As a moviegoer for more than 70 years, I’ve seen some great movies, some not so great, some really bad ones, some trying but failing to be deep and meaningful, some reveling in their shallowness. I was born the year The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind were released. My mother started taking me to the movies shortly after that. I saw some movies that were definitely not PG rated. I can still remember being afraid of The Thing and delighting in An American in Paris.
Many times I disagree with the critics. I don’t call them and tell him what I think of their reviews, so now that there is an internet for anyone to babble on, I add my voice. I’m sure there are many of you who will disagree with my assessments. Some of you will agree. I hope to hear from all of you.
It’s July and time for those silly summer movies. It’s time for light-hearted fun and thrills. From what I’ve been able to find, the idea of summer films started in the 70s. Before that, all genres of movies were released anytime of the year. The following list is based on what might have been.
I think the all-time great summer movie is Jaws. Released in 1975, it ruined ocean swimming for an entire summer—maybe for even longer. It starred Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw engaged in an epic war with an aggressive Great White Shark. The soundtrack is still used to instill terror.
The Seven-year Itch (1955): Tom Ewell is a book editor whose family has gone to Maine for the summer. Marilyn Monroe distracts him. Remember that white dress. Who doesn’t?
Summer Stock (1950): The famous barn show. The film stars Judy Garland and Gene Kelly. Good music and great dancing--innocent fun.
Summertime (1955): This movie starring Katherine Hepburn and Rossano Brazzi is a tale of a forbidden love. It is set in romantic Venice. What lonely spinster could resist Brazzi?
A Summer Place (1959): This sappy movie with its sappy soundtrack was a big hit. The adult stars were Richard Egan, Constance Ford and Dorothy McGuire, while the youngsters were Sandra Dee and Troy Donahue. There’s enough passion for several summers.
State Fair (1945): This post-war musical stars singer Dick Haymes and Jeanne Crain as brother and sister who find love and romance during a state fair. Music is by Rodgers and Hammerstein.
Summer of ’42 (1971): A typical coming-of-age film set during World War II. Jennifer O’Neill and Gary Grimes star.
Blue Hawaii (1961): Elvis Presley just wants to have fun after serving as a soldier. Mama Angela Lansbury wants him to go to work on their pineapple plantation. Presley ignores her and sings and dances his way through the movie. Typical Presley film is good fun for a summer’s day.
Men in Black (1961): Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith star as government agent and cop, respectively, assigned to stop an alien attack. Also starring are Vincent Donofrio as a villain, Rip Torn, Linda Fioretino, and Tony Shalhoub. This is an entertaining and funny film.
Rear Window (1954): Poor James Stewart has broken his leg and is confined to a wheelchair in this thrilling Hitchcock murder mystery. Fortunately, Grace Kelly is on hand to keep his spirits up. Raymond Burr is the heavy—literally.
Meat Balls (1979): In this cult classic, wild and crazy guy Bill Murray plays a caring camp counselor who works with shy camper, Chris Makepeace, who in turn helps Murray with a female camp counselor. If you like Murray, this could be good fun.
National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983): Chevy Chase and family are determined to get to theme park Wally World on their vacation. Of course, nothing is easy and they encounter goofy characters and mishaps along the way. Do they make it? Rent the movie and see.
Independence Day (1996): A blockbuster summer movie that is actually good. Pilot Will Smith and mad scientist Jeff Goldblum team up to save the earth from total annihilation. Fast action and stunning special effects make this a movie worth seeing.
And, don’t forget the Gidget movies.
Some of these oldies might look good to you, especially if you consider the current crop of summer movies, such as Transformers, The Tree of Life, Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer, Thor, Hangover II, and The Green Lantern, which I don’t expect to see. The kids’ movies Kung Foo Panda II and Cars II look pretty good.
