Writer Joe Elliott provides a fitting tribute to the late actor. Today marks the birthday of Fred MacMurray. It wasn’t until much later that I discovered what she meant. “Because of the jerks he played in the movies,” she told me. Not like Fred MacMurray? “But why?” I asked. I recall as a kid hearing her say she didn’t much care for him. Not so, a fact that was first brought home to me by my mother. One might have thought this was the kind of role MacMurray had always played. By Joe Elliott Classic Hollywood actor Fred MacMurray is probably best remembered today as the easy-going father in the popular, long-running 1960s family sit-com “My Three Sons.” As the head of the growing Douglas clan, the pipe-smoking, sweater-clad MacMurray each week dispensed his gentle blend of wisdom and humor to the delight of American television audiences. Times interview that the production was behind schedule and over-budget. Robbins also received an honorary Oscar that night for his “brilliant achievement in the art of choreography on film.” Ironically, Robbins had received his walking papers from his directing duties 45 days into production. The Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins adaptation of the Leonard Bernstein–Stephen Sondheim landmark Broadway musical waltzed away with 10 wins including Best Picture, Director (shared for the first time) and for supporting players Rita Moreno and George Chakiris. These took place at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium on Apwith Bob Hope hosting. Not surprisingly, it was the big winner at the 34th annual Oscars. That haul is impressive but pales next to that of the 1961 original which reaped a whopping 11 bids.
![mousterpiece cinema frozen mousterpiece cinema frozen](http://br.web.img2.acsta.net/c_300_300/pictures/210/589/21058939_20131119115519743.jpg)
Steven Spielberg’s acclaimed remake of “ West Side Story” has garnered seven Oscar nominations.