Today's 5: Gigi, Bulworth, and much Cannes mania
Monday, May 15, 2017 at 8:00AM Here are you five mood boosting anniversaries from showbiz history. Do these things today and report back on how they made you feel!
May 15th
2015 At the 68th annual Cannes Film Festival Son of Saul, Embrace of the Serpent, and The Lobster, all have their world premieres. All three go on to successful awards runs and arthouse releases.
In their honor: Embrace your singular point of view, however strange it seems at first. So many of the greatest movies over the years did this...
1998/1987 Bulworth and Ishtar both open in their years which makes this unofficially a Warren Beatty Celebration day. Contrary to what you may have heard over the years both of those comedies are totally worth your time.
In their honor: Forget about that recent envelope fiasco and think of Warren Beatty fondly. He's one of the greats.
2002 The 55th annual Cannes Film Festival begins with Woody Allen's Hollywood Ending as opening night film. The President was David Lynch and his jury included Sharon Stone, Walter Salles, Michelle Yeoh, and other international talent. At the end of the fest they gave the Palme d'Or to the Holocaust drama The Pianist with Finland's future foreign film Oscar nominee The Man Without a Past clearly their runner up with both a Grand Jury and a Best Actress win.
In its honor today: Try to imagine discussing your favorite movie with David Lynch and Sharon Stone. What a combo!
Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn were among the luminaries at Gigi's world premiere in 1958
1958 Gigi has its premiere in New York City. It goes on to sweep the Oscars, winning all 9 of its nominations including Best Picture, setting a new Oscar record (which is undone the very next year by Ben-Hur). Curiously, for a sweeping film with a character name as title, its leading actress Leslie Caron was not nominated. She had to settle for a Golden Globe nomination (Comedy or Musical) and a loss to Rosalind Russell in Auntie Mame.
In its honor today: read a book by the fascinating author Colette whose novella Gigi was based on. I recommend Chéri and La Fin de Chéri. We haven't heard a peep about the biopic Colette (which will supposedly star Keira Knightley) but it obviously missed its first start date in May 2016. Is it still on?
1940 The first McDonalds opens in San Bernadino California. The recent movie The Founder, which was absolutely demolished by that stupid release move to a one-week qualifying Oscar run, details how the initial success ballooned and at what price.
In its honor today: Don't eat there -- It's terrible for you; your childhood tastebuds lied!
Greg, Emma, and their two kids in 2014
OTHER BIRTHDAYS
Actors James Mason, Laine Kazan, David Krumholtz, Husband o' Emma Thompson Greg Wise, Oscar nominee Chazz Palminterri (Bullets Over Broadway), Director Jûzô Itami (Tampopo), Writer Peter Shaffer (Amadeus), and musician Stevie Wonder share this as their special day.
What do you suppose Emma got Greg for his birthday?
OTHER ANNIVERSARIES
Anne Boleyn's trial which leads to her execution begins (1536), President Lincoln signs into law the Department of Agriculture (initially known as the Bureau of Agriculture) (1862), The National Woman Suffrage Association is formed by Susan B Antony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1869). In movie theaters, Mickey Mouse debuts in the short Plane Crazy (1928), and Angels and Demons and The Brothers Bloom both open (2009)
Reader Comments (8)
I never had a chance to catch The Founder. Was it good? Could Keaton have had an oscar nomination for his performance?
With McGriddles, McMuffins, Filet-o-Fish sandwiches, and now the Grand Mac, McDonald's will continue to get my business.
McDonald's in the 80's had authentic ingredients. Our nostalgia for what it used to be isn't simply the stuff of childhood myth making.
Sharon Stone, I need you to win supporting actress someday.
Caron n Gingold (who won best supp actress at Golden Globes) totally deserves a nom each.
I luv Deborak Kerr, but her meek spinister turn in Separate Tables is probably the weakest link in the 1958 best actress line up. I wld replace her nom w Caron.
I believe Keaton wld've a good chance o nom n maybe even a win had The Weinstein not bailed on The Founder. Then again, a Trump-like character who suceeded in swindling honest folks n din get his come uppance me might b a hard sell.
I'm so happy to see that Emma Thompson and Greg Wise have endured. I confess I thought at the time when they got together that he was a rebound for her as I was sad to see her and Kenneth Branagh separate as the first couple of British acting. Now, if we can only get her another Oscar nomination soon.
Emma Thompson's daughter looks just like her.
I Love Love Love musicals, but I could never warm up to Gigi.
Ana -- Claran has a good point. It might not have worked at any time but i bet he would've gotten some traction with the originally scheduled August release (and more box office too). I didn't think it was great but the fact that it did any business at all and decent business too at its crowded release date indicates people were interested and might have actually bought tickets if they had pushed it more in a less glut period for movies.
Ben, Lea, Colin, Rachel........the dreamiest people in a decidedly unsexy movie. Aren't we lucky that they're hot and mercurial to boot?