Miscellaneous Movie Musings

[mousepod]

Originally Posted by flippyshark

Is SOB available? I don't particularly love it, but I did enjoy the Disney-esque opening number, the hysterical "adult" version of it later on, and, of course, the much publicized glimpse of Julie Andrews' rack.

Yes, indeed. It is available on DVD. Maybe it's because I was 15 years old when I saw it, but made a heck of an impression on me. I always associate that movie with Serial, another skewering of SoCal culture which is sadly unavailable.

[Alex]

I've only ever seen three Julie Andrews performances:

The Sound of Music
10
Princess Diaries 2 (stupid airplanes)

So I'm still waiting to see whatever it is that makes people love her so.

[innerSpaceman]

Well ... um, try Victor/Victoria or Mary Poppins - her only two good movies.


Please don't tell me, Alex, as professionally Disney-oriented as you are, you've never seen Mary Poppins???!?!

[Alex]

I've admitted it many times (both on this board and the other). In fact, while subjected to practically perfect tea I've been mocked by it from an incarnation of Mary Poppins herself.

I own the DVD but the one time I put it in to watch I fell asleep within 15 minutes (I was exhausted when I put it in, I don't blame the movie).

[mousepod]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Well ... um, try Victor/Victoria or Mary Poppins - her only two good movies.

ummmmmm.... Star!, The Sound of Music, The Americanization of Emily....

Blasphemer.

[Snowflake]

Originally Posted by mousepod

ummmmmm.... Star!, The Sound of Music, The Americanization of Emily....

Blasphemer.

Thoroughly Modern Millie, thank you.

[innerSpaceman]

ok, well then my advice stands. It won't necessarily make you a Julie Andrews fan ... but there's certainly no way to tell if you don't watch the only two good movies she's ever made.

[Strangler Lewis]

And don't forget that old Oscar drama. Julie Andrews, the original Eliza Doolittle, was passed over for the film in favor of Audrey Hepburn/Marnie Nixon. While My Fair Lady beat out Mary Poppins for best picture of 1964, Julie Andrews won best actress. Audrey wasn't nominated.

[innerSpaceman]

Those all suck.


















ETA: disclaimer - I've never seen The Americanization of Emily. The other movies suck, and that's why I'm not recommending them to anyone whom I'd urge to appreciate Julie Andrews' work.

[mousepod]

OK, maybe The Sound of Music was such a part of my childhood that I can't tell if it's great or not, and perhaps I only enjoyed Star! because my first exposure to it was the restored roadshow version on LD, but The Americanization of Emily kicks serious butt. It's a movie that I avoided seeing for years, but finally got around to it when it was released as part of Warner Bros. "Controversial Classics" DVD set (see my comment about I Am A Fugitive From a Chain Gang above). It's a fantastic movie that uses a WWII backdrop to make some interesting points about war and pacifism - certainly a film that no big studio would make today.

So go ahead and slam all the Robert Wise movies you want (he'll always be tainted to me after he butchered Ambersons), but leave The Americanization of Emily be ...