Monday, June 6, 2011

Dear Ally

Welcome to the inauguration of "Dear Ally," my advice column.  I promise we'll have fun.

Dear Ally,

Please don't take this the wrong way, but you're a lot older than me.  A lot!  You probably saw movies back when they didn't have sound.  What are some good old movies to see?

Signed, Young Blogger

Dear Young Blogger,

Yes, I'm old.  I fought in the Civil War and protested to get women the right to vote. :)

You hit the bulls-eye with your question: I'm a film-aficionado and love old movies.  You'll benefit from following my recommendations.  Because some classics are great and others are overrated, let me point you to the best ones.

One classic which works beautifully as both a romance and drama is "Casablanca."  Set in World War II, the movie stars Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman as lovers separated by the war.  Their chance reunion generates deep, mixed emotions and gives the stars an opportunity to show what made them famous.  The movie deserved and won the Oscar for Best Picture, along with many other awards.  You'll remember it forever.

Another, more recent classic is "Saturday Night Fever."  Made in 1977, the film catapaulted John Travolta to stardom.  It prominently features a soundtrack by The Bee Gees whose songs perfectly capture the period.  What most people overlook about this film is its gritty, accurate portrayal of urban life in the Seventies.  It depicts Brooklyn as a harsh and ugly place where people behave like cavemen.  The central question is whether Tony (Travolta's character) will be able to escape his hometown since he's ambitious and capable of more than Brooklyn has to offer.

Finally, my favorite comedy is "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure" (1985).  Not only does the film star the incomparable Pee-Wee Herman, it was directed by Tim Burton.  The movie is a feast of humor, high and low.  I've seen it a dozen times and can repeat all of its lines.  The story is simple (someone steals Pee-Wee's bicycle and he goes searching for it) and the charm of the film is its wacky characters and surreal events.

Please keep those questions coming!

33 comments:

  1. Dear Ally,

    I don't think your avatar pic reflects the real YOU! You should post a few and let us vote for a new one!!

    Love,
    freeda

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  2. I agree with Freeda and thanks to both you Ally and young blogger for this question. I have not seen any of these movies and look forward to catching up on them. :)

    Love

    Trishna

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  3. OMG!! LOVE!! I sooooo love this new feature you have!! I have not seen any of these movies. I fail. haha, I am hoping to catch up with you on some classics :)

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  4. You guys may have a point. Let me think about this...

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  5. Haha I laughed so hard when I read this :)
    I know and love all of the 3 movies. My favourite is Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, it never fails to make ma laugh.

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  6. What can I say? I came here to be delighted and you sure did not disappoint me my friend! I love this new feature!

    Now, why do I love this post even more? I believe you quoted Casablanca in one of our earlier correspondence! I still have that e-mail!

    i miss ya!


    besos,

    ML
    I'm Back!
    Please come say hello!
    Twenty York Street

    Twenty York Street

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  7. Saturday Night fever is one of the best films ever! What a splendid recommendation. xxx

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  8. Nice movies and a nice question!! (although I think Casablanca was kind of boring and slow...). Kisses dear Ally!

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  9. HEHEHEHEHHE You do look well for having fought in the civil war, hehehehhehe.
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  10. I love all these movies! I am happy you recommended Saturday Night Fever. I think that movie is really so underrated.

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  11. Francy, you're right. It's often mistakenly viewed as a star-vehicle for Travolta but it wasn't -- in fact, he was unknown when it came out. It is, instead, a real, powerful drama exposing the sociology of a fascinating place at a pivotal point in time.

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  12. This blog is just the bomb, and so are you:) That is all.

    xoxox Doreen

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  13. hahaha what a brave soldier and woman's activist you are my friend! I've never seen any of those movies and since I am a huge film buff I will have to add them to my list! Thanks Ally :)

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  14. haha. I love your intro! Did you know Abe Lincoln too?

    Sadly, I haven't seen any of the movies you reference, but I'm putting it on my to-do list. I'm actually a huge Tim Burton fan, so it'll be interesting to see his earlier work. Pee Wee seems so different from his more recent work, but I've been told that it's Pee Wee but with a darker undertone.

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  15. Michelle, Abe and I were old drinking buddies. If you like Burton's films, you must see PWBA: it carries his visual-trademark. Later films by Pee-Wee pale in comparison because Burton wasn't involved.

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  16. Great feature! I am jealous I didn't think of something like that!

    You know I have never seen Casablanca... I will have to see if I can find it on Netflix.

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  17. I feel like the only one to have never seen a Pee-Wee movie, and that makes me sad. I know what I am adding to my Netflix now!

    http://www.glamkittenslitterbox.com/
    Twitter: @GlamKitten88

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  18. On the 80s note, another must-see is "Heathers".

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  19. Great movie selections; it's interesting to note how much Brooklyn has changed since the 70's. It was a place any kid would've dreamed of getting out of, I imagine. I liked the symbolism of Manhattan being so close visually but still so far away for Tony.

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  20. crack me up
    was that you I nursed on the Civil War battlefield?!
    brett

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  21. Honestly, I love Laurel and Hardy, but I think that pre-dates both of us.

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  22. bahahah that old thing is hilarious. i didnt think u were that old! i also love old movies!

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  23. I Love this new feature! I really Love your movie reviews, you have good taste.

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  24. haha, this is hilarious! but yeah, i loved Casablanca. what a brilliantly written film! i will admit i haven't sen Saturday Night Fever:( But pee-wee's big adventure used to be one of my faves as a kid. though i was so freaked out by Large Marge!!!

    spinning-threads.blogspot.com

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  25. Great first column Ally. Love the answers. And I didn't know Pee Wee's Big Adventure was directed by Tim Burton. You learn something new everyday.

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  26. This is so cute. OK, you are not that old but then again I am probably close to your age so bias in my defense. Love all the movie pics with the exception of the comedy one.
    I am also a huge old movie fan, result of growing up with my Grandparents. My all time favorite has to be 'Gone with the Wind'. I also love 'Big' and all the Marilyn Monroe movies as the old time 'chic faves'.
    Daphne.
    http://fashiondivamommy.blogspot.com

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  27. I laughed reading the post AND some of the comments! You are so witty!! :)

    3 cheers for Pee-Wee's Big Adventure!! Yeah!!

    I hope I don't offend anyone by saying this. It's just my opinion. On the back of the DVD for Citizen Kane, it states it is THE most important movie of all time. Hubs and I, having never watched it and feeling like we should have more classics under our belts, watched it...and seriously questioned the sanity of whomever came up with that quote. Really just don't get it! And I usually LOVE "old" movies. My fave actresses from then are Jennifer Jones and Joan Fontaine.

    Speaking of old...you're not. :)

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  28. I believe we fought side by side in the trenches of the civil war. I'm the one who stole Gen Grant's flask and had a time of it.

    Great movie choices- Pee Wee's Big Adventure is such an undersung classic it is nice seeing it on your list.

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  29. I like all of those movies - Casablanca is one of my favourites.

    I would love to see a really Ally avatar for you. :)

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  30. Dear Ally,

    We're all dying to know. I've seen movies where control top pantyhose takes care of the man-bump down below. But how do you handle the boobs and hair issues? How do you know what size boobs will be appropriate for your frame? Do you have a variety of boobs and bras to play with? (I wish I could change my cup size based on my outfit.) Do you have multiple wigs? Or is wearing the main one we see important for you in creating the consistent Ally identity and look?

    Nosily yours, freeda!

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  31. Good questions, Freeda. I'm going to respond in a personal e-mail.

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