This week in history 31st March – 5th April

A black and white photograph of Sherlock Homes, watson and Beryl Stapleton look intently through a magnifying glass that Holmes holds towards the floor
A black and white photograph of Sherlock Homes, watson and Beryl Stapleton look intently through a magnifying glass that Holmes holds towards the floor

Image via derekwinnert.com

This week marks the 1939 release of of 20th Century Fox’s The Hound of the Baskervilles on March 31st. The Sherlock Holmes adaptation starred Richard Greene as Sir Henry Baskerville, Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson and Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes.

The film was a hit and Rathbone and Bruce wet on to star in a total of 14 films based on Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective novels. Rathbone and Bruce were also hired to play Holmes and Watson on the radio series “The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes”.

In 1975 The Hound of the Baskervilles was resored and re-released to theatres. It was a success and was even covered in the national evening news.

On March 31st 54 years after the release of The Hound of the Baskervilles in 1993, Brandon Bruce Lee was unfortunately killed on set while filming The Crow. 

The 28 year old actor was the son of martial arts film star Bruce Lee and had appeared in a handful of action films. He landed the lead role of Eric Draven in the film adaptation of James O’Barr’s comic book series The Crow. 

Lee died when he was accidentally shot while filming. A revolver containing dummy cartridges created by the props crew was used in a scene. Unintentionally, the percussion primer was left in place on one of these bullets and when the gun was discharged and the bullet unknowingly moved into the barrel.

When this revolver was later fired at Lee from a short distance, the dummy cartridges were replaced with blanks and when these were fired the dummy bullet already in the barrel was fired fatally striking Lee in the abdomen.

Video footage of Lee’s death was used as evidence in the following investigation then later destroyed as part of the lawsuit settlement after the shooting was ruled an accident.

The Bechdel Test Applied

A black and white comic strip featuring two female characters going to see a film

Two weeks ago I looked at The Bechdel Test. A set of standards which aim to determine whether works of fiction are gender biased. The three requirements are as follows: the work must feature at least two named female characters, who talk to each other about something besides a male character.

Let’s apply the Bechdel test to a few of the nominees for this year’s Oscars Best Film Award.

Firstly, American Hustle. Two of the main characters are women, Sydney Prosser or Edith (Amy Adams) and Rosalyn Rosenfeld (Jennifer Lawrence). Both are strong female characters although Jennifer Lawrence’s role is mostly as Irving Rosenfeld’s wife. They do talk to each other in a scene in the second half of the film, in a conflict where they argue over Irving. They also briefly mention their favourite nail polishes, so technically this does pass the test, but not with flying colours.

12 Years a Slave is another nominee, including a nomination for Best Supporting Actress for Lupita Nyong’o who plays Patsy in the film. There are a few female characters in the film, Anne Northup (Kelsey Scott), Mistress Epps (Sarah Paulson) is Edwin Epps’ (Michael fassbender) wife, and then Patsey (Lupita Nyong’o). Patsey and Mistress Epps feature in scenes together but only speak when Mistress Epps offers every slave some biscuits save Patsey “there’ll be none for you”.

There is also a scene in the film where Patsey has afternoon tea with Phebe (Deneen Tyler) but the audience does not witness any conversation between the two until Solomon turns up and then Solomon discusses Master Edwin Epps with Phebe and his affection for Patsey. So 12 Years a Slave, this year’s Oscar Best Film winner, does not pass the Bechdel test.

Of the nine Best Film nominees, four pass the test, American Hustle, Dallas Buyers Club, Nebraska and Philomena. The Wolf of Wall Street, Her, Captain Phillips and 12 Years a Slave do not feature two female characters who talk to each other about something other than a man. Gravity is exempt as it starts only two main characters, Ryan Stone – the female lead and Matt Kowalski. It’s interesting to note that all of the five nominated best directors were also men.

This reflects film on a larger scale too, for the last ten years, films that have failed the test have earned on average a higher gross.

Empire Awards

Tom Cruise standing in front of a large print of his Empire front cover

Jameson Empire Awards 2014

The awards show with the most booze, the least rules and the most diverse guest list, the Empire Awards.

With the likes of Tom Cruise, Arnold Schwarzenegger and The Inbetweeners all on the red carpet, it signalled the way for what will be an incredible finish to the awards season.

The biggest winner of the night was (unsurprisingly) Alfonso Cuaron he won for Best Director and Best Film. While he wasn’t at the event he did appear via video link to accept his awards.

Host, and star of The Hobbit trilogy James Nesbitt welcomed in the audience with less of the polished auto-cue script that you might hear from Stephen Fry, but with all the humour and wit you would expect from a drunk Irishman.

Opening with a song sang to the tune of ‘That’s Why The Lady Is A Tramp’ he impressed with a decent Sinatra-style singing voice.

James Nesbitt on stage presenting the Empire Awards 2014.

Image via Empire Online

He finished off the opener with the not so subtle jab at the Academy Awards, “We don’t need Oscars – they’re just for phonies and scamps / That is why Empire is for champs.”

Other awards that were presented were Best Male and Female newcomers that were collected by Aidan Turner (The Hobbit: The Desolations Of Smaug) and Margot Robbie (The Wolf Of Wall Street).

All the awards of the night were voted for by readers of Empire magazine, which this year celebrates it’s 25th Anniversary.

To commemorate this milestone there were two special awards that were created just for this years ceremony.

Collecting the first ‘Empire 25th Award: The Legend of Our Lifetime’ was Tom Cruise, who also conveniently appears on the front cover of this months Empire magazine.

Tom Cruise on the cover of Empire magazine

Image via Empire Online

Tom Cruise holding his Empire Award in front of a white background with the Empire logo printed on it.

Image vie Empire Online

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arnold Schwarzenegger collected the second of the anniversary awards The Action Hero Of Our Lifetime.

Arnold Schwarzenegger collecting his award at the Empire Awards on stage.

Image via Empire Online

The Empire Awards, while they are an international awards ceremony, there is considerable favour given to British film, and rightly so. 12 Years a Slave, Filth and Saving Mr Banks all picked awards in various acting categories.

Emma Thompson posing with her Empire Award in front of a white background with the Empire Logo printed on it.

Image via Empire Online

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James McAvoy posing with his Empire award and Kate Beckinsale

Image via Empire Online

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hugh Jackman also managed to take home an award, Empire Icon.

Hugh Jackman posing with his Empire Award in front of photographers.

image via Empire Online

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jackman, who will reprise his role as Wolverine in May in X-Men: Days Of Future Past for the eighth time is very popular with Empire and their readers.

The full list of winners, back stage interviews, and the live stream are all available to catch up on. as well photo galleries and red carpet arrivals there is plenty to keep you distracted from work for at least the next 20 minutes.