You're too young not to have missed that thrilling moment in American late night talk show history, circa 1970, when a disgusted Dick Cavett said to Helen Gurley Brown, "Why don't you take a walk until your hat floats?"
As a precocious TV movie watcher in the later 60s, I loved Sex and the Single Girl -- even if I knew it was "naughty." I loved all of Natalie Wood's films in fact. Two of my favorite Day comedies were The Glass Bottom Boat with Rod Taylor and a great cast of character actors and comedians from that era as well as the swoon-y '62 film, That Touch of Mink, with Cary Grant as a dashing millionaire who accidentally meets and woos a squeaky clean, would-be career girl from Ohio (Day) living in NYC.
Well, speaking of Natilie Wood movies, how about Mircle on 34th Street?
Perhaps not coincidentally, I wrote an essay on that movie several years ago, pointing out that its theme is anti-progressive, pro individualism. Given that I call myself a radical individualist, I took note. Here is a link to my essay:
Much of the 60's rom-com movies were too sappy for me to rewatch, but give me parody all day and twice on Sunday!
Caveat: I'm a sucker for the 60's TV. That Girl, Dick Van Dyke, The Avengers, I Spy, The Saint, Man from UNCLE, Road Runner & Bugs Bunny and a plethora of pithy pthwesterns. Dagnabit.
Shoot I’ll watch it. I often find I enjoy mediocre films of 50+ years ago more than our present day much lauded ones.
Unrelated but that Hobson’s Choice you recommended was really something special. Darn near perfect. Soon after buying it I picked up the David Lean Directs Noel Coward box set. Of special note are Blithe Spirit (one could find a lot to say about Madame Arcati) and This Happy Breed. The latter is really great and with Hobson’s Choice cements David Lean as a favorite of mine (sure those epics are great but smaller movies resonate more with me).
That was very interesting and informative, thank you. I saw Topkapi at boarding school. I have not seen it since. I remember enjoying the crime caper, rather like many others that followed it. I didn't remember any psychedelic stuff but I see what you mean.
I hate to say it but there is a picture of Helen Gurley Brown on her Wikipedia page witch (!) reminds me of Nancy Pelosi. I made her one of the three witches of Macbeth.
I read the book (as a young man) and also tried to read Gloria Steinem.
I am proposing a double bill for next week. Since you mention Rock Hudson, put "Pretty Maids All in a Row" up with "Sounds of Freedom." I read the book and twenty years later saw the movie on Showcase on TV. The commentary in light of Mr. Hudson's revealed preferences was interesting.
Yeah. I thought I'd be a Thoroughly Modern Millie, myself.
The second time I heard Gloria Steinem give her standard fundraising speech (I attended events back in the 80's, ewww), that the sum of goodness is judged by our checkbook registers (causes supported by checks written for those reading who haven't done paper). I knew she was done being relevant for me with that hyperbole.
I have the fondest memories of watching 60s romantic comedies and your comment they were hard to get into surprised me. Saturday Night at the Movies! Walking my dogs the other day I decided to look for a Doris Day and Rock Hudson movie as an antidote to present day offerings--either despair or destruction. You gave me the opportunity to make a note on my to-do list! I don’t carry pen and paper or even my phone on the trail--another way to escape the d&d.
I remember the late 60’s and early 70’s. It was a weird time. We lived in the Midwest in a rural area, so it wasn’t as weird as the big cities. Everyone knew who the “druggies” were at school. I remember the hippies and protests and protesters. They were as well liked then as the protesters are today. I’m not a fan of many of the 60’s movies. But Pillow Talk was a good one.
You're too young not to have missed that thrilling moment in American late night talk show history, circa 1970, when a disgusted Dick Cavett said to Helen Gurley Brown, "Why don't you take a walk until your hat floats?"
Lol, that’s awesome
As a precocious TV movie watcher in the later 60s, I loved Sex and the Single Girl -- even if I knew it was "naughty." I loved all of Natalie Wood's films in fact. Two of my favorite Day comedies were The Glass Bottom Boat with Rod Taylor and a great cast of character actors and comedians from that era as well as the swoon-y '62 film, That Touch of Mink, with Cary Grant as a dashing millionaire who accidentally meets and woos a squeaky clean, would-be career girl from Ohio (Day) living in NYC.
Yes, the glass bottom boat is great! I think Day was a fantastic comic actress, I like her a lot. And yes, Natalie Wood is wonderful!
Well, speaking of Natilie Wood movies, how about Mircle on 34th Street?
Perhaps not coincidentally, I wrote an essay on that movie several years ago, pointing out that its theme is anti-progressive, pro individualism. Given that I call myself a radical individualist, I took note. Here is a link to my essay:
https://donewithparties.com/miracles-happen/
Much of the 60's rom-com movies were too sappy for me to rewatch, but give me parody all day and twice on Sunday!
Caveat: I'm a sucker for the 60's TV. That Girl, Dick Van Dyke, The Avengers, I Spy, The Saint, Man from UNCLE, Road Runner & Bugs Bunny and a plethora of pithy pthwesterns. Dagnabit.
True! So good!
Shoot I’ll watch it. I often find I enjoy mediocre films of 50+ years ago more than our present day much lauded ones.
Unrelated but that Hobson’s Choice you recommended was really something special. Darn near perfect. Soon after buying it I picked up the David Lean Directs Noel Coward box set. Of special note are Blithe Spirit (one could find a lot to say about Madame Arcati) and This Happy Breed. The latter is really great and with Hobson’s Choice cements David Lean as a favorite of mine (sure those epics are great but smaller movies resonate more with me).
Oh I’m so glad you liked it! Yeah, the selections in this post are definitely not Lean material but certainly enjoyable.
If you can find a copy of it, you might enjoy the Hugh Martin musical based on Blithe Spirit, High Spirits. There isn't a weak song in that musical.
That was very interesting and informative, thank you. I saw Topkapi at boarding school. I have not seen it since. I remember enjoying the crime caper, rather like many others that followed it. I didn't remember any psychedelic stuff but I see what you mean.
I hate to say it but there is a picture of Helen Gurley Brown on her Wikipedia page witch (!) reminds me of Nancy Pelosi. I made her one of the three witches of Macbeth.
https://alphaandomegacloud.wordpress.com/2022/03/11/macbeth-the-three-witches-scene/
I read the book (as a young man) and also tried to read Gloria Steinem.
I am proposing a double bill for next week. Since you mention Rock Hudson, put "Pretty Maids All in a Row" up with "Sounds of Freedom." I read the book and twenty years later saw the movie on Showcase on TV. The commentary in light of Mr. Hudson's revealed preferences was interesting.
Yeah. I thought I'd be a Thoroughly Modern Millie, myself.
The second time I heard Gloria Steinem give her standard fundraising speech (I attended events back in the 80's, ewww), that the sum of goodness is judged by our checkbook registers (causes supported by checks written for those reading who haven't done paper). I knew she was done being relevant for me with that hyperbole.
She was unfamiliar with heartfelt charity.
I have the fondest memories of watching 60s romantic comedies and your comment they were hard to get into surprised me. Saturday Night at the Movies! Walking my dogs the other day I decided to look for a Doris Day and Rock Hudson movie as an antidote to present day offerings--either despair or destruction. You gave me the opportunity to make a note on my to-do list! I don’t carry pen and paper or even my phone on the trail--another way to escape the d&d.
I remember the late 60’s and early 70’s. It was a weird time. We lived in the Midwest in a rural area, so it wasn’t as weird as the big cities. Everyone knew who the “druggies” were at school. I remember the hippies and protests and protesters. They were as well liked then as the protesters are today. I’m not a fan of many of the 60’s movies. But Pillow Talk was a good one.