A few months back I bought a DVD of an old Cary Grant movie. On the cover was a picture of Cary Grant and the lead actress ( whose name rather embarrassingly escapes me ) a work colleague looked at it and remarked that Cary Grant was a good looking woman. I replied that Cary Grant was in fact the actor to which he replied he'd never heard of him and anyway he wouldn't watch it because it was in black and white. I was both startled and appalled at such ignorance. He was, after all, twenty five so hardly a kid. But I did think what the younger generation has missed out on. I was raised watching old movies, from saturday morning pictures and the saturday night classic movie, the late night Hammer Horrors and the sunday afternoon westerns. Movies that had to tell a story in the round, that didn't have the technology to waste forty minutes on special effects, that were tightly scripted with sparkling dialogue, that were reliant upon great acting from people who'd had often tough lives before ever entering the profession. And it showed in the lines on their face and in the cynicism of their manner. When with little equality between the sexes the women were strong and as tough and hard-bitten as any man. What a wonderful rich cultural heritage that is, and in praise of it and with thanks, here are just a few scenes and images that will live long in my memory:
1/ Jezebel - the scene where Henry Fonda spurns Bette Davis, the look on her face is priceless.
2/ The Big Heat - when Lee Marvin throws scalding water into the face of Gloria Grahame. You don't
actually see it but you don't have to understand the full horror of it.
3/ High Noon - when Gary Cooper enters the Saloon seeking help and they all turn their back or
make their excuses. There's a lesson to be learned there.
4/ On the Waterfront - Karl Malden in the hold of the ship standing up for the workers. If only the
Priesthood was really like that I might renew my faith.
5/ Now Voyager - the oh so famous final scene, but equally oh so romantic. We'll have the stars.
6/ Harvey - James Stewart drunkenly explaining how he met his friend. All life is there in that one
scene.
7/ White Heat - James Cagney totally losing the plot upon learning of the death of his mother, only
to find himself on top of the world. You'll never take me alive, copper.
8/ The Searchers - John Wayne standing tall and alone.
9/ Fred and Ginger dancing - elegance personified.
10/ Gene Kelly - just amazing.
11/ Cape Fear - Robert Mitchum oozing sweaty palmed menace whilst actually not doing anything.
12/ Shane - Jack Palance on his horse as Alan Ladd takes a drink, checking each other out, so much
tension.
Just a few memories and there many many more. Add to them if you wish.
The DVD was His Girl Friday and the actress Rosalind Russell, as the fantastic Hildy Johnson, how could I forget, Rosalind.
Porscha