Better late than never:
Still petite in size and looking gorgeous; may I introduce you to Sunflower #1?
I can’t tell you how happy this makes me. Sunflower #2 is taller but still not quite ready to open.
Next year, I’m planting even more. Of course, I planted a lot this year and the seeds turned out to be Purple Hyacinth Bean Vine. And no, I didn’t mix them up. That will always remain a mystery. Anyway, my plan is to have a long row of these beauties in front of the dog corral. They make me smile.
May I take a moment to speak my mind about something?
You know I love old movies. The other night, we watched Ball of Fire (directed by Howard Hawks) starring Barbara Stanwyck and Gary Cooper. It’s absolutely one of my favorite movies, based on the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs story. Last night, we watched Lady for a Day (directed by Frank Capra) starring May Robson and a great supporting cast. If you’re unfamiliar with May Robson (who was 75 when she made this movie in 1933) and you get a chance to watch her in a movie, run, do not walk, to your television. She was such a wonderful actress. In those early years of movie making, she was already considered ‘elderly.’ Nevertheless, she played one of the lead roles, surrounded by a cast of wonderful character actors, most of them middle-aged or older and quirky.
In Ball of Fire, the supporting cast, including the men playing the equivalent of the seven dwarfs, were all wonderful character actors, none of whom were pretty and young. They were in nearly every scene of the movie. And those roles, those actors, were essential to the plot. They contributed to the fabric of the movie. It couldn’t have been made without them. Same with Lady for a Day. If you watch any Frank Capra movie, such as It’s a Wonderful Life, or It Happened One Night, you’ll always see lots of interesting character actors both middle-aged and elderly.
In those days, moviemakers thought those sorts of actors were interesting and compelling. They assumed that the audience would find them so, too. They were right. Even in television, up until the last 20 years or so, older actors and character actors were everywhere. Imagine: All in the Family had two lead actors who were middle-aged. That would never happen nowadays.
No, now we have to have young, pretty people everywhere: in print and on the screen. If there is a supporting role for a character actor, it’s very brief and there are few close-ups. How often do you find an older actor in the lead? An older actor who isn’t also beautiful? Almost never. What about character actors? They get very little screen time. The only major filmakers that I can think of offhand who use character actors consistently and with great respect are the Coen brothers.
When did everything we see become dominated by young and pretty? When did we become so shallow? I have a feeling that the Big Corporations who now run the major television networks and movie studios have a little something to do with that. It’s all about money nowadays and apparently money is only generated by shallow, inane, young and pretty.
If you look at the television series and movies coming out of Britain, you’ll see a host of interesting roles for quirky and older actors written into plots and given lots of screen time. I suspect it might be the same for other countries, though I can’t say for sure. This myopic view of what’s marketable seems peculiar to our country.
We are not a country that honors and esteems the older generation, are we? And when did anything other than pretty become something to be avoided at all costs? I’m fed up with it. And I’m sad about what we seem to value. I don’t watch much television any more. I don’t watch very many new movies. I find it all rather shallow and depressing.
Give me an older movie any day.
Or a good book.
In Other business:
Remember to leave a comment on my book review if you’re interested in winning a copy.
A Favorite Thing starts tomorrow! I’ll put the post up this evening around 8:00 pm est, along with instructions on how to link up. I do hope you’ll join in on its maiden voyage. I’d so love to have you take part.
Happy Friday.
I agree completely! Young and beautiful is so very one-dimensional. It bores me too.
Youth, and beauty fade, and quickly also.
All I can think of when I see the young set with all those tattoos, is what is going to happen when you age, lol.
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
Sagging tattoos = very unattractive.
I’m so happy you mentioned that Britain makes full use of all its older actors and actresses………think the awesome Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, the Redgraves, and a myriad of others. I love just seeing them cast over and over again in everything from BBC-TV series to blockbuster movies. Most just get better and better in all types of roles, even the ones where wrinkles and age spots are prevalent, but the great acting always takes forefront and one gets lost in the story!!!
Looking forward to A Favorite Thing.
Mary X
Hah, you’ve finally noticed! We gave up television 25 years ago and never looked back. I notice when at friend’s homes that have a television on that you are always watching young people and it’s disheartening when you don’t see movies with people our age in them. Oh, I love the action movies, but there are no more movies for older adults to watch anymore. Sad.
xoxo,
Connie
That’s why I watch PBS on Sunday’s and British films when I can. Our culture of youth worship is more than annoying it is destructive to the fabric of this country.
Claudia, I am still following. I was just being unusually quiet. Love the sunflowers….I have some once in a while if the birds don’t dig up the seeds before they get started…Non this year. The birds must have been extra hungry…
Forgot to say, about the movies. I love the old ones. Lately I have been watching Korean dramas on hulu. The stories are much like the old romantic comedies with lots of interesting side characters. Added bonus…I am actually learning some Korean language and history. Another bonus? Hardly any commercials!
Amen, Claudia! This trend is especially painful to endure when you have an 18 year old daughter. We have worked really hard to make sure her perception of beauty isn’t tainted by what she sees on the big screen and in the media. We have taught her that true beauty comes from the heart.
I’m excited about your new blog party, I’ll be here with bells on!
Cheers, Andrea
I hadn’t thought about it but you are so right about character actors. Some of the best movies, and TV have featured wonderful acting by less the ‘gorgeous’ actors. I must say your sunflower is gorgeous! hugs, Linda
I’m with you!! Older is usually so much better in most things..I call TV a vat wasteland..Usually watch old Seinfeld, Cosby, Frazier , Raymond reruns..I can’t stay awake long enough for most movies…
Claudia, love those sunflowers. I agree to some extent re the older/younger actors and character actors scarcity these days. However, I love to watch small independent films because they are very character driven, by young and older actors. I still love to go to the movies and watch the “big” movies, but the smaller films are really great – as are foreign films – Try “Bernie”, a surprisingly good film with Jack Black and Shirley Maclaine. A French film has been out lately and of course the name escapes me (The Independents – I think) and the latest Meryl Streep movie “Hope Springs” has wrinkles galore! The Hotel Marigold is another lovely character driven recent film. That said, I love the old movies too, Frank Capra being a favorite. I will definitely try the ones you mention as I haven’t seen those. Ann
Claudia, if you haven’t seen The Exotic Marigold Hotel yet, you must see it. Judy Dench and Maggie Smith are wonderful. It is a very touching movie. The sunflowers are just beauitful.
Be sure to see “Hope Springs” with Tommy Lee Jones and Meryl Streep.
I’m a huge old B&W movie fan, so will check out the two you recommended.
All I know is, young people became the “big” thing, and no longer are taught (apparently) how to respect their elders either. I rarely turn my TV on. There is so little quality TV on. And I’m NOT stooping to watching reality shows.
Brenda
I can’t really comment on TV because I haven’t had one in a year. I tended to watch PBS when I had one. It seems to me that a great many actors of the Shirley Maclaine era have opened the doors for longevity in leading roles, well into their senior years and not had to take small character parts. That would be an improvement over the 50’s and 60’s. But, blockbuster mega films rely on action and over the top cinematography to wow us and don’t focus on the character development of the early years. So many films today want us to watch rather than think and that is sad.
I am so happy to be visiting you at your new blog address. Everything looks great and I admire you for taking the plunge. David and I have not been to a new movie in quite some time. The only new movies we ever seem to want to see are British. Television has more channels than ever, but we can seldom find anything we want to watch. Give that dear Scout a hug from me. I am sad that she is grieving too. See you this evening at 8 PM eastern!
Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
I love British movies and TV. Give me Downton Abbey any day of the week over American TV. I agree with everything you said.
Hugs,
Laura
PS. Love the sunflower :)
Oh how I love this post, Claudia. I have always been in love, love, love with old movies – quality movies. I think Robert Osborne has hung the Moon & stars on TCM. My dream would be to go to one of the events TCM sponsors showing their amazing movies. Next year, there’s a cruise and it’s on my birthday (wish, wish, wish! ;)
I TiVo’d Ball of Fire, I’m thrilled it’s sitting here just waiting to be watched over the weekend. Barbara Stanwyck is my all time favorite actress and I hear she was always professional and giving to other actors too. For some reason, I love watching her when I have the blues… maybe because she played strong, giving women much of the time. One year, while Shayne was traveling on business, Zeke and I watched a whole day of movies for her 100th birthday celebration on TCM – I will never forget that day. Do you know The Bluebird with Lillian Cook & Tula Belle? It’s from 1918 and has a splendid message every person should take to heart.
I am with you on the way our country seems to throw away the aging, the experienced, the people that have true stories of life to tell. My great-grandfather used to say “Youth is wasted on the Young”. I think people should look like they’ve lived and experienced joy, sorrow, love, pain and loss – it makes for a very interesting soul.
Love your sunflowers, they are most beautiful.
xoxo~Tracie
Your sunflowers and the photos you took of them are lovely, Claudia! When looking for a movie to watch, I always look for names of actors I’ve followed for a long time. I don’t even know the names of many that are listed now…so I never chose those movies to watch.
OK, I have my Favorite thing post up and am awaiting further instructions about the linky thingie.
We got netflicks last winter and I made a vow to rewatch all of the Cohen Bros movies before spring. One night we put the most recent arrival in the player and when it started, Rich said, “Oh. this must be another one of your weird movies.”
Oh, what fun to see all the lovely blogs represented! Thank you for allowing me to participate!
Blessings, Claudia!
Carolynn xo
Love those sunflowers, Claudia! Will you be drying them and setting them out so the birds can pluck the seeds? I’ve always wanted to do that. I agree with you about films and actors. I get so tired of films with no one over the age of 23!? Thankfully, some of the “handsome/pretty” actors from 15 or more years ago are still acting and easing into character roles in interesting films, despite their craggy features and less than svelte figures… people like Harvey Keitel, Christopher Walken, John Hawkes, Melissa Leo, Joan Allen.
Claudia, I’ve loved British shows forever, now I realize why! It’s the mature actors and actresses! When I started watching Netflix I headed straight for the UK! You can’t do better than Judi Dench, Helen Mirren, or Maggie Smith! And when it comes to actors, who doesn’t just love Alan Rickman!!! Talented, sexy, mature, and that VOICE. Just like fine wine, he gets better with age.
I wish our tv and movie makers here in the US would follow suit. I fear you are correct, though, it’s all about the almighty dollar. Well, they aren’t getting MY dollar. I don’t go to the movies, I’d rather stay home and watch something classic.