Category Archives: Movies 1960s

‘The Nutty Professor’ opens in U.S. 50 years ago today (1963)


Video: 'The Nutty Professor' trailer

(Tuesday, June 4, 1963)The Nutty Professor, a science fiction comedy feature film about a timid chemist discovers a potion that unleashes his sleazy side (a parody of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde), opened today in U.S. theaters.

Directed by Jerry Lewis, the film stars Lewis, Stella Stevens, Del Moore and Kathleen Freeman.

‘Lawrence of Arabia’ wins Best Picture at 35th Academy Awards 50 years ago this hour (1963)


Video: '1962 Oscar Winners'

(Monday, April 8, 1963, 10:00 p.m. EST)Lawrence of Arabia won seven Oscars tonight at the 35th Academy Awards, including OBest Picture, Best Director for David Lean. Gregory Peck won Best Actor for To Kill a Mockingbird and Anne Bancroft won Best Actress for The Miracle Worker. Continue reading ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ wins Best Picture at 35th Academy Awards 50 years ago this hour (1963)

‘The Birds’ opens in New York City 50 years ago today (1963)


Video: 'The Birds Official Trailer #1 - Charles McGraw Movie (1963) HD'

(Thursday, March 28, 1963)The Birds, a suspense/horror film about a wealthy San Francisco socialite who pursues a potential boyfriend to a small Northern California town that slowly takes a turn for the bizarre when birds of all kinds suddenly begin to attack people, opened today in New York City.

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, the film stars Rod Taylor, Jessica Tandy, Suzanne Pleshette and Tippi Hedren.

‘How the West Was Won’ opens in Britain 50 years ago today (1962)


Video: 'How the West Was Won' (trailer)

(Thursday, November 1, 1962)How the West Was Won, an epic-western film about three generations of pioneers who take part in the forging of the American West, opened today in Britain.

Directed by John Ford, Henry Hathaway, George Marshall and Richard Thorpe, the film is narrated by Spencer Tracy and stars Carroll Baker, Walter Brennan, Lee J. Cobb, Andy Devine, Henry Fonda, Carolyn Jones, Karl Malden, Harry Morgan, Gregory Peck, George Peppard, Robert Preston, Debbie Reynolds, James Stewart, Eli Wallach, John Wayne, and Richard Widmark.

‘What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?’ premieres in New York 50 years ago today (1962)


Video: 'What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?' trailer

(Friday, October 26, 1962)What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, a psychological thriller film about a crazed, aging star who torments her sister in a decaying Hollywood mansion, premiered today in New York.

Directed by Robert Aldrich, the film starred Bette Davis, Joan Crawford and Victor Buono.

‘The Longest Day’ premieres in France 50 years ago today (1962)


Video: 'The Longest Day' trailer

(Tuesday, September 25, 1962)The Longest Day, a war film about D-Day, the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during World War II, had its world premiere today in France (it would open in the U.S. on Oct. 4).

Directed by Ken Annakin (British and French exteriors), Andrew Marton (American exteriors), Gerd Oswald (parachute drop scene), Bernhard Wicki (German scenes), and Darryl F. Zanuck (uncredited), the film stars John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Robert Mitchum, Sean Connery, Eddie Albert, Curd Jürgens, Richard Burton, Donald Houston, Peter Lawford, Rod Steiger, Irina Demick, Gert Fröbe, Edmond O’Brien and Kenneth More.

Marilyn Monroe funeral held in Hollywood 50 years ago this hour (1962)


Video: Monroe's funeral (at 6:04)

(Wednesday, August 8, 1962, 1:00 PDT) — A brief, simple funeral service, arranged by her second husband Joe DiMaggio and attended by only 31 close family and friends, was held today for film legend Marilyn Monroe at the small Westwood Village Funeral Chapel in Hollywood. Monroe’s acting coach, Lee Strasberg, delivered her eulogy. Continue reading Marilyn Monroe funeral held in Hollywood 50 years ago this hour (1962)

Marilyn Monroe opts to stay home on final night of her life 50 years ago tonight (1962)


Video: August 4, 1962 (at 0:54)

(Saturday, August 4, 1962) — On the last night of her life, actress Marilyn Monroe turned down a dinner invitation from Peter and Patricia Lawford and opted instead to stay at home in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles. She retired to her bedroom at about 9 p.m.

‘Birdman of Alcatraz’ opens in the U.S. 50 years ago today (1962)


Video: 'Birdman of Alcatraz' trailer

(Tuesday, July 3, 1962)Birdman of Alcatraz, a fictionalized film version of the life of Robert Stroud, a federal prison inmate known as the “Birdman of Alcatraz” because of his life with birds, opened today in the U.S. Continue reading ‘Birdman of Alcatraz’ opens in the U.S. 50 years ago today (1962)

‘The Music Man’ opens in the U.S. 50 years ago today (1962)


Video: '76 Trombones'

(Tuesday, June 19, 1962)The Music Man, a film about a con man who comes to a Midwestern town with a scam using a boy’s marching band program, opened today in the U.S.

The film was directed by Morton DaCosta and stars Robert Preston, Shirley Jones, Buddy Hackett and Ron Howard. It won one Academy Award and was nominated for five more.