This week in history: 24th March – 30th March

The actor Robert Carradine stood in a forest.

Image via: http://sfsketchfest.com/

This week’s TWIH post combines the births of some influential actors and actresses and the release of a first-of-its-kind film.

On the 24th of March in 1954, in Hollywood, the youngest of the Carradine brothers was born. Robert Carradine began his acting career in 1972 alongside John Wayne in the western classic The CowboysOne of his best known roles had him portraying Sam McGuire, the father in the Disney Channel’s Lizzie McGuire. Unknown to many, Robert Carradine also starred in 2012’s Django Unchained!

On the 26th of the same month, in 1985, Keira Knightley was born. She grew up in London, and her first role was a small part in 1993’s Royal Celebration. Since then, she has starred in a huge number of brilliant films, including Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999), Bend it like Beckham (2002), and Doctor Zhivago (2002). One of her most famous roles is that of Lady Elizabeth Swann, which began in 2003’s Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

The première of Shaun of the Dead was on the 29th of March, 2004. Simon Pegg, one of the leading actors in the film, said that the film was the first ever “rom-com-zom”, or romantic comedy featuring zombies. The film went on to make $30,039,392. Horror great George A. Romero was so impressed with Simon Pegg’s work towards this film that he offered him a cameo role in his 2005 zombie flick Land of the Dead!

The best uses of music in modern film

Christian Bale's character Patrick Bateman stood next to a tape player, wearing a rain coat.

Every now and then a piece of music fits with a film so perfectly that it’s hard to imagine the scene without it, and you can’t hear the song without thinking of that perfect moment.

In no order, here are our top 5 perfect music-film combos:

1. American Psycho – Hip to be Square (Huey Lewis and the News)

The combination of the fantastically upbeat song and the absolutely bag-of-cats mad scene equals a winning combination. Bonus points for the lyrics matching Patrick Bateman’s ideals perfectly – he conforms to the stereotype but hates it, hence the bloodthirst. A sick kind of comedy, but it works.

2. Shaun of the Dead – Don’t Stop Me Now (Queen)

This scene reflects the idea of the film perfectly – a zombie comedy. The hectic sound of the track gives the already crazy scene even more energy, and it just makes the scene so much funnier.

3. Trainspotting – Perfect Day (Lou Reed)

Like Tarantino, Danny Boyle does a fantastic job of matching music to the perfect moments in his films. There is no better example of this than the use of this tune as the soundtrack to Renton’s overdose. At the same time it’s calming and disturbing, familiar and terrifying.

4. Fight Club – Where is my Mind (Pixies)

You could say this was the obvious choice to end this bonkers film with, but there’s no denying it – it just works. Kudos to Mr Fincher for this fantastic choice.

5. Closer – The Blower’s Daughter (Damien Rice)

This really is the ultimate song for this emotional rollercoaster. A beautiful song for a beautiful film, this Damien Rice classic completely sums the film up. “And so it is, just like you said it would be”. At the beginning you think it’s setting you up for a lovey-dovey romance, but it’s so much more. Hold on while I have a little cry.

So what do you guys think? If you’ve got any more ideas for us, stick them in the comments below!