Movie Time

I just spent part of the last week catching up on a couple of movie classics, and one couldn't be more different than the other.

We'll start with "Caddyshack", a movie that came under discussion recently when we were discussing all time great sports movies. Caddyshack was released with no great expectations, and not much critical acclaim, but it has gone on to gain cult status among golfers, and it has grown in stature to the point that the American Film Institute ranks it as one of the Top 100 Movie Comedies of all time (#71).

Plot is not one of the strong points of the movie, but the set pieces in the movie are known by everyone:

The Caddy Tournament. "Miss it, Noonan."

Al Czervik (Rodney Dangerfield) in the pro shop buying everything; Al at the Bushwood dinner ("This steak still has the marks from where the jockey was hitting it"; "Whoa, did somebody step on a duck."; "Now I know why tigers eat their young"; "Want to earn $14 the hard way?"

Judge Smails (Ted Knight). "Gambling is prohibited at Bushwood, and I NEVER slice."

Judge Smails christening his boat, "The Flying Wasp."

Carl (Bill Murray) and Ty (Chevy Chase) meeting in Carl's trailer. "Cannonball!!!"

Caddy Day at the Swimming Pool.

The Bishop playing in the rain storm.

"Cinderella Story"

I could go on and on, but you get the idea. And for those readers who are golfers, tell me how many times YOU have used a line from Caddyshack when you are out on the golf course, even if you happen to be playing with strangers while on vacation or during a business outing.

The second movie came courtesy of a showing on Turner Classic Movies this week: Billy Wilder's classic, "Sunset Boulevard." If you've never seen this one, you owe it to yourself to get hold of a copy and watch it. The movie was released in 1950 -SIXTY YEARS AGO!!! It starts Gloria Swanson and William Holden, and is a tale of a has been Hollywood actress and a much younger, down on his luck screenwriter, who come upon each other and proceed to use each other with tragic results.

When released, the movie was not popular among the Hollywood insiders due to the unflattering portrait it painted of the motion picture industry. It was nominated for 11 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor, and Supporting Actress. It won three awards, including Best Screenplay and a couple of other technical awards.

In 1997, the AFI ranked Sunset Boulevard at #12 in it's list of Top 100 American Movies of all time. It also produces two classic lines of dialog:

"I am big. It's the pictures that got small."

"I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille."

It's a compelling movie and one that I have to see to the end whenever I happen upon it on TV.