Monday, February 18, 2008

Movie Night

Some movies take me back. It's not that I just remember the plot, but I can remember who I saw it with, what I was wearing...the actual experience of watching it. Five movie experiences that stick in my mind are:
  1. The Graduate. The music, the whole feel is so '60's! I wore my tweed sleeveless reversible dress, with the matching coat.
  2. Gone With the Wind. Before the advent of VCR's we just waited for old movies to reappear in the theaters. I had to wait about 4 years after I read the book before this one came back around in 1967. My mom had described it in detail and there was a notice in the paper two months before it opened, so I was excited beyond belief. Sher drove her VW and actually flipped a U-ie on Main Street in a snowstorm when we saw a parking spot. We burst out crying in anticipation when the music started, much to the dismay of the viewers around us. I was sobbing out loud when Scarlet vowed, "I'll never be hungry again!" (I had a poster of Rhett Butler in our college dorm, and after I was married I hung it in my bathroom for lots of years. Yikes!)
  3. West Side Story (I went with a group of 12 and 13-year-old girls and we all bawled loudly during the scene after Tony got shot. Talk about hormonal! It was on a Saturday afternoon at the Southeast Theater in Sugarhouse.)
  4. The Young Philadelphians (I watched this on TV with my mom when I was 18. We both had the Hong Kong flu, but we stayed up until 2:am to see it. My mom loved Paul Newman and I could see why in this movie.)
  5. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (the music, Clint's poncho, stubble and dangling cigarette...c'mon, what's ugly about that? He didn't even have lines! He made my day!)
We watched The Way We Were last night. Was Robert Redford ever cuter? It's a movie that always makes me reflective about the McCarthy Era. I love it when a movie depicts a certain time in history, and pricks my mind, so I want to find out more about it. Five other great movies that do that are:
  1. To Kill a Mockingbird
  2. Remains of the Day
  3. All the President's Men
  4. Good Morning, Viet Nam
  5. The Great Escape
My friend at Sher-endipity posted a great story today about her experiences in 1969, and how she felt about the Viet Nam war. It's an interesting reminder of The Way We Were.

Was there a certain time or experience that opened your eyes to the world, and made you think in a bigger way? Has a movie or book given you insight?

In the category of movies I could watch over and over again:
  1. The Verdict
  2. 84 Charing Cross Road
  3. A Few Good Men
  4. Rebecca
  5. Dead Poet Society
What are your recommendations for movie night?

6 comments:

Ashlee said...

Oh, I loved Dead Poet's Society! Such a good movie, and it always makes me cry. Now, I get to watch that sad boy who "Carpe Diem"ed on House every week. He's still a great actor. :0)

Christie said...

Robert Redford was NEVER more handsome than in that movie. And Barbara - oh, just thinking about it makes me want to watch it again. Sound of Music is one of those that I could watch over and over. I still have a huge crush on Christopher Plummer even in his old age because I loved him as Captain VonTrapp.

Sheri said...

Glad you're back. You're insight is important.

Bev said...

Here's my short list: Mr Holland's Opus, Dead Poet's Society, To Kill a Mocking Bird

(Loved the book of Gone with the Wind, but didn't like the casting of the movie -- my Scarlet is a red head!)

I can remember exactly where and with whom I saw The Way We Were too --

Joy Des Jardins said...

Yep, Robert was at his peak in that movie....adorable. He's actually one of favorite actors ever....but I have a lot. I loved The Way We Were...brings back some pretty fond memories of that time.

kenju said...

I agree with you about Redford in that movie, but I'd watch him in anything!

I seldom see movies more than once, and if I do, it is by chance.