Steven Spielberg was born December 18, 1946, which makes today his 74th birthday. Spielberg is one of the 20th and 21st centuries’ most noted directors, producer, and writers. Film students study his movies and TV shows. Fans crowd to theaters. Critics applaud him. Studio accountants love him.
Spielberg has 180 credits as a producer and 58 credits as a director — so far. His repetoire is widely diverse: war dramas, action-adventure, cartoons, documentaries, sctience fiction, musicals, horror, and more. His career started on TV’s Wagon Train
Last year the Independent listed all his then current movies from worst to best. Your opinions may vary from theirs. Feel free to share your opinion in the comments section below.
Spielberg’s contribution to motion pictures and popular culture has been profound. Among his achievements in more geek-oriented films are:
- E.T. The Extra Terrestial
- Close Encounters of the Third Kind
- Jurassic Park
- The Indiana Jones franchise
- War Horse
- Young Sherlock Holmes
- The Adventures of Tintin
- Hook
- The BFG
- Ready Player One
Spielberg has a strong resumé when it comes to more mainstream fare as well. Also carrying the Steven Spielberg directorial mark are movies including The Color Purple (nominated for 11 Academy Awards), Schindler’s List (winning 7 Academy Awards from its 11 nominations), and the critically acclaimed Amistead .
The Independent says Jaws ” changed the movie business forever, as studios quickly shifted their focus toward summer ‘tentpoles.’ Without Jaws, there might not have been a Star Wars.”
We wish Steven Spielberg a happy birthday, and thank him for Animaniacs and Henry Jones, Jr, for Big Friendly Giants and childhood friendships with aliens from other worlds. We look forward to his future projects. IMDB called him “one of the most influential personalities in the history of cinema, [and] Hollywood’s best known director.” We cannot disagree with them.
Steven Spielberg has no immediate plans to retire. His latest project, the star-strewn Cats, is due to be released December 20, 2019. Several projects have been announced as being in the planning stages or in preproduction: Who Framed Roger Rabbit 2, two Tintin sequels, Indiana Jones 5, and Gremlins 3.
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Susan Macdonald is the author of the children's book "R is for Renaissance Faire", as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in "Alternative Truths", "Swords and Sorceress #30", Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, "Cat Tails" "Under Western Stars", and "Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid". Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio's web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions, Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows.
