Hotchka Movies by the Decade feature #79 :: January 26 to February 1

Avco Embassy Pictures

The final week of January across all of the decades yielded very little in the way of memorable or popular films. There were a few but not many, even with new titles being released in each decade over the past century. Of note, a 1932 serial gave John Wayne his first major lead role, 1942 had Frances Farmer’s last film before she was infamously committed to a psychiatric hospital, and 1952 showed a harder side of James Stewart. Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton appeared in their eleventh film together in 1972, Morgan Fairchild made her big screen debut in 1982, Nicole Kidman learned to speak Russian in 2002, and Liam Neeson battled the elements — and wolves — in 2012. Let’s take a look to see the films celebrating anniversaries this week. Are your favorites here?

1922

January 29 – One Glorious Day

• Cast: Will Rogers, Lila Lee, Alan Hale, Sr., Johnny Fox, George Nichols, Emily Rait, Clarence Burton
• Director: James Cruze
• Production Company: Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, Paramount Pictures
• Trivia: The film was released in the UK on July 28, 1924. The film is considered lost. Working titles included Ek, A Fighting Soul, Souls Before Birth and The Melancholy Spirit. The film was originally conceived for Fatty Arbuckle. This is the first film Famous Monsters of Filmland founder Forrest J. Ackerman saw, igniting his interest in science fiction and fantasy films.

January 29 – Saturday Night

• Cast: Leatrice Joy, Conrad Nagel, Edith Roberts, Jack Mower, Julia Faye, Edythe Chapman, Theodore Roberts, Sylvia Ashton, John Davidson, James Neill, Winter Hall, Lillian Leighton
• Director: Cecil B. DeMille
• Production Company: Paramount Pictures, Famous Players-Lasky Corporation
• Trivia: A print of the film is held in the Indiana University Bloomington film collection, and it has been released on DVD. Leatrice Joy did all her own stunt work, including driving the Kissel automobile across the 150 foot tall Arroyo Seco railway trestle.

1932

February 1 – The Shadow of the Eagle

• Cast: John Wayne, Edward Hearn, Dorothy Gulliver, Richard Tucker, Ivan Linow, James Bradbury Jr., Ernie Adams, Billy West, Lloyd Whitlock, Walter Miller, Edmund Burns, Pat O’Malley, Kenneth Harlan, ‘Little Billy’ Rhodes, Roy D’Arcy, Bud Osborne, Yakima Canutt, Monte Montague
• Director: Ford Beebe, B. Reeves Eason
• Production Company: Mascot Pictures
• Trivia: The serial opened in London on June 15, 1932, then went into general release in the UK on November 21. John Wayne’s first serious role, doing most of his own stunt work. The serial is now in the public domain. The serial was re-edited into a feature film for home video release.

1942

January 26 – Penn of Pennsylvania

• Cast: Clifford Evans, Deborah Kerr, Dennis Arundell, Aubrey Mallalieu, D.J. Williams, O. B. Clarence, James Harcourt, Charles Carson, Henry Oscar, Max Adrian, John Stuart, Maire O’Neill, Edward Rigby, Mary Hinton, Joss Ambler, Edmund Willard, Percy Marmont, Gibb McLaughlin, Herbert Lomas, Gus McNaughton
• Director: Lance Comfort
• Production Company: British National Films, distributed by Anglo-American Film Corporation (UK), J.H. Hoffberg Company (U.S.)
• Trivia: Also known as Courageous Mr. Penn. The film opened in the UK on January 26, 1942. It was not released in the US until December 22, 1943. This features William Alwyn’s first feature film score which is considered superior to the film itself. The film was intended as propaganda during World War II to stir the United States out of its isolationism and into joining the war on the side of the British.

January 29 – Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake

• Cast: Tyrone Power, Gene Tierney, George Sanders, Frances Farmer, Roddy McDowall, John Carradine, Elsa Lanchester, Harry Davenport, Kay Johnson, Dudley Digges, Halliwell Hobbes, Martin Lamont, Arthur Hohl, Pedro de Cordoba, Heather Thatcher, Lester Matthews, Charles Irwin, Dennis Hoey, Robert Greig, Mala, Cliff Severn
• Director: John Cromwell
• Production Company: 20th Century Fox
• Trivia: Adapted from Edison Marshall’s 1941 historical novel Benjamin Blake. The last film Frances Farmer appeared in before her legal problems and eventual commitment to psychiatric hospitals until 1950. Ida Lupino was originally cast as Eve, and was replaced by Maureen O’Hara who then withdrew due to illness and was replaced by Cobina Wright Jr. Wright fell ill and was replaced by Farmer.

February – Listen to Britain

• Cast: Chesney Allen, Bud Flanagan, Myra Hess
• Director: Humphrey Jennings, Stewart McAllister
• Production Company: Crown Film Unit, distributed by Ministry of Information
• Trivia: The film’s exact February 1942 UK release is unknown. Propaganda short produced to support the Allied war effort during the Second World War. Among the nominees for the first Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

1952

Universal Pictures

January 29 – Bend of the River

• Cast: James Stewart, Arthur Kennedy, Julie Adams, Rock Hudson, Lori Nelson, Jay C. Flippen, Howard Petrie, Chubby Johnson, Stepin Fetchit, Harry Morgan, Jack Lambert, Royal Dano, Frances Bavier, Frank Ferguson
• Director: Anthony Mann
• Production Company: Universal Pictures
• Trivia: Based on the 1950 novel Bend of the Snake by Bill Gulick. The film premiered in Portland, Oregon on January 23, 1952, then opened in Canada on January 29. The film was released in London on March 13 under the title Where the River Bends, and in the US on April 9. Julie Adams’ first lead role in a major Hollywood film. Lori Nelson’s film debut. Adams and Nelson played sisters in the film. Adams went on to star in Creature from the Black Lagoon, while Nelsos starred in the first sequel, Revenge of the Creature. James Stewart was said to be so upset that Rock Hudson received more applause and cheers at the premiere that he vowed to never speak to or work with the actor again. He kept that promise.

January 29 – Japanese War Bride

• Cast: Shirley Yamaguchi, Don Taylor, Cameron Mitchell, Marie Windsor, James Bell, Louise Lorimer, Philip Ahn, Lane Nakano, May Takasugi, Sybil Merritt, Orley Lindgren, George Wallac, Kathleen Mulqueen
• Director: King Vidor
• Production Company: 20th Century-Fox
• Trivia: Also known as East is East. The film was released in the UK on April 7, 1952. American debut of Shirley Yamaguchi in the title role. The film is said to have increased racial tolerance in the United States by openly discussing interracial marriages.

February – Flaming Feather

• Cast: Sterling Hayden, Forrest Tucker, Arleen Whelan, Barbara Rush, Victor Jory, Richard Arlen, Edgar Buchanan, Carol Thurston, Ian MacDonald, George Cleveland
• Director: Ray Enright
• Production Company: Paramount Pictures
• Trivia: The film’s exact US release date in February 1952 is unknown. The local Yavapai Indians, who were employed as extras on the production, refused to enter the cliff dwellings because they represented the ‘dwelling place of the dead.’ Production was delayed while a band of Navajos was brought in from a reservation 137 miles away to replace them.

1962

January 31 – A Very Private Affair

• Cast: Brigitte Bardot, Marcello Mastroiann, Nicolas Bataille, Jaqueline Doyen, Eléonore Hirt, Ursula Kubler, Gregor von Rezzori, Dirk Sanders, Paul Sorèze, Gloria France, Isarco Ravaioli, Antoine Roblot, Simonetta Simeoni
• Director: Louis Malle
• Production Company: Pathe Films
• Trivia: The film opened in France on January 31, 1962 as Vie privée. It was released in the US on September 28.

1972

January 26 – The Hot Rock

• Cast: Robert Redford, George Segal, Ron Leibman, Paul Sand, Moses Gunn, Zero Mostel, William Redfield, Topo Swope, Christopher Guest, Graham Jarvis, Lynne Gordon, Charlotte Rae, Harry Bellaver
• Director: Peter Yates
• Production Company: 20th Century Fox
• Trivia: Based on Donald E. Westlake’s novel of the same name, which introduced the John Dortmunder character. The film was released in the UK on June 1, 1972 as How to Steal a Diamond in Four Uneasy Lessons because the distributor believed people would think it was a rock concert film. The original title was carried on TV broadcasts and home video releases. TV viewers thought they were seeing a new Robert Redford movie when it was first broadcast on ITV in 1976. The south tower of the World Trade Center is seen still under construction as a helicopter flies past the area. The film was Oscar nominated for Best Film Editing. First credited role for Christopher Guest. Charlotte Rae is only eleven years older than Rob Liebman, who plays her son.

J. Arthur Rank

January 27 – Under Milk Wood

• Cast: Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Peter O’Toole, Siân Phillips, Glynis Johns, Vivien Merchant, Victor Spinetti, Ryan Davies, Angharad Rees, Ray Smit, Michael Forrest, Ann Beach, Glynn Edwards, Bridget Turner, Talfryn Thomas, Tim Wylton, Bronwen Williams, Meg Wynn Owen, Hubert Rees, Aubrey Richards, Mark Jones, Dillwyn Owen, Richard Davies, David Jason, Davyd Harries, David Davies, Paul Grist, Ruth Madoc, Susan Penhaligon
• Director: Andrew Sinclair
• Production Company: J. Arthur Rank, distributed by J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors (1972, UK), Altura Films International (1973, US)
• Trivia: Based on the 1954 radio play Under Milk Wood by the Welsh writer Dylan Thomas. The film was screened at the Venice Film Festival on August 25, 1971. It opened in the UK on January 27, 1972. It was not released in the US until January 21, 1973. In December 2012 the director of the film, Andrew Sinclair, gave the film rights to the people of Wales. Peter O’Toole spends the latter part of the movie with his eyes closed because he couldn’t stand wearing the contact lenses that gave him the appearance of blindness, which he wore in the earlier parts of the movie. The film’s $300,000 budget was underwritten by Richard Burton, who wanted to make Thomas’ work available to a wider audience.

January 27 – Winter Soldier

• Director: Winterfilm Collective
• Production Company: Milliarium Zero
• Trivia: American documentary film chronicling the Winter Soldier Investigation, documenting the accounts of American soldiers who returned from the War in Vietnam and participated in this war crimes hearing.

1982

January 29 – The Seduction

• Cast: Morgan Fairchild, Michael Sarrazin, Vince Edwards, Andrew Stevens, Colleen Camp, Kevin Brophy, Betty Kean, Wendy Smith Howard, Joanne Linville, Marri Mak
• Director: David Schmoeller
• Production Company: Embassy Pictures
• Trivia: The film opened in limited US release on January 27 before expanding on January 29. Feature film debut of Morgan Fairchild, who received two Razzie nominations for Worst Actress and Worst Newcomer. Colleen Camp was also nominated for Worst Supporting Actress. Director David Schmoeller originally wanted Theresa Russell for the lead role. Last film released under the Avco Embassy Pictures banner. Both Peter Gallagher and Michael Keaton were considered for the role of Derek which in the end was cast with Andrew Stevens.

1992

January 31 – Hard Promises

• Cast: Sissy Spacek, William Petersen, Brian Kerwin, Mare Winningham, Olivia Burnette, Peter MacNicol, Jeff Perry, Ann Wedgeworth, Amy Wright, Lois Smith
• Director: Martin Davidson
• Production Company: High Horse Films, Stone Group Pictures, distributed by Columbia Pictures
• Trivia: The film was screened at TIFF on September 14, 1991. Martin Davidson replaced Lee Grant as director.

January 31 – Shining Through

• Cast: Michael Douglas, Melanie Griffith, Liam Neeson, Joely Richardson, John Gielgud, Francis Guinan, Anthony Walters, Victoria Shalet, Sheila Allen, Stanley Beard, Sylvia Syms, Ronald Nitschke, Hansi Jochmann, Mathieu Carrière, William Hope, Constanze Engelbrecht, Ludwig Haas, Wolf Kahler
• Director: David Seltzer
• Production Company: 20th Century Fox
• Trivia: Based on the novel of the same name by Susan Isaacs. The film was released in the UK on March 10, 1992. The New York City and Washington scenes at the beginning of the film were shot in and around London and at nearby Pinewood Studios. A $500,000 building was erected in Berlin to be blown up during an action scene. No cameras were rolling when it did so. Debra Winger tested for the lead role but lost to Melanie Griffith.

2002

January 30 – The Singles Ward

• Cast: Will Swenson, Connie Young, Kirby Heyborne, Daryn Tufts, Michael Birkeland, Lincoln Hoppe, Zak Aldridge, Tarance Edwards, Michelle Ainge, Gretchen Whalley, Sedra Santos
• Director: Kurt Hale
• Production Company: Halestorm Entertainment
• Trivia: Based on John Moyer’s life as a stand-up comedian and single member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A number of celebrity members of the LDS Church make appearances throughout the movie. The scene where Zak gets arrested was shot on 9/11. There is a noticeable look of sadness on the actors’ faces during this scene that they said was difficult to act through.

January 31 – Crush

• Cast: Andie MacDowell, Imelda Staunton, Anna Chancellor, Kenny Doughty, Bill Paterson, Caroline Holdaway, Joe Roberts, Josh Cole, Gary Powell, Christian Burgess, Morris Perry, Richenda Carey, Roger Booth, Derek Deadman, Andrew Bicknell, Matilda Thorpe
• Director: John McKay
• Production Company: FilmFour, UK Film Council, Senator Film, Industry Entertainment, Pipedream Pictures, distributed by Senator Film (Germany), FilmFour Distributors (United Kingdom), Sony Pictures Classics (United States)
• Trivia: The film screened at Sundance on January 17, 2002, then opened in Israel on January 31, Italy on March 1, the US on April 5, and the UK on June 7. John McKay wanted to title the film The Sad Fuckers Club, which he felt better fit the plotline. The financiers and distributors were resistant to the title and it was changed to Crush. The character Bobby who appears in the first scenes of the film is Gary Tate, the UK’s top George Clooney lookalike.

February 1 – Birthday Girl

• Cast: Nicole Kidman, Ben Chaplin, Vincent Cassel, Mathieu Kassovitz, Kate Evans, Stephen Mangan, Xander Armstrong, Sally Phillips, Jo McInnes, Ben Miller, Jonathan Aris, Steve Pemberton, Reece Shearsmith, Mark Gatiss
• Director: Jez Butterworth
• Production Company: HAL Films, FilmFour Productions, distributed by Miramax Films (United States), FilmFour Distributors (United Kingdom)
• Trivia: The film screened at the Venice Film Festival on September 6, 2001, at TIFF on September 14, and at Sundance in January 2002. The film was not released in the UK until June 28, 2002. Nicole Kidman went to the Russian Embassy in Australia for help in speaking Russian. To date, Jez Butterworth’s last film, as he did not like the slow process of filmmaking. Kidman had to leave the film in July 1999 due to her obligation to Moulin Rouge! Production was further delayed as Kidman had to recover from a broken rib sustained while filming Moulin Rouge! Butterworth was not interested in casting Kidman initially, but producer Harvey Weinstein wanted her and got Butterworth to see her in the play Blue Room, after which he agreed to her casting. The film’s cast includes all the members of the League of Gentlemen as well as comedy duo Miller & Armstrong.

2012

Open Road Films

January 26 – The Grey

• Cast: Liam Neeson, Frank Grillo, Dermot Mulroney, Dallas Roberts, Joe Anderson, Nonso Anozie, James Badge Dale, Ben Bray, Greg Nicotero, Jacob Blair, Lani Gelera, Larissa Stadnichuck, Peter Girges, James Bitoni, Anne Openshaw
• Director: Joe Carnahan
• Production Company: LD Entertainment, Scott Free Productions, 1984 Private Defense Contractors, distributed by Open Road Films (United States), Entertainment Film Distributors (United Kingdom), Inferno Distribution (International)
• Trivia: Based on the short story “Ghost Walker” by Ian MacKenzie Jeffers, who also co-wrote the screenplay. The film was screened at Austin’s Butt-Numb-A-Thon on December 11, 2011. It was released in Russia on January 26, then Canada, the US and UK on January 27. A much younger lead was originally sought for the role and Bradley Cooper was cast, but was eventually replaced by Liam Neeson. The temperature was as low as -40 degrees in Smithers, British Columbia, and the snow storm scenes were actual prevailing weather conditions, not special effects. The film was supposed to take place in the Yukon Territory, Canada but producers insisted on setting it in Alaska to make it more relatable to American audiences.

January 26 – Man on a Ledge

• Cast: Sam Worthington, Jamie Bell, Elizabeth Banks, Ed Harris, Anthony Mackie, Genesis Rodriguez, Kyra Sedgwick, Edward Burns, Titus Welliver, Felix Solis, William Sadler, Pooja Kumar
• Director: Asger Leth
• Production Company: Summit Entertainment, Di Bonaventura Pictures, distributed by Lionsgate
• Trivia: The film opened in Argentina, Germany, Greece and Israel on January 26, followed by Canada and the US on January 27. The film was released in the UK on February 3. Filming took place in New York City on top of The Roosevelt Hotel. Sam Worthington had a fear of heights he had to tackle during filming. All of the wide shots of the actors on the ledge were real. Restraining cables were either hidden from camera view or edited out in post-production.

January 26 – One for the Money

• Cast: Katherine Heigl, Jason O’Mara, Daniel Sunjata, John Leguizamo, Sherri Shepherd, Debbie Reynolds, Debra Monk, Nate Mooney, Adam Paul, Fisher Stevens, Ana Reeder, Patrick Fischler, Ryan Michelle Bathe, Leonardo Nam, Annie Parisse, Danny Mastrogiorgio, Gavin-Keith Umeh, Louis Mustillo, Joshua Elijah Reese, Olga Merediz
• Director: Julie Anne Robinson
• Production Company: Lakeshore Entertainment, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, distributed by Lionsgate
• Trivia: Based on Janet Evanovich’s 1994 novel of the same name. The film opened in Israel, Russia and Singapore on January 26, 2012, then in the US and Canada on January 27. The film opened in the UK on February 24. TriStar Pictures had originally purchased the rights to the novel but it languished in ‘development hell’ for thirteen years before Lionsgate acquired the distribution rights. Katherine Heigl was nominated for the Worst Actress Razzie. Final feature film of Debbie Reynolds.

January 27 – The Wicker Tree

• Cast: Graham McTavish, Jacqueline Leonard, Brittania Nicol, Henry Garrett, Honeysuckle Weeks, Clive Russell, Prue Clarke, Lesley Mackie, David Plimmer, Keith Warwick, Christopher Lee, Mark Williams, Lorna Campbell
• Director: Robin Hardy
• Production Company: British Lion, Tressock Films, distributed by Anchor Bay Films
• Trivia: The film’s working titles included The Riding of the Laddie, May Day, and Cowboys for Christ. The film was screened at the Fantasia International Film Festival on July 19, 2011. Contains many direct parallels and allusions to the 1973 film The Wicker Man, which was also directed by Robin Hardy, and is intended as a companion piece which explores the same themes. Christopher Lee was originally cast as Sir Lachlan Morrison but suffered a back injury on the set of The Resident, so the role went to Graham McTavish who was originally cast as Beame. Clive Russell was cast as Beame. Lee did eventually have a brief cameo which Hardy claimed was Lord Summerisle from The Wicker Man, but Lee refuted that and said they were two different characters. Joan Collins was cast as Lady Delia Morrison, but when Lee was replaced with the younger McTavish, she in turn was replaced by Jacqueline Leonard. The character Daisy, the cook, is the same Daisy from The Wicker Man.