It is about a mom, a boy, an issue, a creative solution and and a really happy ending.
Okay, cartoons on commercial tv aimed at kids over 7. Have you seen this stuff? There is a ton of real Crap out there. I'm sorry, I am a true animation fanatic and I love unconditionally some pretty marginal stuff, but acting Truly Idiotic and Gross is not as funny as they seem to think. My boy was sucked right in. He was talking like these truly appallingly stupid characters, and he thought it was funny. I thought it was pathetic, obnoxious and quite beyond annoying. I nagged... but I wasn't getting through. His Dad nagged...Not registering even a slow down in the "duh" levels at the house.
Seriously- This is why we don't have "TV". (By TV, I mean cable or any way to receive "broadcasting"... The television machine does reside at our house and we watch tons of movies. My son became infected just by viewing at other people's houses. That is mighty Potent Lameness. )
But Back to the Point: I decided that Jake really needed to be exposed to smart humor. Stat. Cleverness. Cary Grant. Audrey Hepburn. Charade. Suave, wisecracking, and well dressed, our hero and heroine face murder at every turn ... with minimal mushy stuff. We hit paydirt. Jake loved it. The next time we were looking for a dvd rental he asked "Are there any movies like Charade but maybe with a robbery or something and chases?"
Sure, why not To Catch a Thief?
We started watching all kinds of old movies together. His dad is not into it and I was very glad for the company. The "duh factor" was ebbing. For my birthday I got three Audrey Hepburn movies, one of which is my beautiful film # 1: Roman Holiday.
I am just going to assume you have seen it. So fantastic. The intrigue, the adventure, the double cross and a princess playing hookey. Jacob was really into it. When it finally comes to the end of the movie, he watched the scene with Gregory Peck and Eddie Albert at the formal press reception with his knees up under his chin. He giggled when she got the pictures from Eddie Albert and then when everyone is gone except for Gregory Peck, I noticed it seemed like he was holding his breath a little and as Gregory Peck walks slowly out of the empty hall, he cried out:
"Wait! Isn't she going to come out? That Can't be the end! How is he going to get back to her? It's not Over, Is It?"
That's my boy.
Best ending to a movie ever.
Oh Audrey Hepburn! I love watching her face..she seems to be "thinking" in every movie. Another old favorite (not so much for the story, but for the mood) is Bell, Book & Candle. Just watched Anatomy of a Murder--not that these are along the same lines, but your post made me think if them.
ReplyDeleteI used to *not watch* old movies ... but Andrew fixed me. :) Good job on the whole parenting thing! I bet he'd love Asphalt Jungle and On The Waterfront (which I just saw!) (if you think he's old enough for them).
ReplyDeleteGood recommendations.We have about exhausted the children's flicks genre, so it is time to start something new. Maybe my girls will learn how to sit at a table and chew with their mouths closed?
ReplyDeletethat is SO AWESOME. and the best part, aside from the right-now goodness, is that he is going to remember this even in his deepest memory and love old movies forever. he will remember that he and his mom did that together, and they will bring back special, sweet memories for him forever. my dad used to watch bogart and marx brothers movies with me, and i still love them, not just for themselves but for how they make me feel closer to him now. yay.
ReplyDeleteThat is pretty darn sweet! Yesterday was my boy's 26th birthday, and he was telling me about how many times he has re-read several books we read to him when he was a kid. Very heartwarming.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful memory for you, too!
oooh I love Charade! That is a great great great movie. The old one. the new one was horrifying junk.
ReplyDeleteMy all time favorite Gregory Peck Movie (besides to Kill a Mockingbird) was Mirage. Very suspenseful and mysterious.
ReplyDeleteCan I come over if I bring Popcorn?? Your list made me think of "To Catch a Thief" Gregory Peck and Grace Kelly Directed by Alfred Hitchcock... that lead to other Hitchcock films "North by Northwest", "The Man Who knew too much" (with my favorite James Stewart), and "Dial M for Murder..." Yummy!
ReplyDeleteOOPS! Sorry it's Cary Grant... not Gregory Peck in "To catch a thief" - Lindy
ReplyDeleteWhat an absolute delight it must be to enjoy all of those wonderful films with your son! I love them all, too. Classics that everyone will be able to enjoy forever.
ReplyDeleteWe've been watching lots of old Fred Astaire movies and musicals of all sorts with our seven year old lately. (I would not recommend Carousel but I love State Fair.)
ReplyDeleteThe book The Best Old Movies for Families is a good resource for titles you may not have remembered.
The NY Times had an article on current films that aren't strictly for kids but that are appropriate for (older) kids: Take the Kids and Don't Feel Guilty.
This is so interesting to me -- my son is nearly 10 (how the HECK did that happen? 'nuther story, sorry) and yeah, the drivel on tv is beyond horrid. He still needs to get our OK before watching a cartoon he hasn't seen before, and he's now hip to our standards and can say "nope" himself before the garbage even starts. And we, too, have been introducing him to REAL movies (Try Captains Courageous, if you haven't seen it yet -- Spencer Tracy). And among the many benefits of showing great stuff to your kids? They then sit with you and watch (and enjoy!) movies like Miss Potter and the Jane Austen stories currently being shown on PBS. Yes! It's true!
ReplyDeleteOhhh.. I love Audrey. I'd like to recommend that you rent (if you don't already own) How to Steal a Million. The wardrobe is 60's fab, the dialog is quick and clever. And there's a robbery.
ReplyDeleteThere is no one who is more beautiful and beautiful isnide than Audrey and her voice...talk about glamour. Two for the Road will always be my most favorite movie of hers...so gamourous and romantic! I remember watching it in college and thinking that was what I wanted in romance!
ReplyDeleteGREAT blog, I love to come and visit.
Mary Lou
Marylouweidman.blogspot.com
Awesome! And I love Cary Grant.
ReplyDeleteGood Job mama!.. we are the freak parents who do not let the kids play video games or own such boxes. But I do have to amit my kids have it hard for cooking shows and AntiqueRoad show...go figure :) They would also walk a mile on thier knnes to watch Martha. Such funny boys!
ReplyDeleteMaddie
That's a special kid.
ReplyDeleteI know!! I think the very same thing at the end of Roman Holiday no matter how many times we watch it!
ReplyDeleteNorth by Northwest is probably the next addition to our collection. I love the whole mistaken identity angle.
Gosh you've named my all time faves there. I lovelovelove Audrey Hepburn. Someone already mentioned Bell Book and Candle - great mood piece.
ReplyDeleteIf you want clever wit, what about anything by Noel Coward or Oscar Wilde (Blithe Spirit and the Importance of Being Ernest are both must sees, the Picture of Dorian Grey might be a bit too grown up just now)
I love Charade (the real one, not the rubbish Marky Mark version), and have you tried him with the Italian Job (ditto)?
If he wants a happy ending, what about Breakfast at Tiffany's?
love this post! you named some of my favorites here. i am a huge cary grant fan. and roman holiday...simply amazing. you might like the shop around the corner with jimmy stewart. my husband and i have seen it so many times!
ReplyDeleteRoman Holiday was good but I can't watch it too much, the ending kind of annoys me. But it couldn't end with them together, could it? But I LOVE old movies. Sabrina might be my favorite Audrey movie. I also really like Sophia Lauren in "Houseboat" with Cary Grant a lot.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't get my kid to watch old movies, not yet. I won't stop trying though. We don't have tv either but he does have a play station.
"Bringing Up Baby". Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn, dinosaurs, leopards...absolutely hilarious.
ReplyDeleteCharade! One of my favorite movies of all time! Another favorite, that I took my sister to when she was young-ish is "A Room With A View." No violence and the only nudity is male. Oh, and someone suggested "The Importance of Being Ernest," that would be a great one!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
Laurie
P.S. The owl and the bird were extremely well received! Both recipients loved them! Thank you again!