I haven’t seen a movie with my dad in a long time. It makes me sad when I think about it, but I’m a teenage girl, it’s just kind of what happens.
But I’ve seen a lot of movies lately. Ones that he’s recommended. I think I’m going to blog about that. But then again, I always say I’ll do things that I won’t.
I’m not even sure who that man in the left corner is supposed to be…
Today, my father and I watched most of Blue Skies with Bing and Fred.
I gotta say. Not an amazing movie.
The song choices didn’t make much sense. The storyline was odd. They had a baby that no one ever talks about again! (But the kid was played by the same one that was Zuzu in “It’s a Wonderful Life”, so that was awesome.)
The ending was the weirdest part of all. It ended really abruptly, with no warning, no denouement.
What’s interesting about this movie is that it was supposed to be Fred Astaire’s last movie. But, then he was needed for “Easter Parade” so he came back. Also, Joan Claufield, who plays the love interest for both Bing and Fred named Mary, actually was in love with Bing in real life. He was married and she ended up having a nervous breakdown and stopped acting. Weird soup.
We sang the title song in my jazz choir at school, so it was weird to hear Old Man Crosby sing it. But still. He’s got some lungs. and Fred makes that dancing look so…easy. Damn you Fred!
[video]
Holiday Inn Soundtrack.
Most soundtracks exclude the song for Lincoln’s birthday. Probably because its totes racist and everyones in black face. Love it.
Tonight, around 7, my father and I started talking about movies I’d like to see.
And my grandparents are visiting this weekend which makes it a total snoozeville and I can’t do anything exciting. So on a Saturday night, I was sitting at home.
We asked them what movie they would want to watch and they were like “ANYTHING!! Except everything you want to watch.” So we settled on Holiday Inn, a 1943 classic starring Bing Crosby and Gene Kelly.
I love how Gene’s drunk and he dances better than anyone else can sober.
Anyway. It’s a cute movie about this performer (Bing being fantastic as usual) who is sick of working every day of the year, so he becomes a farmer so he can be lazy. As most logical people know, farming is hard work. So he decides to do something lazier. He opens a inn that only performs on the 15 holidays a year, hence a Holiday Inn. Clever,eh? Well then he falls for this dancer/singer type and then there’s this whole love triangle between her and him and Gene’s character, amidst amazing choreography and beautiful music, courtesy of the lovely Irving Berlin.
So, I have an eclectic taste in movies. I love anything old, new, funny, sad, musical. It’s in my blood. You see, my dad is a movie lover. He has a notebook that lists every movie he’s seen since 1983 or so (Casablanca is in there at least 50 times).
Since I was a youngin, I was into movies. When I was 8, I dreamt of getting married like Grace Kelly’s character in High Society. My idols were Frank and Bing and Gene and all the other greats. But it wasn’t only those movies. No no. I saw Breakfast Club when I was ten and loved it. I loved watching movies with my dad and was proud to do so. Then, the teenage angst hit me. My Saturday nights went from being spent idolizing Sammy Davis Jr. to hanging out with friends. Well. I now have a list of movies I’ve never seen and need to and I’m determined to see the majority of them before I leave for college. But here’s the kicker. I want to watch them with my dad. There’s something about seeing him pretending he’s conducting the band or saying the lines along with the movie that makes me sentimental. So that’s what this is. A collection of the movies I’ve seen with my dad. I can’t promise I’ll keep this up, but don’t say I won’t try. All in good time, we shall see.
Yours,
Sam
PS. For the record, the line “play it again, sam.” wasn’t actually ever said in Casablanca. Just saying.