Over at Wandering through the Shelves, every Thursday you pick 3 movies that go along with that week's theme. This week is movies with devastating, crushing endings that make you want to weep.
OK the normal romance tear jerky stuff usually makes me want to vomit...ok,ok just Love Story makes me want to do this. I mean what the hell does "love means never having to say your sorry" mean? I say Bull shit! Yes you heard me I swore here which I normally reserve to friends within earshot of me but I had to say this. My hubby better dam well say he is sorry when he did something asinine which is almost daily but that is for another blog title as my hubby has foot in mouth disease or more like leg in mouth. OK so here are my 3 because what gets me every time are old people and animals.
Make Way For Tomorrow-1937
I cried like a baby when I saw this film because of the treatment these 2 elderly, gentle husband and wife receive from their children. It resonates even today because I see elder abuse where I work. When I visit my mom in the long term care home, there are people who never receive visits from their children which is a shame. I have seen grown children treat their parents or parent horribly and it pains me that not much can be done. This film showcases so much. A true tear jerker and a great film.
Old Yeller-1957
Disney made me cry! I love this film and hate it because it is so good yet why??? All dogs must live forever!! This is a wonderful story about life and death and growing up and learning that death is a part of life(my dad told me this when my dog, Toby, was killed on the highway. My dad took me with him to give Toby a proper burial and then we said a prayer). I still have a hard time watching this. Gosh with my menopausal mood swings, I cry at stupid pet commercials. Onward to the 3rd...
Dr. Zhivago-1965
Surprize! Yes this one makes me cry for many reasons. First, it is not only my mom's favourite film but her brothers' as well. I think because they grew up under Hitler and then dealt with the Russians after the war and had to escape they could relate to this film on many levels. I weep when Zhivago comes back, after the war and the revolution, and sees all the people living in his father in law's once great home, having to agree with this woman who claims it was unlawful to have such a huge home. How would you like to have your home taken away and told it is for "the people" and now whole families live in one room of your home that you worked so hard for and maintained? When I picture Zhivago, frozen and worn out, on his horse, defecting from the "reds" and not caring if he will be shot(but he is not), I weep. Finally, near the end, known as a great poet, he sees his love, Lara, and tries to reach her only never making it to her. It is so sad. The writer of the book, Boris Pasternak, was himself awarded the Nobel peace prize for literature mainly due to his poetry but had to decline it due to the Communist regime trying to label him a traitor. Pasternak had a great love, Olga Ivinskaya, but the Communist regime made sure to keep them often apart by either arresting the one or the other and denying her his letters he had written to her. This is the reason why this film is so great and profound and makes me weep.
One extra is Brian's Song! I almost went with this one so it gets honourable mention-A true guy's film but can make men and women cry.
I've never seen Dr. Zhivago. It was on my 'to do' list when I returned from Russia and is still there. And thanks for not mentioning 'Bambi', lol.
ReplyDeleteOh you should see this film. Hahhaaaaa-Yes-Bambi is not a favourite of yours right now eh?:)
DeleteOh yeah, Old Yeller is a killer. I grew up with labs, which made it even more crushing.
ReplyDeleteOh gosh yes! I love labs!!
Deleteadded to my list...I have seen Dr Z and old yeller but none of the rest.....I tend to avoid weepee says I need cheering up a bit at the moment....so now I need a list of belly laugh films please Birgit xxxxxx
ReplyDeleteI will put my thinking cap on and make a comedy list but try finding What's Up Doc and Arsenic and Old Lace
DeleteI saw Dr. Zhivago many years ago. Never seen Old Yeller, knew it was too sad. Same as Born Free, wouldn't go see that either. Elder abuse is certainly a big problem. Something one is supposed to report if you see it. Have at least one friend in our building who is scared her children are going to make her go into a home.
ReplyDeleteOh my! The poor lady. We are supposed to report it but the problem is it is hard to prove. The cops often don't do too much unless you find true evidence. The elderly do not want to report on their "loved ones" either so it makes it even more difficult.
DeleteI remember watching Brian's Song years ago and yep I wept for days over that film. Of the 3 you listed here, the only one I saw was Old Yeller and that definitely is a tear jerker. That first one, Make Way for Tomorrow, does sound interestingly sad. It is such a sad topic with elder abuse indeed.
ReplyDeleteMovies/books about dogs always get to me. The current movie "Max" with the German Shepherd, I'm just saying we aren't going to see it. I don't know if he ends up dying in the film, but rather not take my chances. I like the tee shirt I saw advertised recently "I don't care who dies in the movie as long as it is not the dog."
betty
Oh, I have a hard time seeing films about animals with sad endings or difficult stories. I sob like an idiot over Lassie, Come Home. Two Brothers is another one I weep over. Make Way for Tomorrow is a great film but so sad.
DeleteOld Yeller sure is a great movie, although yeah, that ending is one fatal blow indeed.
ReplyDeleteOh The ending is not good and I have a hard time to watch it again.
DeleteI have yet to see any of these, but Make Way... and Zhivago are both on my list. I know Orson Welles said that Make Way for Tomorrow would "make a stone cry", so it MUST be good.
ReplyDeleteMay Way is excellent! It was the director's favourite film. Zhivago is a film that many cinephiles have issues with but I love it because of the personal reflections I posted on here.
DeleteWhen I was in high school (back in the 70s), there was a movie that frequently came on TV late at night. I'd watch it with my friends and we'd always end up crying. I saw it once again maybe 10-15 years ago and even though I didn't think much of it, I ended up in major tears once again. I had to go find out what it was "Buster and Billie" with Jan Michael Vincent.
ReplyDeleteOld Yeller really gets to people. I frequently have to check the website "Does the Dog Die? " when I'm working the children's reference desk.
I have not heard of Buster and Billie but will make a note to check it out. I have to check that website too. I recall seeing The Hindenberg when it came out in theatres. When the film ended, it showed the characters who died in the tragedy. Nobody in the audience said anything but when they showed the picture of the dog, there was a loud "oh no" by a number of the people. I always remember that.
Delete"Love means never having to say you're sorry that you want to vomit." :)
ReplyDeleteHi, dear Birgit! I haven't seen the 1937 film Make Way for Tomorrow but, thanks to your description, I want to. It's interesting to note that one of the actors that appeared in Make Way was Porter Hall, a veteran character actor who typically played scoundrels and villains. Porter Hall was the inspiration behind an unsavory character of the same name in Russ Meyer/Rober Ebert's 1970 cult classic Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.
I saw Old Yeller in the theater at the age of 7 and I'm still crying over it! Remember Tommy Kirk from the Disney serial The Hardy Boys which ran on The Mickey Mouse Club?
I know-I hate that saying! I think it is a stupid saying but that is moi. Watch, I did a bonehead move here and you love that saying:) Hopefully no harm done:) I did not know that about Porter Hall and will have to read about this.. I also cry when I think about Old Yeller. No dogs or any animal can ever die!
DeleteI've only seen Old Yeller (and Brian's Song). Great pick
ReplyDeleteThank you-hope you will see the others
DeleteLove all four of these. Dr. Zhivago is a surprise, it's a great film but it never even choked me up but I do know many who have told me it made them cry like a baby. So many great parts to it and I adore Julie Christie!
ReplyDeleteMake Way is a crusher, the scene with Beulah Bondi on the telephone in the middle of Fay Bainter's bridge party is so incredibly moving. It's even more painful because the film doesn't really make villains of all the kids. They mostly mean well but the circumstances lead to such painful choices.
Old Yeller, ugh! That's a tough one that as an adult you can look at and say well that's how it would have to go but it's murder on a kid.
Brian's Song is a great catch such a moving film and story. I didn't think about TV movies but since you tweaked my memory there is one that just destroys me, Something for Joey. It's the story of Heisman trophy winner John Cappelletti and his family's devotion to youngest child Joey as he struggles with leukemia. It is so powerful throughout but what does me in is the final scene where John dedicates the Heisman to Joey because he's shown him what real courage is. I'm not much of a crier but this film does it to me every time, just thinking about it chokes me up. Beautiful, beautiful film full of great performances.
Dr. Zhivago does for me because of my mom and Uncle and the author. I find it speaks quite a bit about Communism which created so much heartache. Yes that telephone scene Ms. Bondi does is heart wrenching and so well acted. I hate to see any film where an animal suffers. Lassie Come Home is another that makes me cry like a nut. Brian's Song makes me weep but I don't know Something For Joey which I have to mark down.
DeleteOops! I got so involved in thinking about Something for Joey I forgot to include my picks!! I also had to include an extra, love this sort of film. Emotional but not necessarily depressing.
ReplyDeleteIt's My Party (1996)-Eric Roberts, in the best performance of his career, plays Nick Stark a man with AIDS who chooses to end his life when told by his doctor that he is entering the final stages of PML which will reduce him to a vegetative state prior to death. Before doing so though he throws one last big party to say goodbye to all his friends and family. Randal Kleiser, director of Grease, based this on personal experience and called on many industry friends to work for scale. The film is loaded with a star filled cast including Olivia Newton-John, Margaret Cho, Marlee Matlin, Lee Grant (wonderful as Roberts’ mother) and a host of others. Laced throughout with gallows humor this will still punch you in the gut by its conclusion.
Running on Empty (1988)-In their youth protesting American involvement in the Vietnam War Arthur and Annie Pope (Judd Hirsch & Christine Lahti) bomb a napalm plant resulting in the blinding of a man who was there by mistake. They’ve been on the run ever since along with their two children. It's now sixteen years later and the musically gifted older son Danny (River Phoenix) longs to quit running and pursue his own dreams but his leaving will tear the family apart and he may never see them again. Can the family spare him and can he handle the loss if he decides to go? The film doesn't go for easy answers leading to an emotional workout. Phoenix was nominated for an Oscar and Lahti should have been.
Dark Victory (1939)-Bette Davis plays Judith Traherne a headstrong somewhat reckless 24 year old heiress who lives life on her own terms until she starts suffering from crippling headaches. It's discovered she has a brain tumor and she has what appears to be successful surgery. During her recovery she falls for her handsome doctor and they plan a life together only for her to stumble across the fact that her prognosis is negative and she only has a short time to live. How she copes with that information fuels the rest of the movie. Beautifully acted with a poignant deeply moving final act.
Honorable Mention-All Mine to Give (1957)-A young Scot couple (Glynis Johns & Cameron Mitchell) face many hardships as well as joys as they build a life in the logging town of Eureka, Wisconsin during the 1850’s, having six children along the way. When the family is hit by a succession of tragedies the mother extracts a promise from oldest son Robbie to secure the futures of his siblings. As Christmas approaches he sets out to fulfill her wish. The audience weeps. Based on a true story the British release title of this picture was “The Day They Gave Babies Away”.
Dark Victory is a great movie. It doesn't make me weep but it is so well acted and that Davis had an affair with her leading man probably helped things along. I have not seen the other films and forgot how much Eric Roberts was considered so great (and was) at this time before drugs really took hold. I have not heard about All Mine to give but am marking all these down to see
DeleteI've never seen those movies, I'm sure they are great though. Greetings!
ReplyDeleteGreetings! They are all wonderful and hope you can see them one day or at least one of them
DeleteWould you believe I've never seen Old Yeller? After all I've heard about it, I never will! I couldn't take the doggy death scene.
ReplyDeleteOh It is such a great movie but I don't blame you one bit! I was happy watching this film when I was a kid and then..blammo! I cried for hours! It hits me every time.
DeleteI've not seen these picks but I know about Old Yeller and Dr Zhivago, I really want to see the latter just for everything about it and I know I'm in for tears.
ReplyDeleteOh I hope you can see these and, yes, make sure tissues are handy
DeleteI saw Dr. Shivago as a kid. My parents took us to the drive-in and I fell asleep but woke several times and watched for a while. I've yet to see the entire movie.
ReplyDeleteIt is a long movie but worth it in my book:)
DeleteI saw Dr. Zhivago when I was a jaded teenager who had no sentimental soul. I suppose if I were to see it now, I would cry.
ReplyDeleteIt all depends...some people dislike the film but I have no clue why:)
DeleteTo be honest, I''ve never seen any of this. My picks are kinda modern a bot; I'm so lost at classic movies. Yet, reading your commentary there makes me want to break the wall to see it.
ReplyDeleteOh I hope the wall can come down. I love all movies for the most part but the modern ones wouldn't be around if not for the classics. It could be that you saw some classics that just made you shake your head. I understand Gone With The Wind and the magnitude of it but it is not one of my favs because I want to trip Melanie down some stairs and give Scarlett and spanking.
DeleteBIRGIT ~
ReplyDeleteI've seen the second two on your list (plus 'Brian's Song', of course).
Hey, even Larry Csonka once mentioned crying at the end of 'Old Yeller'. And if Csonka (one bad manly muhtha on a football field) cried, it's OK for everyone. (Csonka, a running back, admitted that he used to run AT the tacklers, not AWAY from them. That's as macho as it gets right there!)
For me... Hmmmmm... I know I'm forgetting some, but off the top of my mind... 'BANG THE DRUM SLOWLY' (Robert De Niro's first movie?) Sort of the baseball version of 'Brian's Song'.
The very end of 'THE MANY ADVENTURES OF WINNIE-THE-POOH'.
Maybe 'A LITTLE ROMANCE'. (Hard to 'splain, but that freeze-frame ending kills me!)
~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'
I have not seen the ones you mentioned...actually I saw Winnie but can't recall the ending. I have so many on my list to see. Old Yeller is a killer
DeleteBang the Drum Slowly is a great pick. Beautifully acted and the ending is one that can destroy you.
DeleteI've not seen any of those and probably won't because I do hate a crushing ending. There are several movies which are on my never again list due only to their ending. It's a thing with me.
ReplyDeleteI get it totally. You want to be entertained but cry and fell depressed after watching a film
DeleteOld Yeller had me in tears for weeks. I haven't had the courage to watch it again and with all that's happened this year...I doubt if I ever can. First time I watched Dr Zhivago was with my Mum... she loves it and so do I. I tried watching it with Rosie with she just slept through it all ... so much for continuing the tradition :) Make Way...haven't see it but it sounds amazing. Definitely on my list! Hope you are well.
ReplyDeletehugs, Asha
I just stay clear of animal movies. They just wreck me.
ReplyDeleteOld Yeller. Such a classic old tearjerker. I was more of a Where the Red Fern Grows guy as a kid. Equally devastating. I've heard quite a bit about Dr. Zhivago lately, what with the recent passing of Omar Sharif. Need to check it out one day, but I just slogged my way through Lawrence of Arabia and hear that Zhivago is nearly as long and slow. You really make it sound great though!
ReplyDelete