February 18, 1913: The Edison Film Co. introduces its synchronized film-phonograph Kinetoscope process for showing “sound films” in New York.
February 21, 1926: Swedish film sensation Greta Garbo storms onto the scene in her first American movie, MGM’s Torrent, opening today.
February 15, 1927: Whatever “It” is, starlet Clara Bow has it in abundance, as can be seen in director Clarence Badger’s film of that name.
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 (a banquet presenting the awards would be held later that May).
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 15, 1943: Pin-up queen Betty Grable leaves impressions of her legendary legs in cement in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theater.
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: Put off 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 16, 1979: In its second weekend in theaters, Walter Hill’s street gang actioner The Warriors sparks fights and acts of violence by moviegoers.
February 20, 1984: Disney announces the creation of the Touchstone Pictures label for movies aimed at older audiences. The first film to bear the label: Splash.
February 15, 1985: John Hughes taps into ’80s teen zeitgeist with his detention dramedy The Breakfast Club, with Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez, Ally Sheedy, Michael Anthony Hall and Judd Nelson.
February 17, 1989: Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter travel through time to save the future–and their high school history report–in Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, debuting today.
February 20, 1999: Chicago newspaper film critic Gene Siskel, renowned for his 20-year TV tandem with Roger Ebert, passes away at the age of 53.
February 19, 2001: Filmmaker Stanley Kramer, director of The Defiant Ones and It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad. Mad World, dies at 87.