8 random things that happened on this day (November 23rd) in showbiz history
1923 Cecil B DeMille's The Ten Commandments premieres. He would of course remake it as the infinitely better-remembered 1956 camp? technicolor classic of the same name.
1934 Romantic drama The Painted Veil starring Greta Garbo and Herbert Marshall opens in movie theaters. It's later remade (quite well!) in 2006 with Naomi Watts and Edward Norton.
1979 "Another Brick in the Wall (Pt 2) single from Pink Floyd released. Their classic album "The Wall" which will also be a movie, follows a week later.
1988 The Bill Murray Christmas comedy "Scrooged" opens in movie theaters. Carol Kane was awesome as the Ghost of Christmas Present. The film received one Oscar nomination for Best Makeup.
1991 Freddie Mercury releases the following statement:
Following the enormous conjecture in the press over the last two weeks, I wish to confirm that I have been tested HIV positive and have AIDS. I felt it correct to keep this information private to date to protect the privacy of those around me. However, the time has come now for my friends and fans around the world to know the truth and I hope that everyone will join with me, my doctors and all those worldwide in the fight against this terrible disease. My privacy has always been very special to me and I am famous for my lack of interviews. Please understand this policy will continue.
He dies the very next day. The new film Bohemian Rhapsody fudges with the timeline of his life quite a bit.
1993 HAPPY 25TH ANNIVERSARY TO MRS DOUBTFIRE, a huge hit released on this day. If you were a kid at the time did you go with your family?
2005 Rent the misfire screen adaptation of the Broadway phenomenon opens.
2018 Two of the best films of the year, Japan's Shoplifters (our interview) and the new actress-triangle comedy The Favourite (our review) open in movie theaters in limited release today. Expand them to expand as Oscar buzz builds.
Today's Birthday Suit
Happy 26th birthday to Miley Cyrus. Remember when Anne Hathaway did that amazing lipsync to "Wrecking Ball"?
What are your favorite Miley Cyrus songs? My favs in no particular order: Wrecking Ball, Rainbowland (w/ Dolly Parton), Can't Be Tamed, Week Without You, We Can't Stop, Maybe You're Right, and Malibu.
Other Celebrity Birthdays Today
Oscar Winners: Songwriter Johnny Mandel (The Sandpiper), Screenwriter Robert Towne (Chinatown)
Oscar Nominees: Cinematography Rodrigo Prieto (Brokeback Mountain), Screenwriter James Toback (Bugsy)
Actors: Susan Anspach, Vincent Cassel, Maxwell Caulfield, Oded Fehr, Michael Gough, Boris Karloff, Harpo Marx, and Franco Nero
Other Show People: Model Matthieu Charneau, Director Destin Daniel Cretton (Short Term 12), Screenwriter Joe Esterhasz (Basic Instinct), Newscaster Robin Roberts, Comic Bruce Vilanch (The Oscars)