March 10 - Gregory La Cava

Happy Birthday, Gregory La Cava! Born today in 1892, this American film director of Italian decent is best known for his films of the 1930s. 

  

This includes the film of which he is best known for directing: the 1936 American black and white screwball romance/comedy film 'My Man Godfrey'. 

  

Based off of the 1935 novel 1101 Park Avenue by American writer on the staff of The New Yorker, novelist and screenwriter Eric S. Hatch (who also co-wrote the screenplay), the film is set during the Great Depression. 

  

It tells of Fifth Avenue socialite Irene Bullock (Carole Lombard), who needs a "forgotten man" to win a scavenger hunt. And no one is more forgotten than Godfrey "Smith" Parks (William Powell), who resides in a New York City dump by the East River.  

  

Irene hires Godfrey as a servant for her riotously unhinged family, to the chagrin of her spoiled sister, Cornelia (Gail Patrick), who tries her best to get Godfrey fired. As Irene falls for her new butler, Godfrey turns the tables and teaches the frivolous Bullocks a lesson or two. 

  

The following year, 'My Man Godfrey' earned La Cava an Oscar nomination for Best Director at the 9th Academy Awards in early March 1937. 

  

Two years later, La Cava was nominated again for his 1937 American RKO black and white comedy-drama/drama film 'Stage Door'. This occurred at the 10th Academy Awards in March 1938. 

  

Years later, 'My Man Godfrey' was remade into a 1957 American CinemaScope Eastmancolor romance/ comedy film, with American stage, film, and television actress, dancer, and singer June Allyson and English actor, memoirist and novelist David Niven in the starring roles.  

  

In 1999, the original version of 'My Man Godfrey' was deemed "culturally significant" by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. 

  

La Cava had been active from 1916–1948. 

  

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March 10 - Luc Dardenne

Happy 66th Birthday, Luc Dardenne! Born today in 1954, this Belgian screenwriter, producer and film director is one half of the filmmaking duo collectively referred to as the Dardenne brothers. 

  

Along with his older brother Jean-Pierre, the duo won their first major international film prize when their first film of which they are best known for co-writing, co-producing and co-directing: the 1999 French-Belgian drama/youth novel film 'Rosetta' won the Palme d'Or and Best Actress awards at the 52nd Cannes Film Festival. 

  

The film tells of the Belgian seventeen-year-old Rosetta (Émilie Dequenne). She lives in a dilapidated trailer that has no running water, with only her indigent and alcoholic mother (Anne Yernaux) for company.  

  

After losing her job at a food processing plant, the teen struggles to find work in a bid to avoid falling into the same traps as her mother, but is rebuffed at every turn. Only Riquet (Fabrizio Rongione), who works at a nearby waffle stand, seems to care for Rosetta, but even that budding friendship has a price. 

  

Luc is also best known for co-writing, co-producing and co-directing the 2011 French drama/comedy-drama film 'Le gamin au vélo' ('The Kid with a Bike'). It. premiered at the 64th Cannes Film Festival and was co-winner of the festival's Grand Prix. 

  

This Belgian drama in which twelve-year-old Cyril Catoul (Thomas Doret) is abandoned by his father Guy (Jérémie Renier) and left in state care. 

Later on, Cyril finds a new friend in a local hairdresser named Samantha (Cécile de France), who takes pity on him and agrees to foster him on weekends. 

  

A trademark among the Dardenne brother's work tends to reflect left-wing themes and points-of-view. 

  

Along with Jean-Pierre, Luc has been active from 1978–present. 

  

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March 10 - Paul Haggis

Happy 67th Birthday, Paul Haggis! Born today in 1953 as Paul Edward Haggis, this Canadian screenwriter, producer and director of film and television is best known for two features. 

  

These include taking part in two consecutive Best Picture Oscar winners. The first was writing and producing Clint Eastwood's 2004 American sports/drama film 'Million Dollar Baby'. The following year, the film won Best Picture at the 77th Academy Awards in late February 2005. 

  

The second film of which Haggis is best known for co-wroting, co-producing and directing the 2004 (official release 2005) American drama/crime film 'Crash'. The following year, the film won Best Picture at the 78th Academy Awards in early March 2006. 

  

Haggis remains embroiled in a civil lawsuit related to an alleged sexual assault in New York City, New York in 2013. 

  

Haggis has been active from 1975–present. 

  

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