This Month in Movie History – July Roundup

Alice Guy-Blaché was born in Paris, France. She grew up to become a pioneer filmmaker and is believed to have made the first-ever film featuring an all-African American cast, called "A Fool and His Money." The film is preserved at AFI.

25 years ago, “Forrest Gump” charmed audiences with a story told through eyes of a man with an IQ of 75. The script, originally written as a novel by Winston Groom, varied greatly in its adaptation for the screen by Eric Roth, focusing more on Forrest’s relationship with Jenny than the life events he was experiencing in the 60s.

It's been 31 years since "Die Hard" burst into theaters. The thriller, written by Steven E. de Souza and Jeb Stuart, is still known as the epitome of action, and launched Bruce Willis' career, as well as four sequels, a comic book and video games.

The Blair Witch Project debuted 20 years ago. Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez conceived the story, and wrote a loose, 35-page screenplay with room for improvisation. The film is credited with bringing “found footage” technique mainstream and is considered one of the most successful independent films ever made. With just a $60k budget, it grossed $250m worldwide.

Happy birthday, Wong Kar-Wai! Known for his unique style and internationally acclaimed films including “In the Mood for Love,” and “ChungKing Express,” Wong was also the first Chinese director to win Best Director at Cannes Film Festival. His contemporary stories usually center around romance and action, and he has more than 30 writing credits to his name.

Garnering 11 Oscar nominations including Best Screenplay and 5 Oscar wins, “Saving Private Ryan” is one of the most influential war films in part because of its realistic portrayal of the trauma and violence of war. Robert Rodat wrote the screenplay, which centered around the effort to bring home the only surviving brother from a family of soldiers fighting in WWII.

“Everything has already been done. Every story has been told, every scene has been shot. It’s our job to do it one better.” – Stanley Kubrick, one of the most influential filmmakers ever, would have been 91 years old today. The director, screenwriter, and producer is most well-known for “2001: A Space Odyssey,” a science-fiction film that pioneered special effects and realistically simulated space flight. Other films include “Eyes Wide Shut,” “The Shining,” “A Clockwork Orange,” and “Full Metal Jacket.”