Sunday, November 15, 2009

Birthday Suits: ABBA Alert!

Celebrating cinema-related birthdays of the day. Is November 15th your special day?

1879 Lewis Stone star of the only lost Oscar Best Picture nominee, The Patriot (1928). No, you'll never see 100% of the Best Picture or Best Actor nominees. Not even if you try
1932 Petula Clarke singer/actress
1937 Yaphett Kotto actor
<--- 1945 Anna Frid "Frida" Lyngstad, my favorite member of ABBA. I love her so much I'm letting her wear a jumpsuit instead of the traditional suits favored in these posts. ABBA's flamboyant fashion sense could never be contained! [see also ABBA: The Movie recap]
1951 Beverly D'Angelo actress
1957 Ray McKinnon actor, best known for Deadwood on HBO. He's currently in movie theaters doing fine work in That Evening Sun. And, surprise, he's actually an Oscar winner already having won the Best Live Action Short Film category in for his directorial debut The Accountant (2001)
1972 Jonny Lee Miller, actor, Trainspotter, Angelina survivor, Friend of Jude, visionary lawyer.
1976 Virginie Ledoyen French actress to whom I am largely indifferent and, thus, a rare creature indeed. Well known films include The Beach, 8 Women, Bon Voyage and The Valet.

Finally, Georgia O'Keeffe the artist was born 122 years ago today. No one but Pfans will remember this but Michelle Pfeiffer wanted to portray the magnificent vagina flower-loving icon for many years. She never did. Instead we had to wait until this year when Joan Allen took a crack at it for Lifetime Television. I love Joan Allen but the poster alone, which photoshopped all the life from Joan's wonderful face until she looked positively doll-like and disturbing (why?) stood like a threatening "Beware of TV Movie" sign. But O'Keefe did have a bio worthy life. Did anyone dare that basic cable experience? If so, tell us what you thought.