They don't make 'em like this anymore...

When I was younger I almost always felt out of the loop as far as movies and music that were current with the time. I never knew what was main stream or popular and when I would mention movies or music that was familiar to me my friends would look at me like I had three eye balls or a second nose protruding from my face. The main reason for that was because in my parents house, we rarely watched television. When we finally did get a VCR in the house if a movie wasn't a Disney movie it was a classic musical. My mother loved musicals, and because of that I loved musicals. We would watch them when we were allowed to watch TV and I learned all the dances and songs. They all became my favorite movies and I didn't think anything of it when none of my friends new what I was talking about when I made references to these movies.

When I was 7 my mom and I went to visit my father in London, England. He was working there and had been there for a few months. While we were there we saw several great things. We visited Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle. We rode the subway and double-decker buses every where. We even visited Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum which was really quite exciting for a 7 year old. However, out of all the things that we did the two events that were the biggest deal to me were the two musical plays we got to see. One was South Pacific and the other was Brigadoon.

Now, not to get off subject but I will be the first to tell you that I love movies! I love going to the movies or watching them at home. I usually try to make an event out of it. So, you can imagine how discouraged I've been over the junk that Hollywood has come out with as of late. Over the past couple years I've really not gone to the movies like I once did. So, I watched movies at home more but the pickin's were still pretty slim. They just don't make movies like they use to.

So, this Christmas I asked for a new movie library, more or less. I gave my mom a list of all the old musicals that I grew up on and on Christmas morning she came through. I received several of my favorites and Will proceeded to roll his eyes and groan at the thought of having to watch them with me. Among the list were such titles as:

Singing in the Rain

Meet Me in St. Louis

Gigi

The Music Man

Thoroughly Modern Millie

An American in Paris

Almost as soon as we arrived back home after Christmas I started watching Meet Me in St. Louis. I told Will that he didn't have to watch it but it was too late. He was hooked. He laughed and laughed making note of the clever dialogue and, most importantly, the lack of trash that you find in today's movies. After the first movie has was anxious for another one. I selected Singing in the Rain and once again he loved it! We agreed that today's actors only have a fraction of the talent that you might find in these old movies. Today's actors sure can act but can they sing and dance as well? Maybe some of them but you'd never know it...

So, I encourage you all to take a look at one of these classics and really give it a chance. You never know, you might be pleasantly surprised.