ON THIS DAY in 1812, Napoleon Bonaparte’s army retreated from Moscow. The 1954 film, DESIREE, starring Marlon Brando and Jean Simmons, depicted this event.
Movies
Movie reference
Trick & Treat for October 18th:
HILLBILLYS IN A HAUNTED HOUSE (1967; with Ferlin Husky, John Carradine, Lon Chaney Jr.; directed by Jean Yarbrough)
This is the film you’re looking for if you scare easily, but weren’t sufficiently scared-off (like you should have been) by this movie’s prequel, Las Vegas Hillbillies, for your pants to come off (as advertised). Why the producers spelled “Hillbillys” differently in this sequel we’re not sure. Then again, we’re not sure why the producers thought that a guy in an ape costume would frighten an audience, when they already had Ferlin Husky sans mask, singing cornball country tunes. Husky stretches his “acting” talents by playing, of all things, a country singer, Woody Weathrby. During a bad storm, he and his sidekick, Boots, take refuge in an old, dark house while on their way to a big concert in Nashville. Little do they know (which could be applied to just about anything these two encounter) that this creepy mansion is not occupied by C&W fans, but by atomic spies. These typecast characters include John Carradine and, in (unfortunately) his final film appearance, Basil Rathbone. Sad to say, not even Joi Lansing and a cornucopia of corn-pone crooners during the film’s concluding Jamboree can rehab this Horrible House of Goobers–a House we’d suggest not buying or even renting. 
Who wants to wait until the 31st to wallow in Halloween indulgences and scary movies?! Home Projectionist doesn’t! And so we’ll have pairings of 31 Frights and 31 Bites every one of October’s 31 nights: a scary, snack size movie “trick”, and a delicious “treat” to go along with it.
ON THIS DAY in 1851, Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick was published in London as The Whale. In 1956, Melville’s novel was adapted by director John Huston for MOBY DICK, starring Gregory Peck.
Trick & Treat for October 17th:
HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER (1989; directed by John McNaughton)
Two, big nutty blobs which, when unwrapped, could be very bad for your health. No, we’re not describing a relatively harmless Oh Henry! bar. We’re talking about two fellows named Henry and Otis, the principal characters in this horrifying tale. If you want a glimpse of the dark, disturbing underbelly of humanity, then you can’t do too much worse than this (although there are actually worse). We stress that, unless you know your audience’s limits, that you consider checking the movie out on your own first, prior to inviting friends, family and the neighborhood clergyman over. The story: Ne’er-do-well buddies Henry and Otis are a lot like most people: they want to capture the times of their lives for posterity. Except that their ideas of Kodak moments aren’t kittens and carnivals. Henry and Otis are cold-blooded, brutal and sadistic murderers of innocent people. Murderers who record their crimes on videotape. The movie’s documentary-like and matter-of-fact style makes it all the more unsettling. HENRY will make your blood run cold. But unlike your garden variety slasher, vampire and demons-on-the-loose pictures, it may very well leave you completely unnerved, rather than laughing nervously. 
Who wants to wait until the 31st to wallow in Halloween indulgences and scary movies?! Home Projectionist doesn’t! And so we’ll have pairings of 31 Frights and 31 Bites every one of October’s 31 nights: a scary, snack size movie “trick”, and a delicious “treat” to go along with it.
The teenaged me received quite an education in life from the movies of 1969.
There were MIDNIGHT COWBOY, THE MAGIC CHRISTIAN, LOCK UP YOUR DAUGHTERS, EASY RIDER, THE WILD BUNCH, DE SADE, WOMEN IN LOVE, BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID, BOB & CAROL & TED & ALICE, MAROONED, THE STEWARDESSES, MEDEA, and SWEET CHARITY – just to name a few of the most memorable. Scenes from each of these films — feats of daring! blood splatters! nude male wrestlers! beheadings! bare breasts! — are permanently etched into my brain.
But the one film that still resonates the most strongly after all of these years is THE STERILE CUCKOO, a heartbreaking story of young love, longing, and loneliness. Liza Minnelli shines in the role of Pookie Adams, a fragile and kookie college coed desperate to make an impression and a connection.
Liza’s performance, for which she received an Academy Award nomination, is riveting in its honesty and depth. In fact, ever since 1969, I have used her portrayal Pookie as the benchmark to compare other actress’s acting chops, as in, “She was OK in the role, but she sure wasn’t Liza in THE STERILE CUCKOO.” Consider the telephone call scene….
Director Alan Pakula created a visually stunning environment to frame the development of this quiet story and Ms. Minnelli’s fragile character. And to add even more intensity to the sad tale of young love lost is the film’s theme song, “Come Saturday Morning,” by Fred Karlin and Dory Previn, which was also nominated for best song.
This little crystal of a movie was released on DVD just yesterday, October 16. If you have never seen it and you have a fondness for coming of age stories that will break your heart, put THE STERILE CUCKOO on your to-be-watched list today. 
Gloria Bowman is a writer, storyteller, blogger, movie lover, freelance editor,
and author of the novel, Human Slices.
Access her blog at www.gloriabowman.com; on Twitter @GloriaBow
Most people only remember Irene Ryan as Granny on the Beverly Hillbillies, but before that she was an accomplished in vaudeville, with her husband Tim Ryan, and in movies and the Broadway. Recently on Netflix streaming, a couple of her long-lost Monogram films have surfaced, HOT RHYTHM and SARONG GIRL. The films written by her husband and featured Irene in a poor man’s Grace Allen type character. In HOT RHYTHM she steals the show.
However, it wasn’t until she was cast in Beverly Hillbillies that she reached the status of star.
I’d always heard the story that Irene Ryan died backstage after singing this song on stage while in Pippen. However, the true story is that she collapsed with a stroke after finishing the number, but flew back to California where she died two days later.
Irene sings No Time At All… (forgive the weird cartoon attached to it)
ON THIS DAY in 1931, Al Capone was indicted in Chicago for income tax evasion and violations of the Volstead Act. This event was dramatized in the 1975 film, CAPONE, starring Ben Gazzara.
Trick & Treat for October 16th:
THE BIRDS (1963; with Tippi Hedrin, Rod Taylor, Suzanne Pleshette, Jessica Tandy; directed by Alfred Hitchcock)
Our movie takes flight when a young, pretty blonde woman steps into San Francisco’s Davidson Pet Shop. “The girl” (as Hitchcock referred to Tippi Hedrin) is Melanie Daniels. Melanie causes trouble immediately, when she poses as a sales clerk and then allows a bird to escape from its cage. The errant avian is caught by another pet shop shopper, the debonair and eligible Mitch Brenner (Rod Taylor). Intrigued and inspired, the conniving Melanie decides that birds–love birds, to be precise–are the way to Mr. Brenner’s heart. Soon thereafter, Melanie swoops down into the small, California coastal burg of Bodega Bay with her two, winged cupids. Daniels’ eyes are like those of a hawk as she closes in on the Brenner residence. She’s delivering the love birds ostensibly as a birthday present for Mitch’s young daughter, Cathy. However, Mitch’s mom (Jessica Tandy) is like a mother hen to her son, and views Melanie suspiciously. As does the local schooteacher, and former love interest of Mitch’s, Annie (Suzanne Pleshette).
Soon, there’s chaos, and this time it’s not just one bird out of control. It’s many birds. Flocks of birds. Dozens, hundreds of them. No doves here, only menacing gulls and crows, darkening the skies and darkening the lives of Bodega Bay’s bewildered and terrified residents. Heads are pecked, eyes too. The reasons behind the rampage are unknown. Perhaps they’re really just another one of Hitch’s infamous MacGuffins. What’s significant in this story is the change the birds inflict upon the Brenner family and its relationship with the intruding Melanie and the two, cuddly caged companions she brings. Is the love between Mitch and Melanie meant to be? Or is love only for the birds? 
Who wants to wait until the 31st to wallow in Halloween indulgences and scary movies?! Home Projectionist doesn’t! And so we’ll have pairings of 31 Frights and 31 Bites every one of October’s 31 nights: a scary, snack size movie “trick”, and a delicious “treat” to go along with it.
ON THIS DAY in 1793, during the French Revolution, Marie Antoinette, widow of Louis XVI, was executed at the guillotine. This event was documented in the 2006 Sofia Coppola film, MARIE ANTOINETTE, starring Kirsten Dunst in the title role.
Trick & Treat for October 15th:
AMAZING COLOSSAL MAN (1957; starring Glenn Langan; directed by Bert I. Gordon)
Lt. Col. Glenn Manning’s amazing adventure begins at an A-bomb testing site, and ends near Las Vegas. Like the characters in a more recent film set in Vegas, THE HANGOVER, Glenn also wakes up with a big head. But in Lt. Manning’s case, it’s literally a big head… and arms, legs and… well, we will stop there. During a noble attempt at a rescue, Glenn is exposed directly to the full force of an atomic blast. The good news is that he survives. The bad news is that he’ll need some really colossal socks, among other items, as he is now growing upwards to an eventual height of 60 feet, barefooted. This does not sit well with Glenn (played by Glenn Langan). He becomes irritable and acts out, evidenced by such behavior as impaling a soldier with a giant hypodermic needle and vandalizing the Golden Slipper Casino. Making sure that what’s happening in Vegas stays in Vegas, the U.S. Army takes its customary, 1950s sci-fi movie measures: pulverization via banks of artillery. Not surprisingly, we recommend enjoying this ridiculous but fun film with a box of Atomic Fire Balls. If it’s too much “red hot flavor”, just remember: you might grow… to like them. 
Who wants to wait until the 31st to wallow in Halloween indulgences and scary movies?! Home Projectionist doesn’t! And so we’ll have pairings of 31 Frights and 31 Bites every one of October’s 31 nights: a scary, snack size movie “trick”, and a delicious “treat” to go along with it.
Alfred Hitchcock on What’s My Line — a good watch!
There are so many stories in Hollywood of his wit and humor – and there’s one mythic tale (and I’ve never seen the footage, so I’d have to say it was a myth) of Hitch dancing in a hula skirt for a home camera at a party with an idol painted on his swaying and prodigious belly. Well, as to dancing this is the best I could come up with. But, over at The Hitchcock Zone they’ve got the skinny…click on the blue letters.
And, I thought this was charming – Alfred Hitchcock appearing as a mystery guest on “What’s My Line”:
If you spent most of your time watching movies this past week, you might have missed these articles here at Home Projectionist:
- 50 Years (!!!) of the Rolling Stones
- The Big Green Chair — Something Old Is New Again
- Art imitates life: The week’s Reel History
- Tricks & Treats: 31 Frights, 31 Bites
- “We’re on top of the monument!”: an Alfred Hitchcock film quiz!”
- Happy National Coming Out Day
- Fanhattan Simplifies the Hunt for Streaming Movies
- Design Ideas to Camouflage Your Big Screen Television
- Will Digital Kill the Drive-In?
- 104-Year-Old Boos
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ON THIS DAY in 1894, French artillery officer Alfred Dreyfus was arrested on charges of disclosing military secrets to the German Embassy in Paris. The event was dramatized in the 1937 film, THE LIFE OF EMILE ZOLA, starring Paul Muni.
Trick & Treat for October 14th:
ALIEN (1979; starring Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Veronica Cartwright, and Harry Dean Stanton; directed by Ridley Scott)
Deep in the far reaches of the galaxy, the space freighter Nostromo is returning home from its mission in space for a nefarious outfit called the Company. The crew of the ship, meanwhile, is in deep hibernation. But they are awakened by Nostromo’s Mother computer system. A nearby planet has sent out an S.O.S. The Nostromo lands and the crew investigates, discovering an array of strange looking “pods”. Whereas you’d attach an Apple iPod to your body, on this planet the pods attach themselves to you. Whether you like it or not. Judging by John Hurt’s reaction, you won’t like it. Soon, a large, alien creature has emerged and begins haunting the nooks and crannies of the Nostromo, threatening the crew and displeasing the ship’s cat, Jones. That’s when things have gone too far, and when Sigourney Weaver springs into action. Ridley Scott’s ALIEN raised the bar high for future sci-fi films set in and around the Milky Way, just as the Milky Way bar raised the bar for, well, you know… 
Who wants to wait until the 31st to wallow in Halloween indulgences and scary movies?! Home Projectionist doesn’t! And so we’ll have pairings of 31 Frights and 31 Bites every one of October’s 31 nights: a scary, snack size movie “trick”, and a delicious “treat” to go along with it.
ON THIS DAY in 1947, U.S. Air Force Captain Chuck Yeager, piloting the Glamorous Glennis X-1 rocket-powered experimental aircraft, became the first person to break the sound barrier during level flight. This event was depicted in the 1983 film, THE RIGHT STUFF, with Sam Shepard as Yeagar, Scott Glenn, Ed Harris, Dennis Quaid, and Fred Ward.
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