June 20th

On this day - June 20th 1975 - The Movie "Jaws" premiered.

Jaws was directed by Steven Spielberg and based on a book written in 1975. The music is written by John Williams. The film had a troubled production, with going over both on costs and schedule. The film was promoted heavily and opened in over 450 screens, and the film was an instant success. The national film registry consider it culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". It is considered as one of the top movies of all time and it had a huge impact on how Hollywood organized and promoted their "Blockbuster" movies for the future. It won several awards, including Oscars for best music, sound and editing.

May 21st

On this day - May 21st 1980 - The Empire Strikes back is released

The Empire Strikes back is the 2nd movie released in the series of Star Wars but its the fifth in chronological order. It was released three years after the success of the original Star Wars movie and is also set three years after the first movie. The initial reviews were mixed but as the series grew in popularity the critics agree that it is one of the greatest movies of all time. The initial filming began in Hardangerjøkulen in Norway and during the filming one of the worst winter storms in over fifty years hit. It was a good thing the opening was set in an artic environment. The Star Wars saga is one of the most recognized brands in the world and adaptations into books, comic books, novels, video games and even a radio play has followed. Disney acquired the rights to the Star Wars franchise when they bought Lucasfilm in 2012. It was then announced new Star Wars movies starting with the 2015 movie The Force Awakens.  The movie holds one of the most recognized quotes that is also often misquoted "No, I am your father". 

May 16th

On this day - May 16th 1929- The first Academy Award ceremony (Oscar's)  

The Academy award is an annual award ceremony to recognize achievement in the American film industry. The awards are given by voting from the members. The first ceremony was held in 1929 in Hollywood where about 270 people participated. The cost for the tickets were $5. The year after was the award ceremony broadcast to radio and in 1953 was the ceremony broadcast on TV as well. 2947 Oscar awards have been awarded between 1929 and today. The first award was given to Emil Jannings as best actor. He had gone to Europe at the time of the show and the award was therefore given to him in advance of the ceremony. Wings by paramount pictures received the first award for best picture.

Academy Award 1959

May 9th

On this day - May 9th 1958 - Alfred Hitchcock's movie "Vertigo" premiered

Vertigo is an american psychological thriller movie. It is based on the novel "From Among the Dead" and directed and produced by Alfred Hitchcock. The movie was filmed between September and December 1957 in California. The movie received mixed critics, but is today considered as one of the defining works of Hitchcock carrier. The movie was voted the greatest movie of all times in a 2012 British film critics poll. In 1993 was an alternative ending to the movie found. This ending can be seen on the dvd. 

March 2

On this day - March 2 1933 - The first King Kong movie was released

The first King Kong movie was released in New York in 1933 and the movie has since been ranked as the greatest horror movie by all times. The movie tells the story of the gigantic pre-historic ape, Kong, an his attempt to possess a young woman.The script's first draft was written by Edgar Wallace who died before production started. The idea was director Cooper's, who were facinated by apes and who saw an commercial appeals in the idea of a huge ape and a pretty girl horror movie. Four models of King was built for the movie. The models were made of wood, cloths and rubber. The movie became known for its innovative use of special effects at the time. The movie was released to the rest of the world on march 23d and it was a box office success. The movie has since been recreated twice. Once in 1976 (King Kong) and once in 2005 (King Kong).

December 21st

On this day - 21st of December in 1937 - The premiere of Snow White 

Snow White and the seven dwarfs is the first full length animated feature film. The movie is based on the fairy tale by the German brothers Grimm and the movie was made by Disney. The movie was awarded an honorary Oscar and nominated for Best musical score. Disney's take on the fairy tale was such a success that it was turned into a broadway musical, theme park attractions and even a video game. The initial budget was 250,000 USD. It is easy to see now that making the movie was a good idea, but both Walt Disney's wife and brother tried to convince him not to make the movie. Hollywood wrote the movie off and described it as "Disney's folly" when it was in production. Walt Disney had to take out a mortgage on his house to finance the movie which eventually had a cost of 1,488,422 USD. This was a massive amount for movies in 1937 and almost six times the budget. So it was with great anticipation when the movie was released and it was a major box-office success. The initial run ended up with 7,846,000 USD in ticket sales and a 380,000 USD profit. With numerous re-releases Snow White is considered a massive money maker, the lifetime gross is estimated to 418,2 million USD. Snow White paved the way for Disney to invest in a 4,5 million dollar studio. The success led to more classic movies such as Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo, Bambi, and Peter Pan. 

December 20th

On this day - 20th December 1946 - The premier of "It's a Wonderful life"

The  movie about George Bailey who contemplates suicide and meet his guardian angel has become a traditional Christmas viewing for many people today. The guardian angel, Clarence, shows George Bailey (James Stewart) how life would have been without him for the many people he had touched during his life so far. The movie is based on the book "The greatest Gift" and directed by Frank Capra. The movie was initially not a great success and it never came close to achieving its break even point during its initial release. It was nominated for Academy Award for best movie, but did not win.

I, however, think it is the greatest Christmas movie of all time. Which movie do you think is the best? Please vote!

December 15th

On this day – 15^th  December 1939 – Gone with the Wind premiered

Gone with the wind is based on Margaret Mitchell’s novel with the same name from 1936. The movie is set in 19^th century Southern USA and is based around the love-life of Scarlett O’Hara, her pursuit of Ashley Wilkes and her marriage to Rhett Butler. Vivien Leigh played Scarlett and Clark Gable played Rhett Butler, after a strong wish from the producer, Selznick. The movie was actually postponed for two years, only so Selznick could hire Clark Gable. Victor Fleming directed the movie, which is something that won him an academy award. Leigh also won for best actor and Hattie McDaniel won for best supporting role, making her the first African-American to win an academy award. In total, it won 10 academy awards, including for best movie. It became the highest earning movie up to that point, and the movie kept this position for over a quarter of a century.

The movie premiered on December 15^th in Atlanta, USA. Over 300.000 people showed up for the premier and the three days festivities that followed.

“Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn” – Rhett Butler 

We love Gone with the Wind. Haven't seen it? You can buy it here: 

November 26th

On this day – November 26^th 1942 – The first viewing of the movie Casablanca

Casablanca is a romantic movie set in Casablanca during the Second World War. It had its premier in New York on November 26^th and was released nationally on January 23, 1942. Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Paul Henreid play the main characters in the movie. Apparently, Paul Henreid Laszlo never got along well with his co-actors. The movie was based on an unproduced stage play with the title “Everyone comes to Ricks”. The filming started in May and finished in August, just a few months later. Most of the movie was shot at Warner Bros. studio, although one scene was shot at Van Nuys Airport.

The participants in the creation of the movie did not expect it to become anything spectacular, it was seen as just another Hollywood movie at the time. It did however win three Oscars (academy award) for best picture, director and adapted screenplay at the time. The movie, the theme song and memorable lines have today become iconic, and the movie have several times ranked high on all-time best movie lists.

The Song “As times goes by” was a part of the original stage play, and although the composer for the movie, Max Steiner, wanted to compose his own theme song, was this (luckily) not done. The reason was simply because Ingrid Bergman had cut her hair short for her next role, and the scene could not be re-shot.

The quote “Round up the usual suspects” inspired the title for the movie “The Usual Suspects” from 1995.   

Casablanca can be bought or viewed here

Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine -Rick (Humphrey Bogart)

November 22nd

On this day – 22 November 1995 – Toy Story was released

Toy Story , the movie about Andy’s toys, were released in the US exactly 20 years ago. It was the first full feature computer animated movie to be released. It was produced by Pixar and released by Walt DisneyPictures. Disney Pictures had approached Pixar after they had published a short movie from a toys perspective in 1988 and that’s how the cooperation between the two started. In 1993 was the first half of the movie pre-screened for Disney executives. This was a huge failure and the production was shot down and halted for a period of time. During this time contributed Steve Jobs to the continuation of the movie with his own personal founding. He was involved in the movie through his involvement and ownership in Pixar.

The main characters in Toy Story, Woody and Buzz Lightyear, were voiced by Tom Hanks and Tim Allen. Toy Story Made earned over 361 Dollar worldwide and the story has later been developed into two sequels as well (released in 1999 and 2010). A third sequel is in the planning and might be released by 2018. We are looking forward to it, are you?  

“To Infinity and Beyond”  

Toy Story

November 16th

On this day – 16^th November 2001 – The first Harry Potter movie was released

The first premier of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s /Sorceress’s Stone had been on November 4^th in London. The general premier in UK and USA was on the 16^th of November, 14 years ago. Warner Bros had bought the right to the book for 1million£ in 1999. The production started in 2000, and it 2001 was the first movie released. J.K Rowling, the author, had required the whole cast in the movies to be either British or Irish. The director of the movie was Columbus who was known for Home Alone and Ms. Doubtfire previously. Steven Spielberg had also negotiated with Warner Bros about being the director, but he declined the offer because he wanted the movie to be an animation with an American actor as the voice of Harry Potter.

What do you think of the adoption of the book into the movie? Leave us your comments! 

November 13th

On this day – November 13^th  1940 – The movie Fantasia was released

The animated movie was produced by Walt Disney. The movie was intended as a elaborate Silly Symphony(a whimsical accompaniments to pieces of music), but as production cost grew higher than what the movie could earn it was turned into a feature film. The movie was also a comeback for Mickey Mouse that had declined in popularity. Fantasia was released in thirteen cities across the United States, but were unable to make a profit since it was not possible to distribute to Europe because of world war II. The movie has since been reissued and when adjusting for inflation it is the 22nd highest grossing US movies of all time. Fantasia has been adapted to other media such as video games, Disneyland attractions, a live concert and a theatrically released sequel.

October 21st - Future day

This day is Back to the Future day!

In the Science Fiction classic Back to the future, Marty McFly and Dr Emmet "Doc" Brow traveled to this day in history. While flying cars and self-tying shoelaces have not been invented Lexus has announced the hover-board. If you have not seen this classic celebrate this day by watching an awesome piece of science fiction history.