I have no idea whether I spelled it right. But I can sing it all the way through, and I once surprised an older gentleman in a Mexican restaurant by doing just that. He thought I was too young and wouldn’t know the song. Ha! So wrong. SO wrong.
This blog is Susan’s fault. I’ve been bopping around the house all evening, grilling steak and singing the Supercali song, along with Chim-Chiminey as sung by Dick Van Dyke.
Susan, otherwise known in the Bandita lair as Smoov T (don’t ask why—we aren’t telling how we got our nicknames) just got back from Disney World, where she had the honor of meeting the one, only and venerable Mary Poppins.
Smoov T was too ashamed to have her picture taken with Ms. Poppins, and instead got her daughter to pose, but all the same, Smoov admits to squealing under her breath the entire time.
I love old movies. Especially the wonderfully happy endings for which Walt Disney is so famous. I don’t get time to watch many, but unlike most modern films, I can watch those old flicks over and over. I think it’s the music. That music is magic.Disney isn't the only film company that put out what I call "keepers." I know all the words to every song from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
And does anybody besides me remember A Bicycle Built For Two or The Surrey with the Fringe On Top? I can sing all the way through If I Only Had A Brain from The Wizard of Oz.
If you think about it, the whole thing is a bit silly. Here we go, trotting along with the drama of the plot, and someone stops and breaks into song. It’s completely ridiculous. And unforgettable. Like the incredible reads on my keeper shelf, these old films live and breathe and never become outdated.
Even the best kids’ shows from my childhood were musicals. I can sing the songs from every one. Frosty the Snowman and How The Grinch Stole Christmas. Am I the only one who loves Horton Hears A Who? It’s my favorite Dr. Seuss book, and my fav animation from his works. Remember the song the bad boy apes had as their theme? We’re the Wickersham Brothers…..
Oh, and does anyone else remember sitting rapt in front of the tube each winter for Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer? It seems silly now, but little Cassondra was terrified when Rudolph set out alone on that lonely iceberg to cross that desolate arctic lake. And I confess that watching it twice per year for 30-some years has actually paid off for me!
Three years ago at my husband’s office Christmas party we sat around at the tables, forced to play dumb office party games. This was a Christmas movie trivia game, and I’d been ignoring it completely. I was focused on the chocolate cheesecake. But for whatever reason, on the last question, I tuned in. There must have been 60 of us in the room. The rules required that the participant stand up, place a set of felt antlers on his/her head, then wait to be called on.
The question was…..drum roll please…… “In the movie Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, who was the lead reindeer on Santa’s sleigh team before Rudolph got the job?” I shot to my feet.
“Give me that!” I snapped at the girl across the table—the one who held the felt antlers in her oh-so-Rudolph-ignorant hands. She tossed them to me. I shoved them on my head, and, hands on hips, waited to be called upon. The office manager pointed to me.
Do you know the answer? (No fair looking it up now!)
I did, and won a nice portable DVD player for my dedication to that little claymation reindeer and the songs the Snowman sang.
Are there songs or music from movies that sweep you away to another place or time? Do you have favorites from childhood?
Is there a “must see” old flick that you’d be shocked to find that your children or friends’ children haven’t seen? Are there moments that just the mention of a name—Hepburn, Davis, Garland, Harlow or others, sends you diving into the emotion of an unforgettable on-screen moment?
I admit to writing three scenes in my GH finaling manuscript, The Ritual, to Michael Bolton’s Time, Love and Tenderness, and his version of When A Man Loves A Woman.
Are there favorite books on your keeper shelf that you read to an imagined “score?” What would that soundtrack be? Classical? Hard rock? Slow Jazz?
Make a guess at my Rudolph trivia question above (no cheating!), and I'll share the red-nosed wealth with a drawing for a Romance Bandits mousepad! Any reasonable guess gets you entered for the drawing.
95 comments:
Oh, Cassondra, what memories your column brought up! Thank you. Mary Poppins was the second film I ever saw at the pictures - the first was Sound of Music. What can I say? Julie Andrews was the Britney of her era! And then I spent most of my primary school singing the songs from TSOM and MP. I still know most of the words, tuppence a bag! They don't make 'em like that any more, said the old duck!
You did spell it right, Cassondra! That used to be a trick of mine when I was a child. I could spell it backwards too. And I HAVE seen Mary Poppins, y'all, I just don't really remember much except them dancing with...Penguins??
And I'm with you, Foanna, The Sound of Music was my favourite for many years, then Grease and My Fair Lady was in there somewhere too.
I'll take a guess at the reindeer--Donner?
Cassondra,
What fun! Yes, you definitely struck a chord with me. Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the Sound of Music are all favourites. Then there are The Wizard of Oz and Snow White. Apparently I saw them both when I was tiny enough to be terrified by the wicked witch/stepmother. Love the music from them all.
Thanks for the post.
Annie
Oh, Annie, yes! The Wizard of Oz! I loved that movie, but I remember I was always fighting sleep by the time they got to Oz. Just like in The Sound of Music, I'd fall asleep during 'Climb Every Mountain'.*g*
I was, still am, a sucker for those old fashioned musicals. I can remember growing up with just one television channel and watching the Sunday afcternoon musicals with those gorgeous gowns and dancing and singing. I also remember the rather pained expression on my father's face the minute they started to sing. Funnily enough, I see it on my son's face now whenever anyone burst into song in a movie.
Great movies I saw as a kid apart from the aforementioned Ms Andrews classics, The Sound of Music being on of my all time favs. The King and I, Singing in the Rain, High Society, all the Doris Day movies and a little later as an impressionable teenager - To Sir With Love. Sigh, I fell in love with Sydney Poitier at 13.
Yes Christine - penguins. I saw a doco once on how they did that scene. They interviewed Dick van Dyke and a lot of the people that worked on the graphics. It was really fascinating especially when today they can just do it all with computer magic.
Amy Andrews
Good morning to all the Aussies!
Oh Cassondra, a woman after my own heart! I adore musicals. O---------KLAHOMA! South Pacific, (There's nothing like a dame!), Cinderella. I went through a Howard Keel fetish as a middle schooler: Seven Brides For Seven Brothers,(which explains my love of redheaded men!), Showboat, Kiss Me Kate. MMMMMMMM.
When we lived in Florida the kids had to be inside every afternoon due to the regularly scheduled thunderstorms which would also knock out the cable. So poor things were forced to watch VHS tapes of mom's....hehehe....they'd sing the songs all day long. The funniest was when my 9 year old son, (imagine skinny as a rail, all bony joints and ribs), stood in the middle of the room dressed only in overzied swimming trunks that hung to his knees, hands fisted on his hips and started saying....
"etcetera...etcetera...etcetera" from the KING AND I! Too funny!
OH yes, my quess is Comet. I believe he at least was the coach in charge of the reindeer games.
I live in a house of boys. What is it with them and their lack of interest in musicals? Grease was on the other night and no one wanted to watch it (except me, of course).
Several times when I was growing up, my parents would pack us up and drive to NYC, which was about 3.5 hours away, so we could see a Broadway show. I still remember watching Fiddler on the Roof and Evita on Broadway in awe.
And The Sound of Music is my absolute all time favorite musical.
I can't think of the reindeer name except I think it was Rudoph's dad, does that count?
Oh Cassondra, I am tingling with memories right now! (Seriously, I've got goosebumps just from thinking about all those fantastic songs and shows.)
You are all now familiar with my devotion to Mary Poppins. I also have STRONG feelings about Howard Keel, Suz, so HANDS OFF MY MAN!! Not to mention Bing Crosby...mmmm, that voice. Holiday Inn anyone? What about Fred and Ginger? Also not the most handsome man on his own, but wow, when he would dance and sing, he was the sexiest thing on two feet.
As for Rudolph, it's too scary yet for my little darlings (7 and 4--they're very skittish when it comes to scary things on TV) but I bought the DVD last Christmas and they WILL watch it this year! Even if it causes nightmares! BWAHAHAHA!
I'm guessing Donner. Or was Donner Rudolph's dad?
How about this trivia: what was Rudolph's girlfriend's name?
Ah Kirsten, since I saw Howard first, because I'm older, you're gonna have to find a new man!
Speaking of musicals and Christmas, my husband MUST watch the Grinch, the family MUST watch the Charlie Brown special, and I MUST watch White Christmas while wrapping presents late at night and drinking hot chocolate! I have my own copy so I never miss my White Christmas fix! And I can sing all four parts to the Snow, Snow song!!
I thought in was Donder (or Donner, whichever you prefer), too, Christine!
Cassondra, the claymation "Rudolph" is my very favorite. Often around my house one will hear, "Why am I such a misfit? I am not just a nitwit. You can't fire me, I quit! Seems, I don't fit in." We also like to refer to ourselves as the Island of Misfit Toys. *g*
I confess to having a special fondness for musicals. Ridiculous or not, they are memorable and stay with me far longer than regular talkies.
Over the weekend, I went to see "Across the Universe" with my best friend and two daughters. My daughters are teenagers and budding Beatles fans, so this was great. They figured out (without prompting!) that one character was the Jimi Hendrix of the group. Had to tell them who Janis Joplin was, though (don't worry, I've downloaded music since then!). It was a great movie! Very hippy/trippy and reminiscent of a time I only know through the media.
ATU and movies like "Hairspray" and "Dream Girls" make me hopeful that musicals will be more in evidence in coming years. I love them!
Suzanne, I have *all* the Christmas specials I care to watch on DVD. All of the Rankin Bass ones, for sure! And all the claymations. I really enjoy "The Year Without a Santa Claus" because that's the one with the Heat Miser. I love that song! *g*
Christine, my girls adore "Grease". The most popular trip we took our Teen Girl Scout troop on last year was a local production of "Grease". They had a blast! They also nit-picked every change from the movie version - and there were lots. *g*
Personally, I love "Music Man" and I do mean the version with My Man Matthew Broderick. I didn't even see it when it came out. It was fabulous! All that fast-talking, talk-singing action. Matthew was great!
Christine, I am SO JEALOUS you got to see "Evita" on Broadway. I know every song (from the original musical soundtrack on vinyl, not the Madonna version). I only wish I had seen Hugh Jackman doing "Oklahoma". Can you imagine?!
I have no particular affinity for MP though a good chorus of "Bippity Boppity Boo" always brings back memories.
I'm with Suz. Gotta watch Charlie Brown. Gotta watch White Christmas (Sisters, sisters, there were never such devoted sisters...)and Kirsten! Someone else who KNOWS "Holiday Inn!" Ilove the gowns and dancing in that movie too.
I love muscials of all time. And my favorite "modern" one is "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat". I've seriously seen productions of that over 20 times, have a VHS starring Donny Osmond :-)
I know ALL the words to ALL the songs in that one....anyone for a round of Joe Joe Joe Joseph you're doing okay, hey now Joseph.....
Mary Poppins is by far my favorite childhood "real" movie. I was in love with Dick Van Dyke (I swear to God, I crushed on everyone)--and I remember waiting in front of the TV for ABC to play the Wonderful World of Disney on a Friday or Sunday night--and there was my Mary Poppins.
And then at the end where the Daddy takes the kids out to fly kites. *sniffle, sniffle* I loved it.
The Sound of Music was an acquired taste. When I was a teenager, I'd watch it--but it wasn't my favorite--and I of course related with the teenage girl; but now I love it--and it's because I feel like Maria, and I sigh blissfully whenever her and the Captain get together.
I get surprised at more modern movies people haven't seen. I used to be aghast if my friends hadn't seen Braveheart. (But I've never seen Pulp Fiction--so I suppose the tradeoff is fair.)
I'm a big sucker for MGM musicals: 7 Brides for 7 Brothers (know the words); Kiss Me Kate; On the Town; Anchors Aweigh; Can-Can; The Unsinkable Molly Brown...et al. I love them all. *sighs*
Gosh, we're all Howard Keel fans, aren't we?
Of course, who can blame us?
If you guys are going to scrabble about him though, I'm going to go for James Coburn. Okay, so he wasn't exactly in a "musical"--but there was this movie called Waterhole #3, which is a bit of a horrifying movie actually--but the music's catchy. And funny. "Treat a girl gentle, she'll preen like a bride, but take her for granted and she'll come for your hide..."--or so the lyrics go.
Musicals!! I love them! And, I say proudly, my kids (2 boys, 1 girl) do too. You have to admit, it's quite an accomplishment.
When Fred Astaire died, my DH said, "Now our marriage is solid; you can't leave me for Fred." It was a definite possibility. If Fred had so much as crooked his little finger...
My daughter's fav musical: 7 Brides. She has it bad for Gideon, and who can blame her?
My younger son's fav musical: Phantom. He would kill to play the Phantom and has the voice to carry it off.
My older son's fav musical: Les Mis. He knows every song by heart.
My fav musical? Too many to choose from. Meet Me in St. Louis...The Boy Next Door? Harvey Girls...Atchinson, Topeka, and Santa Fe? 7 Brides...Sabine Women?
It's hard to think of a musical I don't adore. The thing I love about musicals is the pure emotion of them, the breaking into song and dance because that's how a character FEELS at that moment. Actually, I had a Breakthrough Idea when I was writing my last book---I'm writing musicals. I'm trying to create in novel form the feeling that musicals give. That shine, that glow, that happy feeling.
How cool is that?
Oh, man--I was such a Rudolph fan that my family bought me a Burl Ives Christmas CD--he was the voice of the snowman.
Christy--I'm surrounded by boys too. It's so sad, when all I want is for someone else to sing "Summer Lovin'" along with me! hee hee. They just roll their eyes at me. Worse, they do not understand that Pride and Prejudice must be watched multiple times in order to be truly appreciated. "Mom, haven't you seen that movie *enough?*" Um, no.
This from the pair of boys who can quote dialogue from every Star Wars movie and know the complete mythological background of the Bionicle world.
Jeez.
Your mentioning Mary Poppins reminded me of Dick van Dyke which led me to think of Bye, Bye Birdie, the first musical I directed when I began the drama department at our high school. We had a full pit orchestra, fabulous choreography, a wonderful set designer, and an amazingly talented cast, the likes of which I've never since on the high school level. I still remember those kids and the fun we had that year. I loved those songs!
I thought the lead reindeer before Rudolph was Dasher, but now I'm not so sure.
Mary Poppins IS one of the great ones, isn't it? Sound of Music was the one that was a must sit down and watch any time it came on in my Mom's house. She LOVES that musical. When I went to Austria and took the Sound of Music tour I had to take tons of photos to show her. The Mozarteum, where I studied opera, is on the grounds of the bishop's palace in downtown Salzburg. The scene where they are singing Do Re Mi and going up and down the steps? I walked those steps every day to class. SO cool! I am amazed when kids tell me they have NOT seen the original HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS. What deprived children! I think MY FAIR LADY is my favorite to watch and to sing. My least favorite? Oklahoma, but only because I was in a series of performances of it that were a disaster from start to finish. A real battle of egos and I don't have time for that. Seven Brides is a great one too. Hmmm, I am with Christine. I think Donner lead the sleigh before Rudolph.
Wow, Cassondra, what a fun post. Blitzen is my guess, and to answer Kirsten's trivia, Clarisse was the girlfriend. :> I was in Oklahoma and Sound of Music in high school. Oh, my. I would LOVE to see Hugh J. in Oklahoma. Yummm. And Seven Brides? Suz, imagine me patting my heart. That dance scene. Dear lord. There are dancers today who could not execute that. In South Pacific, I was devastated when Cable died - talk about a crush! - and refused to watch it again for years. Totally crushed on Capt. Von Trapp. Yum. Claudia, good on your son for wanting to sing Phantom. What a role! I heard an interview w/ Michael Crawford. He thought he was being cast as Raoul and was so disappointed initially that he was to be the phantom. What a waste that would of been! Now as to my favorite? How could one choose between Sweeney Todd, My Fair Lady, Man of La Mancha, and Showboat? Not to mention South Pacific, Grease, Hairspray, and now, High School Musical! Yikes!
As to books that should have their own score...hmmm. I think Anna's CTC might have to be part POC music (all that drama), some stormy Beethoven, and a bit of lyrical Sondheim in there as well. I read a friend's mss several years ago now that should have been scored to the 1812 Overture. Grins.
And any mention of White Christmas sends me for the video collection, so its ALL YOUR FAULT that I'm watching Bing and the "boy-boy, girl-girl" team and not working today.
Oh, all of you! I'm so thrilled. I was typing this last night in a stupor from working on taxes all day (starting again today--sorting little receipts into little monthly envelopes--ugh).
I thought you would all say "she is too weird for words--we've got to kick her out of the Bandita lair". But no! You like them too.
Anna, you're always top poster--you and Christine over there in Oz--and I ASSUME that nickname for your country came from the film?????
Annie! You didn't guess at the lead reindeer. Oh, I love Snow White. Although nowadays when I watch it, I think "she is just a tad too sweet for my taste--I almost want to smack somebody that sweet. You can tell she's never had a mean thought in her life."
Downundergirl, I'd LOVE to see that documentary. Animation mixed with live footage was absolutely cutting edge back then. I remember my dad (WWII Vet) telling me he saw the Wizard of Oz when he was stationed at an army base in California. He was in the theater for the first showing. Everyone sat there watching the film, and when Dorothy opened the door after her house fell on the witch and there was that COLOR! He said the noise in the theater was deafening. People were awestruck. I didn't realize it growing up until he told me that, but apparantly it was the first color film. How cool to have been there and seen that reaction.
Keep the guesses coming for lead reindeer! You all are doing great!
The first thing that comes to mind is Christmas. There are so many things out there that remind me of Christmas where I was younger. I just watched "Little Women" (the Winonna Ryder one) and I remember when me and my sister used to watch it when it was snowing outside and the tree was up and decorated. My family always watch "A Christmas Story," "Home Alone," and "The Santa Clause." I know those aren't really the traditional classics but I am only 21 so they are classics to me because that was what I grew up watching.
Anytime I hear Karen Carpenter, I think Christmas. My mom loves the Carpenter's Christmas CD and she would and still does literally play it all day everyday for a feew weeks before Christmas. Now everytime I hear her sing even it isn't a Christmas song, I think about decorating a tree and opening gifts.
Christine, I almost included a pic from My Fair Lady. It's one of my favorites too. I was on my mail route the other day and the radio is broken in my mail car. I found myself singing "I've grown accustomed to her looks, accustomed to her smile....accustomed to her...face"
The ending always aggravated my romance writer soul though. I hate it when he starts ordering her around again. :0)
Hi Suz!
Wasn't there a tv spinoff from Seven Brides For Seven Brothers? I love that film, but every time I think of it I have these mixed memories from a tv series I used to watch. I had crushes on all of those boys. (heavy, reminiscent sigh)
Annie, I can do a perfect imitation of the wicked witch of the west. I'll GET you, my pretty....and your little DOG too... I can't remember the witch/actresses name right now (first cup of coffee)but I have the same face shape and angular nose that she has (minus the witch extension I hope).
One day when I was teaching a group of kids to rappel, I was hooking a boy into the rope system and he said "you look like the wicked witch of the west." (Don't you love kids' honesty?) And I said, "Kid, that's not what you say to the woman who's going to keep you alive while you go over the edge of a cliff." And I sent him over the edge of the cliff with a bit of a stunned expression on his kid face.
Kirsten did I have a brain malfunction? Was it YOU who just got back from Disney? I swore it was Smoov. Am I losing it?
Oooooh, Fred....he was sexy...a man who can dance like that--Gene in Singin' In The Rain..Ahhhh. Honestly that's one of the things that attracts me to Patrick Swayze (Swaze? Swayzey?) films--he can dance like a dream--that and his martial arts skills--he's amazing. Not many actors/actresses can do that stuff any more. Used to be that if you planned to go on the stage, or try to get into film, a background of singing/dancing--all the performing arts, was essential. Now it seems that it's just a killer bod and lots of plastic surgery....:0/
Cassondra, I remember that claymation. It was on TV every Christmas of my childhood. But I don't, alas, know the answer to the trivia question. Aack! Good for you, that you did!
The ultimate movie song for me is Camelot. I just love that song. At one time, I could play it on the piano. It's so romantic and idyllic, and yet, when you know what's coming, so tragic. So my liking it is odd because I normally prefer happy endings.
For movies themselves, I'd go with Casablanca, another not-HEA ending but a fitting one. Then there's Sleeping Beauty, my all-time favorite Disney movie. I like the songs and the art and the fairies and the villainess, and I fell in love with it when I was very young, so it has stuck with me despite the fact that Disney has since produced stronger, more assertive heroines.
There seems to be something in the imagination of children that can be ignited more than it can in adults. The things I loved passionately as a child stay with me, but I seldom fall so strongly for the imaginary now.
Christie!
Do you have ANY idea how lucky you were to see Broadway shows while you were a kid? Omygosh! I'm drooling on the keyboard. What a legacy your folks left you by doing that. And what is it with kids now? They'd rather see a video game and listen to hip-hop. Whazzup wit dat?
Caren, it's so cool that your kids can sing the Misfit song. How did you do that? How did you get them to appreciate those old musical films? Burl Ives "Silver and Gold" (the one the snowman sings)is the one I go about singing during the holidays.
And regarding your hope that musicals are making a comeback--what was that one with Nicole Kidman--Moulan Rouge? My husband said she got up to film the scene, and they had already made arrangements for a singer to do the voice over after the filming--but when she started singing jaws dropped all over the set. They had no idea she could sing like that. It's one of the reasons I like Nicole--and maybe your instinct that musicals are making a comeback is accurate!
Joanie T, it's almost time for "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" or have I missed it already? They come on SO early now. :0/
Hellion, MGM made a string of masterpieces didn't they?
I was in love with Dick Van Dyke too. Did you ever see the Mary Tyler Moore show? His gift for humor is unrivaled--the man is just FUNNY. Not gross or off-color humor. Just plain funny. And handsome in that old fashioned kind of way.
Oh, the memories. Here, Sunday night was "Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom" which I watched with my dad, and then he'd go to bed and if there was no school, I could watch The Wonderful World of Disney." It was the highlight of my week==that and the Bugs Bunny operas on Saturday morning. (grin) I confess that's where I first heard the music to The Barber of Seville. After that I had to go to the library to check out the album--and after that I went through every classical album they had. The Bunny was my intro to culture.
Claudia said :
And, I say proudly, my kids (2 boys, 1 girl) do too. You have to admit, it's quite an accomplishment.
When Fred Astaire died, my DH said, "Now our marriage is solid; you can't leave me for Fred."
Claudia, it's great to see you here! It IS an accomplishment, and I want to know how you've pulled it off--you and Caren both have kids that don't go "ick" to old films and musicals. How did you do that?
And when Fred died, I mourned. I said, "I'll never get to dance with the best." I mourned Bing Crosby too. White Christmas has always been my favorite holiday song. I was a singer when I was younger, and one of my dreams was to sing that song with him. Alas.
That IS very cool that you're writing "musicals." I admit though, that some were carried off better than others. In many spots, the music fit so perfectly. In others, I could look at my watch and say, "Fifteen minutes of drama--time for a song"--and there it would be--forced or not--in the proper spacing, just like a commercial break. It was a real art to get script and music to flow in a seemingly effortless stream. It would be great to see a new generation of screenwriter/songwriter collaborations as powerful as those old ones.
And tell your daughter she'll have to fight me for Gideon. (grin)
deb, now there's the rub.
My husband and all his friends (okay, I admit, I can too) can quote Monty Python line for line. They can all sing "Every Sperm Is Sacred."
But none of them can sing White Christmas or Singin In The Rain. What's up with that? Is it "not cool" because it hasn't played on a big screen while they've been alive?
JoMama, what a cool experience. I'm envious of that--both of your having directed/produced in such a cool environment, but of the kids themselves--for getting to play a stage much like a "real" one in the entertainment biz--complete with ORCHESTRA--I'm swooning.
The thing I learned from working in the music biz in Nashville--a songwriter town--is that when you're surrounded on all sides by that level of creativity, your OWN talents and abilities soar--the creative energy of everyone seems to come together in a whirlpool that can turn the good into the fantastic. What a great memory you must have of that.
Oh, Doglady! You got to walk those steps where they sang Do, a deer, a female deer...Re, a drop of golden sun...? Wow. I've never been to Germany, and didn't know there was such a thing as the Sound of Music tour. Okay, that's going on my "to do before I die" list.
Jeanne, I haven't seen High School Musical yet. (I know, I KNOW. Smite me with a stick.)
And as I typed the blog I was thinking about Foanna's CTC and the dark, dramatic music I would use for the score.
My DH had never been to a live professional symphony performance, so I splurged on season tickets to the symphony for both of us as his anniversary gift last June. End of September they did "Music from Outer Space" with all the classical stuff--they started with the theme from 2001 Space Odyssey--did Gustav Holtz's Jupiter, also Mars, and ended with the newer music from ET, Close Encounters, Star Trek and Star Wars. Some of the Jupiter and Mars pieces would fit CTC I think.
Oh, and you're welcome for the distraction (ducks under cover) Hey, you can count on a Bandita sister. (evil grin).
Cassondra, Yes, they have a tour and it is fabulous. They take you to the church where the filmed the wedding, to those fabled steps, to the house that they used as the Von Trapp home and to all of the places they used in Salzburg. Oh yes, the church where they hid, the cemetery, you get to see that. And of course you go up into the hills as well. Truly a memorable thing to cross of my life list!
Filmphan, I LOVE The Santa Clause. I also love Elf. And it's a MUSICAL! We try to watch those every Christmas, along with the older classics.
I'm actually thrilled that there are some modern Christmas flicks being written and made into great films.
And I kind of teared up when you mentioned your mom singing. My mom went about the house singing throughout my childhood. Her favorite Christmas song was "Silver Bells." I never used to hear it on the radio around Christmas much, but in the past couple of years I've heard it more often. It's another one that I've heard Bing Crosby croon. Ah, that voice....but the memories of my mom singing it around the house--irreplaceable. Okay, starting to sniffle now....
Nancy said:
There seems to be something in the imagination of children that can be ignited more than it can in adults. The things I loved passionately as a child stay with me, but I seldom fall so strongly for the imaginary now.
Oh, Nancy. It's true isn't it? And isn't it a shame? I wonder why that's so. Is it because we're burdened with so many responsibilities that we have a hard time letting go enough to fall into something completely? I read an article by Stephen King--actually it was his review of The Harry Potter Deathly Hallows book--I think it appeared in Entertainment Weekly or something--where he talked about kids loving the magic. That the magic will ALWAYS capture kids--and adults too at times.
I wonder if we'd be better, happier, more free-spirited people if we could keep that gift going--the ability to become lost in the imaginary.
Some books do it for me. But those old films--When I was a little kid, I YEARNED for a dress like the one Anna wore in The King And I. You know, the gold one she wore to the ball? Remember the night before when Anna was teaching the king to waltz? Shall we dance, one..two..three..On a bright cloud of music, shall we fly...one two three...
As I type this, I just realized something. I was performing at some gig with somebody somewhere when I was maybe 20--stadium stage--formal affair for the performers--and I had a special stage outfit made for it--gold lame'--it was genie pants and a scoop neck, spaghetti strap top, shimmer spray dusted on skin and hair-- I was all shimmery--and now I wonder if I was fulfilling that childhood wish for that dress! (grin)
Cassondra and Doglady, all that talk about Austria makes me long to grab my passport and go! Believe me, when we were in Switzerland this summer (in the Bernese Oberland, far into the Swiss Alps), my girls and I frolicked in the flower-dotted Alpine meadows and re-enacted Maria's opening scene in Sound of Music.
Matter of fact, we watched Sound Of Music about a week ago and in the beginning, where they have all those wonderful aerial views of the mountains, the girls kept saying, "That looks just like Swtizerland!" And yes, we yodelled. *g*
doglady said:
Cassondra, Yes, they have a tour and it is fabulous. They take you to the church where the filmed the wedding, to those fabled steps, to the house that they used as the Von Trapp home and to all of the places they used in Salzburg. Oh yes, the church where they hid, the cemetery, you get to see that. And of course you go up into the hills as well. Truly a memorable thing to cross of my life list!
Doglady, I am SO there--if I ever get to Europe I am SO there.
Dear niece Cassondra (De-Ho) that is AUSTRIA! Salzburg and all the Sound of Music stuff is in AUSTRIA!
And I'm with Jeanne, my guess is Blitzen.
Who mentioned "Camelot?" I LOVED that movie with Vanessa Redgrave and Richard Harris. And I don't think I ever watched "Wizard of Oz" all the way through until I was in my 20s. When I was a child, the Wicked Witch used to scare me so much, I'd run into my bedroom to hide. Now, I AM HER! LOL! You may think you LOOK like her, Cassondra (the actress was Margaret Hamilton, btw), but WHERE do you think Aunty got her personality?!?!
cackling,
AC
Caren wrote:
Believe me, when we were in Switzerland this summer (in the Bernese Oberland, far into the Swiss Alps),
Okay PoshT. Now I know you're trying to make me jealous. Austria--Germany--Switzerland--Italy--Greece--all on my list.
OK, C, how about Prancer?
MsHellion, this is scary but I've never seen Pulp Fiction and I've seen Braveheart LOTS! Still annoys me that every decapitation is done in loving detail and the nooky gets a fade out. Lovely music in that film, huh?
Doglady, love the idea of Beethoven and Sondheim for Claiming the Courtesan. We'd need something folky and Scots in there too, me thinks.
Hey, what about Gigi? I LOVE that film. Oh, all right, I love Louis. But when he sings the title song, I still go all goosebumpy! Sigh.
Oh, and I'm with you on Fred being sexy when he danced. Much more so than Gene Kelly. I was watching something that had a clip of Night and Day on it the other day and just the tender way he'd draw her up and sweep her into his arms made my heart stop. Now this is super nerdy - but I used to feel the same with Torvill and Dean. He was just another pasty Englishman until he started to skate and suddenly, the air would turn electric.
Doglady, I've been to Salzburg and I know exactly the steps you're talkinga bout. How lucky you were to study there! I want to come and visit and spend a week with your photo albums!
This is bringing back lovely memories for me. My parents only ever listened to musicals so I still know all the words to everything Rodgers and Hammerstein ever wrote!
Auntie Cindy wrote:
Dear niece Cassondra (De-Ho) that is AUSTRIA! Salzburg and all the Sound of Music stuff is in AUSTRIA!
Oh, auntie you're right of course. They had to flee the German Third Reich. And I know that--chalk it up to the lack of caffeine this morning--my brain was fuzzed over. I didn't go to sleep until 3 o'clock! Now I'm on my third cup, and starting to come awake.
And nobody told me whether the fuzzed over brain substitued Smoov T for Inara....Come on...don't be afraid...my lack of brain function without caffeine is no secret to the Banditas or our friends....
Ooh, I LURV the Planets, C. What a great idea as that for the score. I can see that big tune from Jupiter playing over the fade-out. And Mars has that sort of relentless quality that Kylemore has in spades. Did your husband like the symphony?
Actually, I forgot to mention Singin' in the Rain, although I've noticed a few other people didn't. Love the Jean Hagen character. "But I cain't make love to a booooosh!"
Auntie Cindy wrote:
You may think you LOOK like her, Cassondra (the actress was Margaret Hamilton, btw), but WHERE do you think Aunty got her personality?!?!
Auntie good on you for knowing. I think she died a few years ago didn't she? I was sad to hear of her passing. My husband said she was in some other films, but this was her defining roll. Kinda sad in a way--to be best known as the Wicked Witch forever. :0/
I swear though, when we're in SanFran, you all have to remind me to do my wicked witch imitation--uhm...it would be best if we'd been at the baaaaaa for a while before you ask, but I can do it stone sober.
Y'all, I'm not going to edit my decaffeinated Germany/Austria switch, but I WILL edit the original blog if I've confused one Bandita for another. Ah well--it shows my deep caffeine dependence. If they keep building more Starbucks, they're going to have to set up detox centers for caffeine addicts next door to each one.
Foanna wrote:
And Mars has that sort of relentless quality that Kylemore has in spades. Did your husband like the symphony?
EXACTLY. That's what I was thinking about--the dissonance--they read a wonderful narration between each of the pieces, and they said something about critics of the time saying Mars was "the most ferocious piece of music ever written" or some such similar comment. I thought it fit Kylemore's inner (and sometimes outer) conflictedness perfectly.
And my husband is totally hooked on the symphony. He loves music, and is a literal genius. He played trombone in grade school, but didn't grow up in a household that encouraged appreciation of the arts. Science for a genius? Yes. Arts? No. He sat on the edge of the seat, leaned forward in ecstasy the entire performance.
The coolest thing was a little deaf boy (maybe 9 or 10 years old) on the front row. It was obviously his first symphony too, and he sat through the first half with his mouth hanging open in complete AWE. His interpreter was there with him, and they'd sign and she'd put her hand on his chest and he'd sign back. It was almost as wonderful to see his awe and enjoyment as it was to hear the marvelous music. Nothing like a live orchestra.
Oh, Cassondra, what lovely stories! Thank you!
Actually, Mars is still pretty scary. I have the Gladiator soundtrack and a lot of that is a complete Mars rip-off (that soundtrack is such fun to play pick the plagiarised composer with!). But the fact is it's incredibly effective!
Deb M.
I'm so with you and the boy thing. Every time I want to watch any of the Jane Austin movies I hear the same thing. Yet, it seems to be okay to watch Star Wars 100 times!
*LOL* Anna, my sister on a different continent--how did I know you'd too be a Braveheart fan? I make the argument all the time that Braveheart is actually a love story and not a mere war one.
It IS a shame they do a fadeout on the love scene, after all that time Mel spent bulking up those arms of his. I cried and cried at the end of it; and my friend, a guy, who watched it with me was skipping out the theater, screaming, "Freedom! Death to the English!" at the top of his lungs--and couldn't figure out why I and his girlfriend were sobbing into kleenex.
*sighs* I love Fred too. And Bing--and I absolutely adore Holiday Inn. (But I also adore Gene Kelly--he's smooth in a different way than Fred. *swoons*) And I loved Frank Sinatra, the ultimate real-life bad boy, who yet seemed to play the guy in the movies who never seemed to get the girl. (This cracks me up.)
Ahhh ... classic movies ... musicals ... Mary Poppins and the penguins *grin*.
Love them! Love them!
Love the Disney movies too - Aristocats and Lady and the Tramp especially.
My favourite Christmas movie is Christmas in Connecticut - the original with Barbra Stanwyck. Though White Christmas comes a close second. And I adore Holiday Inn. Oh and I love that song at the end of Scrooged "Put a little love in your heart"
My favourite part from Singing in the Rain is that whole "I cain't stennit." sequence.
*sigh* on Seven Brides and Kiss Me Kate - fab, fab, fab. "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" is the best!
Yes - I remember all the words too. It used to drive me nuts that i could remember all those lyrics, but couldn't remember Boyle's Law in Physics or anything useful like that for my exams!
No idea on the Rudolph quiz *hangs head in shame*
Oh, mshellion...
I got a Sinatra CD at Starbucks this past summer. I'm going to put it on now...
Cassondra! A Mary Poppins blog! How wonderful!!
And yes, I'm the one who just got back from Disney & my fangirl moment with Mary Poppins. She hustled my daughter into place for a photo & when she said, "Spit spot!" I giggled out loud.
You know what the best part of the movie is for me, though, now that I'm a grown up & a mom? It's the very end, where the Banks family goes skipping off to fly their kite, happy & whole again thanks to Mary Poppins, whom they've left standing, forgotten, on their porch. She's getting ready to fly off to some other family & her umbrella starts talking to her, accusing her of loving Jane & Michael & not being as stoic about leaving as she seems. And you can tell the umbrella's right, but Mary shakes it off. She's done what's best for the kids at great personal cost, but she's not going to admit it, much less talk about it. It's heartbreaking & beautiful to see an adult just quietly do the right thing by a couple of neglected kids without expecting a darn thing.
*sigh*
And wouldn't it be awesome if life just stopped whenever you felt a moment coming on, & you belted out a song? And everybody in the street happened to know the words & the exact same dance moves to back you up? I always felt real life would be much improved by the additions of song & dance.
Caren, I'm with you on Heat Miser. He's, ahem, hot. :-) ("Bwahahaha, I'm too much, ba dump bump bump, BAH dump...")
Joan, you quoted Sisters!! I *love* that song, & sing it to my sisters without fail every Christmas, whether they want me to or not. Usually not, but I'm persistent. :-)
Thanks for a wonderful post, Cassondra!!
Susan/Smoov T
Oh, & somebody asked what Rudolph's girlfriend's name was? I think it was Claire. Am I right??
Smoov T
Anna, do you remember the "yes, yes, yes," "no, no, no" sequence. It's just so witty, that film!
And I LOVE Christmas in Connecticut. The bit at the end is so sexy when the starts prowling around the room after her. Hmm, beginning to see where Kylemore came from!
For those of you who love Dick Van Dyke, I saw him play Professor Harold Hill in The Music Man. He was great, but the problem was that you just couldn't suspend disbelief that Dick could ever defraud anybody. He's so darn likeable!
I wish I knew how I managed to get the kids to like the old movies--maybe my couch-bouncing enthusiasm was too much for them to resist?
All I know is that I have a son who, when he's watching You've Got Mail, will sigh and grab my hand when Meg says, "I wanted it to be you. I wanted it to be you so badly." to Tom on the bridge in the final scene. My daughter will start sobbing with longing when Mr. Darcy (in the latest version) confronts Lizzy Bennett in the rain at the gazebo.
We're a family of romantics. Wonder why? *G*
Susan, Oh thank God.
It's one thing to switch Austria and Germany due to caffeine DTs (in a film where they both played a role). It's quite a different matter to switch one Bandita for another. I do it all the time with Christie and Christine--and I'm working on that, I swear.
(Hides face in shame.)
What about Mame and that great number "We'll Always Be Bosom Buddies." I LOL every time I hear it (and I have it on CD). The line, "Why don't you wear your hair natural, like mine?"
"If I wore my hair natural like yours, I'd be bald."
ROFL
Or "How old do you think I am?"
"Oh, somewhere between forty and death."
Okay, that one's too close for comfort.
Claudia wrote:
I wish I knew how I managed to get the kids to like the old movies--maybe my couch-bouncing enthusiasm was too much for them to resist?
Claudia, if you could figure out the formula, you could write a book, bottle the secret, and become incredibly rich--all on the dollars of romantics like us, who think the world needs a bit more of that.
And I'm trying to post to your novelthoughts blog, darn it. It keeps not taking my comments. Grrrr.
Cassondra, the blog challenged.
Claudia wrote:
For those of you who love Dick Van Dyke, I saw him play Professor Harold Hill in The Music Man. He was great, but the problem was that you just couldn't suspend disbelief that Dick could ever defraud anybody. He's so darn likeable!
I saw DVD in something like that once, but can't remember what it was now. It was like trying to watch Andy Griffith play a bad guy. Just couldn't go there.
Ah yes, Foanna - one of the all-time great scenes! So clever. And I love that moment when they pull back the curtain *evil grin*.
Claudia - that moment in You've Got Mail always makes me tear up. I have promised myself that before we go home, I will go to that little park. I also find myself coming up with Tom Hanks style Godfather quotes!
Susan - yes, I'd love it if life stopped and everyone started in on the song and dance. Fame comes to mind!
And with Fame, comes Flashdance and Footloose. Great music.
Okay, I love Holiday Inn as well. Didn't care for "Mame", although I adore "Auntie Mame"!
Loved Seven Brides For Seven Brothers and swooned for Gideon (who didn't?). I always preferred Gene Kelly to Fred Astaire. Fred was smooth, but Gene was more athletic, which I always loved (even as a little girl). Loved Audrey in My Fair Lady but couldn't abide Rex Harrison, even as a little girl. No idea why. I never could convince myself (even as a child) that his Professor Higgins deserved the transformed Eliza. I would have loved to see Julie Andrews as Eliza on Broadway!
Btw, I adore Julie Andrews and find it the saddest of ironies that she has lost her ability to sing. Tragic!
Oh, and I'm sure Jeanne had Clarisse right. Me, I'm partial to Hermey, the elf who wants to be a dentist. Hermey was always my hero! Do what you want to do, elf boy!
You guys will love this. Sabrina (yes, *that* Sabrina) has said she always wanted to work up a song and dance routine and get a group of friends to participate in it, musical style, somewhere like a mall. I keep egging her on, waiting for my part to show up and the staging to begin!
Cassondra, I'm severely blog challenged so I'm with you in spirit. Thanks for trying to join the novelthoughts gang.
What wonderful memories you have stirred I loved Mary Poppins and still do and all the music in it as well as Seven Brides For Seven Brothers I brought that DVD a couple of months ago and have MP as well so I can watch them whenever I want to another song from movies I love is Abba Dabba Honeymoon I can't remember the name of the movie but I think it was Debbie Renyolds in the movie and of course the Tammy movies love that song.
I think the lead reindeer may have been Blitzen not sure though I have seen that show thousands of time first as a young child myself then with my children and now I will be able to watch it with my grandchildren I love the thought of it.
Great post
Have Fun
Helen
Helen, the Abba Dabba song is from a cute as a button movie called Three Weeks with Love with Jane Powell (who I usually find too saccharine but she's just gorgeous in this) and a young Ricardo Montalban who is just drop-dead handsome. It's about a family that has a holiday up in the Catskills, I think (US Banditas - you know these things) at a hotel and all the hijinks.
Clearly, I spent too much of my youth watching old movies!
Thanks Anna I love that song I even have it on an old 78 record that belonged to my grandmother along with Rose Marie and Ivory Tower and a few others I just wish I had a record player so as I could play them.
Speaking of Seven Brides For Seven Brothers movie has anyone read the Seven Brides western romance series by Leigh Greenwood they are a very good read for anyone who likes westerns I did read them a long time ago but they are some of my favourite westerns.
Have Fun
Helen
Oh, I have a memory only my Banditas will appreciate! I was a huge fan of The King and I. Okay, I had it bad for Yul Brynner. *g*
For my 17th birthday, my mother got tickets for us to see The King and I in Houston--with Yul Brynner! It was his very last tour and he was already suffering with cancer. Although he was rather thin, the poor love, he was wonderful. I was rapt the entire time and still cherish it as one of my most treasured memories. Oh, my, I made myself verklempt! *sniff*
Oh, Anna-Flashdance--that's a GREAT one. I took dance as a minor in college, and Flashdance was sacred. And you know, they never even gave the dancer's name in the credits. I still remember the dance department's collective indignation over that slight.
Caren, I think Sabrina has an entire cast and crew right here in the lair, should she decide to make that wish a reality. (grin) And I share your angst at Rex Harrison. I still say he wasn't good enough for her. And isn't that the worst irony about Julie Andrews? Like the painter who lost his eyesight and the violinist who got arthritis so painful he could no longer play....age is sometimes so cruel. (okay tearing up again)
Claudia, thanks for understanding my blog issues, but I had a question darn it! I've typed it three times now and Poof. It just goes away. I commented on Christine and Donna's Pink Ladies blog and it appeared TWICE. I think we need those little emoticons on here. Mine right now would be frustrated. :0/
My favorite song from "White Christmas" is "The best things, happen when you're dancing..." and ADORE that with Vera Ellen and Danny Kaye dancing so gracefully around the dock.
(sigh)
And as far as Rudolph I...um...always liked the Norelco commercial they used to show with the tall skinny elf riding down a snowbank on top of an electric razor.
And Auntie Mame with Rosalind Russell? Wonderful!
Helen, I didn't know Seven Brides for Seven Brothers was out on DVD. Shame on me. I guess everything is on DVD now, isn't it? I'll have to go looking for this one.
And you HAVE to have a record player. I still see them at yard sales and in second hand shops for nearly nothing. Those days are passing though--snap one up when you find one.
Caren, you're not the only one who had it bad for Yul. In fact, when Piccard took command of the Enterprise, I couldn't help notice the similarities between them--beyond the baldness (grin)--both stage actors--both incredibly talented men.
And what a gift--having seen him live in that role!
Cassondra, I have a thing for Jean-Luc, too. *g*
Okay, and when I was a little girl, I was totally into Kojak - gotta love Telly Savalas. Yum!
Ah, Yul!!! Sigh. Anastasia. The Magnificent Seven. Yum!
Joanie T, I remember that Norelco commercial! I can't believe the cool memories you all are bringing back to life!
oh, and whoever said Clarisse was Rudolph's girlfriend is correct. And Hermie wanted to be a dentist--correct also--but I'm not giving away the lead reindeer question until after midnight. Y'all will have to check back tomorrow to see the winner.
Still time to guess!
Caren, I watched Kojak, but he didn't really do it for me--you know--in THAT way....maybe it was the city cop attitude--less chivalrous--less--I don't know--aristocratic, perhaps?
Caren, I am so jealous! You got to see Yul Brynner in person!! SIGH!! That is one of my favorite musicals. Wore out my VHS and bought a DVD of it not long ago. And I adore Braveheart. When you go to Scotland you see what William Wallace was willing to die for. Really gorgeous countryside. And it WAS a great love story too! Okay AnnaC, one more for CTC - anything by Ralph Vaughan Williams. FANTASIA ON A THEME BY THOMAS TALLIS, perhaps? I have seen Pulp Fiction and folks, I just didn't get it. Go figure. And that scene at the gazebo in the rain in the latest P&P MAGNIFICENT!!!
Pam, should I ever get a movie contract for CTC, you're definitely on the payroll as music consultant! ;-)
Dasher? Could it be Dasher? On the strength of the song - "You know Dasher and Dancer and . . ."
I think The Jungle Book (Disney) was the first musical I ever saw, just bought it for the kids. All time fave has to be Singing In The Rain - sorry to be such a predictable girl, and it's the singing and dancing and production of course, not the story.
The signed copy of Scandal's Daughter that Christine was generous enough to donate to be part of a charity auction for St Jude's children's research hospital arrived today!
If you're in the Peoria IL area info about the Newcomer's charity lunch Wednesday next week is up around town. You might have to be quick on the reader's basket though, some of the Newcomers are very excited about getting signed copies of Scandal's Daughter, and Claiming the Courtesan (thanks Anna), and one of Tina M Clark's children's books!
Aren't they fantastic to support this?
H! :)
Doglady, you know --I will admit it here--I have seen only a few parts of Braveheart. And those were bad.
I have the best husband in the world. He previews films for me. He's CRAZY about film--all kinds--any kinds--particularly horror--but he knows me, and he knows stuff sticks with me--I can't get past it. If it's really bad it lives with me for months and I can't let go of it.
The funny thing is that when my husband was home recuperating from some kind of sinus or tonsil surgery(can't remember now)--and on steroids, which were making him really depressed--I brought him a handful of films to watch while I was at work. One of them was Braveheart! Oh, NO! He was depressed for weeks. And films do not, as a rule, depress him. He said "NO WAY can you watch this film." I saw the few scenes I could take and said, "you're right. No way."
I know what happens at the end, and I've seen some of the last scenes, but I'm not watching it all the way through. And I'm Scottish--on both sides! But I think that makes it worse. I feel all of it so deeply. I just can't do it. I'd be non-functional for weeks. :0/
h maree davis wrote:
Aren't they fantastic to support this?
hmaree, the Banditas rule! Our pubbed authors are the greatest!
Cassondra, only a little prejudiced
Okay, funny husband depressed story. My DH read The Last of the Mohicans while in high school. He said he's still depressed.
We're having dinner with dear friends and the husband says that he read The Last of the Mohicans while in high school and *he's* still depressed.
Wow. That must be some depressing book to affect every man I know who's read it the same way.
I'm not going to read it.
Claudia, stick with the film. At least there you have the scenery (Daniel Day-Lewis, of course, and his Indian brother *g*). The book was depressing in every way imaginable. I still have a residual bad feeling about it. Heavy, heavy, heavy. But the movie is a joy (because of the scenery, of course *G*).
Cassondra, I'm totally cheating because I'm home now and I'm going to put in Rudolph!! But I won't post any spoilers. *g*
Claudia wrote:
Wow. That must be some depressing book to affect every man I know who's read it the same way.
I'm not going to read it.
Ooooh. Me neither.
LOTM is my top pick every time for "best first kiss" but that's the movie.
And it had an almost lousy ending. That ending was truly borderline.
But without Daniel Day Lewis and that first kiss scene, forget it. I'm not reading the book. If it depresses men, just for.get.it.
Has anyone read "The Education of Little Tree?"
If you haven't, don't.
The sountrack to LOTM was phenomenal though. Gotta love those sweeping epic themes.
Hmmm. Maybe they needed some singing and dancing and some animated penguins.
Caren said
Cassondra, I'm totally cheating because I'm home now and I'm going to put in Rudolph!! But I won't post any spoilers. *g*
Haha! Caren, gearing up in spirit for our upcoming Bandita Holiday Bash I see! If you OWN Rudolph, you deserve to know the answer in advance. Everyone else will just have to wait until tomorrow! (evil grin)
Cassondra I do have a record player but it won't play these old 78 rpm records these came out in the late 40's and into the 50's I think I do keep my out for one at garage sales and second hand stores but they have special needles that are not easy to come by if I ever find one I will be getting it.
Being able to watch a lot of the fantastic old mucicals is great and I often look for them when the shops have DVD sales on and I have picked up a few old movies this way and my children know what I like and often pick movies up for me they do spoil me sometimes.
Have Fun
Helen
Anna C, I will hold you to that! I love movie soundtracks and I always try to figure out who the composers "borrowed" from in some passages. I made the students who took my Native American Holocaust course read LOTM. And they all (male and female) agreed that is was a very depressing book. They had the same reaction to The Education of Little Tree and Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. I did, however redeem myself by having them watch the LOTM movie. The girls loved the "scenery" :) The guys loved the sharpshooting scene and the more gory events. Oh it is funny you mention The Jungle Book. It was just rereleased by Disney on DVD and they are playing it on all the tv's at Wal-Mart. I cannot tell you how many customers and associates I have caught singing "The Bear Necessities" and King Louie's Song!! Too funny!
Helen, my old record players play 78 rpm records! Don't give up. You'll find one.
doglady--Oh dear. Do they allow you to pass out doses of antidepressant for those poor kids? That sounds like a great class. Everyone should have to learn that stuff--what happened to the Native Americans.
But oh dear! The Education of Little Tree and LOTM in one semester. I'm afraid I wouldn't survive it. Have you read Wilma Mankiller's book? I have an entire shelf of that stuff. What an education. :0(
I think you definitely need to show Mary Poppins--complete with dancing penguins--at the end of the class!
Doglady, I love the animated Jungle Book! I know all those songs, too. Okay, I know most every song I ever heard (I'm with Vrai Anna on useless song lyric knowledge!).
One of my favorite Disney cartoons was "Hercules". Man, that had a kicking soundtrack. All that big gospel sound!
A depressing movie with great music, speaking of gospel, was "The Color Purple". The first time I saw it, in the theater, I was pregnant with my first child and I was the only person in the theater (first show on a Tuesday or something). I bawled my eyes out! I had to go out twice for more napkins for my runny nose. That was a great day...
Okay, since I'm on True Confessions today, I had a big crush on Dick Van Dyke, too. I loved his Bert! I also loved Chitty Chitty Bang Bang because of Dick. *sigh* I hated that Truly Scrumptious chick, too. Her name and her stupid clothes got on my nerves. She was good for the kids, you know, since their dad and grandad were nuts and all, but she was annoyingly sweet.
Oh, and just to be totally obnoxious, I checked my Classic Edition of "The Night Before Christmas" by Clement C. Moore and he calls the reindeer commonly known as "Donner" by the name "Donder".
This confused me as a wee one, because my father always read us the classic version and other kids heard the "Donner" varieties perpetuated by television. Ah, well. Now all Banditas know he is DONDER.
Cassondra, LOL on the antidepressants. The really crazy thing? Almost the same group of kids had taken my Jewish Holocaust course the semester before and these were high school kids! They did, however, love to come to my house to watch Monty Python!
I have read Wilma Mankiller's book and it is definitely an eyeopener. I have and entire floor to ceiling bookshelf with my Native American history books on it.
Oh dear. Doglady, if I went to your high school, I'm afraid you'd have to have me for "therapy" class in the period following your history classes.
Between the Holocaust and the history of the Native Americans, I'd be a wreck!
Caren, you're right. Donder is the actual name of that reindeer, though everyone, including me, calls him Donner in casual conversation. Donder and Blitzen are Thunder and Lightning actually. It's the only German I know. (grin) Sad, isn't it? That I know all these useless facts about an ancient claymation masterpiece? And not a very forward thinking one at that. AFter all, the best thing they could think of to do once Yukon Cornelius fell over the ledge, was to "Get the women back to Christmastown." :0/
But still--I love it anyway.
Notice of childhood trauma:
When The Jungle Book came out (wahhhhhh, my age is showing) they sold cute little stuffed renditions of the different characters. Sort of like a prehistoric Beanie Babie I guess.
Anyway, my brother got the cutest Baloo bear. Me? I got one of the vultures! (He also got the red fire engine pedal car and me? I got a sedate brown sedan!)
He lords it over me even to this day.
Oh, JoanieT! You definitely need a Spoon Full of Sugar--you know-to help all that yucky medicine go down--AND some dancing penguins to cheer you up from those awful traumatic memories!
Put on a good musical girl!
Hey, Joan, I happen to like the vultures!! "What do YOU want to do?" "I don't know what do YOU want to do?" My brothers and I used to do that routine until my mother threatened to beat us with a wooden spoon. (We always got it with whatever was handy - a flyswatter, a box of Saran Wrap, a flip flop)She is one tough Native American woman! Poor Cassondra! I have to admit those were two tough classes. However, I did produce one civil rights lawyer, two criminal lawyers, one juvenile probation officer and one forensic psychiatrist. They all took both classes. The funny thing? These kids were thrown out of most public schools as "unteachable." I think maybe seeing how much harm ignorance can do helped them to see the importance of education.
Cassondra I am SO LOl over Bugs introducing you to "Cuhlcha" and classical music. You are so right about Holtz and CTC. Perfect. I was sniffling right along with you on the Mom-sings-holiday thing, Cassondra. Here's the funny thing, though. According to my memory, my mom could sing. She sang to me, we'd sing Christmas carols, etc. My three sibs and my dad say she couldn't carry a tune in a bucket. So, I keep asking, where did I get the ability? And I KNOW she sang, so to quote you, wazzup wit dat? Snork! As to HSM - or High School Musical to those w/o children 5 to 20 - its a freakin' phenomenon, but not required reading for those w/o kids. Grins.
Oh, and as to singing w/ Bing, you can always go the Nat King Cole/Natalie Cole route...
Deb and Christie, I'm cackling (to steal AC's word of the day) about Star Wars. Yep, my older boy's got that one down. Of course he can also sing every bit of the scooby doo theme, as well as the Star Spangled Banner. (Proud Mama dashes away a tear) Of course, SSB ends, for him, with "PLAY BALL!)
SIGH on Yul and Jean Luc Piccard. Yummmmmmm.
Ugh on reading Mohicans, yum on Daniel Day. That was filmed near Asheville NC and my brother was an extra. GORGEOUS. As to Braveheart, No, Cassondra, you do NOT want to see it. You're a visual and it is not what you want in your head. :>
Caren, I'm with you on Hercules. LOVE Go the Distance! Disney rules on the more "modern" musicals. Great sound. I get to listen to it a LOT. Between the "Disney sing-a-long-songs" and the actual movies, most of which reside in my house. I know them.
we are So going to have a sing-a-long in the Bandita Lair in SF.
Grins.
Doglady, You obviously did/do good work with those kids. Kudos to you for changing those lives!
Jeanne, I've heard you sing. You have a gorgeous voice and are always on key. So if you think your mom could sing, then I suspect she could indeed sing.
LOL on the singalong in SanFran.
And yes, I am visual, so can't watch the rotten endings. And I'm auditory too--can't listen to the sounds of horrible suffering either. What can I say. I like happy. Happy is good. And I suppose that's why the music is so much a part of the enjoyment for me.
Happy and music...Bring on the dancing penguins!
To everyone, thanks for making this spontaneous, impromptu blog so awesome today! I had no idea so many people had such fond memories of wonderful old films and the music that made them extraordinary.
I'll post tomorrow (look underneath the regular blog for the day) with the WINNAH of the Romance Bandits mouse pad. There's still time to guess if you didn't do so...I'll check this blog tomorrow to make the list for the drawing... And since it's almost midnight central time, I'll give you the line La Duchesse just used in an email.
"To all a good night."
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