On this day: Grace Kelly became a Princess, Madonna's "Live to Tell" and more... 
Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at 10:13AM
NATHANIEL R in BAFTA, Edgar Wright, Grace Kelly, Hayley Mills, Madonna, Maria Bello, Rick Moranis, Shia Labeouf, child stars, weddings

On this day in history as it relates to showbiz!

1907 Composer Miklós Rózsa born in Budapest. He becomes an Academy favorite in the early 40s and is nominated 17 times for his music with 3 Oscar wins (Spellbound, A Double Life, Ben-Hur

1922 Emmy winner Barbara Hale (Perry Mason) born in Illinois

⇱ 1946 Hayley Mills born in London. She becomes the very last winner of the special "juvenile Oscar winner" for Pollyanna (1960) and chases it with the classic twin comedy The Parent Trap (1961). Did you know she was TFE's favorite classic child star? Now you do.

1947 James Woods born in Vernal, Utah

1953 Rick Moranis born in Toronto. Today's movie fans probably don't know this but in '89 he starred in 3 consecutive $100 million grossers in one single summer (Ghostbusters II, Honey I Shrunk the Kids, Parenthood) and it was a very big deal because back then the same people weren't in every movie. TFE's theory is that casting is divided into two eras, pre Samuel L Jackson and after. After Samuel L Jackson (ASLL) it's mandatory to only have excessively familiar faces in every franchise, and it's even okay if they're competing franchises or the same franchises with different roles. It's madness! 

Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly on this exact day in 1956 arriving to their civil ceremony. More photos at Vogue

Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier on this day in 1956 greeting fans at their civil ceremony. More photos at Vogue

1956 Grace Kelly becomes a princess, marrying Prince Rainier III of Monaco (well, the civil ceremony at least) and thus ending her film career simultaneously. On this same day 80s star Eric Roberts is born.

1966 Underappreciated actor Frederick Weller (The Shape of ThingsThe Business of Strangers, Stonewall) born in New Orleans. Here's a stingy factoid: despite three Drama Desk nominations and a win, he's never been nominated for a Tony.

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1967 Happy 50th birthday to the awesome Maria Bello who should have been nominated for at least one Oscar (A History of Violence) maybe two (The Cooler)

1971 Happy 46th to Doctor Who and Killgrave himself, David Tennant

1974 Edgar Wright is born. Later becomes a beloved director of niche comedies. Famously ousted or quit Ant-Man depending on what you believe. Next up: a crime flick with pretty great reviews Baby Driver

1983 Happy 34th to Reeve Carney, of Penny Dreadful and Spider-Man on Broadway fame

1986 At Close Range opens in movie theaters starring Sean Penn and Mary Stuart Masterson. Madonna, then a newlywed, did the theme song "Live to Tell" for her new hubby's film. Despite being early in her career it's already her third hit movie theme song (after "Into the Groove" from Desperately Seeking Susan and "Crazy For You" from Vision Quest). There would be many more but Oscar snubbed her every f***ing time. Rude.

1998 The 51st BAFTAs are held. This is back when BAFTA wasn't trying to be an Oscar predictor. The winners were The Full Monty (1997) -- yes it beat Titanic AND LA Confidential for Best Film -- and Baz Lurhmann for Best Director for Romeo + Juliet (a 1996 film but apparently released in the UK in 97).

← 2003 Holes opens starring teenager Shia Labeouf

2006 Suri Cruise born to Tom & Katie. Instantly very very famous. Which must be so weird

2012 American Bandstand host Dick Clark dies, ending theories that he was immortal and never aging

2015 "Uptown Funk" enjoys its last week as the #1 song after a very long run. We've always loved it because it name-checks Michelle Pfeiffer upfront

This hit, that ice cold
Michelle Pfeiffer, that white gold 🎵

2017 ... who knows?!? Each day could be our last given the ignorant petulant batty old men in the White House. Enjoy your life. Celebrate something today!  

Article originally appeared on The Film Experience (http://thefilmexperience.net/).
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