On This Day in February - Poster and Lobby Cards

 Wings in the Dark - February 1st, 1935.

Gunga Din - February 17th, 1939.

The Woman Accused - February 17th. 1933.

When You're in Love - February 27th, 1937.

On This Day (Yesterday!!)...Destination Tokyo(1944)

 Always a challenge to blog a film release on the first day of a new year...But yesterday saw the release of Cary Grant's 44th full length film...Destination Tokyo.

Summary:

During World War II, Captain Cassidy (Cary Grant) and his crew of submariners are ordered into Tokyo Bay on a secret mission. They are to gather information in advance of the planned bombing of Tokyo. Along the way, the crew learn about each other as they face the enemy and some of them lose their lives. After getting the information they need,they face the harrowing task of getting free once their presence is discovered.

"As the Copperfin's captain, Cary Grant gives one of the soundest performances of his career."

- Newsweek

"Certainly, in technical exposition and sheer, harrowing melodrama, the Warner Brother's newest tribute to the armed forces rates very near the top of the list" 

- Newsweek

Cast:

 Cary Grant ... Capt. Cassidy

 John Garfield ... Wolf
 Alan Hale ... 'Cookie' Wainwright
 John Ridgely ... Reserve Officer Raymond
 Dane Clark ... Tin Can
 Warner Anderson ... Andy
 William Prince ... Pills
 Robert Hutton ... Tommy Adams
 Tom Tully ... Mike Conners
 Faye Emerson ... Mrs. Cassidy
 Peter Whitney ... Dakota
 Warren Douglas ... Larry
 John Forsythe ... Sparks
 John Alvin ... Sound Man
 Bill Kennedy ... Torpedo Gunnery Officer

On the set.

Did You Know?

The operation of the submarine as shown in this movie was so accurate that the Navy used it as a training film during World War II.

The appendectomy done in this film actually happened. It was performed on the USS Silversides SS236. Pharmacist's mate Thomas Mooere removed George Platter's appendix 150 feet below the ocean's surface. Photographs of the surgery are on display where this submarine is docked, in Muskegon, Michigan, at the Great Lakes Naval Memorial and Museum.

Posters incorrectly advertised the film as "Destination Tokio", despite "Tokyo" being used in the film's on-screen title. Upon the film's release on DVD, a variation of the poster using the latter spelling was used for the cover. ("Tokio" is not a misspelling, it is an older, less common form.)

Included among the American Film Institute's 2001 list of 400 movies nominated for the top 100 Most Heart-Pounding American Movies.

Quotes:

Reserve Officer Raymond: [Just having come aboard the 'Copperfin'] Uh... How do I get below, sir? I... I've never been aboard a submarine before.
Capt. Cassidy: [Slightly bemused, as he points to the only obvious entry into the submarine] There's the hatch. It goes 'down.'

Reserve Officer Raymond: [during a depth charge attack] Captain, I'm no good.
Capt. Cassidy: Why's that?
Reserve Officer Raymond: I'm scared stiff.
Capt. Cassidy: How do you think the rest of us feel?
Reserve Officer Raymond: You're not scared. I've looked at your faces.
Capt. Cassidy: I've looked at yours, too. It's the same as the others.
Reserve Officer Raymond: You're scared?
Capt. Cassidy: I'll say I am. And so is everybody else.

On the set with Delmer Daves and John Garfield.

Lobby Cards:

Posters:

Italian.

Directed by Delmer Daves.

Produced and Distributed by Warner Brothers.

Running time: 135 minutes.

On This Day...Madame Butterfly (1932)

Well, as the year draws to a close, we see the last film release of the year. Madame Butterfly was released on this day in 1932 and was Cary Grant's 7th full length film.

Synopsis:

Lieutenant Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton (Cary Grant) and Lieutenant Barton (Charlie Ruggles) are two American Naval officers onshore in Japan. 

At a gathering, Pinkerton meets Cho-Cho San (Sylvia Sidney), a beautiful Japanese maiden who is about to become a Geisha.

She disgraces her family by accepting Pinkerton's love to become his bride. Although she takes her marriage vows seriously, theirs are not truly bound with love. 

After the "honeymoon" is over, Pinkerton returns to the States with the fleet, with Cho-Cho San, whom Pinkerton has nicknamed "Butterfly," remaining in Japan, where she keeps his home until he returns. Three years pass. During that time, Cho-Cho San, has given birth to a son she names "Trouble" (Philip Horomato). She is still confident that someday her husband will return to her. But what has happened to Pinkerton during that time? 

He has married his fiancé, an American girl named Adelaide (Sheila Terry), whom he intends on taking with him to Japan.

Did You Know?

The Japanese censor cut a scene where Cary Grant and Sylvia Sidney share an embrace, because Miss Sidney's elbow was exposed.

Gary Cooper was originally slated for the role of Lieutenant Pinkerton.

When the US Navy returns to Tokyo Bay/Yokohama, mountains are seen rising from the sea. There are no mountains in that area.

The story is based on Puccini's opera of the same title.

On set with Sylvia Sidney.

Cast:

 Sylvia Sidney ... Cho-Cho San
 Cary Grant ... Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton
 Charles Ruggles ... Lt. Barton
 Irving Pichel ... Yomadori
 Helen Jerome Eddy ... Cho-Cho's mother
 Edmund Breese ... Cho-Cho's grandfather
 Louise Carter ... Suzuki
 Sándor Kállay ... Goro
 Judith Vosselli ... Madame Goro
 Sheila Terry ... Mrs. Pinkerton
 Dorothy Libaire ... Peach Blossom
 Berton Churchill ... American Consul
 Philip Horomato ... Trouble

Lobby Cards and Posters:

Directed by Marion Gering.

Distributed by Paramount Publix.

Running time: 86 minutes.