Walt Disney's 15th animated feature, Lady and the Tramp, the first animated feature filmed in CinemaScope, opened in theaters on this date.
The film's opening sequence, in which Darling unwraps a hat box on Christmas morning and finds Lady inside, is reportedly based upon an actual incident in Walt Disney's life. After he'd forgotten a dinner date with his wife, he offered her the puppy-in-the-hat box surprise and was immediately forgiven.
June 23, 1965 -
One of Frank Sinatra best performances on film, Von Ryan's Express, premiered on this date.
Frank Sinatra insisted that the original ending of the film be changed so there was no possibility of a sequel.
Today in History:
June 23, 1611 -
The mutinous crew of Henry Hudson's fourth voyage sets Henry, his son and seven loyal crew members adrift in an open boat in what is now Hudson Bay; they are never heard from again.
So much for loyalty.
June 23, 1860 -
On this date, the U.S. Secret Service was founded to fight counterfeiting, protect the President
and giving Robert Conrad a chance to show off his manly physique.
June 23, 1894 -
Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, briefly Edward VIII, King of England and later to be known as the Duke of Windsor (making him both brother and uncle to successive monarchs), who abdicated his throne to marry American divorcee (and possible transvestite) Wallis Simpson, was born on this date.
Sometimes, it's very complicated to be the king.
June 23, 1965 -
One of the classic Motown singles, Tracks of My Tears by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, was released on this date.
Miracles members Smokey Robinson, Warren Moore and Marv Tarplin wrote this song. Robinson wrote the lyrics; Tarplin, The Miracles' guitarist, came up with the riff.
June 23 1979 -
The rock group, the Knack releases My Sharona on this date.
Quentin Tarantino wanted to use this in Pulp Fiction during the scene where Bruce Willis and Ving Rhames are being set upon by Zed and his brother (and the Gimp). Doug Fieger ended up nixing the request.
June 23, 1989 -
Tim Burton's dark and brooding retelling of Batman, was released on this date.
When the Tom Mankiewicz script was in development, the directors associated with the project included Joe Dante and Ivan Reitman. Producers wanted an unknown to play Batman and the cast wish-list included William Holden as Commissioner Gordon and David Niven as Alfred, Bruce Wayne's faithful butler.
June 23, 1994 -
Life may or may not be a box of chocolate but Forrest Gump premiered in Los Angeles, on this date.
Terry Gilliam and Barry Sonnenfeld turned down the chance to direct the film. Bill Murray, John Travolta and Chevy Chase turned down the role of Forrest Gump. Travolta later admitted that passing on the role was a mistake.
And on a personal note:
Happy Birthday David (Hopefully your summer birthday will be less hot and sticky than the moment of your birth)
and so it goes.
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