August 14, 1900 –126 years ago today, the western powers quelled the Boxer Rebellion in China. In the clearing stood the Boxers, fighters by their trade, and they carried the reminders of every glove that laid them down or cut them till they cried out, in their anger and their pain, they were leaving, theyContinue reading “I am just a poor boy though my story’s seldom told”
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It has the Charles Atlas Seal of Approval
August 14, 1975 –Time is Fleeting! The science fiction comedy horror musical, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, directed by Jim Sharman, and starring Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, and many of cast members from the original stage productions, opened in the UK, on this date. When this movie first opened, it had a traditionalContinue reading “It has the Charles Atlas Seal of Approval”
Can’t Buy Me Love premiered
August 14, 1987 –The rom-com film, Can’t Buy Me Love, directed by Steve Rash and starring Patrick Dempsey, Amanda Peterson, and Dennis Dugan, opened in the US on this date. Michael Swerdlick said the idea for the film originated while he was a mailroom clerk at the William Morris Agency. One of the agents invitedContinue reading “Can’t Buy Me Love premiered”
Life was ludicrous all the time
August 13, 1966 –Napoleon XIV’s goofy breakup song They’re Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-haaa peaks at #3 on Billboard’s Hot 100 on this date. It quickly drops to the bottom of the Top 40, however, as several radio stations ban the tune, fearing its lyrics might be interpreted as being insensitive to the mentallyContinue reading “Life was ludicrous all the time”
The stuff of nightmares
August 13, 1942 – Walt Disney’s Bambi premiered at Radio City Music Hall in New York on this date. (The film proper begins about 7 minute in) Unusual for the time, Walt Disney insisted on children providing the voices for the animals when they were young, instead of using adults mimicking youngsters.
Often an Orphan premiered
August 13, 1949 – The Looney Tunes short, Often an Orphan, directed by Chuck Jones, and starring Porky Pig and Charlie Dog, was released on this date. This is the third and final time Charlie Dog and Porky Pig are paired together; Charlie’s two final shorts have him pursue others to be his master
The Major Lied ‘Til Dawn premiered
August 13, 1938 – The Merrie Melodies short, The Major Lied ‘Til Dawn, directed by Frank Tashlin, and starring was released on this date. This cartoon seldom airs on American television because of several scenes involving stereotypical African natives.
Bosko’s Store premiered
August 13, 1932 –The Looney Tunes short, Bosko’s Store, directed by Hugh Harman and Rudolf Ising, and starring Bosko, was released on this date. This cartoon entered the public domain in 1961 as Sunset Productions did not renew the copyright in time.
Futureworld premiered
August 13, 1976 –AIP released the sci-fi film Futureworld, starring Peter Fonda, Blythe Danner, Arthur Hill and Yul Brynner, on this date. This film was the first film sold to China for a large-scale release after President Jimmy Carter formalized relations with the country.
Black Narcissus premiered in US
August 13, 1947 –The apex of technicolor film-making – Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s Black Narcissus, opened in New York City on this date. Director of Photography Jack Cardiff drew inspiration for his shots from the great painters; he experimented with the tones of Van Gogh, for example, or the reds and greens from Rembrandt.
