Thursday, December 10, 2020

Thursday Movie Picks: Movies For Seniors/The Elderly

 

So, this week it’s to choose a film that old crusties would like. Why do I have a The feeling that would be me since I love Its a Wonderful Life, silent cinema, and all the great older films that I grew up with. I consider old films from before 1960. The ‘60s is the transition and modern films from 1970 onwards. So, now that I am officially classified an oldie( but a baddie...no not goodie ‘cos what’s the fun in that?), I decided to choose 3 movies that my mom loved. My mom was not a movie lover and only learned about some films when she was much older...like in her free living 70s. Head over to Wandering Through The Shelves to see what the others have chosen. Here are 3 I know my mom loved..

1.  DR. ZHIVAGO-1965

My mom often said this was her favourite movie because she could relate to it due to all she went through during and, especially, after the war when the Russians took over her part of Germany. The starvation, riding in a box car, , the cold, just trying to survive is what she experienced. This film does truly show what the leftist ways truly are( ahem, not wearing a mask is not one of them) with having to give up your home because more families could live in them, fearful of what the neighbours may say and send you away and the cold that can take your breath away. The film also has a luscious score with the very famous Lara’s theme running throughout the movie and the performances of Omar Sharif as Zhivago and Julie Christie as the love of his life, Lara set against the backdrop just before, during and after the Russian Revolution. It is a brilliant film and, interestingly enough, my uncle, my mom’s brother, also said this was his favourite film.

2.  SISTER ACT-1992

My mom laughed so hard when she saw this film and found Whoopi Goldberg a delight. She was a fan of Whoopi and refused to believe Whoopi swore( my mom hating swearing is legendary even though she was marruied to a lumberman who could say a few things and get a way with it like son of a bitch). This movies stars Whoopi as a head of some sad, singing nightclub act in a casino whose boyfriend(Harry Keitel) runs this sad casino. She witnesses her mob boyfriend kill someone and runs for her life becoming the main witness to put him behind bars. The trusted cop must place Whoopi under protection until she can testify. Where does one hide this wild gal? Let’s head over to a nunnery headed by Maggie Smith who is not happy having her there just as much as Whoopi is not happy having to be a nun in disguise. Soon, she is sent to the choir where Whoopi realizes this choir needs help so she starts to teach the choir nuns how to really belt out a tune. She brings this choir, the church and herself back to life. This is a fun, sweet movie that is great for all ages.  Every time this was on TV she would watch it.

3. ANDRE RIEU: THE CHRISTMAS I LOVE- 2013

I heard about this orchestra leader and superb violinist before my mom and introduced her to him by taking her to a concert in Toronto. It was outside, in May, and it was freezing! We had no clue it was outside and neither did Andre who requested if the men in his orchestra could give their coats to the beautiful women in his orchestra who are always dressed in ball gowns. He plays everything from waltzes to standards of that country. To say it is magical is an understatement as he will play everything from  classical standards to folk songs, hits from musicals and  even some Beatles...done in a classical vein. Hell, he even introduced a classical piece that Anthony Hopkins wrote and it is quite good. This man is world renown who gets all the people, young and old laughing, singing and dancing. 

The second time I took my mom to Toronto to see him at the Rogers Centre( formerly known as the Skydome), the scene looked right from Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna with fountains and all. On either side of the orchestra was a small ice rink where ice skaters waltzed to the tunes. He had the entire audience participate in singing Silent Night splitting us into 3 sections. He started with just his violin and then he raised one finger and the first group hummed, then the second and finally us. To be honest, we Canadians usually sound like meek sounding screech owls, but he made us sound so good. It was like a dream and I bet any of you would love to see him. He was in the States more than once and will play your favourites. If you go to youtube, you will see he has been all over the world and will play to that country's music mostly. 

When my mom went into longterm care, they would often play one of his videos and she called him her boyfriend. The last Christmas my brother and I had with her, I brought this DVD to play for her on a couple of my visits and she so enjoyed it...so did the other residents. She sang to many of these carols since she grew up with them when she was a little girl in the small town on Zornigall(near Wittenberg, Germany). So, if you have an hour to kill, I have included the whole thing below and I hope a couple of you do take a break and enjoy. Funny, I almost didn't take the time to bring this when I visited my mom and now I am soooooo thankful I did.



33 comments:

  1. Hi, Birgit!

    Call me an old fogey... but the last movin' picture I saw was The Great Train Robbery back in 1903 when I was a sprig.

    Doctor Z is another film I studied at college. I agree about the bleakness and that you can feel the cold. I also agree that the music score is second to none.

    I saw Sista Act when it was first released to theaters. It was a hoot watching Whoopi encouraging the nuns to kick the habit.

    Seems like you had your dear mother on your mind as you put this one together. Thanks for sharing sweet memories of introducing her to Andre Rieu and his orchestra, taking her to their concerts and cheering her in the hospital with that DVD.

    Enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend BB!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I saw The Great Train Robbery too and ran when that guy pointed the gun at me. I did have my mom on my mind for sure and had to showcase Andre for her.

      Delete
  2. I misread this topic. I thought it was for movies ABOUT the elderly. Whoops..either way, Sister Act is great.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I read it wrong! The “for” screwed me up and it should have said “about”. Oh well, I was happy to show these 3 my mom loved.

      Delete
  3. Birgit,

    Sister Act is a fun movie! I think I've seen Dr. Zhivago if so it's been eons ago. I know it's a really famous film. We watched an old movie a few weeks ago and for the life of me I can't remember what it was now. I guess I'm having a senior moment. lol

    ReplyDelete
  4. I sooooo wanted to LOVE Dr. Zhivago and figured I would since I adore Julie Christie, epic films and sweeping romances and it had all that. But while I was enthrall by parts of it I struggled with others. Julie however was her usual wonderous self!

    I do however delight in Sister Act. Such a sunny breezy charmer of a movie.

    I don't know the last but sounds good and seasonally appropriate!

    Like Brittani I misread the theme and thought it was about not for the elderly though they overlap so I'm sticking with my choices. I've found that an awful lot of films about older people are depressing, dreary affairs so I tried to steer away from that.

    Cocoon (1985)-A group of seniors in a Florida rest home stumble upon a swimming pool that because of an alien "cocoon" hidden within has become a fountain of youth. After taking a dip they are rejuvenated and have a great deal of fun during their second fling at being young. Don Ameche won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role.

    Out to Sea (1997)-Charlie and Herb (Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon) are retired long time friends. Schemer Charlie manages to convince Herb to take a cruise as a chance to meet women but what he doesn't tell him is that they are to be dance instructors on board! Complications ensue!

    Louisa (1950)-Hal Norton (Ronald Reagan) suggests to his sweet but somewhat meddlesome mother Louisa (Spring Byington) that she should find some other interests outside their home when she gets too involved in the lives of his wife and kids. Louisa takes his advice and starts dating the local grocer Henry Hammond (Edmund Gwenn-Miracle on 34th Street's Kris Kringle). All is well and good until Hal's boss Abel Burnside (Charles Coburn) takes a fancy to her too and suddenly the Norton's placid life takes a crazy turn with Louisa in the middle of a late life love triangle! Sweet film with delightful performances by the three leads.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are right it was about seniors not what seniors would pick. Oh well....I loved watching Julie Christie talking about this film and how the make up and hair were from the 60s and she is so right! I love this film but not the way my mom and Uncle loved it because they lived it..not the romance part but the hardships were very true for them. I love Out To Sea which was so fun and I wanted to see more dancing. Brent Spiner was great as slimy head of the chaperones. Cocoon is another wonderful film and Don Ameche did steal the show. I have not seen the last film but, again, I would love to.

      Delete
  5. I refuse to admit to being old or watching movies for "old" folks. Actually, I have never seen Dr. Zhivago even though I told myself I would when I returned home from Russia. Saw bits and pieces of Sister Act. As for Andre Rieu, I heard plenty of his music when I was in Maastricht, Netherlands and I remember someone pointing out his home. We had visited the square in the city where he puts on his concerts and I see he has one scheduled just before Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I’m with you and do not consider any films for the elderly. In Fact, I almost chose Dogma which is quite a sarcastic comedy about religion because my mom loved it despite the foul language and the shit monster which she did not like at all.

      Delete
  6. I've watched some of the Andre Rieu shows on PBS and they are enjoyable.

    Like others, I'm seeing this theme as more of films about the elderly, but they are older films so my mother might have liked them if she'd seen them.

    One that my wife and I watched just the other night was Harry and Tonto with Art Carney. Such a wonderful film about aging. I could really relate.

    Another from the 70's is Going in Style again with Carney and also George Burns, is about 3 old guys who decide to rob a bank in order to make their lives a bit more interesting. Wonderful and funny film.

    Going back in time to 1937 is Make Way for Tomorrow, a heartbreaking film about an old couple forced to separate and go live with their adult children. My mother might have liked this one, but maybe not so much in her older years.

    These days I watch a lot of old movies. I'm getting old.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are right..it is about the elderly not for the elderly...oh well. I still have to see Harry and Tonto and am stopping myself because I fear the cat will die. I also still need to see the George Burns film which I know is good. I did see Make Way for To orrow which is very mature and sooooo heartbreaking.

      Delete
  7. I assume that older folks would like any type of film, depending. But what a nice tribute to your mom.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I suppose I fit into the correct demographic for this theme, unfortunately!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I know all 3 this week-and hurrah not only for that but they are good films. And maybe not just for seniors?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are not and I did read it wrong..the theme but oh well.

      Delete
  10. I'm going to play oddball. I like Sister Act 2, far better than the original. Don't hate me. Haven't seen your other two picks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I could never hate you. Many have said they like the 2nd one and my mom loved the second one too but her heart went to the first.

      Delete
  11. I liked Sister Act :) Merry Christmas as I'm taking a blog break :)

    betty

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Merry Christmas to you and have a great time away from the blog world.

      Delete
  12. Dr. Zhivago is a beautiful film. After I saw it, I read the book, which was even better. I enjoyed Sister Act, too. Haven't seen the third. After my dad died, my mom watched a lot of movies to pass the time. Sometimes she watched in the middle of the night. She never slept well, and the insomnia became much worse without him.

    Love,
    Janie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I’m so sorry to hear about your mom. Stress is hard and when you lose a loved one, isn’t can be devastating and so hard to adjust.

      Delete
  13. Great selections! Sister Act is such a timeless, feel good classic. That - together with Ghost - is my favourite film from Whoopi Goldberg.

    That's a lovely anecdote about seeing Andre Rieu and Andre requesting that the male performers donated their coats to the female performers.
    There's just something about the violin - your mum had great taste :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. These are good films with Whoopi and yes, it was sweet when Andre asked if it was ok. I think this was his first time to Toronto and he did not seem happy that he was not informed. Properly about the venue. I will say, whenhe played the Tales from the Vienna Woods, a bird chirped at the perfect moment and Andre stopped and told us he had hired the bird.

      Delete
  14. Your mom was a strong woman and went through more than she should have had to.
    I just re-watched Sister Act 2:)
    Hope your day is pain free.
    Hugs

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I’m Never pain free but I still rally. My mom did go through a lot. She still laughed, loved and brought Christmas to my dad and to us.

      Delete
  15. I thought it was older movies for old people or starring old people at first. 18 Again would have been my pick.

    Vaguely remember watching Dr. Zhivago. Sister Act I enjoyed indeed. They are actually making a 3rd one too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are right but I read for and it should have said “about” in my mind anyway...hahahaaa. You pick is a good one.

      Delete
  16. Hi Birgit - I saw Dr Zhivago recently ... beautiful. Sister Act I've enjoyed ... the third I've not seen - but your link is helpful.

    Your mother really endured so much ... just terrible times and I do hope we can improve life for everyone and not slip back.

    Take care - and all the best - love these recommendations from you and your readers - Hilary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My mom did as did so many back then and we can learn from them. The worst is not being able to shop and go about freely. Big deal eh? We have no bombs, no starvation and no one is taking our home away from us because 5 families could live in there.

      Delete
  17. Hi Birgit! Oh, DR. ZHIVAGO is one of my late mother's favorites (she loved Omar Sharif). I haven't seen your third pick, but I love Sister Act!

    ReplyDelete