happy birthday, Tony Curtis - an underrated actor, not only for his sharp work in Some Like It Hot but also Sweet Smell of Success and Operation Petticoat. Some Like It Hot is, in my not-so-humble opinion, the greatest comedy ever made and Tony is perfect in his role. Besides having great timing in his banter with Jack Lemmon, Tony’s facial expressions during the “I’m Through with Love” number at the end of the film are perfect.
happy birthday, Thomas Hardy - The Mayor of Casterbridge is a terrific Victorian-era novel. I would love to see the various adaptations.
happy birthday, Marilyn Monroe - Some Like It Hot is an absolute masterpiece and Marilyn is perfect in it. I have seen a number of her other films (Love Happy, All About Eve, Clash by Night, Don’t Bother to Knock, Monkey Business, Niagara, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, River of No Return, The Seven Year Itch, The Prince and the Showgirl) but Sugar Kane Kowalczyk will always be her greatest character and her performance of “I Wanna Be Loved by You” is iconic.
Glassed with cold sleep and dazzled by the moon,
out of the confused hammering dark of the train
I looked and saw under the moon’s cold sheet
your delicate dry breasts, country that built my heart;
and the small trees on their uncoloured slope
like poetry moved, articulate and sharp
and purposeful under the great dry flight of air,
under the crosswise currents of wind and star.
Clench down your strength, box-tree and ironbark.
Break with your violent root the virgin rock.
Draw from the flying dark its breath of dew
till the unliving come to life in you.
Be over the blind rock a skin of sense,
under the barren height a slender dance…
I woke and saw the dark small trees that burn
suddenly into flowers more lovely than the white moon.
happy birthday, Kylie Minogue - “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” is a modern dance classic. Her new song “Timebomb” is good too. Happy 44th, Kylie!
happy birthday, Muriel Barbery - author of one of the best novels I’ve ever read, The Elegance of the Hedgehog. It will make you stop and appreciate life more than you ever did before. Happy 43rd, Muriel!
happy birthday, Sondra Locke - she gives a beautiful performance as Mick in The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter. She also had an interesting directing career, including the infamous Ratboy. Happy 68th (or 65th?), Sondra!
happy birthday, Carey Mulligan - I will always be a fan thanks to her turn as Sally Sparrow in the “Doctor Who” episode “Blink.” (This interview with Craig Ferguson was delightful as well.) While I was less impressed by My Boy Jack and An Education, Northanger Abbey provided a nice outlet for sauciness. In any case, I look forward to The Great Gatsby. (And I hope she keeps the blonde hair; it seems much better on her than brunette does.) Happy 27th, Carey!
happy birthday, Cilla Black - this is my favorite version of “Anyone Who Had a Heart.” Happy 69th, Cilla!
happy birthday, Neil Finn - his vocal on Crowded House’s 1986 song “Don’t Dream It’s Over” is wonderful and his songwriting is beautiful. Happy 54th, Neil!
happy birthday, M.E. Kerr - the author of some really fantastic books: Dinky Hocker Shoots Smack!; If I Love You, Am I Trapped Forever?; Is That You, Miss Blue? (I think that one’s my favorite), Me Me Me Me: Not a Novel, Night Kites, Linger, Your Eyes in Stars and Someone Like Summer. Happy 85th, M.E.!
happy birthday, Siouxsie Sioux - an inimitable voice in rock music. I’m proud to own a shirt with her face and name on it. Happy 55th, Siouxsie!
happy birthday, Christopher Lee - he has been making movies and TV a thousand times better since the 1940s. He’s just completely awesome. Happy 90th, Sir Christopher!
