Helen at http://saveeverystep.wordpress.com/lifes-a-journey-series/ urges us to share our memories from milestones in our life. This week's theme - Movies
Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" was apparently the first film I was taken to, though my memories of it are very vague.
In the 1950's, my father was working away from home most of the week, and a family Saturday treat was to go all together to the pictures. These were family comedies, and the one that sticks in my mind most, because it was my father's favourite, was "John and Julie" about two chlldren who ran away to London to see the Queen's golden coach at her Coronation. I remember too "Baby in the Battleship" and the early Carry On and St. Trinian films - before they went totally OTT.
One week whilst Dad and my brother went to a football match, Mum and I went to see "The Wizard of Oz" - I was singularly unimpressed, I could not "take" to Judy Garland in the small girl role, nor the fantasy story, and that disappointment has continued ever since.
A bit strange, as musicals are amongst my favourite films. My first "grown up" film was on a friend's birthday to see "The Student Prince" , later followed by South Pacific, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Oklahoma and Carousel. I had aspirations to be a chorus girl, dancing and swishing my skirts! [The nearest I came to it was as a student taking part in Gilbert and Sullivan operettas].
A bit strange, as musicals are amongst my favourite films. My first "grown up" film was on a friend's birthday to see "The Student Prince" , later followed by South Pacific, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Oklahoma and Carousel. I had aspirations to be a chorus girl, dancing and swishing my skirts! [The nearest I came to it was as a student taking part in Gilbert and Sullivan operettas].
For my 14th birthday, we went to see a double comedy bill of Genevieve and Doctor in the House - and I fell hook, line and sinker, with a massive crush on Dirk Bogarde. I was in seventh heaven at Christmas to receive "Girl" Annual with a full page photograph of him!
So there had to be visits to other "Doctor" films. I admired his "piano playing" (and romantic costumed looks) as Liszt in "Song Without End", and sobbed my way through "Tale of Two Cities". That was on TV again this New Year, as part of the Charles Dickens anniversary series and has stood the test of time very well, with a great British cast in suppoprting roles. And yes, my hankie was out again at the end, as our hero climbed to the scaffold declaring "It is a far far better thing I do......".
The town where I live lost its cinema for a period of 25 years, so movie going has not been a major activity in my married life. Anyway I was bored with westerns and John Wayne, unimpressed with James Bond and shied away from war films and science fiction.
My tastes haven't changed much over the years, with fond memories of:
My tastes haven't changed much over the years, with fond memories of:
- Musicals (Sound of Music, Oliver, Grease, Mama Mia, Phantom of the Opera, and even the Rocky Horror Show).
- Classics - Gone with the Wind, Doctor Zhivago, O What a Lovely War, Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre.
- Chick Lit - Love Story (more hankies out), Four Weddings and a Funeral, Bridget Jones Diary, Love Actually.
And the last film I saw at the cinema (twice) - Colin Firth in The Kings Speech.
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That's great, Sue. South Pacific - now you're talking!! One of my fave oldies is still "An Affair to Remember" - it never fails to make me cry, even though I know what happens!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the mention too!
Helen, www.saveeverystep.com
Love your stories Susan. I never could take to Judy Garland but disliked Jeanette MacDonald even more and my old cousin loved her..Ugh. I enjoyed many of the ones you've listed (missed Chick Lit Ice Castles -mainly for the skating). Still enjoy the movies but don't get there often enough..no good reason.
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