On this day in history: The very first Oscars, Loving, and more...
Monday, May 16, 2016 at 3:00PM Every once in awhile we do this to remind ourselves that this moment we're in is fleeting but time is infinite or something... and I'm not even stoned while typing this.
On this day in movie-related history...
1770 14-year-old Marie Antoinette marries the future King of France, Louis-Auguste. On the plus side this arranged marriage leads to a life of extravagance and cake eating dramatized over and over again by glam goddessses like Norma Shearer, Nina Foch, Michèle Morgan, Diane Kruger, and Kirsten Dunst. On the con side: head in a basket.
1886 The man billed as "America's first serial killer" HH Holmes is born. Roughly 130 years later Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio will begin threatening to make a movie about him ( Devil in the White City) but both have so many projects brewing you never know.
1905 Henry Fonda is born. Among his many major showbiz accomplishments: 12 Angry Men, The Grapes of Wrath, On Golden Pond, an Oscar, a Grammy, a Tony, a BAFTA, a Golden Globe, and Jane Fonda.
1919 Liberace is born, eventually winning an Emmy & Golden Globe for Michael Douglas
Janet Gaynor won an Oscar in 1929 and then played an Oscar winner in 1937's A Star is Born
Invite to first Oscars - photo via The Hollywood Reporter
1929 The very first Academy Awards is held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Wings wins "Outstanding Picture" and Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans takes "Unique & Artistic Picture". Eventually there's only one "Best Picture" prize but it takes AMPAS several years to set their traditions firmly in place. One tradition that's set in place immediately is the double standard of age with leading men and leading ladies: The first Best Actor winner (Emil Jannings) was 44 years and the first Best Actress winner (Janet Gaynor) was 22.
1937 Future Batgirl / Nathaniel crush Yvonne Craig is born
1957 80s superstar Debra Winger is born. JUST CELEBRATED
1959 Mare Winningham is born. Basically May 16th is a magical day in which many famous actresses emerged from the womb.
1966 On an major day for music history, both "Blonde on Blonde" by Bob Dylan and "Pet Sounds" by the Beach Boys are released. The scenes of the latter's creation in Love & Mercy were the highlight of that film, don'cha think? And over in Gary Indiana the ginormous and ever troubled Jackson family welcomes their 10th and final child, Janet Jackson -- "Miss Jackson" if you're nasty.
She goes on to make one of the greatest music videos of all time co-starring Antonio Sabato Jr, Carlton Wilborn (from Madonna's Truth or Dare), and future Oscar nominee Djimon Hounsou. (No, I have no idea why this video is split into side by side frames but it's the only good version on YouTube...sigh)
1977 Heavenly creature Melanie Lynskey is born in New Zealand, making the world a better place.
1986 Megan Fox is born to become a sex symbol for men who like movies about giant f***ing robots and ninja turtles.
2016 As we suspected Loving generates Best Actress Oscar buzz at Cannes for Ruth Negga. Also gets this lovely poster
'Loving' Clip from The Playlist on Vimeo.
Reader Comments (9)
Yay for the Janet shout-out! She has had MANY great videos, some which, in their longer forms, are very cinematic. Not to mention videos like "When I Think of You" and especially "Alright" that really show a love for old musicals, movie stars and Hollywood.
And while I don't think she's found a movie that really showcases her particular kind of charisma, I think she's better than the credit she generally gets in most of her films.
If Viloa ain't ready maybe Negga can win that Oscar.
Love me some Janet,Beyonce watch and learn.
Beyonce already surpassed Janet mark.
If Ruth Negga wins Cannes does this mean she becomes the first black woman to win Best Actress there?
Sabato Jr is one of those actors who would have had a better career during the studio era.
That video is what made me gay. ;)
/3rtful:
Linda Mvusi was the first with A World Apart(1988) shared with
Barbara Hershey and Jodhi May in the same movie.
Goddamn, that Janet video. Yeah, that was when puberty arrived for me.
I love Janet! Her last album was truly a return-to-form and criminally slept-on. If Nipplegate didn't happen, I think her impressive string of hits would have continued. There's no way "I Want You" from Damita Jo wouldn't have been a smash, for example.
Entertainment Weekly just did a list of their picks for her 50 best songs, in celebration of her birthday.
As for Janet and Beyonce--let them both have their due. They are both incredible.
Loving the Negga buzz.
But I'm also sensing a huge support for Stewart in Personal Shopper.