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.

Throughout our lives, there have been movies that we had to see. Sometimes, we felt we needed to see them for their merit and sometimes so that we could say that we had seen them and our opinion is…

Some of these films are epics and some are little films. Whatever their scope, they are memorable.  Some are very good and some are barely adequate. But, they have been talked about, certain lines have entered daily conversation, and they remain in our movie memory bank.

I’m sure the ones I pick will not be the ones you might pick. Generation, gender and inclination play their roles in selection. Let’s see how many we have in common.

Casablanca: How many famous lines can you remember from this classic? Every time I see this movie, and I have seen it many times, I cry when the Marseilles is sung. I am always shocked to find out gambling is allowed in Rick’s place.

Gone with the Wind: Not a great movie but still very watchable. Why couldn’t Scarlett have seen what millions of women have seen—Clark Gable is more desirable than Leslie Howard.

The Wizard of Oz: It’s not just for children. I watch it every few years and still enjoy it. I love the munchkins. There are several lines that remain a part of our everyday conversations, my pretty.

The Graduate: Ah, Mrs. Robinson. She knew what she wanted and went for it. But—Dustin Hoffman? Simon and Garfunkel provided the perfect music.

Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark: Who can forget the snakes or smile at the gun/whip episode? I still see a few of Harrison Ford-type hats. I believe my husband has one.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest: This film is brilliant and funny and impossibly cruel. I’ll never forget or forgive Big Nurse.

Easy Rider: This is a film that symbolized to me that I was past my youth—motorcycles, men without jobs, drugs, oh my, what were they doing? Even so, they sure didn’t deserve their demise.

Terms of Endearment: This is your basic tear jerker, plain and simple.

The Godfather: What did any of us know about the mafia? This movie paints a romantic but violent picture. Great acting, beautiful cinematography, flawless story lift this film to classic. 

Psycho: Whoever saw this film will never forget the Bates Hotel. I think it is still the scariest film I ever saw and ever hope to see.

Lawrence of Arabia: My favorite movie (next to Paul Newman’s The Hustler) has so much scope it is past cinemascope. Each scene in the desert combined with the score make for an indelible memory. Not to mention Peter O’Toole’s blue eyes. Did you know he broke the bank at Monte Carlo?

On the Waterfront: All together now, “I coulda been a contender.” This is a gritty movie  based on the Budd Schulberg book. Brando is at his mumbly best. Karl Malden sure can play the bad guy well.

Peyton Place: I lived in a small town, but I can’t remember it being anything like this. It’s steamy and wonderfully trashy. Everyone was talking about this movie.

The Usual Suspects: I hate to admit it, but I was completely taken in, as I suppose were most viewers. What a clever plot. This movie has to be seen twice to really appreciate it.

Grapes of Wrath: No one talks about this film much anymore, but when I was young, it was both admired and reviled for its depiction of the “Okies.”

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner: This is an enjoyable film, both for the acting and the subject matter. It was nice that Tracy and Hepburn were sophisticated parents. Otherwise…

The Big Lebowski: The Coen brothers made a big, rollicking, whacky, lovable film. And I love them for so doing. My son and I refer to it often.

In the Heat of the Night: Winner of an Academy Award among four other strong contenders, this film was discussed frequently among my friends. I would never call Sidney Poitier anything but Mr. Poitier.

Fargo: The Coen brothers again with this quirky, to say the least, film about a pregnant sheriff on the trail of a killer. I could never think of a woodchipper in a benign way again. And, I can still say you betcha with the best of them.

2001: A Space Odyssey: And thus Spake Stanley Kubrick and Hal. I enjoyed this film. I don’t think I fully understood though. All my friends had a different interpretation. Maybe that’s what made it a must see.

Apocalypse Now: Everyone was talking about this movie years ago. I finally saw it. Do I detect something burning?

Judgment at Nuremberg: I think this was the best holocaust film. I remember being so depressed after I saw it that I spent three days in bed crying.

The Birds: Every time I see a crow I look around for more. I just hope no crows ever see the film. I’ve been in many discussions about this Hitchcock film.

And, at least one film in the following series:

Charlie Chan: Who can remember number one son?

The Three Stooges: Let’s all get goofy.

Sherlock Holmes: Elementary.

The Thin Man: Sophisticated humor, a tiny mystery, banter, and Asta.

The Marx Brothers: Just plain silliness. Good for the soul.

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.

 I believe that more dramatic films were made on stories from World War II than any other event in history. Because it was a truly world war, we have films from the European theater, the Baltic, Africa, the British Isles, the United States, and the Pacific, just to name the most obvious.

 Although some comedic films were made, the seriousness of the war lent itself to real drama. This month, I will share with you some of my favorites from the European Theater of Operations (interesting that it should be called a theater). And, did you ever notice what great casts these films have?

 Best Days of Our Lives (1946): This film won seven Academy Awards. The storyline involves three returning GIs trying to adjust to everyday life. The most heart-wrenching tale is portrayed by Harold Russell who lost his hands in combat.

 Twelve O’Clock High (1949): Gregory Peck plays a tough, heartless general who is charged with turning a discouraged group of pilots into an effective fighting unit. In doing so, he learns the true meaning of leadership. Dean Jagger, Hugh Marlowe, and Gary Merrill round out the cast.

  The Longest Day (1962): This Academy Award winner is the definitive film about the D-Day invasion. It gives a perspective on what went into the planning and execution for both sides. Look at this cast: John Wayne, Sean Connery, Robert Mitchum, Henry Fonda, Rod Steiger, Peter Lawford, Mel Ferrer, Robert Wagner and a army of thousands.  

Stalag 17 (1953): Oscar-winner William Holden heads cast of Otto Preminger, Robert Strauss, and Peter Graves in this prisoner-of-war-camp film. The film works largely because of Holden. After a series of escapes fail, the prisoners start to suspect there’s a mole. Billy Wilder directed this movie which is a mixture of wit and pathos.

 To Hell and Back (1955): Real life hero Audie Murphy stars as himself in this biopic. Murphy earned every medal that America gives, including the Congressional Medal of Honor. It’s not a great movie, but Murphy deserved this final honor before he started playing cowboys.

 Dam Busters (1954): This is an interesting true story about the invention and use of the “bouncing bomb” that caused havoc for the Germans. The bomb was dropped into a river behind a dam and bounced to the dam and destroyed it. “Water, water everywhere.” Michael Redgrave and Richard Todd star.

 Go For Broke (1951): This poignant film is about Japanese-American soldiers who must prove their worth and loyalty to their fellow fighters. Van Johnson is their officer who takes a lot of proving. They do prove themselves, but at a terrible cost.  

Battleground (1949): Van Johnson, James Whitmore, James Arness and John Hodiak find themselves with many others in the early days of the “Battle of the Bulge.” Whitmore as a crusty sergeant shines in this tense drama. The film earned a Best Screenplay Oscar.  

Dirty Dozen (1985): For a war movie, this was a lot of fun. The cast is terrific: Lee Marvin must control Telly Savalas, John Cassavetes, Donald Sutherland, Charles Bronson, Robert Ryan and seven other hardened convicts. Their task is to raid a Nazi villa and kill the occupants.  

Great Escape (1963): This movie is on many lists of best films. I didn’t particularly like it. The cast was good: Steve McQueen, James Garner, Charles Bronson and Richard Attenborough. The story was boring.

 Patton (1970): When a great story and a great actor and great everything else comes together, you get a great movie. Winner of 10 Academy Awards, including a Best Actor for George C. Scott (which he refused to accept), Patton is a film worth watching again and again and…  

A Bridge Too Far (1977): This movie is full of historical inaccuracies but still enjoyable to watch. The story revolves around an Allied attempt to win the war by seizing key bridges in Holland. I don’t understand how they failed with the likes of Sir Michael Caine, Sir Sean Connery, Gene Hackman, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Robert Redford, and Sir Laurence Olivier leading the charge.  

The Young Lions (1958): Marlon Brando as a Nazi officer (can you believe it?) must deal with anti-Semitism. Montgomery Clift, Dean Martin, Hope Lange, and Lee Van Cleef co-star in this glossy but not true-to-the-book film.  

Saving Private Ryan (1998): Even the acting skills of Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Ted Danson and Paul Giamatti can’t save this mess of a movie. See The Longest Day instead.  

Inglourious Basterds (2009): With this film, we go from just bad to horrendous. This is a slimy, creepy film that I didn’t want to watch. I don’t care for Tarantino films to begin with, but this is too bad even for him.  

Guns of Navarone (1961): British soldiers are under attack in Greece and face total destruction unless help arrives. The problem is that the dreaded guns of Navarone can stop any ship within range. The solution is to send in the commandos. Are Gregory Peck, Anthony Quinn and David Niven up to the task?

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.

“Take me out to the ballgame…”

It’s that time of year again. To me, spring means baseball, and that brings to mind baseball movies. Other sports might be more popular, but baseball has been so enduring in America’s history that the two are inseparable. George Carlin’s wonderful bit about the difference between baseball and football is the best I’ve ever heard, especially the line: “Football is played on a gridiron and baseball is played on a field.” Let’s play ball.

Pride of the Yankees (1942): Nicknamed the Iron Horse, Lou Gehrig played in 2,100 consecutive games until he was struck down by the disease that bears his name. Gary Cooper quietly displays all the qualities that made Gehrig a great player and man. Each time I see this film I marvel at his character and cry for his loss.

The Jackie Robinson Story (1950): Jackie Robinson plays himself in this film about the first black player in major league baseball. The film is adequate but not inspired in depicting this Hall of Famer and Branch Rickey’s Brooklyn Dodger organization which hired him. One major criticism of the movie was that it glossed over how much abuse Robinson took.

Bang the Drum Slowly (1973): This movie is a real tearjerker about baseball player Bruce Pearson, played by Robert De Niro, who has Hodgkin’s disease. The only team player who knows this is the star pitcher, Henry Wiggen, played by Michael Moriarty. As the disease progresses and the pitcher’s playing gets worse, his friend cannot cover for him. Vincent Gardenia, as the coach, received an Academy Award nomination. Not a dry eye in the house.

Bull Durham (1988): A truly delightful film stars Kevin Costner as the seasoned veteran, Tim Robbins as the unpredictable pitcher and Susan Sarandon as the groupie. Robbins is the hope of the pitiful Durham Bulls, but he is undisciplined. Kostner is called in to steady him. Sarandon can’t decide which one she wants.

Bad News Bears (2005): Walter Matthau is a former minor league pitcher roped into coaching a group of low-talent kids. Matthau’s bear-like personality and the cuteness and despair of the kids makes this a charming film. Too bad Hollywood couldn’t stop at one.

The Rookie (2002): Jim Morris (Dennis Quaid) makes a deal with the high school team he coaches. If the team makes the playoffs he will try out for the majors. He is a talented pitcher and does get a spot on a minor-league team. This is a true and inspiring story.

The Natural (1984): Roy Hobbs aka Robert Redford is a 35-year old rookie who helps his last place team get back in the game. This is just a silly movie. It seems to be a vehicle for Redford to be backlit and looking golden. Watch the real rookie instead.

Field of Dreams (1989): Kevin Costner plays an Iowa farmer who hears voices. The voices tell him to build a baseball diamond in his cornfield. He does and a bunch of dead players show up. Puleeeze.

Cobb (1994): A sports writer is assigned to do a biography of Detroit Tiger legend Ty Cobb. While researching, he discovers that Cobb was as rough as his name implies. Traits, such as being a racist, bully, cheat, womanizer, surface. Today, these traits are not so shocking. He was not Lou Gehrig, but he was a truly great ballplayer.

The Babe Ruth Story (1948); The Babe (1992): This film was rushed into production and released three months before the Babe died. His widow hated it and the critics were none too pleased. William Bendix was miscast. John Goodman in the Babe, played him like a goofy, overgrown kid. This was not a serious biopic. Ruth, arguably the best player ever, deserves better.

Damn Yankees (1958): An ordinary guy, Tab Hunter, makes a deal with the devil, Ray Walston. Hunter gets to become a homerun hitter for the Washington Senators, but he must make sure his team loses to the Yankees in the World Series. When Hunter wants to back out of the deal, the devil send Gwen Verdon (Lola, who gets what she wants), to convince him to uphold his part of the bargain. Great music and dancing (choreography by Bob Fosse).

Fear Strikes Out (1957): Poor Jimmy Piersall, the troubled Boston Red Sox outfielder who suffered a nervous breakdown in 1952. Most of the problem seems to be his over-bearing and demanding father, played by Karl Malden. A true story of what can happen when a parent drives a child and adult too far.

Eight Men Out (1988): Ah, the “Black Sox” scandal of 1919. Underpaid and disgruntled, Chicago White Sox players allow themselves to be bought by gambler Arnold Rothstein and friends. Heavily favored, they throw the 1919 World Series and allow the Cincinnati Reds to win. John Cusack, Charlie Sheen and D.B. Sweeney star.

The Stratton Story (1949): This is true story about Monty Stratton (Jimmy Stewart), a Chicago White Sox pitcher who lost his leg in a hunting accident. Fitted with a peg-leg, he made a comeback in 1946 pitching in minor leagues. The film won an Oscar for Best Screenplay. This film is genuinely inspiring.

Moneyball (2011): The story is important as it tells of a turning point in how teams pick players. Hollywood wants us to believe it is epic. Why else take 133 minutes to tell a 90-minute story? The acting is adequate. Fortunately, Brad Pitt is not called on to do much more than look pensive and throw things around. The bits with his daughter were out of place and distracting. But I did watch the whole thing without too much pain.

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 time to get Sirius. A big applause for the dog stars.

I’ve loved dogs my entire life, so I think it is time I honor them with a blog. My first memories of a movie dog were of Rin Tin Tin. His was a heroic story. Rescued in France at the end of World War I, he was brought to live in Los Angeles by Lee Duncan. He went on to star in 23 adventure films, and after he died a series of German Shepherd Dogs continued his legacy. He may not have been the first dog to be in movies, but he is remembered as the first “great” dog actor. There was a film, Finding Rin Tin Tin, made about him in 2007.

I think Hollywood should create a new rating called ET for extremely traumatical (sic). Some movies are just too sad for tender, young souls.

There is a list of movies about dogs that is so long I could never include them all. But let’s see what we can do.

Lassie: Here was a beautiful, well-trained, heroic star. Although a number of Collies were used in the films, they all looked and acted the same. I remember Lassie Come Home (1943) with humans Roddy McDowall and Elizabeth Taylor. I still recollect crying and crying.

Asta: My all-time favorite movie dog was Asta from the Thin Man series in the 30s. He was a true Terrier, full of fun and mischief. He fit in perfectly with co-stars William Powell and Myrna Loy.

Old Yeller (1957): Many critics write that this is a film that demonstrates real life to a young boy. I think it should have an ET rating. This story about the tragic life of a yellow Lab is too harsh for young children and too sad for adults. I hated this film and wish I could erase it from my memory.

Greyfriars Bobby (1961): Another sad film, but in a bittersweet way. It is based on a true story, although there is speculation that it was just a publicity stunt. I prefer it to be true. I have seen the statue of this Skye Terrier in Edinburgh. This is the story of a dog who refused to leave his owner’s side, even after death. Bobby guarded his owner’s grave in Greyfriar’s church cemetery for 14 years until his own death in 1872. He has become a symbol of loyalty.

My Dog Skip (2000): Here’s another film based on a true story. The boy is shy and awkward, has no friends and does not do well in sports. He desperately wants a dog. His mother gets him one on his 9th birthday, although his father has repeatedly said no. The smart little Jack Russell Terrier (is there any other kind?) helps transform the boy’s life and teaches him the meaning of loyalty. This is a lovely film co-starring Kevin Bacon, Diana Lane and Frankie Muniz (as the boy).

Call of the Wild (1935): Based on a novella by Jack London written in 1903, this film is a testament to the cruelty of human beings. Buck, a St. Bernard/sheepdog mix, is taken from his pleasant home in Santa Rosa and sold as a sled dog in the Yukon. The Klondike gold rush is going on and sled dogs are in great demand. Buck is treated horribly until his rescue by Thornton, an outdoorsman. Buck does amazing things for Thornton, even saving his life. After Thornton dies, Buck hears the call of the wild and joins a wolf pack. Whew. This movie is a workout. It has been made into several versions, but the one I like is the original made with Clark Gable and Loretta Young.

Cujo (1983): This film based on the Stephen King novel of the same name is truly scary. A St. Bernard gets the call of the wild and sticks his nose in a bat cave. Rabies is the result. He traps his loving family, Dee Wallace and Danny Pintauro, in a car. Will they ever get out?

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993): Here is a fairly safe and sweet road trip by a Golden Retriever, an American Bulldog and a Himalayan cat. Thinking they have been abandoned when their families leave them at a ranch to go on vacation, they decide to make the trip home. Thus begins the incredible journey.

It seems to me that many movies that featured dogs made in the last several years focused on misbehaving, obnoxious, unpleasant dogs. Gone are the dignified and heroic animals of early filmdom. Think of the Beethoven series, Turner and Hooch, Marley and Me.

Cartoon dogs can be just as loveable as real ones: 101 Dalmations, Scooby-Doo, Bolt, Doogal and Lady and Tramp.

This year’s Oscar winner for best film, The Artist, was a black-and-white silent that featured Uggie, a Jack Russell Terrier. He was onstage for the acceptance speech, I believe he barked his delight.

A terrific film about dog shows is Best in Show. It is funny and irrevent and the dogs come off looking better than their owners.

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.

“Twinkle, twinkle little star…”

For several years, my husband and I have had a running conversation about a phenomenon we call “The Twinkle.” This is one of those concepts that is utterly subjective. It requires a smart-ass attitude, a bit of the con, and loads of charm. Questions: Who has it; who doesn’t; who can turn it off; who can’t; who has it more often, actors or actresses?

For some reason, actors seem to have the twinkle far more often than actresses. The only actress that had it without question was Mae West. An argument can be made that Goldie Hawn has it.

More actors with blue eyes seem to have it than those with brown eyes. But there are plenty of actors with brown eyes that twinkle.

The actor who displayed the twinkle most obviously was Paul Newman. Think of him in such movies as Rally ‘Round the Flag, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (Redford does not have the twinkle), and The Sting. Newman could also turn it off. Remember him in Mr. and Mrs. Bridge with Joanne Woodward, The Verdict, From the Terrace, and The Hustler? He’s the twinkle champion.

Then there is Robert Wagner. His twinkle was permanent and very engaging. Unfortunately, this limited his acting roles. His performances in war movies, such as What Price Glory, The War Lovers,and The Frogmen, were particularly good. His work with Paul Newman in Winning and Harper was fine. Now, he is selling mattresses on television and that sparkling twinkle is diminished.

Jack Nicholson is another actor who can turn it on and off. In One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Terms of Endearment, he displays this ability. The twinkle was quite evident in Five Easy Pieces and Chinatown. He toned it down in About Schmidt and Ironweed, and the dreadful The Departed.

Kevin Kline is a great actor who can twinkle on cue. In A Fish Called Wanda (for which he earned an Oscar), Soapdish, and Dave you could see the twinkle. In Emperor’s Club, Ice Storm and Cry Freedom, you could not.

With his great charm, one would think that Cary Grant had it, but he didn’t. Beneath that slick exterior, I believe there was darkness. He could have played a great villain, given the chance. Watch his eyes closely in such films as Charade, North by Northwest and Destination Tokyo and you will see a noticeable lack of twinkle. Even in his madcap comedies those dark eyes stayed dark.

Among the current crop of actors, I think George Clooney comes the closest to having a twinkle. His performances in O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Ocean’s Twelve, and Batman and Robin demonstrate a glimmer of a twinkle. It’s gone in Up in the Air, Michael Clayton and The Good German. He has enormous charm but little smart ass and no con.

British actors who spring to mind are Hugh Grant, Ian McShane, Ian Richardson and Sir Alec Guiness.

Hugh Grant, that bumbling, blue-eyed, charming actor from such films as Four Weddings and a Funeral, About a Boy, and Mickey Blue Eyes is the Brit who defines the twinkle.

Although Ian McShane made several movies, his twinkle was most evident in his long-running television series Lovejoy. However, in another television series, Deadwood, there is little evidence of a twinkle. He was in the campy Pirates of the Caribbean: Stranger Tides which required a twinkle.

Ian Richardson’s most blatant display of the twinkle was in television’s House Cards, one of the most deliciously wicked series ever. Hints of the twinkle can be found in the movie Canterville Ghost.

Sir Alec Guiness, known for his serious roles, could produce a twinkle if the role called for it. Remember him in Murder by Death, The Horse’s Mouth, and The Lavender Hill Mob?

I see hints in James Garner, Denzel Washington and Christopher Walken. Who else do you think has the twinkle? Please post your comments and I will discuss them in a future blog.

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.

Movies that relate to school experiences resonate with us all. We all were there in that chalk-smelling room—although some later generations may have missed that particular aspect of the school room. I remember my school days with affection. I loved going to school, even high school.

The movies below range from the sweet to the horrific. Sounds like real life to me.

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969): Dame Maggie Smith won an Oscar for portraying a teacher in 1930’s Scotland. This is a bittersweet story of a teacher whose nontraditional methods lead to tragedy. Beyond that, this is a movie with humor, pathos, humiliation, and several other human emotions. It is a wonderful film well worth seeing for the first or second time.

To Sir With Love (1966): An unruly bunch of high school students confront Sidney Poitier. He is an engineer who is pulled into teaching at a working class school in England. Even though you know he will prevail, the trip is an interesting one.

Blackboard Jungle (1955): Take unruly to the next level and you have another high school. This one is in New York and the teacher is Glenn Ford. This time Sidney Poitier is a student who engages in a vicious fight with Vic Morrow. This movie was the first to use rock-and-roll music for the soundtrack. Remember “Rock Around the Clock?”

Good Will Hunting (1997): Math genius Matt Damon works as a janitor at MIT. When his talents are discovered, a therapist, Robin Williams, begins working with him. It seems Damon has issues. Damon and Ben Affleck won an Oscar for original screenplay. This is an engaging film that introduces us to the very talented Damon and a yet-to-be-proved Affleck.

Good Bye, Mr. Chips (1939): This is a sentimental, somewhat maudlin film of a professor’s life. Robert Donat stars as the beloved professor. A later version (1969) starring Peter O’Toole is a bit more watchable.

Lean on Me (1989): Morgan Freeman is the tough principal of—guess what—an inner city high school. He vows to turn things around. Been there, saw that.

Stand and Deliver (1988): Edward James Olmos stars as an East Los Angeles math teacher who vows to turn things around. Sound familiar? He teaches his mostly Latino students calculus. They show their gratitude by acing the big test.

Splendor in the Grass (1961): Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty (in his screen debut) shine as high school students in 1920s rural Kansas. Elia Kazan directs this look at teenagers trying to curb their hormones. This way lies madness. The film won an Oscar for best screenplay.

The Paper Chase (1973): I loved this film. It is smart and funny. John Houseman stars as a crusty, demanding law professor at Harvard. Timothy Bottoms, as a first-year law student, tries to win Houseman’s respect and Lindsay Wagner, his daughter.

Dead Poets Society (1989): Robin Williams, in an Oscar-nominated role, stars as a teacher who inspires by quoting poetry. He is the male version of Miss Jean Brodie. You can guess what happens.

Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982): Now this film is more like a real high school. It is indeed fast and sometimes funny. Sean Penn stars—before he became anguished.

Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995): A sweet and predictable film about a musician who is so obsessed with writing a grand opus he fails to realize that the students he inspires are his real work of art. Richard Dreyfuss won an Oscar nomination for his portrayal.

Breakfast Club (1985): John Hughes wrote and directed this first brat-pack film. A group of high schoolers (e.g., athlete, brain, princess, bad boy, nervous wreck) bonds while serving detention. Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, and Ally Sheedy star.

Carrie (1976): Sissy Spacek and John Travolta star in Stephen King’s version of high school. The in-crowd plays a dirty trick on mousy Spacek at the prom. But, in true King style, Carrie has a mobile mind and returns the joke ten-fold.

Rebel Without a Cause (1955): James Dean plays the role that was made for Sean Penn. Oh, the anguish of the new kid in town. He quickly falls for Natalie Wood and befriends Sal Mineo. Dennis Hopper costars.


There many other school-related films, some good and some bad: American Graffiti (1973), Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986 ), Election (1999), Grease (1978 ), Bye, Bye Birdie (1963), Bad Teacher (2011), How to Eat Fried Worms (2006), My Bodyguard (1980), and the Harry Potter films.

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.

Ho! Ho! Ho! It’s that time of year again. Unfortunately, there have been more bad movies made about the holiday season than any other subject. There been some decent ones too, but they are in the minority. How many times can you watch It’s a Wonderful Life without throwing up? In this case, it’s probably familiarity breeds contempt. After five or more versions of The Christmas Carol, I’m sorry but “I can’t stands no more.” Bad Santa is just bad. All three Santa Clause movies should have been revoked. The people who made Elf must have been 12-year old boys. Trading Places shouldn’t have. What kind of message does Home Alone send? Pretty scary. And, Santa’s Slay—I’m wordless.

I enjoyed watching the following:


Miracle on 34th Street (1947): Edmund Gwen stars as the loveable Santa who must stand trial to prove his existence—the nerve. John Payne and Margaret O’Brien are his loyal supporters.

White Christmas (1954): Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye are war buddies who help out their former commanding officer to save his inn. They find time to court sisters Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen.

We’re No Angels (1955): Three escaped convicts, Humphrey Bogart, Aldo Rey and Peter Ustinov, end up trying to save their intended victim. The shopkeeper and his family are so endearing these hardened criminals cook-up a convoluted plan to raise money. While they’re at it, they also help romance by helping the daughter find love. My personal favorite.

The Dead (1987): John Houston directs daughter, Anjelica, in this adaption of James Joyce’s The Dubliners. The story centers around a Christmas dinner in the early 1900s. After dinner a husband and wife must come to terms with their issue-filled marriage. Isn’t that always the way?

The Bishop’s Wife (1947): An angelic Cary Grant becomes an unwitting rival between David Niven and Loretta Young. Niven, the bishop, is trying to raise money to build a new cathedral. This obsession causes a strain on his marriage. Will the angel save the day? You can always bet on Grant.

March of the Wooden Soldiers: Babes in Toyland (1934): Who better than Laurel and Hardy to get it right? This delightful film has them trying to rescue the widow Mrs. Peep and her daughter Bo-Peep. There are at least three versions of this story. Start with the first and best.

Christmas in Connecticut (1945): Barbara Stanwyck stars as the Martha Stewart of her era. Unfortunately, it’s all a sham to promote her job as a columnist for a woman’s magazine. Her publisher, Sydney Greenstreet, comes up with another scheme: Invite war veteran, Dennis Morgan, to Christmas dinner. You can guess what’s going to happen, but it’s enjoyable all the same.

Holiday Inn (1942): Der Bingle, Bing Crosby, and Fred Astaire team up in this Irving Berlin story of a three-way romance. Marjorie Reynolds is the love interest. The story centers around Crosby as owner of a country inn only open on holidays.

I’ll Be Seeing You (1944): Prison inmate Ginger Rogers on a furlough for the holidays meets Joseph Cotton on a train. They are attracted to each other, but Rogers is afraid of what he would think if he knew her secret. It turns out that Cotton has a few secrets of his own. What will become of them? Oh my. Shirley Temple co-stars. Now you know. What could possibly go wrong in a Shirley Temple film?

The Lemon Drop Kid (1951): Bob Hope is at his best in this Runyon-like tale of a small-time crook who cheats a big-time crook. Forced to come up with $10,000 before Christmas, Hope engages the talents of his girlfriend, Marilyn Maxwell, and his gang to devise a plan. They do and it involves Santa suits. The song, “Silver Bells,” came from this delightful movie.

A Midnight Clear (1992): It’s France 1944. An American Intelligence unit meets a German platoon. The Germans prefer surrendering to the Americans rather than facing possible death in the waning days of the war. The two groups spend Christmas together.