1934: Happy Birthday Donald
Donald Fauntleroy Duck, was “born” on this day in 1934 when he made his first big screen appearance in Walt Disney’s Silly Symphony short, The Wise Little Hen. He was pretty much on his best behavior for his first film, but he earned his reputation for being a hothead soon after in Orphan’s Benefit. By 1937, Donald was given his own film series.
Over the years, the fowl-mouthed one has appeared in over 150 theatrical films; more than any other Disney character. In addition, his is also one of comic books’’ biggest stars. He also appeared in his own daily newspaper comic strip which incredibly ran from 1938 to 1995.
Donald has been the official mascot for the University of Oregon and the U.S. Coast Guard, his footprints were featured in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in 1984, got his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005. The voice of Mr. Duck has been supplied by Clarence Nash (from 1934-1985), Tony Anselmo (since 1985) and for Mickey and the Roadster Racers, he is voiced by Daniel Ross. (Image: The Disney Experience)
2017: The Mummy Rolls Over in Her Grave
In 1999, Brendan Fraser starred in a successful remake of The Mummy. This was followed by The Mummy Returns in 2001 and the Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor in 2008. Universal Pictures wanted to go for a fourth film but ultimately decided to reboot the series.
The new Mummy movie was supposed to be the start of a new “Dark Universe” film franchise. The hope was for the studio to create new versions of their classic monsters who could appear together in future films, much like the Marvel movies. It didn’t happen.
Writer Jon Spaihts had wanted to make a movie that was an homage to the original black-and-white Mummy movies, but that’s not what the studio produced. Directed by Alex Kurtzan, the movie starred Sofia Boutella as Princess Ahmanet, aka, the mummy. Tom Cruise played the hero. The movie also starred Annabelle Wallis, Jake Johnson, Courtney B. Vance and Russell Crowe as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
The end result was a disaster. The Mummy got terrible reviews and lost the studio $60-$95 million. Plans for future Dark Universe films were scrapped. The movie was nominated for eight Golden Raspberry awards. Cruise “won” the only award given for Worst Actor. (Image: Wikipedia/Universal Pictures)
Movies Released
- 2000: Gone in 60 Seconds
- 2006: Cars
- 2011: Super 8
- 2014: Murder in the First
- 2017: The Mummy
- 2023: Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
TV Series Debuts
- 2019: Smothered
- 2021: Loki
Famous Birthdays
- 1891: Cole Porter (composer)
- 1957: T.D. Jakes (pastor)
- 1961: Aaron Sorkin (screenwriter)
- 1961: Michael J. Fox (actor)
- 1963: Johnny Depp (actor)
- 1964: Gloria Reuben (actress)
- 1981: Natalie Portman (actress)
- 1988: Mae Whitman (actress)
- 2001: Xolo Mariduena (2001)
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