Update: The winner is…Savonna!
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I was thinking the other day that my kids have been deprived of knowing about the great classic films. When I grew up, there weren’t many channels on the TV, and they played classics late at night or on Saturdays. It was a captive audience, but I grew up loving these films. Nowadays, kids have so many options for what they can watch, it’s mind-numbing. The 9-year-old is obsessed with YouTube and obnoxious cartoons like Uncle Grandpa and Chowder (I actually love Chowder), but getting her to watch a movie that isn’t a Disney cartoon is nearly impossible. The 14-year-old is obsessed with anime. The 18-year-old loves Rom-Coms, and we watch those together, but watch something in black and white? They look at me like I’m nuts when I suggest it, but I think it ought to be part of their education. Classic films, the really good ones, had tons of dialogue and lovely themes and lessons. The comedies are so much better than most produced today.
I have my particular favorites here…
I’m thinking about instituting a classic movie night, maybe once a month, because more than that would stoke insurrection in my house. I’d plan a movie, have snacks ready, and if they want to eat, they have to watch! What do you think of that idea? I want to broaden their horizons. Am I expecting too much thinking they might enjoy these films?
For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, I’d love your suggestions for movies to add to the list. And let me know what you think about my idea!
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Love your idea! I would add Duck Soup, Bringing Up Baby and It Happened One Night.
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I LOVED Bringing Up Baby and It Happened One Night. Never heard of Duck Soup, but I’ll go check it out!
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OMG! Too many to name. Like you with only seven TV channels I got my movies from the Million Dollar Movie on channel nine, the Late Show and Late Late Show on channel two when they weren’t talk shows.
Favorites: Best Years of Our Lives,
Casablanca,
Top Hat (my favorite Fred & Ginger musical),
A Raisin in the Sun,
Lillies of the Field,
A Day At the Races (Marx Brothers at their best. I like it even better than Horse Feathers & Duck Soup),
Road To Utopia (Bob Hope & Bing Crosby laugh fest with commentary by Robert Benchley),
Notorious (probably my all time favorite Cary Grant/Hitchcock pairing),
Charlie Chaplin’s the Gold Rush.
Let me stop or I’ll be here all day.
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Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Original West Side Story and the Sound of Music.
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Well, I would do movie night at your house! All three that you listed are also on my favorites list and in my personal library. Any Cary Grant movie is good. Topper, His Girl Friday, The Bishop’s Wife, To Catch a Thief, An Affair to Remember, North by Northwest, That Touch of Mink Father Goose – to name but a few. Jimmy Stewart has a good list too, with It’s a Wonderful Life on top of that list and Mr. Smith goes to Washington, The Shop around the Corner, and The Man who Shot Liberty Valance that also included John Wayne. Speaking of which – The Searchers, The Quiet man. Yep! You found another ‘classic movie’ fan here. I have as many of those in my personal library as I do sci-fi. Does that mean I also have eclectic taste?
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My sister loves old movies… my personal favorite is Meet Me In St. Louis.
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I love the old classics! My favorites are Imitation of Life with Lana Turner, Brigadoon with Gene Kelly, To Hell and Back with Audie Murphy (based on his actual life as a soldier, most decorated in history) and The Cowboy’s with John Wayne.
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Robin hood w/Errol Flynn
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
McClintock
Who Shot Liberty Valance
Love the Dukes movies
Love old Christmas movies
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I love old/older movies too – the kids should see them because some are referenced quite often.
Favorite social commentary – To Kill a Mockingbird + Inherit the Wind
Favorite Suspense – Rear Window + Midnight Lace
Favorite musical – Seven Brides for Seven Brothers + Kiss Me Kate
Favorite silly westerns – McClintock + Blazing Saddles
Favorite American history – How the West Was Won
Favorite Christmas – White Christmas + Christmas Vacation
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I love THE GHOST AND MRS MUIR.
FATHER GOOSE is a great favourite of mine. Starring Cary Grant and Leslie Caron.
THE SEARCHERS with John Wayne is my all time favourite western movie.
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the sound of music
fun idea
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Maybe Close Encounters Of The Third Kind? I always enjoy it when it’s on.
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I think a classic movie night is a grand idea. I like the ones with Cary Grant, what’s her name, and what’s his name. Sorry, I can see their faces, but their names have escaped me.
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I like the ones with dancing in them, LOL! So Silk Stockings with Cyd Charisse, and Singing in the Rain, and the like!
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I liked the old Shirley temple movies, some of the musicals, John Wayne movies, old westerns and some of the WWII movies. Didn’t really get into dramas much but I remember watching Three Coins in the Fountain a few times.
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Hey DD!
I’m late replying to this. It’s more to support your cause than anything. Some of my best memories are of being a kid & watching old movies, mainly musicals, with my mom.
I love Arsenic & Old Lace! Harvey is a hoot. My favorite musical is GiGi with Louis Jourdan & Leslie Caron. Ah hell, I can’t pick just one old movie! Here’s a list off the cuff:
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Brigadoon
Meet Me in St. Louis
Daddy Long Legs
Singing in the Rain
Easter Parade
Bringing Up Baby
McClintock
Sound of Music
Sabrina
My Fair Lady
Young Frankenstein
History of the World
*Any Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers movie
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The Maltese Falcon, original Terminator, North by Northwest, Rear Window, Captain Blood, the Seahawk, the Tell tell Heart, the Pit and the Pendelum, The Blob, the Original Mummy with Karloff, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Day the Earth Stood Still (orig), And so many more
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There are so many classic movies, perhaps it would be better to select a monthly movie THEME: suspense, spies, comedy, musicals, dramas, holidays, horror, male star, female star… What about classic TV night?
I like To Kill a Mockingbird, old musicals, Katharine Hepburn’s movies, the Wizard of Oz…
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Casablanca. Gone With The Wind, The Maltese Falcon, Lassie Come Home, National Velvet to name a few.