“Cameron’s Titanic wins 11 Oscars,” “Elizabeth Taylor dies,” - This Day in History – Mar 23rd

Titanic wins Director, James Cameron 11 Oscars

Back in 1998, Director James Cameron who was known for his Sci-Fi movies, “The Terminator,” “Aliens,” and “The Abyss,” chose to direct a movie that was a historical ocean tragedy but a heartfelt love story as well.  The movie simply known as, “Titanic,” which starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, touched audiences and thus helped Cameron win an impressive 11 Academy Awards including Best Picture.  Only two films in Hollywood had won this many Oscars, “All About Eve,” in 1950 and “Ben Hur,” in 1959. 

Cameron was focused on creating a movie that was not only epic, but told a great sotry as well, according to history.com, “His ambition reached new heights with Titanic, a retelling of the ill-fated 1912 voyage of the unparalleled passenger steamship, which sank in the North Atlantic after striking an iceberg. Cameron's films were notorious for going long over schedule and way over budget, and Titanic was worse than most. Originally budgeted at $100 million, the film eventually topped out at about $200 million, more than any other film in history; it also missed its original release date, making the studio executives sweat as they envisioned another Heaven's Gate (the infamous big-budget flop that sank United Artists in the early 1980s).” 

“On Oscar night, Cameron echoed Leonardo DiCaprio's character in Titanic by shouting "I'm the king of the world!" upon accepting his Best Director statuette. While accepting Best Picture (as the film's producer), the filmmaker was slightly more subdued, asking for a moment of silence in remembrance of the more than 1,500 people who drowned on the Titanic.”

Legendary actress, Elizabeth Taylor, dies at 79

Back in 2011, Legendary Hollywood Actress, Elizabeth Taylor died at the age of 79 due to complications from congestive heart failure.  Ms. Taylor was well known not only for her beauty but also for her great acting skills in movies such as, “Cleopatra,” “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” “National Velvet.”

Born in London, England, Ms. Taylor would later move to Los Angeles with her parents and become a young actress with natural acting skills.  These attributes would later win Ms. Taylor two Oscars for her roles in the movies: “BUtterfield 8,” in 1960 and “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf” (1966).

History.com stated that, “Off-screen, Taylor’s colorful personal life generated numerous headlines. In 1950, the 18-year-old actress married hotel heir Conrad Hilton. The union lasted less than one year, and in 1952, she wed British actor Michael Wilding. The couple had two sons before divorcing in 1957. That same year, Taylor wed producer Mike Todd, with whom she had a daughter. A little over a year later, Todd died in a plane crash. In 1959, Taylor married singer Eddie Fisher (who left his wife Debbie Reynolds for Taylor); the union ended in 1964. Days after her divorce from Fisher was finalized, Taylor wed Welsh actor Richard Burton, with whom she co-starred in 1963’s “Cleopatra.” (Playing that film’s title role, Taylor became Hollywood’s highest-paid actress at the time.)” 

“In addition to her film career (her last silver-screen appearance was a cameo in 1994’s “The Flintstones”), Taylor’s legacy includes her work as a pioneering activist in the fight against AIDS. Starting in the 1980s, the actress helped raise millions of dollars to combat the disease.”

All History facts provided from the link below:

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jim-morrison-prompts-a-quotrally-for-decencyquot?catId=13