Throwback Thursday-Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957)

Love stories come in all shapes and sizes. Though we tend to think of a love story with the typical happy ending, that doesn’t always mean that the couple walks into the sunset together.

The 1957 movie, Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison takes place during World War II. Sister Angela (Deborah Kerr) and Corporal Allison (Robert Mitchum) are stranded on an island in the South Pacific. When the Japanese overtake the island, Sister Angela and Corporal Allison take refuge in a cave. Within the small confines of their temporary shelter, they must rely on each other and his military expertise to survive.

What I like about this movie is that it is unconventional for the period. Most films made during this time had the traditional romantic narrative with the traditional Hollywood happy ending. But this film, even with the leads that have electric chemistry, does not end in the traditional manner. Which why I like it.

I recommend it.

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Flashback Friday-The Sundowners (1960)

Life is an adventure. The question is, do we grab that adventure by the proverbial balls or do we just do nothing?

The 1960 film, The Sundowners takes place in the Australian Outback during the early part of the 20th century. Ida and Paddy Carmody (the late Deborah Kerr and the late Robert Mitchum) are living out of their wagon, doing what they need to do to get by. Ida and their son are ready to settle down, but Paddy is not so sure if he is ready or able to settle down.

I like this film. I like it because, at its heart, it’s the story of a family who is making tough decisions that are not easy and have consequences. Tough decisions is sometimes what life is all about.

I recommend it.

Throwback Thursday- Love Affair

There is something wonderful and satisfying about a love story done right. The anticipation, the wonder and finally, the happy ending. Even those of us who are skeptical about love can’t help but shed a tear and smile.

The film Love Affair (1994), is not the first time this familiar narrative has been seen on the big screen. Audiences were first introduced to the story in 1939’s Love Affair, starring Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer and then in 1957’s An Affair To Remember starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr.

In 1994, the narrative was revived a third time with IRL couple Annette Bening and Warren Beatty. Simply by pure luck, Mike Gambril (Beatty) and Terry McKay (Bening) purchased a plane ticket for the same flight. When the plane is forced to land midway through the flight, the passengers are ferried back to safety on a ship. Despite the fact that both Mike and Terry have significant others waiting for them, there is an obvious spark between them. To test if the attraction is real (and potentially long term) or a momentary twist of fate, they agree to meet up in New York City three months later. When one of them does not show up for their previously agreed upon appointment, doubts begin to form. Are Mike and Terry meant to be or just two ships in the night, just passing by each other?

What I appreciate about this movie is that despite the fact that it has two predecessors, it stands on its own two feet. It’s the kind of love story that I can appreciate. It has all of the highs and lows of the genre, without being too over the top or mushy.

I recommend it.

Throwback Thursday- Kleenex Required Edition- Beaches (1988) And An Affair To Remember (1957)

The term chick flick is associated with a certain type of film. Sometimes these films may require it’s audience to have a Kleenex nearby. This, gentle readers, is the subject of this Throwback Thursday Post.

Beaches (1988)

CC Bloom (Bette Midler), an entertainer and Hilary Whitney Essex (Barbara Hershey), the daughter of a San Fransisco WASP family, meet as children in Atlantic City. Keeping in touch through letters, they reunite as adults when Hilary moves in with CC.  While they have ups and downs in their relationship, including falling for the same man, their relationship endures to the very end.

This movie requires a box of Kleenex. I love that the core of this movie is the enduring friendship between CC and Hilary.  It’s just one of those movies that is so life affirming and reminds it’s audience about the power of friendship.

An Affair To Remember (1957)

Fate sometimes works in strange ways. Nicky Ferrante (Cary Grant) and Terry McKay (Deborah Kerr) meet on a cruise ship and start to fall for each other. The only hitch is that they are engaged to other people. They agree to reunite in six months at the top of the Empire State Building. But when Terry does not appear at the agreed upon date, Nicky is concerned that she has either married or forgotten him.

Nicholas Sparks novels have nothing on this story. Whether it is Love Affair (1937), the 1994 reboot, or Sleepless In Seattle (1993), a box of Kleenex is always required.

I recommend both movies.