From Over the Hill: The Movies by Peter Bloch-Hansen
I have some great childhood movie memories. Here are two: my father (Dad!) took me to The Pride and the Passion and Forbidden Planet . The first was a historical drama, a love triangle set during Napoleon’s occupation of Spain. Frank Sinatra played a Spanish peasant leading an insurrection against murderous French officers, assisted by Cary Grant’s English naval officer, who competed with Frank for the love of Sophia Loren – wow! Together, they pushed and pulled a gigantic cannon across the Spanish countryside, cleverly evading the French and even stealing gunpowder from them, all the way to a huge denouement. Forbidden Planet followed the crew of an interstellar spacecraft, captained by Leslie Nielsen, exploring a strange planet in search of a missing scientific/colonial expedition. It had all the standard SF tropes – spaceship, fantastic technology, ray guns, a powerful robot (Robby), a beautiful starlet (Anne Francis!) and best of all, a terrifying, invincible monster. But both were about important things -- love, loyalty, justice, duty, courage and sacrifice -- not just about special effects, big explosions, hurricanes of machine gun bullets (what terrible shots they all are), and not about the cleverness of directors; they were not the mindless comedies, revenge dramas, vigilante justice stories and adolescent superhero epics we’re offered so often now. I think old movies – even the comedies had some depth then -- were basically written, not for teenagers but for adults, maybe even for seniors! And that’s why I go to the movies less often in these modern ‘improved’ days, though I still do. So, maybe if you see me there, you’ll say hi!
I’ve always loved going to the movies, though less now. Yes, this is one of those ‘good old days’ articles: sorry. Was it better ‘back then’? Yes, I would say, mainly because back then, it didn’t feel so much like you were being funnelled through a money machine. The lobbies didn’t thunder with the racket of coin-slot games. You got an actual paper ticket a uniformed attendant tore in half for you – no computers – do they have to be EVERYWHERE!? Oh, well…. The auditoria were often architectural gems. The lobby displays included enticing photos of scenes from the movie – you can still buy them for huge amounts of money if you know where (I’ll tell you for a fee.). Popcorn came in human-sized portions, and soft drinks did not simply dwarf the size of the standard human bladder! Or cost the moon. There was candy, certainly; I remember Glosettes and – I think it was … O’HENRY bars. There were even ushers to show you to your seat in the dark, and newsreel and cartoons! But no ads – oh, how did we ever live without them?! The whole movie thing was just – an event. Oh, and for a few years, I could sneak in for child prices and, much later, for a seniors’ ticket -- err, flimsy computer printout. People didn’t talk during movies, kick your seat, or flash cell phones, and they certainly didn’t put their feet up on the row in front. So, today, I chose a showing least likely to be crowded, even if I have to wait for a new release to fade. AT KOOLEN ELECTRIC WE CAN DO IT ALL!
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Friends gather for High Tea at Ruby Blues on May 8th. Photo by Geoff Rae
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Page 12 Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • June 2024
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