Oliver Stone’s violent new film, the drug thriller “Savages,” opens Friday. It has

Oliver Stone’s violent new film, the drug thriller “Savages,” opens Friday. It has a couple of formidable females at its center: Salma Hayek as the ruthless leader of a Mexican drug cartel and Blake Lively as an Orange County princess who must find a resourcefulness she never knew she had. In that spirit, Stone was kind enough to pick five of his favorite examples of strong women throughout film history. Here he is, in his own words:

v Marlene Dietrich: I would like to cite Marlene Dietrich for one of her first roles with Josef von Sternberg in “Dishonored” (1931). She plays a withering Mata Hari opposite several men, among them her nemesis — Victor McLaglen in an early role as the Russian spymaster who figures out her act. Dietrich talks with her eyes, undresses men and makes them give her what she wants. A portrait for all time.

v Dietrich: In the same vein, Dietrich again for her role as a young Catherine the Great in von Sternberg’s “The Scarlet Empress” (1934). This is a masterpiece of Sternberg’s excess and also Dietrich’s power. In the origins of the movie, she is a rather pristine young maiden sent off on an arranged marriage to a madman. As the movie goes into its extremes, she grows into a true empress.

v Faye Dunaway: In “Network” (1976), she is certainly one of the coldest women of all time, but is hilarious to watch in her mannerisms, Paddy Chayefsky’s dialogue, and her cool toying with William Holden’s love and marriage.

v Joan Crawford: If you want a little bit of heart in this thing, I would point to Joan Crawford in the great melodrama Michael Curtiz directed, “Mildred Pierce” (1945), which I equate with that dark, post-war period.

v Hailee Steinfeld: To go in a completely different direction, Hailee Steinfeld in “True Grit” (2010). She plays a 14-year-old girl with a great moral center and moves mountains in her quest.

“Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest” (3 p.m., ESPN): Call it a grand tradition, or a repulsive display of gluttony. San Jose’s Joey Chesnut, who once devoured 68 hot dogs (and buns) in 10 minutes, will defend the title he has won six straight times.

Fourth of July Celebrations: Fireworks look so darn pretty on TV — especially in high-definition. So if you don’t feel like dealing with the outdoors crowds, know that prime time offers several holiday specials. They include: “A Capitol Fourth” (8 p.m., PBS), which has Tom Bergeron hosting a party on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol with performances by Megan Hilty, Phillip Phillips, Javier Colon and Kool & the Gang. Then there’s the “Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular” (9 p.m., NBC) with host Regis Philbin and lots of colorful pyrotechnics, and the “Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular” (10 p.m., CBS).

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A girl for singer

NASHVILLE, Tenn.

It’s a girl for Grammy-nominated Christian singer Francesca Battistelli. She and husband Matthew Goodwin welcomed their second child, Audrey Jane Goodwin, Tuesday morning. Battistelli was the first female vocalist in nearly 20 years to be named artist of the year at the 2011 Dove Awards.