85 Years of Remember the Night (1940)

When many think of Barbara Stanwyck and the holidays, they may well think of Christmas in Connecticut (1945), but it was not the only Christmas movie she made, let alone the first. Five years earlier, Barbara Stanwyck appeared in a Christmas movie with a script by no less than Preston Sturges. Remember the Night( (1940) would be historic for multiple reasons. What is more, it remains popular over eighty-five years after its release.

Remember the Night (1940) starred Barbara Stanwyck as Lee Leander, a thief arrested for stealing a bracelet from a jewellery store in New York City. In charge of her case is assistant district attorney Jack Sargent (Fred MacMurray), who has the trial postponed as it started right before Christmas. Unfortunately for Lee, this means that she might well spend Christmas in jail. This fills Jack with guilt, and as a result he has her bailed out and offers to take her home to spend Christmas with her mother on his way to visit his own family. As it turns out, Lee's mother is a bitter, unloving woman, and as a result Lee spends the holidays with Jack's family. As might be expected, in the process the two of them find themselves falling in love against their better judgement.

Like many of his films, Preston Sturges drew inspiration from his own life for Remember the Night (1940). The idea of Lee and Jack falling in love while on a road trip to Indiana came from a road trip Preston Sturges took with Elanor Post Hutton to Palm Beach, Florida. The two would later marry. Jack's mother was based upon his third wife Louise Sargent's mother, who was a farm wife who lived near Fort Dodge, Iowa. It was from Louise Sargent's mother that Jack and his family received the surname "Sargent." Preston Sturges worked hard on Remember the Night (1940), and it was not a particularly easy script to write. According to his wife at the time, Louise Sargent, he only would only stop working it was clear his secretary Gillette could no longer continue. Curiously, while Remember the Night (1940) is one of Barbara Stanwyck's better known films, Preston Sturges wrote the movie with Carole Lombard in mind for the role of Lee. 

The film was not always going to be called Remember the Night (1940). Preston Sturges wanted to call the film, Beyond These Tears, from a traditional Scottish poem, a title that Paramount rejected. A working title was The Amazing Marriage, even though marriage does not appear in film. Another title suggested by Preston Sturges was Great Love.

The director on Remember the Night (1940) was Mitchell Leisen, who had earlier directed Preston Sturges's movie Easy Living (1937). Much to Mr. Sturges's chagrin, Mr. Leisen cut a good deal of his script. Much of the reason that Mitchell Leisen made changes to Preston Sturges's script was to play to his stars' strengths. In Preston Sturges's original script, the character of Jack (Fred MacMurray) was a somewhat showy lawyer who made epic speeches, something at odds with the quiet dignity of many of Fred MacMurray's characters. In cutting many of Jack's lines, Mitchell Leisen was better able to play to Fred MacMurray's strengths as an actor. As Mitchell Leisen reworked Preston Sturges's script, he shifted the focus of the film from Jack to Lee. Remember the Night (1940) does include some in-jokes referencing the earlier Preston Sturges script Mitchell Leisen had directed, Easy Living (1937). The song "Easy Living," which Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin had written for the movie Easy Living (1937), plays at the supper club to which Jack takes Lee. When Lee gives a false name at one point in the movie, it is "Mary Smith," the name of the lead character of Easy Living (1937) played by Jean Harlow.

Remember the Night (1940) proved to be a pivotal film for Barbara Stanwyck. It was the first film that she made with Fred MacMurray. The two of two of them would make three more films together, including the classic noir Double Indemnity (1940), The Moonlighter (1953), and There's Always Tomorrow (1956). Preston Sturges frequented the set and as a result he spent time talking with Miss Stanwyck. One day he told her that he would write a screwball comedy for her. It was the following year that Barbara Stanwyck starred in Preston Sturges's film The Lady Eve (1941). 

Mitchell Leisen was impressed by Barbara Stanwyck's professionalism. In the biography Mitchell Leisen, Hollywood Director by David Chierichetti, he is quoted as saying, "Barbara Stanwyck was the greatest . She never blew one line through the whole picture . She set that kind of pace and everybody worked harder , trying to outdo her." Mr. Leisen also related how Barbara Stanwyck had a bad back, but insisted on remaining on the set during a long scene despite the fact that the corset she was required to wear caused her a good deal of pain. Ultimately, Remember the Night (1940) was completed $50,000 under budget and eight days ahead of schedule, the credit for which Mitchell Leisen gave to Barbara Stanwyck and her professionalism. 

Beulah Bondi, who plays Jack's mother, actually was an Indiana native, much like her character.Remember the Night(1940) was one of only two films she made that was set in her home state. The other was the Disney movie So Dear to My Heart (1948), which was set in rural Indiana.

Strangely enough, even though most of the plot of Remember the Night (1940) unfolds from Christmas Eve to New Year's Day, the film went into limited release on January 1, 1940, and went into wide release on January 19, 1940. New York Times critic Frank S. Nugent praised the film, writing, "After dallying too long with the leftovers of 1939, the screen has awakened finally to a new year and new entertainment responsibilities. Remember the Night,  presented at the Paramount yesterday, is the real curtain-raiser for 1940, the first word of reassurance Hollywood has offered since '39 went into the past." The Hollywood Reporter also gave Remember the Night  a good review, writing, "All that Remember the Night needs to make it one of the best pictures to come from Paramount in many a day is a slight tightening up of one or two sags by eliminating some superfluous footage. Aside from this, it has everything, a heart-warming story based on a distinctly unique premise, sparkling comedy which always has a latent heart tug, superlative performances, an excellent script, top notch production and direction." Remember the Night (1940) was not a box office smash, although it proved to do moderately well. 

Remember the Night (1940) would twice be adapted to other media. On March 15, 1940, Lux Radio Theatre aired an hour-long adaptation with Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray reprising their roles as Lee and Jack. The show did another adaptation of the movie on December 22, 1941, this time with Jean Arthur as Lee and Fred MacMurray as Jack. On May 5, 1955, Lux Video Theatre did a television adaptation of the movie, with Jan Sterling as Lee and Don DeFore as Jack. 

As mentioned earlier, Remember the Night (1940) would prove to be a historic movie. In addition to being the first of four movies that Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray made together and leading Preston Sturges to write The Lady Eve (1940), it was also the last movie Preston Sturges wrote that he would not also direct. Frustrated by the cuts that Mitchell Leisen had made to his script and earlier instances in which his screenplays had been changed,  Preston Sturges decided that henceforth he would direct his own scripts. It was then that Preston Sturges made his directorial debut with The Great McGinty (1940).

In the Fifties, Remember the Night (1940) began airing on television. While it would often be shown during the Christmas station on local stations in the Fifties, Sixties, and Seventies, it was sometimes shown at such odd times as June and even August. It would be one of the Christmas classics that AMC would air every December when AMC was still American Movie Classics. It has also aired on such cable channels as Oxygen and The Disney Channel. Remember the Night (1940) has aired each year on TCM, introducing it to whole new generations of fans.

Through repeated showings on TCM over the years, Remember the Night (1940) has developed a following, to the point that it can quite rightfully be considered a beloved holiday classic. Over eighty-five afters its original release, Remember the Night (1940) is still picking up new fans. 

Some Old Time Christmas Cards

The first ever Christmas card was commissioned by Sir Heny Cole commissioned that first Christmas card on May 1, 1843, with its illustration provided by John Callcott Horsley. Christmas cards soon caught on and, by the late Victorian Era, they were popular on both sides of the Pond. Of course, by today's standards some Christmas cards from the Victorian and Edwardian Eras would seem downright bizarre and even morbid by today's standards. Here are a few vintage Christmas cards.

A dead robin hardly seems Christmasy, but I am guessing this card is rooted in Irish traditions surrounding St. Stephen's Day. The wren was thought to represent the old year, while the robin represented the New Year. Capturing one of these birds was then thought to be good luck.

The image of Santa Claus dumping a child into a sack is shocking to modern eyes, but at one time Santa was believed to pack the naughtiest of children away in a sack, not unlike Krampus. 

Another card with a robin, although this bird is much luckier than the one above. This card from circa 1880 features a group of elves serenading the robin with musical instruments, which the robin probably finds much more preferable to the fate some humans would deliver him. 

Not every Christmas card in the Victorian and Edwardian Eras were quite so bizarre. Cats were as popular in the Victorian Era as they are now. Here's a cute card of kittens drinking a bowl of milk. 

This card featuring cats buying oranges and eggs from a market stall, despite the fact that most cats I know have no use for oranges! This card came out in 1903 and was listed in the Raphael Tuck & Sons' Ltd. 1904/1905 catalogue.

While some Victorian and Edwardian Christmas cards seem downright bizzare, some could be rather pretty. Here is an example of one that is a pretty. It is a New Year's card featuring a British mail coach, probably form the 1870s or 1880s.

TCM Remembers 2025

No one does end-of-the-year memorials as well as Turner Classic Movies. Quite simply, TCM Remembers is the gold standard with regards to in memorial reels. I have no doubt that for many this year's TCM Remembers is particularly difficult to watch. We have lost so many legends this year, and some of them quite recently and even unexpectedly. Indeed, this year's TCM Remembers clocks in at over six minut3es. Anyhow, here is this years' TCM Remembers.

Three Recent Christmas Commercials

I have written regularly on this blog about vintage Christmas commercials, and they are generally decades old. Despite this, there are still quality Christmas commercials being made, with a few each year that stand out. Here are three that are somewhat memorable for me. 

The first is actually ten years, The "Say Sorry" spot for Temptations treats for cats proved popular when it came out in November 2015. The commercial features unfortunate felines who have been dressed up in holiday costumes by their humans, with the song "Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word" by Elton John playing in the background. I have never dressed up my cats, but I have known people who have, and the poor cats always look miserable. For that reason, this commercial always resonated with me.



I have to confess that I am not particularly a fan of fast fashion, as it has too many environmental consequences for me to be entirely comfortable with it. Regardless, I do like this spot from 2022 for H&M. That year H&M had a marketing campaign centred around a fictional Parisian restaurant called Brasserie Hennes (the full name of H&M being H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB). For the holidays in 2022, Brasserie Hennes was, in the words of H&M's promotional material, "transformed into a disco-inspired snowscape for the holidays." Here I have to point out that the song playing in the commercial is not a disco song, but Linda Scott's version of "I've Told Ev'ry Little Star" set to a disco beat. The song goes back to 1932 musical Music in the Air and was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II. In 1961, Linda Scott recorded her version, which reached no. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. If some of the people in the commercial look familiar, it is because the ad features Anderson Paak, Chloe Sevigny, model Jill Kortleve, and others. This commercial resonated with me because it came out while I had and then recovered from Covid, and I liked the arrangement of "I've Told Ev'ry Little Star," not to mention the winter-themed imagery.

This is the most recent of the commercials I am posting. I have to confess, I like this commercial not so much because of the imagery (which more or less looks like every other jewellery commercial), but instead because of the song. It is "Dreamy Lady" by T. Rex. The song was released as a single in 1975. It did not do particularly well as T. Rex songs go, only peaking at no. 30 on the UK singles chart. Obviously, the song has nothing to do with Christmas, but it does fit a jewellery commercial.

80 Years of Christmas in Connecticut

A very good argument could be made that the 1940s were the Golden Age of Christmas Movies. Indeed, in a space of only two years It's a Wonderful Life (1946), It Happened on 5th Avenue (1947), Miracle on 34th Street (1947), Christmas Eve (1947), and The Bishop's Wife (1947) were all released. Yet another beloved holiday classic was released not long before these movies. Christmas in Connecticut (1945) was released on August 11, 1945, and proved to be a smash hit. It began airing on television in the Fifties, where it would also prove to be popular. Turner Classic Movies began showing Christmas in Connecticut (1945) in the mid-Nineties and has shown it nearly every year since, introducing the film to whole new generations of fans. A little over eighty years after its release, it continues to be one of the most popular Christmas movies of all time.

Christmas in Connecticut (1945) centres on one of the many independent career women that Barbara Stanwyck played during her career, Elizabeth Lane. Elizabeth Lane is a food writer for the popular women's magazine Smart Housekeeping. In reality Miss Lane cannot cook at all and lives in a New York City apartment rather than the Connecticut farm on which she claims to live in her columns. Every one of her recipes come from her good friend, restaurateur and chef Felix Bassenak (S.Z. Sakall). Smart Housekeeping's publisher, Alexander Yardley (Sydney Greenstreet), like the public at large, actually believes that she is this incredible cook and housekeeper living in Connecticut. Unfortunately for Elizabeth Lane, her charade is in danger of being revealed when Mr. Yardley invites himself and a Navy war hero, Jefferson Jones (Dennis Morgan), to Christmas dinner at her wholly non-existent farm. Her editor Dudley Beecham (Robert Shayne), Felix, and her gentleman friend John Sloan (Reginald Gardiner) must then scramble to keep Elizabeth Lane's secret intact. The inspiration for Elizabeth Lane was reportedly Family Circle columnist Gladys Taber. Unlike Elizabeth Lane, Gladys Taber actually could cook and keep house.

While the role of Elizabeth Lane would appear to have been written for Barbara Stanwyck (it's hard picturing anyone else in the role), Christmas in Connecticut (1945) was originally offered to Bette Davis, who turned the film down. The casting of Barbara Stanwyck was announced in the April 13, 1944, issue of The Hollywood Reporter. The romantic lead of Jefferson Jones would also change before the film started shooting. Originally John Alexander was announced as playing the role. He was replaced by Dennis Morgan. Ultimately, Christmas in Connecticut (1945) would have one of the best casts of any comedy in the Forties. Not only did Sydney Greenstreet play publisher Alexander Yardley and S.Z. Sakall play chef Felix Bassenak, but the great Una O'Connor played John Sloan's housekeeper Norah. Character Dick Elliott had a humorous turn as a judge who is totally unaware of what is going on.

If it was made today Christmas in Connecticut (1945) might well be shot on location in Connecticut. Location shooting being rare in the Forties, the film was shot entirely on the soundstages of Warner Bros.' Burbank studios. In fact, viewers with keen eyes might even recognize one of the sets. The set for Sloan's Connecticut house was previously used in Bringing Up Baby (1938).

As mentioned earlier, strangely enough for a movie with a Yuletide theme, Christmas in Connecticut (1945) was released on August 11, 1945. Despite its unusual release date, the film proved to be a hit. In fact, it was the only wartime, non-musical comedy to make over $3 million. Of course, this also made it the highest grossing non-musical comedy of the war years. 

While Christmas in Connecticut (1945) would not become as famous as other holiday movies from the Forties, such as It's a Wonderful Life (1946), Miracle on 34th Street (1947), and The Bishop's Wife (1947), it would retain a loyal following over the years. On March 20, 1952,  it was adapted for the radio show Stars in the Air with Gordon MacRae and Phyllis Thaxter in the lead roles. In 1992, it was remade as a television movie with Dyan Cannon and Kris Kristofferson in the lead roles. Arnold Schwarzenegger directed the TV movie. It was not well received and is generally considered terrible even by the standards of TV movies.

While the 1992 television remake is best forgotten, if anything the reputation of the original Christmas in Connecticut (1945) has only grown. Shown every year on Turner Classic Movies around Christmas (usually multiple times), the film has gained an even larger following than it previously had. It is easy to see why. As mentioned earlier, Christmas in Connecticut (1945) has one of the best casts of any 1940s comedy. Barbara Stanwyck is in perfect form as Elizabeth Lane. Not only is Elizabeth intelligent and independent, but I personally think Miss Stanwyck was at the height of her sex appeal in this film. As might be expected, S.Z. Sakall and Sydney Greenstreet are perfect as the lovable Felix and the blowhard Yardley respectively. Dennis Morgan and Reginald Gardiner are both well suited to their roles. Christmas in Connecticut (1945) is one of those films in which every single cast member delivers a good performance, right down to the supporting characters.

Beyond its cast Christmas in Connecticut (1945) benefits from a very good script. It is one of those comedies that is genuinely funny, with the laughs coming very quickly on top of one another. There are several great lines in the film, not only from Miss Stanwyck as Elizabeth Lane but from several other characters as well (particularly Felix). Given the presence of Sydney Greenstreet there should be no surprise that there are a few references to The Maltese Falcon. For a film made in the Forties Christmas in Connecticut (1945) can be a bit racy at times, with at least one line that makes one wonder how it got past the Breen Office. Indeed, the New York Times' critic complained that ;Christmas in Connecticut (1945) "... depends not so much on genuine humour as upon suggestive lines and situations for its merriment." Not surprisingly, the Legion of Decency gave Christmas in Connecticut (1945) a "B" rating, meaning it was "objectionable in part". Of course, what the New York Times critics and the Legion of Decency disliked about the film I rather suspect most modern viewers will love.

Aside from The Apartment (1960) and It's a Wonderful Life (1946), Christmas in Connecticut (1945) is my favourite holiday movie of all time. It would seem that I am not alone, as the film has grown in popularity ever since Turner Classic Movies started showing it regularly. And there is good reason for it to have done so. The film features Barbara Stanwyck doing some of her best comedy work, as well as character actors S. Z. Sakall, Sydney Greenstreet, and Una O'Connor in top form. What is more, it has a genuinely funny script with more jokes packed into a minute than many comedies have in ninety. It is little wonder why it was the highest grossing non-musical comedy of World War II.

My Beloved Cat Socks R.I.P.

I have always been of the mind that pets are family. It was certainly true of our cat Socks. He spent his entire life with us, from his birth onwards. He cuddled with us. He slept with us, sometimes my sister, sometimes me. He watched television with us. Socks loved us and we loved him. He was closer to us than all but our closest friends. Sadly, Socks died this morning, December 16, 2025, at the age of 13 years and 8 months. To say I am devastated would be an understatement.

Socks was born on April 3, 2012, behind our sofa. He had three siblings. His brother Boots was adopted by a nice family. Sadly, his sister Batgirl died when she was only a year old. His brother Sylvester disappeared when he was about two years old. We suspect he may have gone off to live with another family. Through it all, Socks remained. He was a cat as faithful as he was loving. He loved to sit on us and be petted, and he had the loudest purr. You could hear him clear across a room. When he got older, following the death of my cat Malcolm, he took Malcolm's place in watching television with him. For whatever reason, he seemed to like Midsomer Murders.  As I said earlier, he slept with us. 

Socks was also an extremely intelligent cat. He knew more words in English than any cat I have ever known. He not only knew his own name, but my name, my sister's name, my brother's name, and the names of the other cats. He knew several other words as well, including "food," "treats," and "chicken." Socks loved chicken. If we had chicken for dinner, he would actually beg for it, something he generally wouldn't do for any other food except maybe treats.

Socks was definitely the head of our house's pride of cats. The other cats generally acquiesced to him. They would often let him eat first and would not bother him if he was sleeping. Indeed, Socks was a bit of tough guy. I always called him "the James Cagney of Cats." He would chase stray cats off our place. And he thought nothing of attacking dogs, even ones much bigger than he was. One time he even chased a bobcat off. I honestly don't think Socks ever knew fear. 

While Socks was hardly a young cat, it still feels as if he died too soon. I keep expecting to see him somewhere around the house. I expect to see him lying on the sofa in the living room or on my bed in my bedroom. I will certainly miss petting him and cuddling him. Socks was a very good cat and one of the most loving cats I have ever had. It hurts that he is gone and I have already cried a good deal. Socks wasn't just a pet. He was one of the family.

The Late Great Rob Reiner

On December 14, 2025, actor and director Rob Reiner and his wife Michelle were found dead in their home in the Brentwood neighbourhood of Los Angeles. Mr. Reiner was 78 years old and his wife was 68. As an actor, he was best known for his role as Michael Stvic on All in the Family. As a director, he was known for several movies now regarded by many as classics, including This is Spinal Tap (1984), Stand by Me (1986), The Princess Bride(1987), and When Harry Met Sally (1989).

Rob Reiner was born on March 6, 1947, in the Bronx in New York City. His father was comic and writer Carl Reiner, who would become a living legend. His mother was Estelle Reiner (née Lebost), an artist and set designer. Once Carl Reiner's career was under way, the family moved to New Rochelle, New York, which would also be the home of Rob and Laura Petrie on Carl Reiner's sitcom The Dick Van Dyke Show. The family would eventually move to California, and Rob Reiner graduated from Beverly Hills High School in 1964.

Rob Reiner followed his father into the entertainment business. In the early Sixties, he was an apprentice at Bucks County Playhouse in Pennsylvania. He made his television debut in an episode of Manhunt in 1961. In the Sixties, he had guest appearances on the shows Batman; Hey, Landlord; The Andy Griffith Show; That Girl; The Mothers-In-Law; Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.; The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour; The Beverly Hillbillies; Room 222; and Headmaster. He attended the UCLA Film School. He also wrote for television on such shows as The Steve Allen Comedy Hour and The Joey Bishop Show. He was a staff writer on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour. He wrote an episode of the show Headmaster. He made his film debut in his father's movie Enter Laughing in 1967. He also appeared in the films The Big Mouth (1967), Where It's At (1969), Halls of Anger (1970), and Where's Poppa (1970).

It was in 1971 that Rob Reiner began playing Michael Stivic, the liberal son-in-law of conservative Archie Bunker on the classic sitcom All in the Family. He appeared in the role for eight seasons. He also guest starred on the shows The Odd Couple, The Rockford Files, and Archie Bunker's Place. He starred on the short-lived sitcom Free Country. He appeared in the movies Summertree (1971), How Come Nobody's On Our Side (1974), Fire Sale (1977), and The Jerk (1979). He wrote episodes of Shirley's World, The Super, All in the Family, Happy Days, and Free Country. He wrote the TV movie More Than Friends. He broke into directing in 1974 with the TV movie Sonny Boy.

It was in 1984 that Rob Reiner made his feature film directorial debut with the classic mockumentary This is Spinal Tap. While it did modestly well at the box office, This is Spinal Tap (1984) developed a cult following and has since become regarded as a classic. In the Eighties, he also directed the films The Sure Thing (1985), Stand by Me (1986), The Princes Bride (1987), When Harry Met Sally (1989), and Misery (1990). As an actor, he played documentary filmmaker Marty Di Bergi in This is Spinal Tap (1984). He also appeared in the films Throw Momma from the Train (1987), Postcards from the Edgie (1990), and The Spirit of '76 (1990). On television he appeared in the TV movies The Million Dollar Infield and Partners in Life, and the TV shows Tall Tales & Legends and It's Garry Shandling's Show.

In the Nineties, Rob Reiner directed the movies A Few Good Men (1992), North (1994), The American President (1995), Ghosts of Mississippi (1996), and The Story of Us (1999). He directed the TV movie I Am Your Child (1997). He hosted the mockumentary TV series Morton & Hayes. He guest starred on The Larry Sanders Show and reprised his role as Mary Di Bergi in the TV movie A Spinal Tap Reunion. He appeared in the movies Sleepless in Seattle (1993), Bullets Over Broadway (1994), Mixed Nuts (1994), Bye Bye Love (1995), For Better or Worse (1995), The First Wives Club (1996), Mad Dog Time (1996), Primary Colours (1998), EdTV (1999), The Muse (1999), and The Story of Us (1999).

In the Naughts, Rob Reiner directed Alex & Emma (2003), Rumor Has It... (2005), The Bucket List (2007), and Flipped (2010). He directed the TV movie Everyday Life. As an actor, he guest starred on the shows Curb Your Enthusiasm,The Simpsons, Hannah Montana, Wizards of Waverly Place, and 30 Rock. He appeared in the movies Alex & Emma (2003), Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (2003), and Everyone's Hero (2006).

In the Teens, Rob Reiner directed the movies The Magic of Belle Isle (2012), And So It Goes (2014), Being Charlie (2015), and LBJ (2016), Shock and Awe (2017). As an actor, he appeared in the movies The Wolf of Wall Street (2014), And So It Goes (2014), Sandy Wexler (2015), and Shock and Awe (2017. He guest starred on the shows About a Boy, HAPPYish, The Comedians, and The Good Fight. He had a recurring role on the sitcom New Girl and appeared in the mini-series When We Rise and Hollywood.

In the 2020s, Rob Reiner directed Albert Brooks: Defending My Life (2023), God & Country (2024), and Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (2025). As an actor, he guest starred on The Bear and reprised his role as Marty Di Bergi in Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (2025).

Much like his father Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner was a national treasure. As an actor, he was not only loved for his role as Mike on All in the Family, but for his many guest appearances on shows from That Girl to The Rockford Files. And while he played a number of hippies on various shows prior to All in the Family, he played many more sorts of roles during his acting career. In the Rockford Files episode "The No-Cut Contract," he played the quarterback of a in a team in the football equivalent of the bush league. In The Wolf of Wall Street, he played Max Belfort, the father of stockbroker Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio).

While Rob Reiner was beloved as an actor, he may have even more adored as a director. During his career, he directed a number of films that are now regarded as classics. This is Spinal Tap, Stand by Me, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, Misery, and yet other films directed by Rob Reiner are very highly regarded by critics, film buffs, and the average movie goer. Indeed, Rob Reiner's films were nominated for eleven Oscars and won one (Best Actress for Kathy Bates in Misery). If Rob Reiner enjoyed such respect as a director, it is perhaps because he was so original. While mocumentaries had existed before This is Spinal Tap, Rob Reiner laid the groundwork for all future mockumentary movies to come. With The Princess Bride, Mr. Reiner gave us a movie that blended adventure, fantasy, and comedy. Rob Reiner re-invented the romantic comedy with When Harry Met Sally. Rob Reiner's movies often defied genres, which is perhaps why so many of them are so popular.