Today's 6: Jolie's Wedding, West Side Story's Dominance, and More
Friday, May 5, 2017 at 11:12AM 
We promised you a few anniversaries a day, but with the new twist of mood-boosting inspiration. Here we go
6 Anniversary Mood Busters for May 5th
2000 Angelina Jolie married Billy Bob Thornton. She famously carried a vial of his blood around her neck.
In this honor: Remember how immature YOU were 17 years ago. Evolving is good but so too (in moderation) is uninhibitedness of youth. Do something you used to do 17 years ago for fun. Find out if it's still a thrill!
Five more after the jump
1962 The West Side Story soundtrack hits #1 on the Billboard charts a month after the movie wins 10 Oscars. Stays at #1 position for more than a year, the longest #1 hold of all time (#2 is Michael Jackson's Thriller and #3 Fleetwood Mac's Rumors). The film remains in the top 100 of all time (adjusted for inflation) between Finding Dory and the original Harry Potter.
In its honor today: Listen to at least one of Leonard Bernstein's miraculous songs. It's one of those musicals where literally every song is a standalone classic.
1961 NASA sends the first man into space Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr. (for 15 minutes) eight years before landing a man on the moon, restoring faith in NASA after Russia beat us into space. No movie about this, though
In its honor today: Never give up. It takes lots of baby steps before giant leaps for mankind.
1941 The first modern perfume Chanel No. 5 was released. 63 years later Baz Luhrmann and Nicole Kidman reteamed post Moulin Rouge! to sell it by the truckloads with inarguably glam success.
In its honor today: Make sure you smell good before leaving the apartment. Think of Nicole Kidman every hour.
1927 Happy 90th birthday to Actress Pat Carroll born in Louisiana. Among her career highlights: an Emmy for the comedy / variety series Caesar's Hour in the 1950s, a Tony nomination for Catch a Star in the 1950s, a Drama Desk Award for playing Gertrude Stein Off Broadway in the 1950s, a Grammy win for voicing one of the all time best villains (Ursula) in The Little Mermaid in the 1980s and a Spirit Award nomination for her supporting role in Songcatcher (2000).
In her honor today: Quote at least one of her genius line readings from The Little Mermaid to a friend today to make them laugh. Ursula's quotes are perfect for so many moments in real life: "Life's full of tough choices i'n'it" or "don't underestimate the important of body language!" or just "zip!"
1914 Tyrone Power born in Cincinatti Ohio. You all know we'd desperately like him to have a biopic now that semi lookalike Zac Efron is available.
In his honor today: Be so sexy it hurts to look at you. Also rent one of his films if you haven't seen one. Among his classics: Lloyds of London (1936), In Old Chicago (1938), Marie Antoinette (1938), The Mask of Zorro (1940), Blood and Sand (1941), Black Swan (1942), The Razor's Edge (1946), Nightmare Alley (1947), and Witness for the Prosecution (1957),
Report back when you've done these six assignments. How'd they make you feel?
P.S. If you need even more anniversaries here's an old post on May 5th!
Reader Comments (12)
While Ty's best film is Nightmare Alley we should really watch one of his co-starring vehicles with Alice Faye, In Old Chicago, Alexander's Ragtime Band or Rose of Washington Square, since it's her birthday as well!
One excellent Power film that's rarely mentioned-probably because it's a tough one to track down-is Diplomatic Courier with Patricia Neal! It really should be better known.
Pat Carroll is always a delight!
The Right Stuff has a scene showing Alan Shepard going up into space! So there's at least one movie that can tie into that anniversary. :)
Witness for the Prosecution and Nightmare Alley are easily my favorite Tyrone Power movies, but I also really enjoy some of the movies he did opposite Linda Darnell; they made a great pair.
I absolutely love West Side Story - greatest musical ever, and Nat's right about every number being a stone cold classic - but if you're looking for a mood-lifter, stop watching after the rumble. The rest of the movie just makes me cry, every damn time.
Of course, if you're looking for that kind of catharsis, it's sublime. But I find enough - too many! - reasons to cry these days (unfortunately much uglier, angrier ones).
I love The Mask of Zorro. It was a childhood favorite.
All Hail Pat Carroll!
Does anyone else remember her being absolutely hilarious on the Carol Burnett Show in the early 70's? Especially during "As the Stomach Turns" sketches.
Tyrone in those early years is just dazzling, and I love Alice Faye, so as Joel6 mentions, watch one of their early movies. If you need added incentive, Rose of Washington Square is a thinly veiled bio of Fanny Brice and Nicky Arnstein, so you can have a contrast and compare with Barbra Streisand and Omar Sharif.
Hmm, Tyrone wins for eyelashes, but Omar wins for eyes. :-)
One (maybe) forgotten thing about the Jolie-Thornton pairing is his unceremonious dumping of Laura Dern to be with Jolie. Seeing the picture of them together, after all of these years, I can't help but think of Dern, as shades of Renata Klein ('Big Little Lies'), saying "You're dead in this town" to one (or both) of them. And rightly so.
Kidman never looked as peak-movie star gorgeous as she did in Luhrmann's "short film" for Chanel N°5. It may have been post-Botox, but the lips, the hair, the body, the majesty of her all (whether insane train or menswear) can't be beat. Love her/him/them.
West Side Story is everything. The Razor's Edge and Witness for the Prosecution are pretty great, too. No to Efron...period.
I miss Jolie the serious film actress.
One of these days, I think we'll see Laura Dern and Jennifer Aniston come together and form a tag team where their mission will be to DELETE Angelina Jolie.
Every time I hear the West Side Story music, I am enthralled anew.
They are my favorite Stephen Sondheim lyrics. The Sondheim dry precision and the Bernstein lush romanticism go together like the most intoxicating classic cocktail.
Power was one of the most beautiful male stars of Hollywood's golden age - an honest biography would be great.
Jo;ie was NEVER a serious actress.