(Saturday, February 28, 1942, during World War II) — The heavy cruiser USS Houston and the Australian light cruiser HMAS Perth came under attack today by Japanese forces during Battle of Sunda Strait in the Netherlands East Indies. Both were sunk shortly after midnight. The Houston lost 693 men while the Perth lost 353.
Category Archives: 1940s
‘How Green Was My Valley’ wins Best Picture at 14th Academy Awards 70 years ago today (1942)
(Thursday, February 26, 1942) — How Green Was My Valley, the story of Welsh coalminers in changing times, was named Best Picture of 1941 (beating out Citizen Kane) tonight at the 14th Academy Awards at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. The film’s director, John Ford, also won for Best Director.
Gary Cooper (Sergeant York) won Best Actor while Joan Fontaine (Suspicion) won Best Actress.
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‘To Be or Not to Be’ premieres in Los Angeles 70 years ago tonight (1942)
'To Be or Not to Be' trailer
(Sunday, February 15, 1942) — To Be or Not to Be, a comedy about a troupe of actors in Nazi-occupied Warsaw who use their abilities at disguise and acting to fool the occupying troops, premiered tonight in Los Angeles.
Directed by Ernst Lubitsch, the film stars Carole Lombard, Jack Benny, Robert Stack, Felix Bressart, Lionel Atwill, Stanley Ridges and Sig Ruman. The film was released two months after actress Carole Lombard was killed in an airplane crash.
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Ronald Reagan’s ‘Kings Row’ premieres in New York 70 years ago today (1942)
'Kings Row' clip
(Monday, February 2, 1942) — Kings Row, a story of young people growing up in a small American town at the turn of the twentieth century, beset by social pressure, dark secrets, and the challenges and tragedies one must face as a result of these hard facts, premiered tonight at the Astor in New York City.
Directed by Sam Wood, the film stars Ann Sheridan, Robert Cummings, and future U.S. President Ronald Reagan. Reagan and most film critics considered Kings Row his best movie.
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Rommel counterattacks in Libya 70 years ago today (1942)
Video: Rommel counterattacks (at 0:42)
(Wednesday, January 21, 1942) — In a dramatic and surprising move, German Colonel-General Erwin Rommel turned his Afrika Korps around and began an offensive in Libya today during the Battle of Gazala, an important battle of the Second World War Western Desert Campaign.
Three Axis columns, with powerful air cover, began advancing eastward along the coastal road. The British were ordered to pull back to Agedabia.
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‘Woman of the Year’ opens in USA 70 years ago today (1942)
Video: 'Woman of the Year' trailer
(Monday, January 19, 1942) — Woman of the Year, a romantic comedy film about an emancipated woman, opened today in the United States.
Directed by George Stevens, the film stars Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn (her fourth Academy Award nomination for Best Actress) and Fay Bainter.
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British forces reoccupy Benghazi in Libya 70 years ago today (1941)
Video: Benghazi reoccupied (at 0:04)
(Wednesday, December 24, 1941) — Benghazi was reoccupied by the British today after the Germans were found to have abandoned the Cyrenaican city of eastern Libya during the North African Campaign of World War II.
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German submarine U-131 sunk while shadowing British convoy 70 years ago today (1941)
Video: U-131 sunk (at)
(Wednesday, December 17, 1941) — The German submarine U-131 was sunk today north-east of Madeira, Portugal, by depth charges and gunfire while shadowing Convoy HG 76 as part of the wolfpack Seeräuber in the Battle of the Atlantic during World War II.
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All quiet along Battleship Row at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 70 years ago this hour (1941)
Video: December 7, 1941, 5:00 a.m. (at 9:14)
(Sunday, December 7, 1941, 5:00 a.m. in Hawaii/10:30 a.m. EST) — On this perfect, peaceful Sunday, the massive warships of America’s Pacific fleet, including the Tennessee, West Virginia, Arizona and Nevada, were moored at Battleship Row just two hours and 55 minutes before a surprise attack by the Japanese. Continue reading All quiet along Battleship Row at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 70 years ago this hour (1941)
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‘Ball of Fire’ opens in U.S. 70 years ago tonight (1941)
Video: 'Ball of Fire' clip
(Tuesday, December 2, 1941) — Ball of Fire, a comedy about a group of professors laboring for years to write an encyclopedia and their encounter with a nightclub performer who provides her own unique knowledge, opened tonight in the U.S.
Directed by Howard Hawks, the film stars Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck.
