Ron Beron Posted May 13, 2013 Posted May 13, 2013 (edited) Well, today I did not go to Church... Mother's Day... It's difficult enough being a single sister with no children without having to listen to it on Mother's Day. Yes, I give of myself to my nephews, and to other young people both in and outside the Church. But it's not the same. I may sound bitter, but I'm really not... anyway, I stayed home...So, I decided to watch some of my favorite movies... I just finished "To Kill A Mockingbird" starring Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch. I've mentioned this movie previously in this thread... I've watched it so many times yet always marvel at how Peck seemed to become Atticus...I loved the book, and I love this film for many reasons, but mainly because Scout, Jem, and Dil mirror my childhood, particularly in the scenes when they would play all over the neighborhood, and late into the evening. Our neighborhood kids would play Kick-the-Can under the street lights on the warm summer nights until our folks just insisted it was time to come in... but in some respects growing up on the west coast in So Cal was very much different than the south... different culture... different attitudes. Anyway, that's a movie I can watch numerous times and still enjoy...GGSame with my wife. She is tired of being told what a great person she is. She is, of course, she just doesn't want to be reminded of it. "Mockingbird" is also a favorite and was really surprised when I read Peck did his closing remarks in the courtroom scene in one take. What an amazing performance. BTW, do you who Dill really was? Edited May 13, 2013 by Ron Beron
Garden Girl Posted May 13, 2013 Posted May 13, 2013 (edited) Same with my wife. She is tired of being told what a great person she is. She is, of course, she just doesn't want to be reminded of it. "Mockingbird" is also a favorite and was really surprised when I read Peck did his closing remarks in the courtroom scene in one take. What an amazing performance. BTW, do you who Dill really was?Truman Capote... I remember an interview with Harper Lee where she told how Capote used to visit his aunt next door to them in the summer, and the two of them would spend hours writing stories and reading them to each other.The courtroom scene is one of the all-time great performances IMO... it's hard to imagine just how things were in the south because as I said, growing up in So Cal we had multi-race schools, sports, school activities, music etc etc. It wasn't perfect but it was nothing like the south.I never thought too much about it until one day... there was this darling girl... black... who was on the cheer squad with me when we were juniors in high school... at the end of the year we had open tryouts for the next year's squad. Everyone had to try out before a panel of faculty judges to be selected for the next year. So during the tryouts I noticed that "Jane" didn't seem to be performing well... she seemed to lack the spirit and enthusiasm, etc. Anyway, she didn't make the squad and I went over to her and she was crying... I told her I was sorry, and she whirled around and said... "I didn't make it because I'm black!!" I couldn't have been more stunned if she had slapped me in the face.. and I tried to tell her that that just wasn't true... The very next week she was elected to a very prestigious position as the student leader of the school choir... a real honor as our choir was tops among the competions with other school choirs. I'll never forget that day at tryouts... it was the first time it really came home to me that everything wasn't just fine... that was in 1957, and of course the civil rights movement started in earnest in the early 60's.Anyway, when the script for Mockingbird was going around Hollywood, the studios shied away from it until Peck showed interest in playing Atticus... and the rest is history... one of the best films ever made according to all the critics... and the public.GG Edited May 14, 2013 by Garden Girl 1
Bill “Papa” Lee Posted May 13, 2013 Posted May 13, 2013 Saw Iron Man 3...LAME! Saw Oblivion...LAME! Maybe The Hangover III will rejuvenate this year's movies thus far.My Birthday is this month...so I want to go see new Star Trek movie.
Damien the Leper Posted May 13, 2013 Posted May 13, 2013 Fly out here to Phoenix, Pa Pa. I will buy you birthday dinner and a ticket to the movie.
Ron Beron Posted May 14, 2013 Posted May 14, 2013 Truman Capote... I remember an interview with Harper Lee where she told how Capote used to visit his aunt next door to them in the summer, and the two of them would spend hours writing stories and reading them to each other.The courtroom scene is one of the all-time great performances IMO... it's hard to imagine just how things were in the south because as I said, growing up in So Cal we had multi-race schools, sports, school activities, music etc etc. It wasn't perfect but it was nothing like the south.I never thought too much about it until one day... there was this darling girl... black... who was on the cheer squad with me when we were juniors in high school... at the end of the year we had open tryouts for the next year's squad. Everyone had to try out before a panel of faculty judges to be selected for the next year. So during the tryouts I noticed that "Jane" didn't seem to be performing well... she seemed to lack the spirit and enthusiasm, etc. Anyway, she didn't make the squad and I went over to her and she was crying... I told her I was sorry, and she whirled around and said... "I didn't make it because I'm black!!" I couldn't have been more stunned if she had slapped me in the face.. and I tried to tell her that that just wasn't true... The very next week she was elected to a very prestigious position as the student leader of the school choir... a real honor as our choir was tops among the competions with other school choirs. I'll never forget that day at tryouts... it was the first time it really came home to me that everything wasn't just fine... that was in 1958, and of course the civil rights movement started in earnest in the early 60's.Anyway, when the script for Mockingbird was going around Hollywood, the studios shied away from it until Peck showed interest in playing Atticus... and the rest is history... one of the best films ever made according to all the critics... and the public.GGGreat story. My wife has always seen her father as Atticus Finch. I believe the ending is among the best of any movie. It is so pure and innocent and speaks of the children's coming of age. BTW, SoCal had their own racist streak in denying equal education to Latino kids. They forced them to take entry tests in English when clearly they couldn't speak the language. Upon failure they were relegated to "special" classes. This all ended when a caring mother sued the system and obtained for her "special" daughter a seat in a regular class. The girl went on to get a PhD.
Ron Beron Posted May 14, 2013 Posted May 14, 2013 My Birthday is this month...so I want to go see new Star Trek movie.Mine too! And I have lined it up! Can't wait.
altersteve Posted May 14, 2013 Author Posted May 14, 2013 I'm very excited for the new Star Trek as well. Seeing it Wednesday night!
Garden Girl Posted May 14, 2013 Posted May 14, 2013 Great story. My wife has always seen her father as Atticus Finch. I believe the ending is among the best of any movie. It is so pure and innocent and speaks of the children's coming of age.BTW, SoCal had their own racist streak in denying equal education to Latino kids. They forced them to take entry tests in English when clearly they couldn't speak the language. Upon failure they were relegated to "special" classes. This all ended when a caring mother sued the system and obtained for her "special" daughter a seat in a regular class. The girl went on to get a PhD.I don't know about special classes... there were plenty of Latinos in my classes (because I wasn't really planing a college educ, which most girls didn't at that time, although I did finally go to BYU, I took business courses which had the majority of Latino girls also) ... and they were on the sports teams, on student council, etc etc. We rarely had problems... maybe I was just unaware because I interacted with everyone...GGGG
Damien the Leper Posted May 14, 2013 Posted May 14, 2013 I'm very excited for the new Star Trek as well. Seeing it Wednesday night!You cheat because you work at a theatre!
Ron Beron Posted May 15, 2013 Posted May 15, 2013 (edited) I don't know about special classes... there were plenty of Latinos in my classes (because I wasn't really planing a college educ, which most girls didn't at that time, although I did finally go to BYU, I took business courses which had the majority of Latino girls also) ... and they were on the sports teams, on student council, etc etc. We rarely had problems... maybe I was just unaware because I interacted with everyone...GGGGThis happened down in Orange County in the early fifties.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mendez_v._Westminster Edited May 15, 2013 by Ron Beron
altersteve Posted May 15, 2013 Author Posted May 15, 2013 (edited) You cheat because you work at a theatre!Someone's jealous. Edited May 15, 2013 by altersteve
Garden Girl Posted May 15, 2013 Posted May 15, 2013 This happened down in Orange County in the early fifties.http://en.wikipedia...._v._WestminsterThanks Ron... I note that this case was successfully brought in 1946... by time I was in high school ten years later (1956-58), and even Jr. High, things had settled down because I went to school with Latinos in all my classes. This does not mean that there were not problems that were not obvious to me as a teen because kids of all races participated freely in school activities, and I interacted with everyone... Now that I can look back with a mature eye, I can see that the divisions were there that did lead to the civil rights movement beginning in earnest in the early 60's.GG
Garden Girl Posted May 16, 2013 Posted May 16, 2013 It's a gray, damp day... dripping rain off and on... so I decided to snuggle down and watch a totally entertaining movie... so I chose "Madame X" starring Lana Turner and John Forsythe... it is the ultimate in melodrama and "soap opera"...This 1966 version is the 6th remake of this film, has lavish sets and costumes/gowns befitting a wealthy, political family with higher office ambitions... filmed in lovely technicolor... it is considered one of the best role's of Turner's career. I don't know if it's shown anymore, even on TV... maybe Netflix... but I happen to have it in my film library, and thoroughly enjoyed watching it.I rented "Silver Linings... playbook" to watch tonight... starring Bradley Cooper. Sounds like it will be good...GG
Bill “Papa” Lee Posted May 16, 2013 Posted May 16, 2013 I hate you. We would love him for advanced tickets.
blackstrap Posted May 16, 2013 Posted May 16, 2013 Well,GG , now that you have seen Madame X , you can watch " Malcolm X " and then " American History X " Then again , maybe better not .
Garden Girl Posted May 16, 2013 Posted May 16, 2013 Well,GG , now that you have seen Madame X , you can watch " Malcolm X " and then " American History X " Then again , maybe better not .Hi blackstrap...I've seen parts of Malcolm X (Denzel Washington is one of my favorites), and I have seen American History X....My sister and I were talking the other day about the civil rights movement because we had both recently watched the movie "The Help" and agreed that we have no clue what it must have been like to be a black person and have to live under Jim Crow... and for instance see separate drinking fountains designated as "White Only" and "Colored." Just like the movies you mentioned, I want to recommend "The Help"... set in the south, a powerful portrayal of the times... early 50's...GG
Tacenda Posted May 16, 2013 Posted May 16, 2013 It's a gray, damp day... dripping rain off and on... so I decided to snuggle down and watch a totally entertaining movie... so I chose "Madame X" starring Lana Turner and John Forsythe... it is the ultimate in melodrama and "soap opera"...This 1966 version is the 6th remake of this film, has lavish sets and costumes/gowns befitting a wealthy, political family with higher office ambitions... filmed in lovely technicolor... it is considered one of the best role's of Turner's career. I don't know if it's shown anymore, even on TV... maybe Netflix... but I happen to have it in my film library, and thoroughly enjoyed watching it.I rented "Silver Linings... playbook" to watch tonight... starring Bradley Cooper. Sounds like it will be good...GGHow did you like Silver Linings GG? I sure liked it, except the language, but it was very real.
Ron Beron Posted May 16, 2013 Posted May 16, 2013 Thanks Ron... I note that this case was successfully brought in 1946... by time I was in high school ten years later (1956-58), and even Jr. High, things had settled down because I went to school with Latinos in all my classes. This does not mean that there were not problems that were not obvious to me as a teen because kids of all races participated freely in school activities, and I interacted with everyone... Now that I can look back with a mature eye, I can see that the divisions were there that did lead to the civil rights movement beginning in earnest in the early 60's.GGBy the time I had started teaching there was still a form of restriction vis-a-vis bilingual education. I knew students that were fluent in English that were placed in bilingual programs despite their abilities. Fortunately, that is slowly going away in favor of ELD, ESL, and mainstreaming classes.
Garden Girl Posted May 16, 2013 Posted May 16, 2013 (edited) How did you like Silver Linings GG? I sure liked it, except the language, but it was very real.I, too, really liked Silver Linings... and yes there was a lot of language but I found that because of the film's story, action and dialog I wasn't as offended as some films that I have simply turned off because of language. In fact, I found sometimes I didn't even hardly notice because the dialog was exactly what one would expect... I was trying to think of words to describe the film... which dealt with mood disorders such as bi-polar, compulsive behaviors, and more.... it seems like everyone was "crazy." Except the mother...IntenseChaoticFranticHumorousTenderSensitiveRomanticSensual (but not sexy)HonestEducationalI appreciated the Bonus Materials where they interviewed the actors, and doctors, even the former Kennedy congressman who suffers from bi-polar disorder... all praised the film's message and dialog as being "real" and "important" in helping to understand these disorders.GG Edited May 16, 2013 by Garden Girl
Damien the Leper Posted May 16, 2013 Posted May 16, 2013 We would love him for advanced tickets. Maybe....damn it...I'll love the guy either way. Stupid Christian love crap...I'm not cut out for this mess.
altersteve Posted May 16, 2013 Author Posted May 16, 2013 (edited) I hate you. No you don't. Anyway, Star Trek Into Darkness was great. Not as good as the first, which I think had a stronger story, but still very good. Benedict Cumberbatch is, as usual, insanely good (and THAT VOICE of his, holy crap), and we do see a lot more emotion from Spock this time around. Tons of action too, a lot more than the first film, but not as much humor. And I'm not a huge Trekkie, but there are a few nods to the original series, like in the first film, that had even me smiling throughout. Edited May 16, 2013 by altersteve
thesometimesaint Posted May 16, 2013 Posted May 16, 2013 Hi blackstrap...I've seen parts of Malcolm X (Denzel Washington is one of my favorites), and I have seen American History X....My sister and I were talking the other day about the civil rights movement because we had both recently watched the movie "The Help" and agreed that we have no clue what it must have been like to be a black person and have to live under Jim Crow... and for instance see separate drinking fountains designated as "White Only" and "Colored." Just like the movies you mentioned, I want to recommend "The Help"... set in the south, a powerful portrayal of the times... early 50's...GGOne of sad things about being in the South in the mid 1960's was seeing it first hand. I was a Jr. in HS when Martin Luther King was murdered.
Bill “Papa” Lee Posted May 16, 2013 Posted May 16, 2013 Hi blackstrap...I've seen parts of Malcolm X (Denzel Washington is one of my favorites), and I have seen American History X....My sister and I were talking the other day about the civil rights movement because we had both recently watched the movie "The Help" and agreed that we have no clue what it must have been like to be a black person and have to live under Jim Crow... and for instance see separate drinking fountains designated as "White Only" and "Colored." Just like the movies you mentioned, I want to recommend "The Help"... set in the south, a powerful portrayal of the times... early 50's...GGSadly I knew what it was like for Black people living under it here in the South. In the 50 & 60's. While in Church one Sunday I noticed a Black gentleman come to church, he sat down quietly on the back row of our "one room church". Two deacons got up and asked him to leave. He explained he was new to the area, they gave him the name of a Black church and asked him to leave, my Mother was from Atlanta proper and did not understand why they could not wait until the service was over, so it could be discussed. Back then women had no voice in the church. . Other than that brief moment he was there, I never attended church with anyone outside my race...until the military. The fact that a battle took place in and around my yard to keep men, women and children enslaved my me sad for the loss of life and happy that it settled the issue of slavery. If you ever get a chance see a movie called "Amazing Grace", about William Wilberforce and his efforts to end the slave trade. The hymn "Amazing Grace" was written by a former slave trader and pastor of William, who after repenting of the evil he had done wrote to hymn. Great stuff, great movie and at the end a wonderful playing of the hymn via bagpipes. I grew up in a segregated world, singing that song and never knew the story behind it...I wonder if it would have been that popular in our white only churches had people know where it came from and why the man who wrote rejoiced that God could "save" a man like him. See the movie, it is a great story.
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