My (REEL) Life

Watching classic movies, particularly ones from the so-called 'Golden Age of Hollywood,' has been a huge part of my life since I was five, sneaking down the hall into the LR to watch the late show and late-late show after the p's were in bed. Propped up on couch pillows, my nose inches from the screen so I could keep the sound down low so not to be discovered and forced back to bed, I fought to stay awake until I became so absorbed in the plot, the actors, and the action, that sleep finally eluded me. By the time I could read the TV Guide grid in the paper, I plotted out every movie that sounded like a 'must-see.'

In 1992 when we moved to AR I found TCM, and it's been my default channel ever since. It's the first one I check the programming on every day and the one I usually end up watching. In 1984 I bought Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide, and circled in red every movie I've seen, making brief notes if something impressed me or I found myself disagreeing with his rating. Eventually my movie library has grown to encompass several shelves. I also mark movies I've not seen that I want to watch out for. It's a rare day anymore when there's a movie on I haven't seen.

I've watched every 'Screwball Comedy' ever listed (yes, there's an official list). More than once. And I've seen every one of the top 100 movies rated by AFI (American Film Institute), typically several times. I definitely could give the host of TCM Robert Osborne a run for his money. Most of his factoids I already know, and several additional facts I could chime in on about what's playing in that night's line-up. I'm the go-to person for remembering names of old stars, titles of movies, and the years they were made. I have been accused of cheating at 'Scene It' by having played it so many times. (For the record, I have played it all of three times). I don't have 'top 10' movies, I have top 10 genres of movies.

As much as I love TCM, my big quibble with the 'Essentials' viewing and guest programmers is everyone wants to pick the classics that meant something to them -- perfectly understandable sentiment -- but the same movies are seen so frequently that one movie can be viewed a dozen times.

I'm in the echelon of needing to get up early in the morning (which I don't -- yes, I know, we really do need TIVO) to watch movies I've seldom or have never seen before. Because days I can 'mark the book,' are occasions.

So, yes, I adore old movies and I can say I have learned from them. And I adore TCM for running them 'continuously, un-cut and commercial free, as they were meant to be.' As they (justly) like to promote.

Although I have too many movies to narrow them down to a top 10 list, I also have favorite directors, costumers, and make-up artists. As for directors, whenever you see these names, you'll know you're about to see a great film. So, in no particular order, keep an eye out for these American directors: Billy Wilder, John Ford, King Vidor, Alfred Hitchcock, William Wyler, George Cukor, Victor Fleming, Woody Allen, William Wellman, David Lean, Sydney Pollack, Robert Redford, Clint Eastwood, Charlie Chaplin among others.......I will save foreign directors for another post.

happy viewing.......and send me a comment, I will always talk movies!

'bye Patrick--I (heart) you

It's sad to learn of the death of a public figure. One who made an impression on you, but you can't pay your condolences to the family. It's weird to grieve this kind of death anyway, like you share him or her with the world and everybody has their sliver of impressions, and you aren't sure why it matters as much as it does, but the world seems a little bleaker than before.

Patrick S. was a movie star I admired for his talent, his range, his looks, obviously, and his grace -- off screen and on. To play tough guys and drag queens takes guts. To look cancer in the face and square off in real life takes courage. To play that particular drama out in public with pundits and paparazzo weighing in is almost unimaginable stress. He handled it with grace under pressure.

Dirty Dancing came out when I was newly divorced and convinced I'd be alone a long, long time. Feeling lost and wounded and loveless, I went alone into a dark movie theater and quickly grew absorbed in the drama of a misunderstood young man with a talent for dance and a life ahead of him that wasn't what he dreamed and longed for, and an impressionable teen whose sheltered life blasted apart during one summer of love and dance, revealing a life larger and more authentic than she realized. When the lights came up that afternoon I felt oddly stronger and more hopeful. It took a sweet and soapy little drama, but it helped jerk me back to the realization that life held endless possibility and you are the master of your destiny by the simple act of how you choose to act or react to events that unfold before you.