May The 4th Be With You... A Star Wars Memory

 

"Someone has to save our skins. Into the garbage chute, flyboy."

~Princess Leia Organa

Star Wars

No, this isn't my, Ellipsis Movie Of The Week, recommendation, it's, well, a memory. You see, while my sister and I were never particularly close, we did share a love of movies. But as we found over the summer of 1977, Star Wars wasn't just a movie, it was a kid's blockbuster! When I say kid, I mean tweens and teens, like me. The movie was released on May 25th, 1977, and took off with light speed! By the time my birthday came around, a month later, it was a genuine hit! I didn't really have a big desire to see it, but my mother insisted I did, so off I was sent with my sister and her brand new fiancé to see it, at a matinee. The line was around the building, and down the block, and in that it was at the end of June, it was HOT, but folks were already on their 8th or 9th time seeing it! I have never loved the summer, and I have especially never loved that my birthday was in the summer, but it was fun to watch the energy of those around me in line. The movie was so-so. There was just something about it that had me wondering what the big deal was. My sister and her fiancé were a little too into each other for me to discuss the finer points of what I found lame, so there was that. As the summer wore on, and I discussed the movie with my friends, most of them decided I was nuts. They were either in love with Han Solo, or Luke Skywalker, which I completely understood, but that had very little to do with what was nagging at me about a perfectly fine movie! My guy friends simply insisted it was the best movie ever made, period, end of discussion! Then, I finally got my answer when I met my future husband.

You see, dear hubby is the brother of sister's husband. Yes, we married brothers. Alan and I met somewhere between the film's release and my birthday, Memorial Day, to be of exact. We didn't talk much that day. He can be a bit standoffish. Which is fine, the whole, families getting to know each other, thing was lame, but there was no avoiding it, so I figured that perhaps we could be... yikes... cordial. Um... nope. He barely acknowledged my existence. Shrug. Okay. It wasn't until years later I learned why he not only would not want to talk all things Star Wars, but why he had his nose out of joint that day, but that story is for another time. Eventually, he and I met again at the wedding, the following November, so here was my chance, I really wanted his opinion, and it was a safe ice-breaker. Why was the movie that ate the summer, so mediocre to me? I explained my impression to him, that the film seemed to be oddly off about something, and he said, it wasn't lacking anything, and then he asked me if I liked westerns? I had to think about it, but finally I told him, no, I didn't. I grew up in a time when there was a different western on every night of the week, I exaggerate, but take a look at the tv in the 50s 60s and 70s! Bonanza, The Big Valley, Alias Smith and Jones, The Wild Wild West, Wagon Train, Rawhide, The Riflemen, Have Gun Will Travel, Maverick, The Virginian, ugh, you see what I'm saying! I thought about it, Star Wars takes place in a Galaxy, far, far away, which was different than most sci-fi I grew up with! Suddenly it all came together! Star Was was a space western for our parents, and a glitzy sci-fi movie for we kids. The special effects for the time was truly amazing! Of course it couldn't fail! Well done, George Lucas!

So, all these years later, I am married to the love of my life, and we have this whole day planned around watching as many Star Wars movies that we can fit into one day! And I am thinking of my sister. She passed away, several years ago, without she and I ever really becoming close as sisters, and I am in truth, missing her most days, but I have grown to really like the memory of going to see, Star Wars, with her and WhatsHisName. Looking back, it was a good day! Space Westerns Rule!

 And I still have a crush on Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford!

May The 4th Be With You!

 

Halloween Countdown Film #11... The Rocky Horror Picture Show

 

Janet Weiss - A Heroine:

 If only we were amongst friends... or sane persons!

 

~Rocky Horror Picture Show

 

That's a good question, Janet Weiss, I feel that way all the time! Shrug. I guess all we can do is, do the time warp again! This movie came out in 1975, so I know you've seen it, but if you haven't please watch it. It's fun. Tim Curry is magnificent as Dr. Frank-N-Furter. It would be a shame not to see it at least once in life. It's a comedy, a horror show, and a love story. It's a movie, a Broadway show and it's a cult classic! What's not to love?

 

Did you every attend a midnight showing of Rocky Horror when you were a kid?

 

Did you bring toast? 

 

 

Halloween Countdown Film #19... Rosemary's Baby

Rosemary Woodhouse: Tannis anyone?

 

Rosemary's Baby 

~Ira Levin 

 

A few years back, hubby and I went to see this movie at the Orinda theater. The audience was packed with hipsters and their parents, and it was a fun crowd to watch. As the movie progressed the young ones reacted like they had never seen this terrific horror movie before. By the groans, it was clear, they hated Rosemary's husband. And who wouldn't? He, in my opinion, was one of the top ten movie jerks of all time! When the movie was over, there was a great audience interaction with the owners of the theater. As it turns out, 80% of the hipsters had not seen the before! Adding to the fun, Cupcakes were donated by a little bakery shop around the corner. The cupcakes were arranged in the shape of the baby Rosemary's baby carriage and I won the right front wheel, for answering a question about the author of the book, Ira Levin.

 

Question: What other book of Ira Levin's

 was made into a horror movie, released in 1975?

 

Easy!

 

Answer:  The Stepford Wives!

 

The rest is history. So, if you have never seen Rosemary's Baby, I am not going to spoil it for you, but please watch it. Truly, it's one of the best horror movies ever! 

 

 

The Orinda Theater Needs You

 

"No season appeals to the eyes as much as autumn; no season touches the souls as powerfully as autumn and no season invites us to the world of mournful thoughts as intensely as autumn!"

~Mehmet Murat ildan

The Orinda theater, in Orinda, has been an October tradition in our house for several years now. I first learned about this lovely theater through, Johnny Funcheap. That's the website where you can find free, or at very low cost, things to purchase, or events you can attend. Festivals, free days at parks and museums, and sometimes theaters, like this one. Every second Thursday's are Free Movie day. The first time we went, we saw Rosemary's Baby. We had an amazing time, seeing this horror classic on the big screen! It was great for people watching too. It seems on this visit, that most of the millennial's in the audience, not only came with their parents, but these kids had never seen the film before, a fact that still puzzles me to this day. How can anyone not know about Rosemary's Baby?

Anyway, before each film the management give a few details about the move, and then they hold a trivia contest, with gourmet cupcakes as the prize. That night there we 12 cupcakes arranged in a box which formed a baby buggy, something like the one on the official movie poster. From that very first night we were hooked. We have seen some really great films there. North By Northwest. Halloween. When Harry Met Sally. Eventually it became the official first outing of our vacations. Last year we suffered quite a disappointment when  PG&E cut their power because of worry over high winds and fire dangers. The film was Back To The Future, another film that I have never seen on a big screen. It was a bummer, but we thought there would always be 2020 to get things back on track.

And we all know how well that turned out, right? Covid-19 came along, and with it, a lot of heartache for everyone. Not all families have lost a loved one to the virus, thank goodness, but a lot of folks have lost their livelihoods. This little theater has suffered greatly. It's been closed since March, and is getting by on donations to their GoFundMe page. What's worse is, Trump is going around acting like he has single handedly saved all of us, while the pandemic rages on.

 The election is a little over 30 days from now, and I am genuinely hoping that he will be thrown out of office, at the very least, but to see him prosecuted for his many crimes would be even better. But its a harsh fact that even if both things happen, neither will safe the theater. I don't know how much longer folks, like the owners of this theater will be able to hang on. Every day that goes it becomes more likely that they won't be there anymore. It's really sad. I really love this place, there just isn't many theaters like this anymore.

If you can help save the Orinda Theater, please consider giving whatever possible to this amazing place. I know they would appreciate it, and so would the community! Just click the link below

Orinda Theater GoFundMe

Autumn Leaf Of The Day #10

~Carly

Stockton, California

October 1st 2020

One... Sir Richard Attenborough

"They criticize the films they think you ought to have made, not the films

 you wanted to make and did make."

~Sir Richard Attenborough

I went to see A Chorus Line when it came out in 1985. I hadn't seen the stage play, but I had been reading about it for years! I looked forward to the film adaptation of the stage play with enthusiasm. I liked the movie very much, and in fact, had "One" stuck in my head for weeks. Now when it is on TV, I never miss it. It's one of those movies I would love to catch on retro night at the theater. 

Unfortunately, the film critics in 1985 didn't care for the movie as much as I did. Shrug. It's my opinion that film reviewers are sometimes snobby about things, and by the time that these people actually make a living at tearing apart a film, they have long since forgotten how to simply sit back, and go with it! Never underestimate the power of pulling the stick out of your ass and just enjoying a film for what it is. 

Still, I suppose I understand the need for a paid film reviewer to tell it as they see it, after all people do spend hard earned money to go out and enjoy a film. 

But if I had a free movie ticket for every time I have completely disagreed with a professional film critique, I would have free movies for life. 

I must have really bad taste in art.

 :)

Let the critics criticize, I will just enjoy the film!

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

And Now, Blue Jasmine... The Movie Trailer

"Men learn to love the woman they are attracted to. Women learn to become attracted to the man they fall in love with."

~Woody Allen

 

Finally... the trailer for Woody Allen's, Blue Jasmine, is here. The large picture above was taken at one of the filming locations in San Francisco, a few hours after filming wrapped for the day! LOL. On that day I was a few minutes late, and a Woody Allen short. If you look very closely at the trailer you will see this building, slightly altered for the film, but recognizable all the same. Alan and I only made it to two of the many locations used in the film, if I could I would have been at all of them, cameras with me, taking in the fun. Unfortunately, life... work, doctor's appointments... had to come first. That and good old fashioned mistiming. LOL. In the next few days that followed I was able to get the photos I wanted. Last August was the best part of the summer. The best part of any of my summers. :)

Okay... go watch the trailer. I can already tell it's going to be one of his movies that stays with you long after you have seen it. Kind of like Midnight In Paris, Manhattan, or Interiors. I already identify at bit with Jasmine. I have a profound first hand knowledge of what it feels like to have your life pulled out from under you... suddenly, and without your permission. Perspective gets lost in the pain, and yes, Xanax by the fist fulls becomes a bigger part of your life than breathing. That was my life 12 years ago. When they "no longer felt good about giving me Xanax, Anhedonia took over for me. Anyway, we will leave it at that. No need to numb every day, Anhedonia... is now just a distant memory.

And THANK GOODNESS. Because if I still had Anhedonia, I couldn't have taken the awesome photo you see above!

LOL. Go watch the trailer...

Mood: Grateful

~Me :)

Woody Allen's Summer Project 2012 Gets A Title

"We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I will be spending the rest of our lives."

~Woody Allen

 

It's official! The name of the upcoming Woody Allen movie, which was partially filmed in San Francisco, and I pretty much obsessed over late last summer, will be called... Blue Jasmine. The release date has yet to be announced, but I assume it will hit theaters sometime in late spring or summer. Personally, I am hoping for a date sometime around my birthday on June 29th! A couple years ago Alan took me to see "Midnight In Paris" on my birthday, and I loved that film! So sweet, and Paris was... as you might expect... breathtaking!

San Francisco and Manhattan will be the backdrops for the filmmaker's latest film, which couldn't make this fan happier! As much as I enjoy the European locations, it is going to be a thrill to see some familiar San Francisco neighborhoods, some of which I was in during the filming last summer, and also get to see the very best of Manhattan, the number one place on my Bucket List of must see places before I die. If you read my Ellipsis entries last summer, during his filming in the city, you know that Woody Allen had a place in my dream of New York.

When I got to stand on the corner 20th and Lexington, and on Ulloa and Claremont, in San Francisco, during three days of filming, an element of my dream came true. I had imagined seeing Woody, sitting across the room from me at the Carnegie Deli, eating a sandwich. That's it! My total perfect Manhattan day consisted of merely seeing my favorite filmmaker eating lunch! LOL. You see, if I were to try to say hello, it would come out a little more like... haaaallaaaalloooo. LOL. Completely incoherent and perhaps a bit... ummm... dare I say... stunningly embarrassing? Yep, that's the correct word... EMBARRASSING.

I kind of got that confirmed last summer, when upon arrival at the 20th and Lexington location, I experienced the oddest panic attack I have ever had. The minute I turned onto 20th, I suddenly became aware that I was mere steps away, from Woody Allen! He is a legend. He is the living embodiment of comedy! And why did I think that the outfit I was wearing was appropriate? Who, I ask you, who wears black pants with a grey top? What was I thinking? LOL. My mouth went completely dry, and I was wearing a wildly ridiculous outfit! NOW WHAT?

I can laugh now, but at the time, it was high drama!

It's a memory I wouldn't trade for anything. We live in a harsh world, and filmmakers like Woody Allen make things bearable by giving us a respite from the pain of being human, and for that I have thanked him, quietly to myself, about a million times since last summer. He gave me three days my cameras and I will never forget. And soon, he will give me one more memory when Alan and I go to our favorite theater to see Woody Allen's Summer Project for 2012 Blue Jasmine. It's a lovely title, and I can't wait to see how it fits the film, but that movie will always be simply... W.A.S.P. to me.

Once again, thank you Woody! :)

Link:Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine Acquired By Sony

And now, the trailer to the movie Sleeper. I love that movie!




~Happiness

~Me :)

A Photo A Day For 6 Months ~ Day 98 A Day Late And A Woody Allen Short

"Confidence is what you have before you understand the problem."

~ Woody Allen

Okay, so I found out where in San Francisco Woody Allen is doing the filming for his latest project. I know it is at the corner of 14th st and South Van Ness avenue. If you click here, you will see many wonderful photos of the shoot that took place over the last couple days. Not a single one was taken by me, but I assure you, they are first rate! You will even see average citizens with their cameras, more than likely local neighborhood folk, all snapping away... but not me. No, I was a day late, and a Woody Allen short. But hey, it wasn't a total loss... nope... I think my photo of the corner of 14th and South Van Ness avenue is excellent, and I will never forget the excitement of taking it and besides, it was exciting to know I only missed him by hours... and hours... and... sigh... hours.

All is not lost, however, I am going back over to the city tomorrow, and I am hoping to only miss him by minutes... not hours. It's a lofty goal, but it's mine.

~ :) Me

Demotix: Woody Allen Directs Latest Film With Cate Blanchett In San Francisco

Scenes From A Date...

"Don't cry for a man who's left you, the next one may fall for your smile."

-Mae West

Fun! Fun? What's that again? Oh yeah, I remember! Despite all the stress in our lives lately, Alan and I do remember how fun, fun can be. The trouble is, due to the crashing economy, everything has gotten so expensive. Heck, a nice dinner and a movie could cost about $65.00 dollars! If we did go out for an evening like that, and enjoyed it, we would probably be ruminating over the cost the next day. That's not fun. So what's a married couple, who likes to date each other even after nearly 18 years of marriage, do for date night? Well, if they keep their eyes open, something really special might just present itself. And last Friday night... it did!

Dunsmuir House & Gardens, held a "Movie on the Lawn" night! The cost of the tickets were $5.00 each, and the movie was non other than, our movie, "So I Married An Axe Murderer." I know it sounds funny to have that as our movie, but it is such a cute movie, and we are both big fans of Mike Meyers. And it doesn't hurt that the movie was filmed in San Francisco, and that a portion of the film was also shot right here in the Oakland hills at... you guessed it... Dunsmuir House! LOL. I can't even tell you how cool it was to watch the movie, see Dunsmuir house on the screen, and also know it was right behind us at the same time. It was almost like stepping into the movie. :)

The gates opened to the general public at 6:00 pm, and we were encouraged to bring some blankets, some comfortable chairs and picnic dinner. We did just that. We brought some sodas, and a couple homemade roast beef sandwiches, and had a blast just hanging out, playing Travel Scrabble, and reminiscing until the movie started at 8:30 pm. The Jensen Family, who hosted the event, had an extra special reason for being there that night, it seems their son, Jessie, had found the girl of his dreams in the lovely Amanda, and the evening was serving as their engagement party! Love was in the air. To make it all just a little more romantic, we found out that Jessie's parents were married at Dunsmuir House 30 years ago! Aren't family traditions like that just the best?

I hope Dunsmuir House will hold another movie night this year. There are lots of films that have been shot on the grounds, such as, Phantasm, A View To A Kill, and Burnt Offerings, which would be a hoot to see on the lawn screen. I would love to go back again before the cold weather comes in. We had such a good time, and the crowd was a lot of fun. Each time we saw the bridge in the movie, a cheer would go up, and when Dunsmuir House appeared, the sound was downright deafening. FUN! It was good to get away from all the stress, if even for just a little while. It's good to date your spouse. It's good to never lose the things you enjoyed when you were young, and stress seemed like something that happened to other people.

:)

-OndineMonet
Dunsmuir House & Gardens
Oakland, California
Friday, August 22nd, 2008
Afternoon