Six random things that happened on this day, December 10th, in showbiz history
1966 "Good Vibrations" by The Beach Boys, considered on of the most influential and important compositions of the rock era, hits #1. Remember when Paul Dano did such amazing work playing Beach Boys genius Brian Wilson in the biopic Love & Mercy (2015) and then got such a shabby awards season response (though at least we nominated him here!)?
Superman met President Jimmy Carter on this day in 1978!
1978 Superman: The Movie had a charity gala world premiere in Washington DC (the first of a few glitzy events before opening in theaters on the 15th). You can see a lot of great archived material from Superman's various premieres at the Caped Wonder website. The movie was an instant smash hit and basically birthed the superhero blockbuster.
1999 The Green Mile and Cider House Rules both open in theaters, crashing the Oscar buzz party and hogging plentiful nominations (including 40% of the Best Picture race) in a really unfortunate Oscar year. Funny how it happens that exceptional film years (as most people agree 1999 was) often results in the worst Oscar seasons as if too-much-of-a-good-thing causes mass confusion and suppresses the good-taste vote.
2001 Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring premieres in London with virtually the entire cast present. What wonders were in store for all of us in movie theaters over the for the next three years of December openings.
2010 The Tourist starring Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp opens in theaters. Today that particular dud is arguably best remembered for the scandal of those three unjustifiable Golden Globe nominations in "Musical or Comedy" that happened a few days later, even though the movie wasn't a musical or comedy AND everyone thought it was bad. I've been known to defend the Globes on occassion but every once in a while they'll do something like that to give more than ample ammunition to their haters.
2021 Steven Spielberg's remake of West Side Story is set to open in movie theaters exactly a year from today! We've written about the remake a few times and the original in depth here at TFE so you can explore that tag if you so desire.
Today's Birthday Suit
Happy 40th to Bollywood action star Vidyut Jammwal (Junglee, Force, and the Commando franchise) who like seemingly 90% of Bollywood's top male stars, loves to show off the body that's surely a full time job in and of itself to maintain.
Other showbiz people to ❤️ who were born on this day
Former would be Olivier 2.0 Kenneth Branagh, hunky Australian actor Xavier Samuels (Love and Friendship, Adore) who is in the two biggest biopics next year (Blonde and 'Untitled Elvis') in supporting roles, The Informer's Oscar winning Victor McLaglen, The Green Mile's Michael Clarke Duncan, The Sand Pebbles' Oscar nominated Mako, Saronged beauty Dorothy Lamour, underrated character actress Fionnula Flanagan, and that's so Raven-Symoné.