Here it is almost Christmas and this week has been great for catching those old Christmas movies on TV. It has me thinking about my favorite all time movies. I think it is interesting that my all time favorite movies are so old. I was born in 1955 but it seems like my most memorable movies are those that I watched in my youth. As my son was growing up we watched a lot of movies together and we tended to go for the action flicks. I loved them all, but they never stuck with me. I could watch one and then watch it two years later and not remember that I had already seen it until half way into the movie. 
The movies that have really stuck with me are the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers, the Bad Seed, It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, The Birds, Psycho and Gone with the Wind. I also love catching Shirley Temple movies even if she grew up to become a staunch Republican! My favorite Shirley Temple movie was the Little Princess. There is only one modern movie that really shines for me and that is the Shawshank Redemption. My favorite kid movie is most definitely the Wizard of Oz.. One of my all time favorite funny movies is Some Like it Hot. I seem to have come out with my top ten all time favorite movies. I know I skipped a lot of good movies like the Godfather but these are the movies that I always seem to remember which seems to be a rather big feat for my old brain! Don’t get me wrong, I loved the Godfather but these other movies really stayed with me.
I’ll never forget the suspense of Psycho or those scary birds in the Birds. Alfred Hitchcock was a master at creating that spine tingling suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I didn’t need blood and gore to be scared. When I watched the Invasion of the body snatchers I remember feeling the mounting terror. There is nothing like that original movie. Miracle on 34th Street always made me believe in miracles and of course what kind of person wouldn’t believe that Kris Kringle was Santa Claus? It’s a Wonderful Life always brings me back to the real meaning of Christmas, so what could be better than that?
When I was growing up I loved watching movies with Marilyn Monroe because I thought she was so beautiful. However, the movie that stuck with me was Some Like it Hot. Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and Marilyn were just so funny together.
In the Bad Seed I saw a child that frankly scared me. I remember that movie so well because of how evil she was. I had never known evil, but if it had a face I didn’t think it could possibly be a blonde haired little girl. It was an odd thing to see that juxtaposition of something most people see as good being so bad!
The Shawshank Redemption is one of those movies that you just want to cheer after because of the build up throughout the movie and the final outcome.
There is one movie that deserves a mention by me because I remember it as being a real standout movie and it’s the best I’ve ever seen Tom Cruise act. I loved Born on the Fourth of July. I thought he deserved an Oscar for that one.
If you are too young to have seen some of these movies, check them out. I mean the original movies, not some crazy remake. While I’ve been writing this, I have been watching It’s a Wonderful Life in black and white. I think it’s great that NBC put up the black and white version. There is nothing like seeing cold, insensitive, greedy Mr. Potter in black and white because in this movie you can really see the symbolism of the black and white. It is ever clear how inhumane some people can be but good triumphs over evil and that is a lasting message. At Christmas time we need to all remember George’s guardian angel, Clarence, and his final message, “Remember, no man is a failure who has friends.” Merry Christmas to all.
