Old Movies

For me, one of the simple things in life is to watch an old movie. To curl up on the sofa with a cup of hot cocoa or a bowl of soup and watch the old chick flicks is an awesome way to spend a rainy day. The story is the same-Guy meets girl, guy falls in love with girl, girl doesn’t like guy and avoids him, guy wins girl with music and dancing, they get married, and then they live happily ever after-sometimes the roles are reversed and sometimes there isn’t any singing or dancing (what a shame!). For instance, His Girl Friday is my favorite Cary Grant movie. The quips by Cary and his lady co-star are very funny and I find myself cheering (inside of course) for Cary to win his lady’s heart back. You’ll have to watch the movie to find out. Another one of my favorites is Cover Girl starring Gene Kelly and Rita Hayworth. Gene falls in love with Rita but breaks up with her so she can go work on Broadway to fulfill her dream. You’ll also have to watch this one to find out what happens.

What is it that draws me to the old chick flicks? Maybe it’s the story of “true” love which relates to the hope that I will be in love someday. To have a guy win a girl’s heart by singing and dancing is a fantasy/dream as some people say. I know it will never happen but there’s always an exception to the rule, right? Maybe it’s the music, after all music is my passion. I love the simple songs that relate to me and my life. For instance, Brigadoon with Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse. Cyd sings a song called Waitin’ For My Dearie. Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PZ8CdRU9E&feature=player_embedded. The song is about her waiting for her true love and quite honestly explains she is not going to fall in love with any Tom, Dick, or Harry. I can definitely relate to that. I want to save myself for the right man-God’s man for me. Another song I love is from Du Barry was a Lady starring Lucille Ball, a very young Gene Kelly (anyone noticing a theme here?), and Red Skeleton. Gene sings a song to Lucille called Do I Love You, Do I? One line says, “Do I love you, do I? Does one and one make two?”  This song doesn't relate to me right now, but I hope it will soon. Nevertheless, it’s a good song and you can find it on YouTube if you want to hear the whole thing. Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvJC14UpGpc. Then maybe it’s just because they are old movies from the 1940’s to 1950’s. Lately, I have had a healthy fascination with everything in that decade. I’m working on getting my hair styled that way and I am also working on my vintage hat collection.

So what is it that draws me to old chick flicks? Is it the simple story of “true” love? Is it the simplicity of the music? Is it the fascination with the decade? I’m not sure but whatever it is I’m addicted and it doesn’t look like that addiction will be broken any time soon. Maybe I need an intervention.

To end this fascinating blog, I leave you with a quote about fame from one of my favorite chick flicks-Singing in the Rain:

Cosmo Brown (Donald O’Connor):“The price of fame. You’ve got the glory, You gotta take the little heartaches that go with it. Now look at me: I’ve got no fame, I’ve got no glory, I’ve got no big mansions, I’ve got no money! But I’ve got……what have I got?”

Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly): “I don’t know what have you got?”

Cosmo: “I gotta get out of here.”