Actors often take on roles in movies that have little in common, but their performances still leave a lasting impression. Leonardo DiCaprio is a prime example, jumping between different genres and stories while showcasing his range in each one. 1. Titanic (1997) – Romantic Drama DiCaprio stars as Jack Dawson, a penniless artist who falls […]
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AU Alums on the Silver Screen
AU isn’t just a Capitol Hill breeding ground—it’s also the alma mater of a number of acclaimed actors, writers, and directors of whom you may have heard. Here are a few AU alumni in the entertainment industry with works you can check out from our collection. Caroline AaronActor and playwright Caroline Aaron graduated from AU […]
Continue readingHappy Birthday Jeff Goldblum
Happy Birthday Jeff Goldblum! An actor so fixed in our collective cultural consciousness that this: Became this: Of all the ways to commemorate the original Jurassic Park’s 25th anniversary, this was certainly the most… interesting. But anyway, happy birthday to Jeff Goldblum. Many happy returns, and may you always be memeable. You can check out […]
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Julie Andrews: Practically Perfect in Every Way
I originally planned to post this yesterday, but three blog posts seemed a little much for one day. Yesterday, October 1, 2018, was Dame Julie Andrews’ 83rd birthday. The Queen of England may only have made her a knight, but Julie will always be the Queen of Genovia, and the ultimate Queen of Shade.
Andrews began her career as a child performer in post-war London, and she gained fame by appearing in Broadway musicals in the late 1950s. In 1956, she originated the role of Eliza Doolittle in the Broadway production of My Fair Lady, and was soon cast in Camelot and Cinderella. However, when Warner Brothers won the movie rights to My Fair Lady, studio executive Jack Warner cast Audrey Hepburn as Eliza, rather than casting Andrews. Warner was banking on Hepburn’s name recognition, and doubted that the relatively unknown Andrews could draw the audiences needed to make the film a success.
Oh how Jack Warner would come to eat his words. Walt Disney, who saw Andrews in Camelot, knew that she was the practically perfect choice to play Mary Poppins. After begging her to take the role, he even paused pre-production on the film in order to accommodate Andrews’ pregnancy. Mary Poppins went on to become a huge box office success, and Andrews earned an Oscar and a Golden Globe for her performance.
We all know Julie Andrews is the classiest woman alive, but she couldn’t help taking just a bit of revenge against Warner. During her Golden Globes Acceptance speech, she closed with: “And, finally, my thanks to a man who made a wonderful movie and who made all this possible in the first place, Mr. Jack Warner.” If that short dig isn’t the classiest little bit of revenge, then I don’t know what is.
So happy birthday Julie Andrews! If you want to see (or hear) more of this incredible actress with a voice like silver bells, you can find these movies in the AU Media Collection:
- Marry Poppins (DVD 7850)
- The Sound of Music (DVD 5916)
- Thoroughly Modern Millie (Music Library DVD 253)
- Alfred Hitchcock’s Torn Curtain (DVD 5199)
- Victor/Victoria (DVD 6740)
- Shrek 2 (DVD 13518)
Sessue Hayakawa
I’m not sure why, but the zeitgeist seems to want me to think a lot about Sessue Hayakawa these days. It’s funny, but on his Wikipedia page one of the things that’s remarked about him is that it’s weird how he was a huge sex symbol when later Asian men in Hollywood were so desexualized. In fact, he […]
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