STS-131 launch & landing (4-5-10)

STS-131 crew

Seated (L-R): James Dutton, Alan Poindexter

Standing (L-R): Richard Mastracchio, Stephanie Wilson, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Naoko Yamazaki, Clayton Anderson

STS-131 mission patch

Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-131), launched April 5, 2010, was the longest mission for Discovery and the last 7-man crew flight.  Its crew consisted of Commander Alan Poindexter, Pilot James Dutton, Richard Mastracchio, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Stephanie Wilson, Naoko Yamazaki (JAXA), and Clayton Anderson.

The primary payload was the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Leonardo.  Discovery carried food and science supplies to the International Space Station, as well as the Muscle Atrophy Resistive Exercise (MARES) rack.

The crew returned to Earth April 20, after over 15 days in space. 

"Ben-Hur" wins record 11 Oscars 1960

Ben-Hur, the epic religious-based film, won a record 11 Academy Awards at the 32nd annual ceremony, held April 4, 1960.  It won Best Motion Picture for producer Sam Zimbalist, who passed away suddenly during the filming of Ben-Hur in 1958.  He is the only person to ever posthumously receive a Best Picture Award.  His wife, Mary, accepted the award and made a speech in honor of her late husband.

William Wyler won Best Director.  Charlton Heston won Best Actor for his portrayal as Judah Ben-Hur.  Hugh Griffith won Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Sheik Ildermin.  The film won Best Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture for Miklos Rozsa and Best Sound for Frank Milton.

William A. Horning was awarded Best Art Direction, Color with Edward Carfagno and Hugh Hunt.  Like Zimbalist, Horning died during the filming of Ben-Hur and was awarded the Oscar posthumously.  

Robert Surtees won Best Cinemtaography, Color.  Elizabeth Haffenden won Best Costume Design, Color.  Ralph E. Winters and John D. Dunning were awarded Best Film Editing.  Ben-Hur won Best Special Effects for Arnold Gillesie, Robert MacDonald and Milo Lory. 

The only category for which Ben-Hur received a nomination but did not win was Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium.  That award went to Room at the Top.

Luna 4 launched 1963

Luna 4, launched April 2, 1963, was the Soviet Union's first attempt at a soft landing on the moon.  Due to a malfunctioning navigation system, the spacecraft failed to perform a midcourse correction, which would have sent it toward the moon.  As a result, it missed the moon by over 5000 miles and is now in a heliocentric orbit between Earth and Mars. 

Happy birthday, actor extraordinaire Michael York!

Michael York, born March 27, 1942 in Buckinghamshire, England, has had a lengthy and stellar acting career, including some daring roles. He has appeared as D'Artagnan in several musketeers films as well as the Austin Powers movies.  He first appeared in Accident in 1967, but it was his role as Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet in 1968 that proved to be his break-out performance.  He starred with Angela Lansbury as a bisexual man in Something for Everyone.

He then went on to star as D'Artagnan in The Three Musketeers and its sequel, The Four Musketeers. He appeared in Murder on the Orient Express in 1974. 

In 2001, he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance in The Lot.

I think it is tragic that such an accomplished, versatile actor has not been nominated for more awards, especially an Oscar.  He truly is remarkable and seems under-rated.  He's one of my favorites.

Leonard Nimoy born 1931

Leonard Nimoy, born March 26, 1931 in Boston, Massachusetts, is best known for his portrayal of the Vulcan Mr. Spock in the Star Trek cinematic universe.  He played the character in the original series, the first five movies featuring the cast from the original series, and then appearances in some of the spin-off series and movies. He also directed, including Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.  

He made his Hollywood debut at 20, in Queen for a Day in a bit part.  He appeared briefly in the sci-fi classic Them!.

He was nominated for four Primetime Emmys, three of which were for his role as Spock. On January 16, 1985, he was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

He passed away in February 2015 from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

"Apollo 13" wins two Academy Awards 1996

Ron Howard's space masterpiece Apollo 13 was nominated for a whopping 9 Academy Awards, but went home with two at the 68th annual ceremony held March 25, 1996.  It won Best Film Editing for Mike Hill and Daniel P. Hanley, and Best Sound for Rick Dior, Steve Pederson, Scott Millan, and David MacMillan.

It received nominations for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor for Ed Harris, Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published, Best Original Dramatic Score, Best Art Direction, and Best Visual Effects.  Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, and Gary Sinise did not get nominated for their performances in Apollo 13.  The movie was based on the book Lost Moon by Jim Lovell and Jeffrey Kluger.

Pocahontas went two-for-two that night, winning Best Original Musical or Comedy Score and Best Original Song for Colors of the Wind; Music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. 

"Oklahoma!" wins two Academy Awards 1956

The movie adaption of Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical Oklahoma! won two Academy Awards at the 28th annual ceremony on March 21, 1956.  It won the awards for Best Sound Recording for Fred Hynes, and Best Scoring of a Musical Picture for Robert Russell Bennett, Jay Blackton, and Adolph Deutsch.

This was the first of five Academy Awards for Hynes, who would win awards for South Pacific and The Sound of Music. It was the only Oscar for Bennett and Blackton, but the first of three for Deutsch.

It was also nominated for Best Cinematography, Color and Best Film Editing, did not win either.  It was one of five movies to win two or more Oscars that evening!