February 18, 1913: The Edison Film Co. introduces its synchronized film-phonograph Kinetoscope process for showing “sound films” in New York.
February 18, 1929: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announces their first annual Award Winners… on the back page of the organization’s Bulletin.
February 22, 1934: A Depression-weary American public flocks to Frank Capra‘s comedy It Happened One Night, starring Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable.
February 18, 1938: Howard Hawks‘ classic screwballer Bringing Up Baby opens, but will only last a disappointing two weeks in theaters.
February 19, 1942: MGM’s Woman of the Year, debuting today, marks the first of nine screen pairings for Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy.
February 20, 1952: After premiering in Hollywood the previous December, John Huston’s The African Queen, with Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn, opens.
February 16, 1957: Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman‘s most renowned work, the medieval allegory The Seventh Seal, opens in Stockholm.
February 21, 1957: Actress Jean Seberg‘s portrayal of Joan of Arc comes too close to reality when she’s burned while tied to the stake on the set of Saint Joan.
February 18, 1966: The Silencers, the first of a string of successful high-camp actioners starring Dean Martin as superspy Matt Helm, opens.
February 21, 1966: Perturbed by the race-baiting aspects of the character, Jack Palance rejects the part of the psychotic Maggott in The Dirty Dozen; the role will go to Telly Savalas.
February 20, 1999: Film critic Gene Siskel, renowned for his 20-year TV tandem with Roger Ebert, passes away at the age of 53.