#MovieHistory

#MovieHistory #OTD 1994 the action thriller film #SPEED, directed by Jan de Bont & starring #KeanuReeves & #SandraBullock, was released. It made $350.4 million, becoming the 5th highest-grossing film of 1994 (The other 4 were: #1 The Lion King, #2 Forrest Gump, #3 True Lies and #4 The Mask).

#MovieHistory #OTD 1984, the Ivan Reitman directed blockbuster #GHOSTBUSTERS was released. It earned $282.2M, making it the 2nd highest-grossing film of 1984 in the US (The #1 film was Beverly Hills Cop, #3 was Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, #4 was Gremlins & #5 was The Karate Kid).

#MovieHistory #OTD 1983, the John Landis directed #TradingPlaces was released. The film earned over $90.4 million to become the 4th highest-grossing film of 1983 in the United States (Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi was #1, Tootsie was #2, Flashdance was #3 and WarGames was #5).

#MovieHistory #OTD 1996, the #MichaelBay directed #TheRock was released. This massive action film starred Sir #SeanConnery (as John Mason), #NicholasCage (as Stanley Goodspeed) & #EdHarris (as General Francis X. Hummel). It was the 4th highest grossing film of 1996 at over $335M.

"Goonies never say die!"
#MovieHistory On this day, 1985, the Richard Donner directed #TheGoonies was released in theaters. The Goonies reaction to One-Eyed Willy's Pirate Ship at the end was real as Donner denied the child actors access to the massive soundstage where a full pirate ship was built.

#MovieHistory #OTD 1978 Director John Milius' Big Wednesday was released in theaters. The picture stars Jan-Michael Vincent, William Katt, & Gary Busey as California surfers facing the Vietnam War against the backdrop of surfing. All surfing scenes were filmed at Sunset Beach in Pupukea, Hawaii.

#MovieHistory On this day, 1979, the #RidleyScott directed film #ALIEN had its United States debut at the opening night of the 4th Seattle International Film Festival and it was presented in 70 mm at midnight. It received a wide release on June 22 and was released on September 6 in the UK.

"A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away..."
#MovieHistory #OTD 1977, George Lucas's #StarWars (retroactively titled Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope) was released in the US. The film only debuted in just 32 theaters, but was so wildly successful, 20th Century Fox expanded it nationwide.

#MovieHistory #OTD 1994, #QuentinTarantino 's 2nd directorial effort #PulpFiction made its debut at The Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Palme d'Or. The film was the 3rd biggest R-rated earner for that year ($107.9M), but lost out on the title to True Lies ($146.2M) and Speed ($121.2M).

#MovieHistory #OTD 1979, #FrancisFordCoppola 's #ApocalypseNow made its debut at The Cannes Film Festival, & was awarded The Palme d'Or. Coppola went to UCLA film school with all of the members of #TheDoors, including #JimMorrison, who agreed to let Coppola use the master recordings of their music.

#MovieHistory #OTD 1997, the English-language French science fiction action film written & directed by #LucBesson, #TheFifthElement, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, as the opening film. #Prince was originally cast as Ruby Rhod, but withdrew as he couldn’t shoot around his touring schedule.

#MovieHistory On this day, 2000, the #RidleyScott directed historical epic #Gladiator was released in theaters. It won 5 Academy Awards, including Best Picture & Best Actor for #RussellCrowe (as Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius). Gladiator grossed $465.4 million worldwide.

#MovieHistory #OTD 1984, the American coming-of-age comedy film #SixteenCandles, was released in theaters, written & directed by #JohnHughes in his directorial debut. Michael Schoeffling (Jake Ryan), was 23 years old during filming, unlike #MollyRingwald & #AnthonyMichaelHall, who were both 15.

"Yeah, baby, yeah!"
#MovieHistory On this day, 1997, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, the 1st of the "Austin Powers Trilogy", opened in theaters. It stars franchise co-producer and writer Mike Myers, playing the roles of both super-spy Austin Powers and his arch enemy Dr. Evil.

#MovieHistory #OTD 2008, the 1st movie in the #Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) was released, #IronMan, directed by Jon Favreau. In the process, Iron Man launched one of the most successful film franchises ever. Favreau wanted #RobertDowneyJr because he felt the actor's past was right for the part.

"I gave her my heart, and she gave me a pen."
#MovieHistory #OTD 1989 #CameronCrowe made his directorial debut with the release of Say Anything... Crowe originally scripted the iconic boom box song as "To Be A Lover" by Billy Idol, Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes" was added post production.

#MovieHistory #OTD 1979, the Australian dystopian action film #MadMax, directed by #GeorgeMiller was released. Filmed on a budget of A$400,000, it earned more than US$100 million worldwide & spawned 3 sequels: Mad Max 2 (1981), Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985) & Mad Max: Fury Road (2015).

"Get your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape."
#MovieHistory #OTD 1968, the American science fiction film Planet Of The Apes, directed by Franklin J. Schaffner (screenplay by Michael Wilson and Rod Serling), was released in theaters. The movie is based on the 1963 novel by Pierre Boulle.

#MovieHistory #OTD 1968, the #StanleyKubrick classic 2001: A Space Odyssey was release in US theaters. The book by Arthur C. Clarke was developed concurrently with Kubrick's film version & published after the release of the movie. The pair’s 1st working title for the movie was Project: Space.

#MovieHistory On this day, 1999 the American teen comedy 10 Things I Hate About You opened in theaters. The film was #HeathLedger’s breakthrough performance as Patrick Verona, launching his Hollywood career. Both Josh Hartnett and Ashton Kutcher were in the running to play Patrick.

#MovieHistory On this day, 1999, the science fiction action film #TheMatrix was released in the US. The film was written and directed by the Wachowskis, and starred Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, & Joe Pantoliano. It grossed $460M on a $63M budget.

#MovieHistory On this day, 1988, the American fantasy, horror comedy film #Beetlejuice, directed by #TimBurton, was released. Burton's original choice for Beetlejuice was Sammy Davis Jr. Also considered, Dudley Moore & Sam Kinison, but the production company, Geffen, suggested
#MichaelKeaton

#MovieHistory On this day, 1988, the American fantasy, horror comedy film #Beetlejuice, directed by #TimBurton, was released. Burton's original choice for Beteljuice was Sammy Davis Jr. Also considered, Dudley Moore & Sam Kinison, but the production company, Geffen, suggested #MichaelKeaton

"Well, this piece is called "Lick My Love Pump".
#MovieHistory #OTD 1984, Rob Reiner, in his directorial debut, released the mockumentary classic, This Is Spinal Tap. Starring Christopher Guest (as Nigel Tufnel), Michael McKean (as David St. Hubbins), & Harry Shearer (as Derek Smalls).

#MovieHistory On this day 1985, Universal Pictures released the #JohnHughes directed, quintessential 1980s film, #TheBreakfastClub.The scene in which all characters sit in a circle on the floor in the library & talk about why they were in detention was not scripted, Hughes told them all to ad-lib.

#MovieHistory #OTD 1991, The Silence of the Lambs was released. This psychological horror thriller film was directed by Jonathan Demme & adapted from Thomas Harris's 1988 novel of the same name. Demme initially wanted Sean Connery for Hannibal Lecter & Michelle Pfeiffer for Clarice Starling.

#MovieHistory On this day, 1974, one of the funniest films of all time was released, #BlazingSaddles, directed by Mel Brooks, who also wrote the screenplay with the great Richard Pryor. Gene Wilder said of the film, "They've smashed racism in the face, but they're doing it while you laugh."

"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room."

#MovieHistory On this day, 1964, one of the all-time greatest films opened, "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb." The film was directed, produced, and co-written by the legendary #StanleyKubrick.

#MovieHistory On this day, 1992, #ReservoirDogs the American neo-noir crime film written & directed by #QuentinTarantino in his feature-length debut, had it's premiere at the Sundance Film Festival (where is was screened out of competition). A classic of both independent films and cult films.

#MovieHistory On this day in 2012 the Academy Award winner for Best Documentary had its premier at the Sundance Film Festival, "Searching For Sugar Man". This brilliant documentary about American musician Sixto Rodriguez aka #Rodriguez, also won the BAFTA Award for Best Documentary.

#MovieHistory #OTD in 1998, the Coen Brothers film #TheBigLebowski had its premier at the Sundance Film Festival. Dudeism, a religion devoted to spreading the philosophy of "The Dude", was founded in 2005, aka, The Church of the Latter-Day Dude, they have ordained over 220,000 "Dudeist Priests".

Wonderland Burlesque's Let's All Go To The Movies: Hollywood's Golden Age Edition wonderlandburlesque.blogspot.com/2023/12/wond... #Movies #MovieHistory #Film #FilmHistory #Hollywood #RyanONeal #GeneKelly #DebbieReynolds #ChevyChase #JeffBridges #RaquelWelch

#MovieHistory #OTD 1994, one of the funniest films of all time was released (and one of the most quotable), Dumb & Dumber. The original script was called Dust To Dust, & then years later after the script resurrected, it was named Go West, & then A Power Tool Is Not A Toy...and finally Dumb & Dumber.

#MovieHistory #OTD 1974, the #MelBrooks directed classic #YoungFrankenstein was released. It was the great #GeneWilder who came up with the initial premise for the film & he pitched it to Brooks over coffee during production on Blazing Saddles. The role of Igor was written only for #MartyFeldman.

#MovieHistory #OTD 1979, #StevenSpielberg released his WWII cult comedy 1941. The plot for the movie revolves around a panic in the Los Angeles area after the December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, which is based loosely on The Battle of Los Angeles, also known as the Great Los Angeles Air Raid.

#MovieHistory #OTD 1998, director #WesAnderson released his 2nd film, #Rushmore. Anderson & actor #OwenWilson wrote the film together, and specifically wrote the role of Herman Blume for #BillMurray. Murray liked the script so much, he did it for scale wages, which Anderson said was around $9,000.

#MovieHistory #OTD 1978, #Superman, directed by Richard Donner, and starring the late, great #ChristopherReeve had its premier at The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Robert Redford was offered a massive sum, but turned it down. Donner lobbied hard for an unknown actor & found it in Reeve.

#MovieHistory #OTD 1965, #Thunderball, the 4th #JamesBond film starring #SeanConnery had its premier at the Hibiya Theatre in Tokyo. It was the 3rd Bond score by #JohnBarry, with the title song performed by #TomJones, who nearly fainted after the 9-second final high note at the end of the song.

#MovieHistory #OTD 1995, one of the all-time great crime films had its premier in Burbank, CA, the Michael Mann directed classic Heat. Heat was filmed entirely on location in L.A. – the shoot was 107 days & they filmed at 95 locations. Mann didn’t shoot anything on a soundstage to keep it realistic.

#MovieHistory #OTD 1983, the Brian DePalma directed #Scarface starring #AlPacino, had its premier in NYC. Geena Davis, Carrie Fisher, Kelly McGillis, Sharon Stone & Sigourney Weaver were all considered for Michelle Pfeiffer's role of Elvira. Robert DeNiro was also offered the Tony Montana role.

#MovieHistory #OTD 1984 the #EddieMurphy film #BeverlyHillsCop had its debut in LA. Coming off his roles in 48 Hours & Trading Places, this film shot Murphy to superstardom. This was 1984's 2nd highest-grossing film worldwide, after Ghostbusters, and followed by Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

#MovieHistory #OTD 1987, The Thanksgiving film Planes, Trains & Automobiles, directed by John Hughes was released. The exterior of the rental car resembles the Griswolds' station wagon from National Lampoon's Vacation. The exterior of the aircraft in flight, is a the 707 from the movie Airplane!

#MovieHistory #OTD 2004, #Pixar released the brilliant #BradBird directed film #TheIncredibles (its was almost called The Invincibles, the original working title). The retro-futuristic music score is by the great Michael Giacchino, who recorded on analog tapes to create an "old feel" to the music.

#MovieHistory #OTD 2014, #ChristopherNolan premiered his 8th film, #Interstellar, at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, CA. #MatthewMcConaughey was Nolan's only choice for the lead role of Joseph Cooper, as he was an everyman with whom "the audience could experience the story."