1. THE INITIATION OF SARAH-1978
Yes, this is a TV movie starring the legendary Kay Lenz(who??) who was once married to the legendary David Cassidy(lesser who??). This was a movie to rip off, I mean, pay homage to the film Carrie. Kay Lenz plays a shy, quiet girl who has a popular, pretty sister whom she loves and vice versa. They both enter university and want to enter a sorority with the leader being snot nosed Morgan Fairchild. A classic, campy tv flick with pretty, but nasty gals who bully poor Kay Lenz and won't let her in to their stupid sorority. Of course Kay Lenz does get back at them in the most delightful way. High camp at its finest. Don't you just love seeing the 6 Million Dollar man too:)
2. LEGALLY BLONDE-2001
This is Valley Girl meets snot nosed academics when she somehow gets into Harvard just to win back her loser boyfriend who dumped her for being pretty but not much else. Well, she proves him and everyone else wrong when she decides to study and becomes quite good at law despite loving pink. It's a la-la-la comedy meaning it's nice to watch but don't think there is any depth to it. I wonder why they always must show people with brains can only wear brown, black and navy blue while air heads wear bright colours. My favourite is Jennifer Coolidge who plays the beautician.
3. OLD SCHOOL-2003
Now this is one dumb ass of a comedy but I love it. No thought here either but the ballsy comedy (pun intended) appeals to my non sophisticated self. So the plot revolves around a guy who, after breaking up with his girlfriend, buys a home near University fraternities. a tight-assed man (you know the one where you stick a coal up their ass and it comes out a diamond) informs the guy that he can't live there because his home is not a fraternity. What's the guy to do but make his house a fraternity and it is open to middle aged men (plus one very old geezer), geeks and others which just sends the tight-assed man around the bend. This new fraternity seems to have the best parties on the block plus we get to see how all these men are initiated into the club. I love it when Will Ferrell gets a tranquilizer dart into his neck.
What films can you think up?? This week was a tough one for me
I only saw Legally Blonde. I was not only in a sorority in college, albeit a professional one, I eventually became the National President. I had none of these crazy experiences. I'd be hard-pressed to think of any movie about the subject.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea there are professional sororities. I knew there would be some people who belonged to these and I guess i just don't understand what they are for.
DeleteLove, love, LOVE your first two picks...you're third not so much.
ReplyDeleteThe Initiation of Sarah is just what you say, though I think more people would know David Cassidy from The Partridge Family than Kay Lenz-she was a much better actress than he was an actor though. How could you forget to mention that Shelley Winters in all her full-bore latter day blowiness is the house mother!! And Morgan Brittany Sarah's sister. God I loved those Movies-of-the-Week. A great deal of crap (some of it like this very fun) but also some real gems.
Legally Blonde is so good because Reese Witherspoon buys into Elle so completely. She sees her as a person so comfortable of who she is and sure of her worth that she never doubts her ability. That's the message of the film I think, be who you are and don't let other's perceptions hold you back.
Old School was adequate but I really don't like Will Ferrell.
I tried for a variety: a silly thriller, a more serious meditation on the dangers of fraternities and a bright and shiny piece of pure entertainment.
The Skulls (2000)-Thinking it will help grease the wheels for his entrance into Harvard Law School Luke (Joshua Jackson) joins the secret fraternity at his college “The Skulls”. At first everything seems great but a series of disturbing incidents causes him to look for answers to the real purpose of the fraternity and suddenly he finds that his life might be in danger.
Fraternity Row (1977)-College Freshman Zac (Gregory Harrison) pledges a prestigious fraternity despite his girlfriend’s feeling that they are antiquated and discriminatory. Objecting to the brutality of hazing Zac, joined by some of the other pledges, rebels but the fraternity’s leader turns a deaf ear to their complaints leading to a terrible calamity. Scott Newman who plays the head of the fraternity was the son of Paul and died of a drug overdose not long after completion of this film.
Good News (1947)-It’s football season at good ol’ Tait College and Big Man On Campus Tommy Marlowe (Peter Lawford), the star quarterback, is torn between two sorority sisters, the gold digging Pat McClellan and wholesome, down to earth Connie Lane (June Allyson). Flirty Pat turns his head which causes him to treat Connie badly but when he flunks a test and may not be able to play the Big Game it’s Connie he turns to so that he can make the grade! Tuneful musical is an almost perfect example of MGM at its peak. The finale, The Varsity Drag and the earlier Pass That Peace Pipe, are studies in color coordination and dancing precision while remaining breezy delights.
You know, I still have to see Good News although i have seen many clips. I have not seen the other 2 you mentioned either so this is rare because usually i have seen one of your picks. OMG! you are so right about Shelley Winters...she is a hoot in this, just so over the top. One can usually count on her for this over the top style in her later films
DeleteI've only seen Old School and had a blast watching it.
DeleteI've only seen Old School and had a blast watching it.
DeleteIt always makes me laugh
DeleteSorry you weren't feeling well.
ReplyDeleteI think campy describes just about any 1970's film.
Since you can't use Animal House, there's always Revenge of the Nerds.
Oh there are so many 1970's films and I wish i could see some more of these films. I haven't seen revenge of the Nerds since it came out and forget most of it. i do remember laughing though
DeleteI'm excited because normally I don't know the movies you talk about but this time I do - yay! I've seen Legally Blonde a couple of times and it's just a fun, cute movie. Not much on plot or anything, but easy to watch. Same with Old School. I'm one of those people who love Will Ferrell (I hear there aren't many of us out there hahaha) so I enjoyed this movie too.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're feeling better!! Hope it stays that way.
I think you and I are in the minority when it comes to Will Ferrell:)
DeleteI love Legally Blonde and Old School! I went with films I hated this week so I didn't use either of those. (Though I used Old School last week)
ReplyDeleteI know Old School came up a couple of times last week
DeleteHoping you are feeling better. I just saw Legally Blond of the movies you listed. It was a cute movie. Funny, I had not thought of Kay Lenz in years. She did have her day acting, didn't she?
ReplyDeleteBetty
Kay Lenz was the It girl back in the day and seemed to be eclipsing her husband, David Cassidy. One wonders why someone's acting career just fizzles out
DeleteHi, Birgit!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you are still "poorly." Knowing you've been ill, it means a lot to me that you devoted so much time to your latest comment on SDMM. Thank you, dear friend!
Morgan Fairchild was the 70s equivalent of 2010s actress Emma Roberts - ideal in the role of a mean, snobbish rich girl. Emma is currently starring in the Fox TV series Scream Queens. Yessum, I well remember actress Kay Lenz. She was hot in the 70s and appeared in numerous Lifetime movies and TV shows, most of them appealing to women.
I'm probably one of the few people on earth who still hasn't seen Legally Blonde. I intend to change that. I like the theme "never underestimate the power of pink" and I appreciate the versatility of actress Reese Witherspoon.
Old School looks like my kind of movie. I can usually tell by watching the trailer whether a film does a good job with this type of humor or if it will be a colossal waste of time. To me, Old School looks laugh out loud funny.
I would recommend the above mentioned Fox TV series Scream Queens which revolves around a group of spoiled sorority sisters. Closely related is American Horror Story: Coven, about a sisterhood of witches, also featuring Emma Roberts. A rowdy TV series on Spike Network, Blue Mountain State, is set at a college and follows the misadventures of the football team. Many of the scenes take place at frat parties with binge drinking, hazing, etc. Season 1 was hilarious but, after that, the series fell flat.
Thank you very much, dear friend BB!
I knew you would know Kay Lenz and perfect nose Morgan Fairchild. I have not seen Scream Queens but heard it was pretty good. I will have to check it out
DeleteOld School was sure a fun one indeed, about the only Will Ferrell one I can stand besides Elf. Legally Blonde I enjoyed too. Revenge of the Nerds and The Skulls aren't bad ones as well.
ReplyDeleteWill Ferrell is not a popular guy over all. I wonder how he got so big since so many can't take him.
DeleteAnimal House (though I haven't seen the whole thing still)
ReplyDeletePCU - Jeremy Piven
Animal House is a classic. I haven't seen PCU
DeleteBrigit, Probably tough since there are so few good ones on that theme. I saw Legally Blonde and did like it.
ReplyDeleteMost of these films usually do involve dumb ass, sex obsessed twits who believe a bong will give them a PHD
DeleteI hope you're feeling better!
ReplyDeleteI've only seen Legally Blonde. The movie that this topic made me think of was Syndey White. Starring Amanda Bynes. Don't let that dissuade you. I thought it was pretty good, actually. It's a re imagining of Snow White, only Snow is now in college and her seven dwarfs are geeks.
That sounds like an interesting film which I will have to look up.
DeleteYes exactly - no depth to LB.
ReplyDeleteWasn't a fan of Old School but your TV movie pick ther sounds interesting.
I like that TV movie and miss these TV movies of the week.
DeleteI still enjoy seeing Legally Blonde now and then. I like The House Bunny with Anna Faris and Tom Hanks' son. Anna's character played a Playboy bunny who became homeless after getting kicked out of the mansion and somehow became the house mother of a sorority of misfits. The other sororities wanted to close down their house because they were so left field. You know how that goes. Hope you feel well soon, Birgit. Big hugs to you.
ReplyDeleteHouse bunny is popular this week. It looks dumb but maybe I might find it enjoyable.
DeleteLegally Blond was enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteIt's a fun flick
DeleteOh, I've only seen Legally Blonde. I am not sure if I saw Old School. Hmm. There have been days when I've just binged on movie channels! I somehow enjoy this genre. Hope you feel 100% soon, Birgit. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteI think most people have seen Legally Blonde. I'm getting better but I did something to my neck so hard to move my head
DeleteI loved Legally Blond when it came out at the movie theaters, and I watched it again when it was on cable. I do not really watch movies anymore due to time constraints, but thanks for bringing back the memories about that one.
ReplyDeleteI think most have seen that movie and glad you saw that one
DeleteHaven't seen any of these.
ReplyDeleteOh wow....maybe you will one day
DeleteMy bf forced me to watch Neighbours and the sequel, about a frat that moves next door to a married couple with a baby. I really didn't think I'd like them, but they were pretty funny. Very entertaining movies.
ReplyDeleteI also liked Legally Blonde, and it's not a movie, but the original 90210 had some good stuff with sororities and frats too. Sorry to hear you weren't feeling well!
I am not sure I will like Neighbours or its sequel but maybe, one day, I will.
DeleteI've seen Legally Blonde and the sequel. Those are silly but fun to watch.
ReplyDeleteThey are silly especially the second one
DeleteOh my gosh, I never would have remembered it but I think I saw the Sarah movie when I was a kid. Nothing like those cheesy 70s tv movies! LOL.
ReplyDeleteI hope you're feeling some better and life has calmed down a bit. Take care!
Oh wow...I'm glad you saw the 70's flick and so wish the TV movie would come back
DeleteNo, sorry, these sort of films don't appeal to me, I'm afraid.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear you've been poorly - hope things improve soon.
Susan at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
Yes, these are not for all people and I had a tough time coming up with some. I did something with my neck now and can't move my head too well.
DeleteHaven't seen Old School. I am so not a Will Farrell fan. Holding hands over face as things are thrown at me for that comment. I know he has a lot of fans:)
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend. Hope its one filled with all kinds of energy.
Hugs
PS Make that all kinds of healthy energy:)
DeleteThere are many people who don't like Will Ferrell so you are not alone. I think I am in the minority actually. Busy day yesterday but today didn't do much as did something to my neck and can't move my head much.
DeleteMy family likes Farrell too.
DeleteBummer on your neck. Does heat help?
Happy anniversary!!!!!
Birgit, I think I recall watching The Initiation of Sarah but that's been too many years ago to say with complete certainty. However I do remember watching Legally Blonde. Reese Witherspoon's character isn't always there intellectually at times but she does prove to everyone that a girlie-girl does have brains and not just beauty in the end. My favorite color is pink, so I give this movie extra points for that alone. lol The last flick I haven't seen and I'm not much of a Will Ferrel fan. Everything I've seen him in just hasn't suited my sense of humor but I will look to see if its available on Netflix and give it a go. Oh I have a good one for you to check out, a Netflix original called The Ridiculous 6 with Adam Sandler and an impressive cast. It has a few rib breaking scenes in it and the way they worked the lines is good. It didn't get very good reviews in the beginning but I've never been one to shy away from a movie because someone else didn't like it.
ReplyDeleteSomeone else who has seen that movie. I watched it a while back and it's just a hoot to see it again. Most people do not like Will Ferrell. I will check out this movie for sure.
DeleteAnimal House...hands down.
ReplyDeleteFOOD FIGHT!!!!!!
Back to School with Rodney Dangerfield. Not a fraternity one, but great nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteBack to School with Rodney Dangerfield. Not a fraternity one, but great nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteAnimal House...hands down.
ReplyDeleteFOOD FIGHT!!!!!!
Animal House is the king of last week and this week's themes. Back to School is classic and I love Rodney Dangerfield.
DeleteRevenge of the Nerds!
ReplyDeleteLegally Blonde was fun. Reese Witherspoon is adorable. :D
ReplyDeleteAll I have to do is think Legally Blonde and I laugh. Silly, but entertaining. Reese Witherspoon pulled that part off.
ReplyDeleteHope you're feeling more energetic to start off the week. It's hard to get back to that after you've been under the weather, so no worries about blogging, for sure! We all understand, and I know it happens to me & I get behind on visiting. Can't say that I've seen any of these films... I do usually like Witherspoon though! TFS & have a great week.
ReplyDeleteYou have to have such a memory to do this week after week - I have seen a gazillion movies but draw a blank at everything.
ReplyDeleteI saw legally blonde and thought it was - well - dumb. Animal House is a fun classic, though. Glad to see you back, dearie.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you're feeling better! Honestly, I haven't seen any of these. I never figured them as my type of flick. I do love a good dumb ass comedy though (being a dumb ass and all).
ReplyDelete