"Still Safe At Home At The Movies…April Fools’ Day - Just Kidding”

By Stephanie Mardesich

April Fools’Day, the first day of the month, has been “celebrated” for centuries by different cultures, with shenanigans that include practical jokes often bellowing “April Fools!” at the end of the prank. Popular culture, media and major brands have ensured the unofficial holiday’s long life though its exact origins remains a mystery.

With this line up of movies that have April or “kid” in the title, or a twist in the story, “who’s kidding” is the question. Have some fun or find catharsis in the drama - no fooling!

The Kid (USA, Charlie Chaplain Productions, 1921, 68 min., dir. Charles Chaplain)

Charlie Chaplain’s debut film evokes laughter and tears. A Man (Chaplain) finds abandoned child (Jackie Coogan at 5 yrs old) and takes care of him as his own. Years later a Woman (Edna Purviance) who has survived her emotional trauma and achieved success as an opera singer seeks to reunite with her child. Poignant moments with happy ending. Part of National Film Registry since 2011 and one of most famous and enduring silent films of all time.

Not to be confused with Disney’s The Kid (2000) starring Bruce Willis.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0012349/?ref_=fn_al_tt_l

Kid Galahad (USA, Warner Bros, 1937, 194 min., dir. Michael Curtiz)

Promoter Nick Donati (Edward G. Robinson) sees the potential of upstart fighter hotel bellhop Ward Gusenberry who is renamed “Kid Galahad “(Wayne Morris). His plans for the “Kid’s” career are waylaid when he falls for Nick’s sister Marie (Jane Bryan) and Nick’s girlfriend Fluff (Bette Davis) falls for Nick. Disaster and mayhem ensue with some old fashioned screen drama. Cast includes Humphrey Bogart (Turkey Moran) in early role and one of many movies he made with Davis.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029080/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2

Billy the Kid (USA, MGM, 1941, 94 min., dir. David Miller)

Remake of 1930 film based on book by Walter Noble Burnes. Starred MGM leading man Robert Taylor (Billy) and reliable Brian Donlevy (Keating – fictionalized version of the real Pat Garrett).

In 1880 New Mexico, during a feud between cattle growers, former childhood friends Billy the Kid and Jim Sherwood end-up working for opposite sides. Academy Award® nomination for Best Cinematography

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033389/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2

April Love (USA, 20th Century Fox, 1957, 97 min., dir. Henry Levin)

This movie is a personal favorite and also special because it was the LA Harbor International Film Festival (LAHIFF) “Hollywood Nostalgia Tribute” in 2011 with the charming star Pat Boone on the LAHIFF Red Carpet and whistling down the aisle of the Warner Grand Theatre as he was escorted to his seat. Teen idol Boone is cast as bit of a Chicago miscreant as handsome Nick Conover sent to live with his Aunt Henrietta (Jeanette Nolan) and Uncle Jed (Arthur O’Connell) on Kentucky horse farm. Nick doesn’t quite get the horses, though “horsepower” as in sleek cars attracts his interest. He meets local “rich girl” Fran Templeton (Dolores Michaels) and her sister Liz (Shirley Jones). The former is alluring and has her eyes on him, the latter is darling and more sweet with a covert crush. Who wins the boy, or the girl? You’ll have to watch and see and hear Boone’s classic rendition of the Oscar® nominated (Best Song) lilting April Love – timeless tune not just for the very young!

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050135/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Kidnapped (USA, Walt Disney Studio, 1959, 97 min., dir. Robert Stevenson)

Adapted from Robert Louis Stephenson’s class tale of set in Scotland of orphaned 17-year-old David Balfour (James MacArthur) who upon death of his father is visit his uncle, he was not aware of, Ebenezer Balfour (David Laurie) who is laird estate known as the House of Saws. David receives a cold welcome from his uncle and comes to understand why when he learns his father was the older brother and therefore David is rightful heir to the estate. When Ebenezer’s plan to murder David fails, the boy demands his uncle accompany him to lawyer Mr. Rankeillor (Miles Malleson) to discuss turning the estate over to David. Before they can meet with the lawyer Ebenezer makes a secret deal with the dubious Captain Hoseason (Bernard Lee) to have the boy kidnapped aboard his ship the Covenant and taken to the Carolinas in the new world to be sold as a slave.

At sea off Scotland, the brig rams a fishing boat. The only survivor is Alan Breck Stewart (Peter Finch), a notorious Jacobite and fugitive escaping King George’s Redcoats. Sinister Hosagrees to put Stewart ashore in to Scotland for thirty guineas. Greed gets the better of Hoseason, however, and he schemes with his villainous first mate overpower Stewart and rob him. They seek David’s help, but the youth warns the Jacobite and, in a fight against the ship’s crew, the pair are victorious. Shuan and some of the crew are slain and Hoseason is injured in a pitched battle with pistol, claymore and dirk. A tremendous storm occurs and the duo barely escapes with their lives. After treacherous encounters they arrive at Queensferry, where David finally meets Rankeillor, who proves that he is really the legal heir Stewart succeeds in tricking the cheating uncle into a confession, and the way is cleared for the youth to claim the estate. Their adventurous life together at an end, Balfour and Stewart bid farewell and Stewart boards a ship for sanctuary in France, and David returns to his new home as laird of the House of Shaws.

Note: In 2009 Kidnapped was the “Read the Book, See the Movie” choice for the LA Har. Int’l. Film Festival education outreach program. Star of the movie James MacArthur attended program at the Warner Grand Theatre and regaled student readers with exciting stories of making the movie. He was a true “gentleman” of stage and screen (and had joined LAHIFF in 2008 for Swiss Family Robinson). RLS considered Kidnapped his best work.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053994/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_50

Kid Galahad (USA, Mirisch Corporation, 1962, 95 min., dir. Phil Karlson)

A vehicle for ever popular Elvis Presley as ex G.I. mechanic turned prize fighter Walter Grogan aka “Kid Galahad” has little in common with the film of same title (1937) other than the name and it’s about a fighter. Orphaned as an infant Walter grew up elsewhere yet yearned to return to where he was from Cream Valley, NY. He aspires to be a mechanic, but soon after his arrival finds himself working as a sparring partner at a boxing camp. Having lost all of his money in a crap game, he’s obliged to take any kind of work though a powerful right hook sends him down a different path. Fight promoter Willy Grogan (Gig Young) thinks he has potential in the ring and he’s dubbed Kid Galahad. Affable Willy is gambles too much and may have been a witness to a mobster's compromising conversation. As Walter gains more success, he falls in love with Willy's sister Rose (Joan Blackman). Soon Willy’s gambling debts find himself under pressure from mobsters to make Walter takes a dive at his next big fight and pay off the debt. Support cast also includes Lola Albright and Charles Bronson.“This is early Elvis, when the production values were high and the songs fresh” entertaining yet, not so memorable as some of “the King’s” other canon of films.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056138/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (USA, Campanile Productions, 1965, 110 min., PG, dir. George Roy Hill)

One of the ultimate “buddy movies” with two screen idols as the bandits Butch Cassidy (Paul Newman) and Sundance (Robert Redford) and love interest Etta Place played by dream girl of the era Katharine Ross. Romanticized version of historical characters. On screen chemistry of the Newman and Redford lead to their pairing again in The Sting. Seven Academy Award® nominations with four wins including the ever popular song Burt Bachrach favorite “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head.”

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064115/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

The April Fools (USA, Cinema Center Productions/Jalem Films,1969, 95 min., M, dir. Hal Dresner)

Wall Street broker Howard Brubaker (Jack Lemmon) meets lovely Catherine Gunther (Catherine Deneuve) at a party at home of his boss Ted Gunther (Peter Lawford) though he doesn’t know she’s the spouse. They leave the boring soirée for a drink elsewhere and share their mutual angst of unhappy marriage; and encounter a couple who are actually happy. They spend the night together and decide to flee to Paris and start a new life.
Who’s fooling who is the question and do they escape? Cast includes Charles Boyer, Myrna Loy, Sally Kellerman, Harvey Korman.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064036/?ref_=fn_al_tt_3

Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid (USA,1973,122 min., R, dir. Sam Peckinpah)

Film begins with outlaw Pat Garrett (James Coburn) then flash back to when he was hired on behalf of a group of wealthy New Mexico cattle barons to bring down his old friend Billy the Kid (Kris Kristofferson). Peckinpah was a master of creating violent drama. Film’s score by Bob Dylan uniquely punctuates the action. Two BAFTA nominations including Dylan for Film Music, Kristofferson “Most Promising Newcomer.” https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070518/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

The Kids Are All Right (USA, Focus Features, 2010, 106 min., dir. Lisa Cholodenko)

Nic (Annette Bening) and Jules (Julianne Moore) are in a long term same sex relationship with two children Joni (Mia Wasikowska) and Laser (Josh Hutcherson) conceived by artificial insemination who bring their biological “donor” father Paul (Mark Ruffalo) into their non-traditional family life. Funny and sentimental movie was shot in record 23 days. Garnered four Oscar® nominations (“Best” picture, actress, supporting actor, screenplay). Four Golden Globe nods, two wins.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0842926/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

And for the fun of it look up the popular 1950s Cisco Kid starring dashing Duncan Rinaldo and Leo Carillo (als a TV movie 1994 starring Jimmy Smitts)

Stephanie Mardesich, a native of San Pedro from a family who arrived in the harbor area over 100 years ago. An alumna of U.S.C. School of Cinematic Arts; founder-director of the LA Harbor International Film Festival; credited journalist and public relations consultant, she launched "Cinema Stephanie" film critique blogette in 2017. More recently, she created "Eclectic Culture" lifestyle stories and reviews blog. She is also co-producer with Jack Baric (S.P. native and R.P.V. resident) of the oral history project Stories of Los Angeles Harbor Area: For Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (SOLAHA) - Volume II debuted in March 2020.

For more see:

(to look up films) www.imdb.com

www.laharborfilmfest.com( Cinema Stephanie blogette)

www.storieslaharborarea.com (histories/stories)