Art, Culture, Entertainment
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, (1890 – 1976) is possibly the world's best-known mystery writer. The Guinness Book of Records listed her as the best-selling fiction author of all time with over two billion copies in the English language and in over 45 foreign languages, and most of her books and short stories have been filmed.
Her play The Mousetrap (opened in 1952) is the longest continuously running play in theatrical history – it still runs today after more than 20,000 performances.
Agatha Christie was meticulous in "playing fair" with the reader by giving all the information for solving the puzzle.
According to Times Online, the study conducted by neuro-linguists at the universities of London, Birmingham and Warwick shows that Agatha Christie peppered her prose with words and phrases that act as a trigger to raise levels of serotonin and endorphins, the chemical messengers in the brain that induce pleasure and satisfaction. Such words include she, yes, girl, kind, smiled and suddenly. Common phrases include "can you keep an eye on this", "more or less", "a day or two" and "something like that".
The cult painting by Leonardo da Vinci had no title till the biography of Leonardo was published 31 years after his death. The author of the biography identified the woman as Lisa, the wife of wealthy Florentine businessman Francesco del Giocondo. Mona is the contraction of Italian “madonna” (my lady).
The alternative title La Gioconda is the feminine form of Giocondo. These two names were established as official titles in the 19th century.
The true identity of the Mona Lisa, however, remains a mystery, and some experts believe that the painting is a self portrait of Leonardo.
Leonardo painted the Mona Lisa between 1503 and 1507 with oil on poplar wood. In 1516 the painting was brought from Italy to France, and sold to King Francis I for 4,000 écus.
It is known from the early copies that originally there were two columns on either side of the figure, but at some point after Leonardo's death the painting was cut down by having part of the panel at both sides removed.
The top 10 most memorable movie quotes according to the American Film Institute (AFI):
1. "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn" - Gone with the Wind (1939)
2. "I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse" - The Godfather (1972)
3. "You don't understand! I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I could've been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am." - On the Waterfront (1954)
4. "Toto, I've got a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore." - The Wizard of Oz (1939)
5. "Here's looking at you, kid." - Casablanca (1942)
6. "Go ahead, make my day." - Sudden Impact (1983)
7. "All right, Mr DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up." - Sunset Boulevard (1950)
8. "May the Force be with You." - Star Wars (1977)
9. "Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy night." - All About Eve (1950)
10. "You Talking to Me?" - Taxi Driver (1976)
Kazimir Malevich (1878-1935) is famous for Suprematism, an artistic movement introduced by the artist, and Black Square.
Malevich painted at least four Squares in the same technique (oil on canvas) between 1915 and the early 1930’s. They differ from each other not only in date of creation, but also in colour, the way they are drawn, and texture.
He painted his first Black Square in 1915. The artist reported that he could not sleep, eat, or drink for an entire week after he finished the painting, because he felt that Black Square was a breakthrough and a milestone in his artistic career as well as in the history of art in general.
The voice and boisterous laugh of Woody Woodpecker, the famous cartoon character born in 1941, belonged to the wife of Walter Lantz, Woody’s creator.
Gracie Lantz had at first offered to do Woody’s voice, but was turned down by her husband because Woody was a boy.
So, she taped her own audition and submitted it anonymously with the others to be listened to by the studio. And Walter Lantz picked her voice not knowing whom it belonged to.
Gracie Lantz initially declined screen credit, thinking children would be disappointed to know that Woody’s voice was supplied by a woman.
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