Managed to catch at least a little of A Christmas Story last night as we visited the Dublin for a nightcap after dinner. Afterwards at home we watched The Ref, which is a modern under appreciated holiday classic. It is definitely in my top 10 list of favorite Christmas movies. The list would include White Christmas, Christmas in Connecticut, and Holiday Inn, the orginal showcase for Irving Berlin's holiday songs. I think this movie would be a considered one of the more popular movies of Christmas if it wasn't for an unfortunate blackface scene. The Bing Crosby character decides to chuck Broadway fame for the quiet bucolic pleasures of a Connecticut farm. Much dancing and singing follows. White Christmas is a different take of a holiday romance using the songs of Holiday Inn but exchanging Fred Astaire for Danny Kaye and adding a good supporting cast including Rosemary Clooney. The film is directed by Michael Curtiz of Casablanca fame.
I enjoy The Ref as it reminds of me of the holiday season back home in Connecticut like the above painting of boat on the Thames (long A sound). The film is set in the fictional town of 'Old Baybrook' (Old Saybrook) which is not too far up the coast from my hometown of Ledyard. The film evokes memories of Ledyard and the surrounding area as well as all of New England. (Despite actually being filmed in Ontario.)
There seems to be a tradition of holiday films set in Connecticut as most of the films mentioned above are. Well, White Christmas is actually set in Vermont, but when Ethan Allen orginally annexed (stole) the territory from New York/New Hampshire he wanted to call it New Connecticut after his former home. Friends suggested that it might be a tad soon to start naming territories after existing colonies so the leader of the Green Mountain Boys took a suggestion offered and choose the name Vermont instead. Shortly after Allen died Vermont became the fourteenth state. Time to open presents.
Seasons Greetings.
6 comments:
Hey, what did you get for Christmas? Or were you on the naughty list?
Mom sent some me some Dunkin Donuts coffee (I told here there were no DD's around this area a few years ago) and a Red Sox pillow/blanket. Someone who knows me too well gave me two DVDs,Sin City and Office Space which sums up my life presently. Also a nice gift certificate from Prairie Lights which i think i will cash in today. How about you?
You wish Sin City summed up your life right now...or were you only referring to Office Space?
I don't get much at Christmas. The girls are going to photograph self-portraits for me when they get back. I got a gift card, some bubble bath and my brother took the girls back to Madison with him for a few days to give me a little break and give them a hell of a good time.
Hey, this is totally unrelated to your post, but I was putting off writing my cover letter for the next story I'm sending and found this blog:
http://lovehatelivediesox.blogspot.com/
You're a big Red Sox fan aren't you? I don't know if it's good or not because to me, baseball is a bunch of people standing around waiting for something to happen. I love saying that to Brad Meister to get him all in a tizz once he's had too much to drink. Hopefully, it will be interesting to you.
thanks...yes. baseball is special...but it is like explaining color to a blind person for a non-fan. But walking into Fenway or Wrigley on a nice day is religious and it is my church(Bull Durham). As George Will said "Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. Not all holes, or games, are created equal. " I love football too, I was always a better football player than baseball but i woul have preferred being a great baseball player. As for Brad, if you can't say anything nice about Yankee fans it's better to kick them.
My previous point about baseball really only applies to watching it on TV. I don't understand the whole "stats" thing and that seems to be part of the baseball allure. To me, that's math and math is bad. I do, however love the spectacle aspect of sports in general. I would happily watch any sport in person at an arena/field/track/whatever.
And how can anyone be from Solon and be a Yankee fan anyway?
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