Saturday, July 21, 2012

Tradition!


Aha! You thought I was going to talk about Fiddler on the Roof - but, no. This week’s topic is, however, all about movie-watching traditions.  I know every family has them. 

When my children were younger, we would watch certain movies for holidays as well as our regular Christmas fare.  Easter was always Ben-Hur; Thanksgiving weekend was The Great Race, and summer? Well, summertime continues to be franchise-fests (and the kids are not even at home anymore)!  We certainly have our favorites.  And as I read posts on Facebook these days, I see many posts from summer movie marathoners.

Right now, we’re enjoying some Bond films that we don’t know the plots by memory – so this includes Sean Connery’s and Pierce Brosnan’s turns as 007 (since we know ALL of Roger Moore’s takes!


Later this summer, we’ll join in on those infamous adventures with Indiana Jones, followed by journeying into the “long time ago to a galaxy far, far away”.  












By then, it’s autumn, and we return to our "Sunday Movie Night.”  We take three weeks to visit the Shire and the far lands of Middle Earth, which then catapult us into “Space, the final frontier” and the films of both Captains J.T. Kirk & J-L Picard. 



Somewhere in there, the Christmas season arrives and those holiday films get sprinkled in during those few days.  Then, as late winter and early spring arrive, it’s time to venture into recent theatre releases that are no longer new, but new for us.  Late spring?  Add a few classics (which I watch on a regular basis regardless), and voila!

Add a comment and let me know what your traditions are when watching movies - I know you have them!

I will be taking a couple of weeks off and will return August 9th. 

Sunday, July 15, 2012

When "All Wet" spells Classic


A week ago, I shared the wonder of seeing a classic film on the big screen. This past Thursday, I was once again able to do that with all my ‘daughters.’  We participated in the Turner Classic Films one-night nation-wide showing of Singing in the Rain (sponsored by Fathom Events).  The house was packed.  It was wonderful to see men, women, young and old, seasoned SITR veterans to first-timers. There were families and ‘party’ groups just all there to enjoy seeing the picture on the big screen, and we all there knew other people in other locations were doing the same right along with us. 

This showing was to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the premiere of Singing in the Rain.  The digitally restored film premiered in April at the annual TCM Film Festival, so we were privy to an interview of Debbie Reynolds by the renowned Robert Osborn.  It included archival interviews with Donald O’Connor, Cyd Charisse, and Gene Kelly's widow, Patricia Ward Kelly.

As a seasoned musical lover, I enjoyed learning new insights and trivia, adding to my adoration of the genre, as well as these legendary performers.  Their hard work and perseverance have made this film be named AFI’s #1 Musical and secured these faces as "shimmering, glowing stars in the cinema firmament." * Every one of those on the screen are now legendary.  Not only Gene, Donald, and Debby, but also Jean Hagen was also a class act and brought her ‘dumb blonde’ Lina Lamont to life.  

Kathleen Freeman as the dialog coach, Phoebe Dinsmore – love her! - a consummate character actress. When Rita Moreno (Zelda) is on screen, you can’t take your eyes off of her! No wonder she eventually won an Oscar, a Tony, and an Emmy!  And Cyd Charisse? (My dad always said she had the ‘best legs in the business!’) Um…yes!  When she and Gene dance in the “Gotta’ Dance” numbers? You could literally feel the heat come off the screen – sex may have been under more control in 1952, and the film may be rated G, but you can’t generate that kind of’ steam today – Whoa!
To see the costumes and tiny details that otherwise get overlooked when watching on a home screen was fantastic!  From the brocade fabrics & buttons, to all the wig work and time period components that make this film universally loved, I was overwhelmed at times, not to mention some of the best song and dance numbers assembled into one film! 

A couple of years ago, I took tap dancing lessons. For two reasons mainly: to do something I had never done and had always wanted to do, and to appreciate that hard work that some of my favorite films stars could do and appear to make easy.  I often watch my dancing films just at the ‘foot level,’ (since I’ve seen them so many times, I can watch for different things each time now), and with the big screen showing, I could ‘up close and personal’ watch the mastery with which the dancing was executed.   My appreciation goes deeper even more so now.

Lastly, it was a pleasure to be part of these applause; we all knew those on screen couldn’t hear us, but we were appreciative of what we just saw and wanted to give our thanks.  That made it all worthwhile.

“What a grand, what a glorious feeling! I’m happy again!” **

 For more information on Singing in the Rain, visit: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045152/ or http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/418/Singin-in-the-Rain/

   *Lina Lamont, Singing in the Rain
** Singin' in the Rain
(1929) (uncredited)
Music by Nacio Herb Brown, Lyrics by Arthur Freed

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Deja-View




Well, the great thing about movies, unlike television series, is that they don't go on summer hiatus.  There is always something new, whether good or bad, to see at the movies.  Once in a while, a theatre in your area may be faithful to the industry and show 're-runs,' but in a good way! 


         
I love the opportunity to see films like Ben-Hur, Giant, The Magnificent Seven, and An American in Paris (all on the big screen before my time!) on the silver screen as my parents did in their original releases.  









That opportunity brings new appreciation for the classic films that are ageless. So find a movie re-run and see a film you either have never seen or one that you want to visit again! 


Happy Summer Movie-going!