Happy Bryan Forbes centennial! An elegant presence in films like The guns of Navarone, he became an interesting director too. Love the the unbearable tension and the kitchen-sink atmosphere in Seance on a wet afternoon, my favorite Forbes-directed film.

Happy Karel Reisz centennial! A great actors’ director, loved his nuanced visuals and excessive style in films like Isadora.

As many will celebrate Norman Jewison’s great dramas, comedies and musicals, I’d like to bring some light to a small but charming rom-com that brings me back happy memories of the early 90s, Only you.

Norman Jewison’s Moonstruck is filled with magical moments (Cher kicking that beer can), great characters and 80s NY appeal. Such a lovely, warm, clever film, perfect to lift the spirit and renew our hope in life’s small miracles.

Norman Jewison was a great actor’s director. It was great to see Jane Fonda, Anne Bancroft and Meg Tilly challenging each other in Agnes of God. Loved how Jewison depicted the claustrophobic and rarefied atmosphere of a Catholic convent.

I loved the visuals in Norman Jewison’s The Thomas Crown Affair. McQueen and Dunaway were a very sexy couple. The epitome of “cool”.

Happy Norman Jewison centennial! A socially committed director, he left us great films such as In the heat of the night. Poitier’s intrinsic dignity, Steiger’s imposing presence, the sweaty, sticky atmosphere, Quincy Jones-Ray Charles theme song, the slap scene. A masterpiece.

RIP Brenda Fricker. Kind strength and resilience were her stock in trade, even in small parts like Pigeon Lady in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. She always struck me as a nice lady.

RIP Elsa Aguirre. The last surviving diva of the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema, her inmarcesible beauty graced the screen in noirs, popular comedies and melodramas such as Amar fue su pecado.

Harry Dean Stanton was one of the greatest American character actors. Among his performances in such favorite films as Cool hand Luke and Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, his claim to inmortality has to be his quietly moving Travis Henderson in Paris, Texas.

RIP Sam Neill. He was consistently great, but I liked him particularly in The piano, as the self restrained man incapable of connecting with and independent woman, and in Jurassic Park, where his excited enthusiasm for the rebirth of dinosaurs was truly infectious. Gone too son.

RIP Michael Byrne. He was great at playing depicable villains in films like Indiana Jones and the last crusade and Braveheart. From John Sturges and Richard Attenborough to Spielberg and Scorsese -in Gangs of New York-, he worked with several great directors throughout his long career.

Happy Fred Gwynne centennial! Beeing a Herman Munster’s fan, I’m always amazed when I spot him in dramas like On the waterfront and La luna. I’m glad he had a farewell worthy of his unfading charm in My cousin Vinny.

Happy Carleton Carpenter centennial! How lovely were he and Debbie Reynolds in films such as Three little words? MGM’s wholesome entertainment at its best.

RIP Joanna Pettet. From passionately committed young woman in love to mentally-broken victim of an abusive husband, she broke my heart in The group.

RIP Bonnie Tyler. This hits hard. The sound of her distinctively husky voice singing “Total eclipse of the heart” or “It’s a heartache” brings back memories of happier, simpler times. Thanks for being part of the soundtrack of my carefree childhood.

RIP Ann Blyth. She was great as Veda in Mildred Pierce, the ultimate spoiled child, capable of every wickedness to fulfill her desires. As for good girl roles, I loved her in Brute force. One of our few links to classic Hollywood. She will be missed.

RIP Giorgia Moll. From the twilight of Hollywood’s golden age in Mankiewicz’s The quiet American to the Nouvelle Vague’s cenit in Godard’s Le mépris, her vivacious beauty ligthened up the screen in some mid-century classics.

Happy Conrad L. Hall centennial! He had a great eye for natural light and for atmospheric interiors. Love his work in Cool hand Luke, The happy ending and Marathon man.

Happy Bernard Dhéran centennial! A character actor in the best French tradition, he played supporting roles in classics such as Les grandes manoeuvres, Christine and Classe tous risques.

Happy June Haver centennial! How lovely was Haver in films like The Dolly sisters? The quintessential Fox musical blonde.

Happy Mona Freeman centennial! Her radiant beauty and ingenue vibes made her the quintessential good girl in films like Angel face.

RIP Patrick Godfrey. He was a staple in Ivory & Merchant films such as A room with a view, Maurice and The remains of the day. A character actor in the best British tradition.

Happy Andy Griffith centennial! His claim to cinema immortality has to be his dark -and terrifyingly prescient- incarnation of the American dream in A face in the crowd. As the redneck turned TV star, he anticipated the era of polítical manipulation through media influencers.

MM’s closest role to her tragic myth is The misfits. Wistful, vulnerable, fragile, her luminous beauty was never more heartbreaking. A delicate performance that makes us wonder what else could she have achieved. As if being the most idolized classic Hollywood star isn’t enough.

Marilyn Monroe walked away with The Prince and the showgirl, even though she faced such a consummate thespian as Laurence Olivier. A testament to her superb comic skills, she also excelled at channeling the character’s compassionate empathy.

Some like it hot is the cenit of Marilyn Monroe’s sexy innocent image. Alcoholic, love yearning and imposibly gullible, her voluptuous body wrapped in the most tight-fitting dresses, she incarnated the girl-woman myth we tend to associate with her.

Gentleman prefer blondes is peak Monroe: flawless timing, playful sensuality, alluring dancing & singing. The sexy blonde takes agency: “Don't you know that a man being rich is like a girl being pretty? You wouldn't marry a girl just because she's pretty, but … doesn't it help?”

Sexy, conniving, dangerous, Marilyn Monroe was a great femme fatale in Niagara. The Niagara Falls strength matched the passion ignited by her signature walk, whisper-soft voice and sultry gaze. I wish she had been given more chances at noir.

Monkey business gave Marilyn Monroe one of her first comedy roles and she nailed it. As a sexy “dumb” blonde, she filled the shoes of such great comediennes as Jean Harlow and Judy Holliday.