Another day, another chance to boost your spirits by celebrating showbiz history whilst you go about your here and now. Only four today since we decided the fifth would be better off in a beauty break style post later today.
May 18th Showbiz History
2018 Okay this is future history but Laika has claimed this date for their next movie. We don't know what it is yet but who cares, it's Laika!
In their honor today: Rank Laika's releases thus far in the comments. They are in chronological order Coraline (2009), Paranorman (2012), The Boxtrolls (2014), and Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)
Blockbusters of 1985, Auntie Mame and more after the jump...
1985 "Don't You (Forget About Me)," the theme song for John Hughes classic The Breakfast Club hits #1 on the Billboard singles chart. The movie, which had been out for 3 months by then, was nearing the end of its successful run. It was the 16th most popular film that year when all was said and done
1985's top 20 according to Box Office Mojo
In its honor today: Be thankful you aren't in high school anymore! All those labels. If you were alive in 1985, which of those top 20 movies did you see in theaters?
1952 Japanese actress Eiko Matsuda born in Tokyo. She becames (in)famous at 24 cutting off her lovers penis (onscreen that is) in the sexually charged classic In the Realm of the Senses. Have you ever seen it? It's... upsetting. But you probably know that without even watching it.
In her honor today: Tell us whose penis you'd most like to be rid of in the comments.
Auntie Mame (Rosalind Russell) and the fictional "Patrick Dennis"
1921 Patrick Dennis born in Chicago. In his thirties he becomes a best-selling author by writing loosely autobiographical but fictional comic novel "Auntie Mame: An Irreverent Escapade" which then becomes Auntie Mame the movie and eventually Mame the musical.
In his honor today: Honor your most eccentric relative today in some way, or contact them if they're still alive.
OTHER BIRTHDAYS
Writers and/or Directors: Frank Capra, Terry Zwigoff, Richard Brooks; Actress: Tina Fey; Actors: Massion Girotti, Robert Morse, Allen Leech, Chow Yun Fat; Musicians/Composers: Mark Mothersbaugh, George Strait, Perry Como, and Meredith Wilson
OTHER ANNIVERSARIES
Historical: Napoleon proclaimed "Emperor" of France (1804), Bram Stoker's Dracula published (1897); Awards: The Cranes are Flying wins the Palme d'Or (1958) which is to date the only Russian film ever to win, The Long Absence and Viridiana tie for the Palme d'Or (1961) at Cannes, and The Best Intentions (1992) by Billie August wins the Palme d'Or, and Taste of Cherry and Unagi (1997) make for another tied win of the Palme d'Or; Openings: Donnybrook! (1961) a Broadway musical version of The Quiet Man opens for a short unsuccessful run -- yes, they've been adapting movies to stage long before the here and now, Born to be Bad (1934) with Loretta Young and Clark Gable, Bird on a Wire (1990), Shrek (2001), Shrek the Third (2007), Battleship (2012), and What to Expect When You're Expecting (2012) all hit movie theaters.