I have managed to see only three of the Oscar nominated films so far: The King’s Speech, The Fighter, and Social Network, which were all excellent and had great performances. I’ve loved watching Colin Firth ever since he emerged from his pond in Pride and Prejudice, and he’s only gotten better. And while I’m not a particular fan of fight movies, Christian Bale in The Fighter kept me riveted. (As you see, it’s the acting that particularly reaches me.) Of the three, I did think Social Network was the best all around, however. I’m writing this today from Palo Alto, CA, where I may see Mark Zuckerberg himself walk by at any time.
Going out to the movies is still fun for me, but when I’m watching on television, anything in black and white catches my eye. Musicals with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers (of whom it was said that she could do anything he could do backwards and in high heels), dramas with Bette Davis or Joan Crawford, B-movies about criminals and prison breaks and sparkling comedies from the ‘30’s or ‘40’s are my favorites. Lately, though, when a character is in trouble, I do wonder why he or she isn’t pulling out the cell phone before my mind settles back into the old days with women in cloche hats, elegant all-white living rooms, or high-jacked trucks full of prohibited hooch careening down a highway are on the screen.
Much as I love to read, I rarely reread fiction, although I may occasionally dip into old favorites. And while there are a few plays I’ve seen more than once, that’s rare as well. But I’ll watch an old movie over and over.
ElderChicks 
Nice! You took the words right out of my keypad! I recently saw “Lady for a Day,” a Frank Capra 1933 film with May Robson and Guy Kibbe. Delightful. I recommend it to all the Chicks (and Roosters).
It seems that I enjoy old movies more and more (god bless Turner Classic Movies) with each passing year. Actually some of the films I saw in my youth are much more enjoyable now.
Ah, maturity!
I’m a little younger than the Elder Chicks so when I first saw some of my favorite movies they were already old movies. I will watch anything with Kate Hepburn. “Bringing up Baby” is hilarious. Not a St. Patrick’s day goes by that I don’t see “The Quiet Man.” And although I think that movies now might have better character development, more reality, less predictable endings, I love the elegant clothes, beautiful rooms, and what I’ve been calling “prettiness” of the old ones.
Driving through Connemara on our first visit to Ireland my husband and I came upon a beautiful cottage which turned out to be the one used as a set in The Quiet Man. I was thrilled.
I still watch The Quiet Man every St. Patrick’s Day. Actually, John Wayne starred in 2 of my favorite movies; the other is Red River.
So I’m the maverick in the crowd! I rarely revisit old movies. But I usually find revisiting a really good book well worth the effort. In fact, I more often than not reread the first few chapters as soon as I turn the last page and often find myself reading straight through until the end.
I thought the best movies of the year were Winter’s Bone which was a hard movie to watch but full of substance and artistic excellence, and A Single Man –quiet, contemplative, and beautiful. So I seem to like painful movies. I think I’ll see both of them again!
Hello! again movie fans, here are my answers to Pat’s quiz…
1. The Sound of Music; “Til The Clouds Roll by; Oklahoma
2 Van Johnson, handsomest and Liz Taylor, beauty
3 Fred Astaire, best dancer
4 Rosemary Clooney, and Frank
5 Kiss Me Kate, from Willy Shakes
6. Sound of Music
7. Van Johnson, Howard Keel and Mario Lanza
8. Julie Andrews & Rosemary Clooney and Ginger Rogers
9. I Should Care; Time After Time and My Favorite Things