"I've had great success being a total idiot."

Happy Birthday, Jerry Lewis!

Jerry Lewis (born March 16, 1926) is an American comedian, actor and singer. Lewis grew to fame in comedy duo Lewis and Martin, where Dean Martin performed the straight man to Lewis's slapstick humor. The two would perform together in clubs, on the radio, on live television and in many films. After the duo went their separate ways, Lewis continued to star in films and eventually directed them too. Later in his life, Lewis taught directing classes at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles where his students included Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. Lewis has numerous awards and two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He is best known for his roles in The Bellboy (1960), Cinderfella (1960), The Nutty Professor (1963) and The King of Comedy (1983).

"It's fun to draw for me and explore what's there." To create a drawing and see it "come alive, (that) you've caught something, something unique."

Happy Birthday, Joe Ranft!

Joe Ranft (March 13th, 1960 - August 16, 2005) was an American screenwriter, voice actor and animator most known for his work with Disney and Pixar. Ranft was inspired by art, magic and comedy from a very young age. His success with art both in school then in college led him to pursue it as a career. Ranft was lifelong friends with Pixar creative officer John Lasseter and his brother Jerome Ranft also worked at Pixar. Ranft's best known films include Oliver and Company, The Rescuers Down Under, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Beauty and the Beast, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Lion King, and Fantasia 2000. Ranft appeared as a voice actor in Finding Nemo where he played French shrimp Jacques and also in A Bug's Life where he played Heimlich the caterpillar. Ranft died in a car accident in 2005 but his name and memory lives on in the stories of now classic Disney and Pixar films.

"I realize how talented our hair and wardrobe people are every time I have to get dressed on my own."

Happy Birthday, Jon Hamm!

Jon Hamm (born March 10th, 1971) is an American film and television actor. After being raised in Missouri and living through the death of both his parents, Hamm moved to Los Angeles. He struggled for many years to land parts and served tables in the meantime. After a string of small roles on various television shows, Hamm was eventually cast as the lead character of Don Draper on critically-acclaimed AMC series Mad Men. For this role, Hamm received much attention and praise. He won a Golden Globe and an Emmy for this performance, as well as six other major awards and dozens of nominations.

Happy Birthday, Claire Trevor!

Claire Trevor (March 8, 1910 – April 8, 2000),   "The Queen of Film Noir," was an American Academy Award-winning actress. She appeared in over 60 films, including Dead End (1937), Stagecoach (1939), Born to Kill (1947), Key Largo (1948) and The High and the Mighty (1954). For her talents, Trevor won an Oscar for best actress in a supporting role (Key Largo, 1948) and was awarded a star on Hollywood Boulevard. 

“There is little room in my life for sentiment and soft words”

Happy Birthday, Victor Fleming!

Victor Lonzo Fleming (February 23, 1889 – January 6, 1949) was an American film director and cinematographer. He is best remembered for his two most successful films, The Wizard of Oz (1939) and Gone with the Wind (1939) as well as a string of other MGM classics such as Treasure Island (1934), Captains Courageous (1937) and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941). Fleming was known for his adventurous action scenes and ability to muster hard-hitting dramatic moments from some of Hollywood's notoriously fussy stars. Fleming showed no hesitation to pursue his love of fast cars, airplanes and newfangled machines. His strong and silent demeanor and love for the outdoors made him an archetype of classic American masculinity. His name sits proudly on the top ten list of AFI's greatest 100 films.

If film references and typography are your thing, here are two minutes of extreme visual stimulation. Created by Evan Seitz, these two videos go through the alphabet with fast-paced, stunning motion graphics and soundbites from each film. ABCinema seeks to test self-nominated movie buffs by quizzing their knowledge while providing some interesting visuals.

"I always preferred to hang out with the outcasts, 'cause they were cooler. They had better taste in music."

Happy Birthday, John Hughes!

John Hughes was an American screenwriter and film director, most known for his era-defining teen films and classic comedies. His most celebrated titles include: National Lampoon's Vacation, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Weird Science, The Breakfast Club, Some Kind of Wonderful, Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Uncle Buck, Home Alone, and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. John Hughes brought many young and child actors to fame with his empathy, understanding and directing skills. These included but were not limited to Molly Ringwald and Macaulay Culkin. Hughe's films showed the world of high school in a brutally honest light. His audiences responded deeply to that, finally seeing in these films what they knew to be true from their own lives. When Hughes died of a heart attack at age 59, he was mourned by the many actors who he had inspired. His films continue to be popular to this day.

Happy Birthday, Mia Farrow!

Mia Farrow (born February 9th, 1945) is an American film actress, humanitarian, political activist and mother of fifteen children, both biological and adopted. Farrow starred in many great roles over the course of her life. These included Rosemary's Baby (1968), Secret Ceremony (1968), John and Mary (1969), Follow Me (1972), The Great Gatsby (1974), The Omen (2006), Be Kind Rewind (2008) and Luc Besson's Arthur Series (2006-2010). Farrow was in a relationship with film director Woody Allen for several years, during which she was a star in many of his films. These credits include Zelig (1983), Broadway Danny Rose (1984), The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), Hannah and Her Sisters (1986), Radio Days (1987) and Alice (1990). She is a Goodwill Ambassador at UNICEF and a firm believer in children's rights. As well as this, Farrow campaigned for "Dream for Darfur", narrated a documentary about Rwandan genocide and testified against the former Liberian President. Farrow's involvement with countless charities and campaigns has led her to be named as one of the world's most influential people.

Happy Birthday, James Dean.

"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today."

James Byron Dean (February 8th, 1931 - September 30th, 1955) was an American actor best known for his lead role in the film Rebel Without A Cause (1955). James Dean became an icon and legend in popular culture. His portrayal of the "disillusioned teenager" struck young people nationwide and he is used to exemplify the "teen rebel" figure to this day. Dean was also a lead actor in the films East of Eden (1955) and Giant (1956), the latter earning him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. James Dean died in a car crash at the young age of 24. This tragic accident would forever cement his name as one of Hollywood's most mysterious and loved stars.

Paperman is a new Oscar-nominated short film from Disney director John Kahrs. In this six minute love story, two Manhattanites fall head over heels for each other and spend the day chasing each other's attention through the busy city streets. A cute and beautifully animated distraction to your day.