Happy Birthday Anne Rice

Now truth be told my favorite Anne Rice novel is not about vampires. It is a wonderful journey through the Italian Renaissance world.



My three favorite vampire novels:






I also enjoy these Anne Rice novels staring vampires and mummies.

Happy Birthday Susan Sarandon

With her Best Actress Oscar for 'Dead Man Walking'

Happy Birthday Armand Assante

Happy Birthday Sting and Lorraine Bracco

Happy Birthday Julie

I know it's uncool to like Julie but Hell who needs to be cool.
Julie won an Oscar for 'Mary Poppins'. The debate goes on. Well Audrey Hepburn was punished for taking the Eliza role in 'My Fair Lady'. So no nom for Audrey. Would Audrey have won if nominated? Who knows.
After all these 44 years and looking back I'd have gone for Sophia Loren in 'Marriage Italian Style'.
'Nuff said.




So very happily I wish a Happy Birthday to Julie. You were and may still be cool.

Below some film posters of my favorite Julie movies.

Happy Birthday Deborah Kerr 9/30

Deborah Kerr died on Oct. 16, 2007. I had not yet begun this blog. Had it existed I would have done a major tribute to her. Why? Because she would have deserved it! Well it is never too late. So on her birthday I will begin with my number 8 favorite film 'The King and I'. That actually is the movie that introduced me to Miss Kerr. I would then work backward and then forward to view her films. In doing so I discovered one of the greatest actresses of all time.
It is said that when Louis B. Mayer met her he changed her name to Kerr because it rhymed with STAR. True or not it became the truth.

Deborah NEVER won an Oscar, Never!!! Along with Richard Burton and Peter O'Toole never winning, the shame of Oscar and it's often absurd choices continued.*
If there is a successor on film to Ms. Kerr it may be Kate Winslet another English Rose. Kate has yet to win the gold statue. The next time Kate is nominated and loses she will tie with Deborah for most noms most loses. Be careful Oscar you are too tainted already.
The biggest loose for Deborah was losing to Elizabeth Taylor for 'Butterfield 8;. Even Miss Taylor says it was "the worst piece of crap I ever made". Hollywood thought Liz was going to die after an emergency tracheonomy during the voting period. Deborah lost for 'The Sundowners' having given a pitch-perfect performance. Shame Shame Shame Oscar!
It's a somewhat lost fact that Deborah filmed the role without makeup. How many actresses would have done that at that time?

Over the next weeks I'll highlight some of my favorite Deborah movies. My recommendations. A variety as to drama, comedic ability and the power to make me me laugh, cry, think and keep me on the edge of my seat. She had it all and did it all. Film is a lesser place without her.

I give you Deborah Kerr







*(now although i think oscars often get it wrong i do get caught up in the hoopla as you will see at year end.)

Happy Birthday Elie Wiesel

The brilliant concentration camp survivor who taught us all to "NEVER FORGET".
He was THE Nazi hunter. His life and words should never be forgotten. He was one of the greats. Mr. Wiesel passed 9/20/2005 ten days prior to his 97th birthday.



"I was the accuser, God the accused. My eyes were open and I was alone – terribly alone in a world without God and without man."

Elie Wiesel, Night
(1958, translated by Stella Rodway)




The Family prior to the madness.



At 17 in Buchenwald where he was transferred to after being at Auschwitz. He was the only member of his immediate family to survive. If you only read one book on the horrors of the concentration camps let it be 'Night' by Mr. Wiesel

Happy Birthday Angie Dickinson, Fran Drescher & Fran Drescher

Happy Birthday Madeline Kahn 9/29

She stole the show, well almost, from the funny lady herself Barbra Streisand in 'What's Up Doc?'.







A laugh riot with the late Peter Boyle in 'Young Frankenstein'.



So great in Blazing Saddles doing a brilliant takeoff of Marlene Dietrich.


A real funny lady who just passed too too young.