Birthdays!

 

I have 8 birthdays in May including my hubby on May 25th and ending June 2nd with mine and it was nice. I am loving all your comments you have left on my blog posts..they just bring a smile to my face when I read them…I wanted you to know that. I wondered, how many movies celebrate birthdays, whether it’s the main theme or just a part of the movie and I realized, it was hard to recall movies I have seen where a birthday takes place but I did think of 3…

1. THE LITTLE PRINCESS-1939

This film stars the ever perky Shirley Temple who is left at a fancy boarding school, by her dad, who is off to fight in the Boer War. The woman who runs the school is a nasty, beady-eyed bitch who treats Shirley with wonder since her daddy is rich. A sumptuous birthday party, with all the trimmings and grand gifts is given to Shirley until a letter comes with the message that her dad died and his money gone since it was in property which was seized. As soon as you can say, “Happy Birthday, my little pretty”, the bitch grabs Shirley’s gifts and takes almost everything for herself before grabbing the poor girl and brings her to her new digs. It’s the cold, damp attic that she must share with the other girl who cleans and scrubs the home. Shirley doesn’t believe the report that her father died and goes on a search to the local hospital to find her dad. It’s a sweet story with Shirley in top form still playing a young girl and does a great job as does all the actors. I love the side story about the rich, crotchety old man who has his Indian manservant help the 2 young maidens in The attic by providing, food and warm blankets. This film is also done in technicolour which is great to see in the original format. 

2. HEAVEN CAN WAIT-1943

This is not the famous film done by Warren Beatty, which was from 1978, not 1943. This film stars Don Ameche as a rich but spoiled man about town who meets the beautiful Gene Tierney and marries her. We learn about their life together through his birthdays and if he is in the right place, He’ll, or if he should be in Heaven. I love this movie and find the writing, acting and directing superb and it should be better known.

3. 16 CANDLES-1984

I like this film better today than when it first came out, but it’s still not a favourite of mine because I’m just not a fan of Molly Ringworm..er…Ringwald. I never understood why she became so famous to be honest and it started with this comedy by John Hughes. You have a nice family, in a very nice home dealing with the upcoming nuptials of their eldest daughter completely forgetting that their younger daughter( Ringworm) has her Sweet 16 that day. Topping it off, aside from her grandparents coming in for their wedding knocking her out of her room, she must deal with her major crush on this hunky boy, but deals with a horny kid who is always bothering her in that gross adolescent way boys do, to her sister’s wedding day. The girl who plays the sister, Blanche Baker, did a very funny performance of a stoned out bride. I also love the foreign exchange student  played by Gedde Watanabe who gets into quite a pickle. Actually, this character and the writing received harsh criticism, but, I believe, it’s just how these 2 old people think about foreign exchange students and , like every other kid, he just wants to party. 

So what movies can you think of that is about birthdays or has a birthday party in the film?