AN END TO MOTHER'S MONTH

I was unable to complete the last two posts for my mother that she wanted listed. Instead I wish to list them here before I move on to father's month.

Ever since we began this month dedicated to my mother, we both knew that this would be an inadequate amount of time to list the things my mother loves about old Hollywood. The top ten list was a joke, as countless forgotten favorites were later remembered. Usually the conversation would start something like: "Duh, how could I have forgotten to list that movie!"

With as hard as it was to create a top ten movie list, it was just as hard to formulate a top ten movie star list. So many actors and actresses have touched her life deeply and she wanted so badly to make sure others knew of their performances.

Now I wish to list some of her other favorite films that have not been mentioned earlier:

THE GOOD EARTH (1937)
This is a favorite of both my mom and dad. The humility of the people and the trials they face is stirring and memorable. I remember getting ready for a big family dinner and my parents would remind us of the scene where they were cooking mud due to the famine. This is truly a beautiful film!

BOMBARDIER (1943)
This is another one of those films that may have been forgotten in our day. With all the war movies made during this era, there is little wonder why some of them slipped through the cracks. She remembers visiting one of her cousins home as the kids were getting ready to watch this film. The kids were so excited to see it again and called it the best movie ever. She compares every war movie to this one.

THE JAZZ SINGER (1980)
I know, this film was not made in the early Hollywood years but the title was. My mom wanted me to list this movie because she loves Neil Diamonds singing in it. She also loves the scene when his father excepts him for who he is.

THE TALK OF THE TOWN (1942)
It includes three of her favorite movie stars: Cary Grant, Jean Arthur & Ronald Coleman. Their performances were perfect and the storyline is wonderful. The humor and suspense had an equal part in making this a family favorite. To the very last you still don't know who will win the hand of the lady.

THE STORY OF LOUIS PASTEUR (1936)
My mom loves true stories put to film. Though Hollywood may add a few things to make it appealing to the masses - They focused on the good a person did, rather than tell you all the unimportant details of their life. This one her favorite biographies. He was the Columbus of medicine, and help to convince the people the actual cause of diseases.

THE STORY OF VERNON AND IRENE CASTLE (1939)
This film came to the screen when so many other classics were occupying the charts. It is her favorite Astaire & Rogers film. It is the story of two fantastic dancers, played by the finest dancers of the time. Her grandmother, Bytheway, use to put her hair up like Irene Castle.

BATTLE OF THE BULGE (1965)
Because of my mothers love for history and patriotism, we would watch countless war movies together. This tradition has been passed down to even the Grandsons. This is one of her favorite war stories. We thought we had the Nazi's licked after D-Day, but they were prepared to fight back in due time. That time is conveyed in this film and the victory was due to the lack of gasoline.

A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS (1966)
This film reminds her of her father, Clyde Barraclough. He was definitely a man for all seasons. She just loves the commitment he kept to his king and to his conscious, even though they would conflict many times. What a great example it is to any citizen of a country who must be loyal to both.

ANASTASIA (1956)
Here is another story that has been formatted to bring in audiences. Whether Anastasia lived through the massacre or not, didn't matter. It was the hope and mystery of this film that makes it appealing.

BOY'S TOWN (1938)
This is one of the greatest Tracy and Rooney films. Tracy won an Oscar for his portrayal of Father Flanagan. It taught the world a few things about boys and was immortalized forever with the statement: "There is no such thing as a bad boy."

YOUNG TOM EDISON & EDISON THE MAN (1940)
There is a funny story in our family about this man. My brother Eddie was given the name Eddie Edison Lewis when he was born. Not until he was eight years old did they realize during a school report on Thomas Edison that they shared the same birthday of February 11th. These two films are the perfect tribute to a man who changed the world forever.

FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX (1965)
My mother loves the endurance and faith of the men portrayed in this film. Though the odds were piled against them they continued each day. Our favorite scene is when they discover that the man remodeling the plane actually only ever worked on toy planes.

FRIENDLY PERSUASION (1956)
This is a beautiful film about a side of history that we rarely think about. Those who must honor their religion but are also called to defend their country. My mom loves the scene which causes the mother to act out in violence for the protection of her precious duck.

EL-CID (1961)
The story of this man needed to be told and who better to do it than an actor who played Moses and Ben-Hur. It is an amazing tale of a man who honored and fought for a king who did not honor him back. He helped protect Spain from becoming engulfed by the forces that surrounded it. The ending, though fictional, is hair-raising and chilling. I love this movie too!

There are many others that both of us wished we could have listed. Now it is time to turn to my dad and ask what he loves most about Vintage Media.