget of $44 million (including $10 million up front for Beatty). Delays due to Beatty’s insistence on numerous takes, and an unfinished script, led the film to still be in production almost a year later. Garry Shandling, Jenna Elfman and Diane Keaton had to leave to work on other films, and it was a full year before the cast was able to reassemble to continue filming. Buck Henry was hired to do a ‘quick rewrite’ and ended up staying on for several months, earning about $3 million for his work (with which he claimed to have bought a new house). Reshoots began on April 10, 2000 and continued through June. Originally scheduled for a Summer or Fall 1999 release, the film burned through 13 scheduled release dates. The film earned three Golden Raspberry Awards nominations — Worst Director, Worst Supporting Actor (Heston) and Worst Supporting Actress (Hawn) — with Heston the recipient in his category. This was Heston’s 75th film. Gérard Depardieu was originally cast but was replaced by Shandling after being injured in a road accident. A winter sequence filmed in Sun Valley, Idaho required artificial snow to make up for the absence of real snow. The next day a foot of snow fell and the scenes were re-shot with the real thing.

2011

April 21 – Thor

Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård, Colm Feore, Ray Stevenson, Anthony Hopkins, Kat Dennings, Clark Gregg, Idris Elba, Josh Dallas, Jaimie Alexander, Rene Russo
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Studio: Marvel Studios, distributed by Paramount Pictures
Trivia: Fourth film in Phase 1 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Sam Raimi began developing the film in 1991 but abandoned the project, leaving it in ‘development hell’ for several years. Matthew Vaughn was originally signed to direct for a 2010 release. He was released from his deal in 2008, then Branagh was signed for a 2011 release. The project was originally intended for television with UPN in talks to air it, and Tyler Mane set to play Thor. Sony Pictures purchased the rights to distribute the film with David S. Goyer to write and direct but by 2005 Goyer had lost interest. Paramount acquired the rights from Sony in 2006. The first draft of the script would have budgeted the film at $300 million. Vaughn re-wrote the script to bring it to $150 million. The release was set for June 4, 2010, with Marvel using Iron Man 2 to introduce Thor. But Vaughn’s deal ended, and a new draft of the script was commissioned. Guillermo del Toro was in talks to direct, but he ultimately turned it down to direct The Hobbit. Branagh was confirmed to direct in December 2008. Daniel Craig was offered the role of Thor but turned it down due to his commitment to the Bond franchise. Samuel L. Jackson signed on to reprise the role of Nick Fury in a nine-picture deal. In April 2010, Jackson stated he would not be in the film but later in the month he confirmed he’d be in a scene to serve as connective tissue for The Avengers. Chris and Liam Hemsworth auditioned for Thor, both were turned down but Chris got a second chance to read. Kevin McKidd had also been considered. Tom Hiddleston was also in line but was given the role of Loki instead. Stuart Townsend was cast as Fandral, but left due to creative differences, replaced by Josh Dallas. The post-credits scene with Nick Fury was directed by Joss Whedon. Stan Lee claimed he’d always wanted to play Odin but was happy with Anthony Hopkins. Tom Hiddleston based his performance on three actors: Peter O’Toole, Jack Nicholson and Clint Eastwood. An entire town was built in Galisteo, New Mexico to serve as the film’s location. Charlie Cox auditioned for the role of Loki. He eventually played Daredevil in the Netflix series. This was the last Marvel production shot entirely on 35mm film. This film marks the first appearance of SHIELD agent Jasper Sitwell. It is the last Marvel film distributed by Paramount Pictures.

April 22 – African Cats

Narrators: Samuel L. Jackson (US version), Patrick Stewart (UK version)
Director: Keith Scholey, Alastair Fothergill
Studio: Disneynature, Fothergill/Scholey Productions, Silverback Films, distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Trivia: Knowns as Felines in France. A portion of the film’s proceeds were donated to the African Wildlife Foundation for efforts to preserve Kenya’s Amboseli Wildlife Corridor. Ticket sales have translated into 50,000 acres of saved land.

April 22 – Madea’s Big Happy Family

Cast: Tyler Perry, Loretta Devine, Shad ‘Bow Wow’ Moss, Tamela Mann, Cassi Davis, Lauren London, Shannon Kane, Isaiah Mustafa, Natalie Desselle-Reid, Rodney Perry, David Mann, Teyana Taylor, Philip Anthony-Rodriguez, Chandra Currelley, Maury Povich
Director: Tyler Perry
Studio: Tyler Perry Studios, distributed by Lionsgate
Trivia: Based on the 2010 play of the same name. The eleventh Tyler Perry film, and the fifth in the Madea series. Aside from Tyler Perry, Cassie Davis is the only cast member from the play to reprise her role on film. Throughout the film, Loretta Devine’s character says, ‘I’m tired’ which is a reference to her Dreamgirls role of Lorell where she sings, ‘And I’m tired; Effie, I’m TIRED!’ In the song ‘It’s All Over’. The last film in the Madea franchise to feature Cora and Brown.

April 22 – POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold

Cast: Morgan Spurlock
Director: Morgan Spurlock
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics, Stage 6 Films
Trivia: The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2011. The documentary about product placement in films was paid for by sponsors, making it a form of metafilm. POM Wonderful paid $1 million for ‘above the title’ billing. The deal was contingent on the film earning $10 million at the box office, 500,000 DVD sales and 600 million media impressions. As of August 26, 2011, the film had grossed $639,476 at the box office. Many other brands didn’t offer funding to the film, instead just provided products to be used in the film. People appearing in the film include J.J. Abrams, Peter Berg, Big Boi, Noam Chomsky, Jimmy Kimmel, Ralph Nader, Brett Ratner, L.A. Reid, Quentin Tarantino. The city of Altoona, PA changed its name to Pom Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, PA for 90 days. Local convenience store, Sheetz, was one of the film’s sponsors.

April 22 – Water for Elephants

Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson, Hal Holbrook, Christoph Waltz, Tai as Rosie, the elephant, James Frain, Paul Schneider, Ken Foree, Tim Guinee, Mark Povinelli, Scott MacDonald, Jim Norton, Richard Brake, Sam Anderson, John Aylward, Brad Greenquist, Uggie as Queenie, the terrier
Director: Francis Lawrence
Studio: Fox 2000 Pictures, 3 Arts Entertainment, Flashpoint Entertainment, Dune Entertainment, Ingenious Media, Big Screen Productions, distributed by 20th Century Fox
Trivia: Based on Sara Gruen’s 2006 novel. Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson play lovers in this movie, while in a deleted scene from 2004’s Vanity Fair, they played mother and son. Channing Tatum, Andrew Garfield and Emile Hirsch were among the actors who auditioned for the role won by Pattinson. Sean Penn had been cast in the role of August but dropped out. He was replaced by Christoph Waltz. Scarlett Johansson turned down the role of Marlena.

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