Today’s is Arnold Schwarzenegger’s birthday and this scene that I love comes from one of his best films, 1994’s True Lies. In this scene, Schwarzenegger takes truth serum and reveals the details of his secret life as an international secret agent.
“But they were all bad….” still cracks me up every time that I hear it.
It (1927, directed by Clarence Badger)
Today, we celebrate the birthday of my pre-code, silent film role model, the amazing Clara Bow! Clara was born 120 years ago, on this date, in Brooklyn, New York. As an actress, she was one of the biggest stars of the silent era. She came to represent the the Roaring 20s in all of their glory. She also co-starred in the first film to ever win the Oscar for Best Picture, Wings!
Below is a scene from my favorite Clara Bow film, 1928’s It. Playing a poor but confident shopgirl who falls in love with her wealthy boss, Bow was so popular with audiences that she became known as the “It Girl.”
In the scene below, she prepares for a date with her boss. She may not be as rich as her romantic rivals but she doesn’t let that stand in her way. She’s Clara Bow. She’s got it and she knows it.
Today, the Shattered Lens wishes a happy birthday to actress and advice columnist Elizabeth Berkley. Today’s scene that I love comes from the most famous episode of Saved By The Bell. Are you excited?
This always made me laugh.
Eye Wide Shut (1999, directed by Stanley Kubrick)
Stanley Kubrick would have been 97 years old today!
In honor of this visionary and his career, here is a wonderful scene from his final film, 1999’s Eyes Wide Shut. Like so many of Kubrick’s films, it took a while for people to really appreciate Eyes Wide Shut. It’s an odd and, at times, frustrating film but still a film touched by Kubrick’s unique genius. It’s also a Christmas film and one that I plan to revisit for the site in December.
In this scene, Tom Cruise discovers that it’s not quite as easy to crash a super secret party as he thought it would be.
Happy Gilmore 2, the sequel to my favorite golf movie, is currently available on Netflix. I’ll be watching it later today. I have no idea if it’s any good or not. I’m hoping for the best, though.
Anyway, this seems like a good time to share the best scene from the original Happy Gilmore. In this scene, Happy and Bob Barker team up for a celebrity tournament. It does not go well. Reportedly, Barker initially turned down this cameo and only changed his mind after he was assured that he would win the fight.
96 years ago today, the English director Peter Yates was born in Aldershot, Hampshire. Yates would go on to direct films in almost every genre but today, he’s perhaps best-remembered for directing what is considered to be one of the first great cop films, 1968’s Bullitt. I already shared the film’s classic car chase film for Steve McQueen’s birthday so today, I’m going to share the airport showdown.
Today would have been Philip Seymour Hoffman’s 58th birthday.
Here he is in 2002’s Punch-Drunk Love, yelling at Adam Sandler and showing how a good actor can make the simple act of yelling compelling.
100 years ago, on this date, Joseph Sargent was born in New Jersey. Sargent would go on to become one of the busiest directors of the 70s, 80s, and 90s, working in both film and television. Though he would never receive the type of critical attention as some of his contemporaries, Sargent was a skilled director who specialized in making entertaining, no-nonsense films. Though his reputation was tarnished a bit by the fourth Jaws film, it should be remembered that Sargent was also responsible for films like Colossus: The Forbin Project, Tribes, Nightmares, and The Taking of Pelham One Two Three.
1974’s The Taking of Pelham One Two Three has come to be recognized as a genre classic. It’s certainly one of my favorite films about how New Yorkers will be rude to anyone in any circumstances. You can see an example of this in today’s scene that I love. Having hijacked a train, Robert Shaw calls in his last of demands and gets a very New York response.
In honor of the late Norman Jewison, today’s scene that I love comes from my favorite film to have been directed by him.
In this scene from 1973’s Jesus Christ Superstar, Mary Magdalene (Yvonne Elliman) attempts to comfort Jesus (Ted Neeley) while Judas (Carl Anderson) tries to pull Jesus away from her. This scene showcases both Elliman’s angelic voice and Anderson’s ferocious intensity as Mary and Judas present two very different sides of a spiritual journey.
Through the Shattered Lens 