Happy End (Oldřich Lipský, 1967)
Sep
1
1889
Butcher Bedřich Frydrych (Oldřich Lipský), born September 1, 1889 in Trumberk. DP: Vladimír Novotný.
“Life is a messy weapon.”
Shock Corridor (Samuel Fuller, 1963)
Aug
30
1954
Inpatient Stuart (James Best) in one of the many scenes that appear to bear some of the seeds of Mark Frost & David Lynch's Twin Peaks (1990–1991). DPs: Stanley Cortez & Samuel Fuller.
– Pagliacci
La horse [Horse] (Pierre Granier-Deferre, 1970)
Aug
28
1923
Francis Grutti's (Armando Francioli) ID, handled by someone wielding a large stamp. His birthday is August 28, 1923. DP: Walter Wottitz.
“It is vital to be photogenic from head to foot. After that you are allowed to display some measure of talent.”
Les Vampires [The Vampires or, The Arch Criminals of Paris] (Louis Feuillade, 1915/1916)
Aug
24
black
A signed promotional photograph of Irma Vep (Musidora) in her iconic black catsuit. DPs: Georges Guérin & Manichoux.
Black, in food or fashion*
– Musidora
Possibly the first, and definitely the most, iconic catsuit in cinema is worn by Musidora as Irma Vep in Les Vampires. Skintight and scandalous, Musidora's screen presence in the serial further cemented the popularity of the vamp and set the scene for many man-eaters to come.
* the Bales 2025 Film Challenge for August is not date-related but lists, for the most part, the colours of the rainbow.
“He won't listen to anybody. He's been very crazy all summer. Since June he's been trying to kill me.”
Dog Day Afternoon (Sidney Lumet, 1975)
Aug
22
1972
Sal (John Cazale) and Sonny (Al Pacino) in the bank, holding out with their increasingly impatient hostages. DP: Victor J. Kemper.
– Leon
“Marge, my love, my angel.”
Plein soleil [Purple Noon] (René Clément, 1960)
Aug
20
1959
A contract for Marge, a sailboat, dated August 20, 1959. DP: Henri Decaë.
“Travel in the country, long-range plans, and upsetting persons around you, could make this a disturbing and unpredictable day. The events in the world are not doing much either to cheer one up.”
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (Tobe Hooper, 1974)
Aug
18
1973
Cast and crew in the back of their motorhome. From LtR: Marilyn Burns, Paul A. Partain, Allen Danziger, Teri McMinn, Tobe Hooper, Dottie Pearl, and William Vail (via). DP: Daniel Pearl.
your August 18 horoscope
黒蜥蜴 [Kurotokage / Kuro tokage / Black Lizard] (Kinji Fukasaku, 1968)
Aug
4
The Black Lizard (Akihiro Miwa) in embrace with Detective Akechi (Isao Kimura). DP: Hiroshi Dōwaki.
Mitt hem är Copacabana [My Home Is Copacabana] (Arne Sucksdorff, 1965)
Aug
2
The favela children on the beach, playing with kites and mingling with the rich kids. DP: Arne Sucksdorff.
A kite in celebration of 浜松まつり, the Hamamatsu Kite Festival, which takes place on May 3–5*
Favela kids steal kites and sell them on in this Copacabana-set Nordic drama.
Toninho Carlos de Lima, Rico in the movie, was not a homeless kid from the favelas but lived in a house with his family when he was send to Sweden to promote Mitt hem är Copacabana. A wealthy Swedish couple offered to adopt him, and his natural mother reluctantly gave in hoping to prevent a life of crime for her son (source). That too, dear reader, is colonialism.
* the Bales 2025 Film Challenge for August is not date-related but lists, for the most part, the colours of the rainbow.
“It's a lot of work, ya know, just staying alive.”
Gli intoccabili [Machine Gun McCain] (Giuliano Montaldo, 1969)
Jul
30
1968
Man's hands hold up the July 30, 1968 San Francisco Chronicle. The headline reads GANGLAND FEUD EXPLODES: TWO CUT DOWN BY MACHINE GUN. It's a Tuesday. DP: Erico Menczer.
– Rosemary Scott