Sibling Assignment #117: Favorite Movie with Understated Actors

I once again gave the sibling assignment sticking with the BEST theme.  Write about a "Best Movie Because of a Memorable Role an Actor/Actress Played." Why do I give these assignments that are so difficult? Like anyone could pick one best movie. Like I could pick on memorable role. Since it is movie award season right now I was thinking about the different roles that have earned actors and actresses recognition for their work. Sometimes an actor transforms himself/herself physically and you forget the person behind the role. Other times just the part itself stays with you. Actors playing famous people, creating themselves into that role is a feat in itself. I am also amazed how actors can sing, dance, and act effortlessly in a movie role. All these different roles require skill.

As I was sitting drinking coffee this morning I let my movie history rewind through my head. I wanted to see what would pop up. I like understated roles. While watching a movie I imagine the actor as somebody familiar, a person in town. Actors that work well as a team stood out in my mind also. I went with a team. The best movie is On Golden Pond and the actors are Henry Fonda and Kathrine  Hepburn.

You understood their relationship. I felt like they could have been a couple down the road at the lake. These two actors had never worked together before. Actually they had never met, yet created a chemistry that was believable and understated. Hepburn even did her own stunts when it came to swimming and diving in after Norman when the boat hit the rocks. The movie is about families, relationships, and growing old. It is also about tradition. The Thayers returned to Golden Pond each summer. They had a familiarity with the place. That familiarity plays out as Norman struggles with growing old.

It is a beautiful film to watch. It has one of my favorite soundtracks. The scenery and cinematography is lovely. The rest of the cast including Jane Fonda, Dabney Coleman, and Doug McKeon create an ensemble that fits together well. It is a movie you can watch with your mom and not be bothered by violence and language.

Henry Fonda and Katherine Hepburn both won Academy Awards for their roles in this movie. If you have never seen this movie, or haven't seen it for awhile, take time to savor it. It is a treat.

Best Community Theater I've Seen: Bravo to Agnes and Michael

For the last three week-ends my sister Silver Valley Girl and her husband have performed a two person show at the Sixth St. Theater in Wallace, Idaho entitled I Do! I Do!. It is a musical comedy (with some added drama) that begins with the wedding of Agnes and MIchael as we follow them through their marriage with the whole play centering in their bedroom. Both JEJ and I agreed it is the best performance we have seen at the theater. Bravo to Agnes and Michael for your fine singing and acting. Your timing was perfect, your dancing impeccable, and watching you age before our eyes was an amazing feat you both carried off with ease. I really wish I could have seen it again.

Watching them perform at different stages of their marriage brought back memories for me of some of those passages we have experienced together such as the wedding above. She is wearing the veil I wore in my first wedding and a dress we found one day shopping at a thrift shop!

Another example was seeing SVG on stage as a mother-to-be. I was sure she wore that same exact dress when she was pregnant in real life!

As the frustrations of motherhood built up Agnes did some comedy relief with the tricycle.

Some friction developed as Michael pointed out a few things he wanted Agnes to change about herself. She presented her list also!

Later she showed off her flair for fancy hats.

It was touching to see them at the wedding of their own child knowing that someday the two of them will be experiencing the same thing in their own lives. She may shed a few tears like she did on stage.

The play ended with the two of them getting ready to move from their home. Again, the play was a joy to watch from beginning to end. SVG said earlier today that she would miss Agnes and Michael. So will I!

After the curtain went down I had to get my sister and mother together. When SVG made herself up for an older Agnes from the end of the play it is hard to tell who the mother is here! RIght Mom?

Best Dogs: Best Images

Today I just sat by Annie and Shelby and let the camera capture what it could.Dogs are often tough to photograph. These two don't often sit still or by each other enough to get a single picture. Today they cooperated. Enjoy the images.

Best Film of the Day: A Disney Reunion

Before winter break our seventh grade class studied a play version of A Christmas Carol. I remembered how much I liked the Mickey Mouse version,but it had been a long time since I had watched it.  I couldn't find it at the local store and the library didn't have it. A student of mine let me know after break that she had found a copy at their house.

Today we were celebrating her birthday and it was the last day of the semester. It was perfect timing for watching  Mickey's Christmas Carol. I was hoping I could squeeze in some test reading while the film was going on. No such luck. I watched every minute of it.

It was such a release on a Friday morning at the end of finals to laugh out loud as I remembered Goofy playing the part of Jacob Marley's ghost. Of course, when he made his appearance in Scrooge's bedroom he tripped and fell.  Donald Duck were perfectly cast as Scrooge's nephew Fred. When I was younger could I ever really understand Donald Duck?

Of course Mickey was Bob Cratchet and Scrooge McDuck (with a perfect British accent) was Scrooge himself. My students just couldn't remember who played the ghosts and I laughed out loud when I heard the voice of Jiminy Cricket as the Ghost of Christmas Past.  When was the last time I heard or saw Jiminy Cricket?

I had to really pay attention, but other Disney characters were mixed in the cast. Daisy Duck, Minnie Mouse, Ratty, and Mole were front and center, butThe Three Little Pigs were part of the carolers at the beginning.  I had remembered Huey, Dewey, and Louie, but had no recollection of The Big Bad Wolf or Chip 'n Dale until today. It was a enjoyable hour before the students went home early today.

I was not the only person that realized how clever this film was. Mickey's Christmas Carol was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Animated Short Subject of 1983. The hour ended in the best possible way when the student presented me with the VHS tape and told me I could have it!
" God bless us everyone!"

Sibling Assignment #116: Best Song from Another Time: Cheering for the Underdog

I gave this sibling assignment keeping up with my best theme for the month. Name a "Best Song for Stirring Up Memories of Another Time." Raymond Pert and Silver Valley Girl will be posting soon. I could spend hours replaying songs and remembering where I was, what was happening, what he was wearing, who was in the car, who was getting married, who had died,what trip I was on, or what movie theater I was sitting in.

Movie soundtracks stay with me. I learned many songs from The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins with Mrs. Williams in music at Sunnyside Elementary.   While listening to albums upstairs in the hall growing up I did fine rendentions of the songs from South Pacific and The King and I.  I never grow weary of listening to the whole soundtrack of Out of Africa, A River Runs Through It, or On Golden Pond. There are also those unforgettable movie songs that remind me of another time long ago. We sang "Mairzey Doats" driving down the Clearwater River on our way to Orofino for summer visits. I think everyone in my generation sang "On the Good Ship Lollipop" at least a few times wishing they were Shirley Temple. Who can remember time when you didn't know "Over the Rainbow"?

At this hour on this day the song that stirs up memories is "Gonna Fly Now" from the series of Rocky movies. My most vivid memory was hearing it in the original movie Rocky and wanting to get up and cheer as Rocky sprinted up the stairs triumphantly in Philly.  I knew I would get that jolt of adrenaline whether it was Rocky III or the most recent Rocky Balboa when I  heard the beginning chords of that theme. I loved being in the Rena Theater in Kellogg a few years ago at Christmastime watching the most recent installment with my siblings, wanting to run down the aisle cheering. I think we did our own rendition of the theme after we left. "Gonna Fly Now" is the quintessential underdog song. I love cheering for the underdog, I love watching underdogs progress into something great, I love the pure joy that shines in the face of an underdog.  When I watch an underdog achieve greatness, I want to shake my fists in the air and play "Gonna Fly Now".  Enjoy this powerful theme and go sprint up a flight of stairs!

Best of Friends: The Sheriff and Deputy

Kit giving McDuff a hero's welcome when he returned from the vet.

McDuff is the senior member of our cat family. We have recently observed changes in McDuff that causes concern about his health. It was time for his yearly check-up so he was loaded into the car carrier then off to the vet on Monday. He is ten years old, but after an exam and blood work the vet found nothing wrong with McDuff. We know his teeth need cleaning so his dental health may have led to some lack of appetite and energy. He will soon go back to get those cleaned. When McDuff returned home Monday he got a rock star's welcome. Kit, the Deputy was so happy for Sheriff  McDuff to return home.  That seemed to cheer McDuff up. He is beginning to seem more like his same old self.

McDuff has always been a mentor for Kit since Kit showed up on our property in a tree a few years ago. The two cats guard the place from strays and keep the riff raff away. They certainly are the best of friends.