Oh Moondoggie...

So I got one of those "speaking of" things this week from Jersey, which led me on a trip down Memory Lane of my favorite old movies. I got so excited just thinking about them, that I had to list them out for you. I'm defining "old movies" as pre 1970.

All I can say is, somebody spent too much time watching cable, and not enough time reading (as I'm just starting Jane Eyre now).

Campy 50s/60s flicks:
Gidget!! Oh my stars. I loved this movie. Moondoggie and all. Only Sandra Dee for me, whatever they did with Sally Field held no interest.

Where the Boys Are. Spring Break in Fort Lauderdale. Great music.

Beach Party. Frankie & Annette. Miserably fake surfing. Good times!!

Elvis
Blue Hawaii. I love, love, love this movie. I count myself lucky every time I catch a snippet of it on an Elvis marathon. And Angela Lansbury as his mama is PRICELESS.

Viva Las Vegas. I love me some Ann Margaret. Particularly during those years where I struggled to accept my red hair.

Musicals
Bye, Bye Birdie. More Ann Margaret. Love the songs.

West Side Story. This is a natural. Poor, haunted Natalie Wood. You are a treasure. (I'd just like to point out this is the only movie on this list that I own -- sad, huh?)

Gypsy. Haunted Natalie Wood gets me again. She is a tormented soul. But she brings it home.

Sound of Music. Is it possible to not list this one? I didn't think so.

And I'll watch just about anything Rodgers & Hammerstein did. And the Music Man of course.

Holiday
White Christmas. I didn't just watch it in season either. I spent a whole summer pressing rewind. Best Christmas movie. Ever. Ever ever ever. EVER.

Easter Parade. Judy Garland and Fred Astaire? Delightful.

Miracle on 34th Street. Just a wee little Natalie.

Romance
An Affair to Remember. The original, although I have no complaints about the new one either.

Honorable mention: Houseboat, Father Goose, Sabrina and Roman Holiday. Gone with the Wind (if there's time).

And then I got serious.
Splendor in the Grass. High school sweathearts as we approach the stock market crash. Deanie & Bud. You just TRY not to get sucked in. Warren Beatty's first film. And Natalie at perhaps her most tormented. Does anyone see a theme? Or perhaps why my daughter's name is Natalie? Poor girl. Named after a tormented actress and a baseball player. Best start saving for therapy now.

The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone. Warren Beatty & Vivien Leigh. Very dark. His name is Paolo. Come. On.

James Dean. All of it. East of Eden. Giant. But Rebel without a Cause paired him with my Natalie, so it's probably my favorite.