Do You Like Old Movies?

My week has been long. I've had a couple of doctor's visits and a few other tests. The only thing we know for sure is that my BP problems are not my thyroid- so that's good. I've had more good days than bad, so that is also good. Yay!  

I'm using my magnets taped to my elbow or wrist - whatever hurts from all this typing. I have a feeling that when I'm done with Just One Surprise and Just One Look, I may need a recovery break!  Even my editor is surprised by how fast she's getting these books. In order for me to get a book out every month, it means no days off, not even Saturday or Sunday.  

I do however get a little break in my day after I get my word count in. Today a friend came over and we ate dinner and watched a couple of movies.  First we watched a really old movie from the forties, the Pied Piper. Set in WWII, it's about an Englishman fishing in France who is trying to return to England during the German invasion of France. Along the way he collects children and it has its humor despite the serious matter.  

After that movie, it was still early so we watched another. This time we went for a full comedy.  We picked Where Angels Go Trouble Follows. From the late sixties it follows a group of nuns and catholic school girls on a cross country bus trip. We laughed and enjoyed and it struck me - this movie that I watched whenever it was on TV and then from time to time on DVD, is probably one of the many that influence how I write.  If you've ever seen it, you'll know there is no actual bad guy. There's no major fall out, yes there's a bit of conflict between the old guard and the new, but overall, it's just one thing happening after another. For the most part (except for the teens) everyone behaves like an adult and is very practical.

The same thing can be said about My Cousin Vinny. We watched the director's cut and he mentioned unlike most courtroom dramas, or comedies, there is no bad guy in My Cousin Vinny. It's just one thing happening after another until the problem is solved and everyone goes their happy way.  

I used to say I write My Big Fat Greek Wedding sometimes, no dark moment (that's the lose the girl thing) it's only one gray moment after another.  When she tells him she can't marry him because of her father, they don't break up, they don't fight, he says we can work it out and he converts to the Greek church.  There's never a misunderstanding involving an ex girlfriend or a job, etc. And yet, the movie was a huge hit back in the day. 

I'm sure there are so many more movies I could come up with, but in the end, I hate watching predictable drama. The traditional plot of boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy finds girl again.  I so despise the forced miscommunications, forced fight and break up, etc etc.  I try very hard to avoid those and make my people behave like intelligent adults, and if it were a movie, something I'd want to watch. 

Anyhow, if you like old movies that will make you laugh (we also laughed over the clothes ) and are old enough to remember the sixties, I highly recommend Where Angels Go Trouble Follows.  Rosalind Russel does a great job - her facial expressions make the movie. 

Do you have a favorite old movie that most people have forgotten?