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Reviews
Myra Breckinridge (1970)
Hilarious - a party favorite
I awoke with the TV still on. A woman dressed curiously like Wonder Woman is strapping a hunk to an examination table as well as something around her waste. What happens next is unbelievable, disturbing, and hilarious. I quickly pop up the menu and select future showings for reviewing. I want to see this flick from the beginning. And I have again and again since. To see criticism of this film saddens me. I am reminded that I still live in a world where minds are half-opened and fearful, if not slammed shut. I disregard the book, the movie is it's own entity. To be a great movie doesn't require perfect segues and outstanding acting (though I have tauted that Herren should get an Oscar solely for the look on his face after the rape scene). A great movie is great for invoking pleasant thought and responses. I totally got this film on first viewing, laughing until tears pooled up in my eyes. The vintage film clips were fabulous, and had to be the model used by HBO's hit series "Dream On" from the '80's. I appreciate the sexual revolution, but only today does this movie make sense to a broader audience - we live this stuff. After leaving this film running in a side room at one of my parties, it was much requested and is now part of a staple rotation. My friends have adopted many lines from the film and hearing them always spawns laughter from those of us in the know. If you have a sense of humor about your humanity, this film is a must see. "Thank GOD I didn't slip her the old 'Buck Loner special!'"
The Vanishing Virginian (1942)
A Wonderful portrayal of life in Lynchburg Virginia
Drawn to this movie on TCM by the name, I was tickled to find it was set in my hometown of Lynchburg. The writer absolutely had to have lived here. I found myself rolling with laughter at parts that I don't think anyone in the country could quite understand in the same way unless they had spent a great deal of time around here. Any former or present resident of Lynchburg must see this gem. I hope movie archivists realize the historical significance of this film and keep it around for posterity. The movie industry was very busy in Virginia at the time, making another favorite of mine, "Virginia" starring Fred MacMurray and Madeleine Carroll that I also recommend. More recently, we were privileged to be in the company of Bill Murray and company during the filming of "What about Bob" at nearby Smith Mountain Lake, Patrick Swayze during the filming of "Dirty Dancing" at Mountain Lake Resort, and in Historic Lexington, Jodie Foster of "Sommersby" and Tom Cruise of "War Of The Worlds" Virginia is also home of TV's "The Waltons" My mother grew up with the real Hamner family in her small hometown of Schuyler where her elementary school was converted into "The Walton Mountain Museum" which features sets from the movie and memorabilia.
Virginia (1941)
A great story told about Virginians and filmed in Virginia
I sought out this movie because it was filmed in Howardsville and Albemarle county here in Virginia. I heard about the film because my grandfather, Willis Floyd Martin of neighboring Nelson county, was hired by the film company. He and others were put to task beating the tree branches to keep that summer's swarming locusts at bay. Apparently, the song of the locusts was drowning out the director and actors. The locations are authentic. A highlight was to see the now defunct Nelson-Albemarle, or was it Albemarle-Nelson, railway. The script reveals a genius that I was startled to hear uttered in 1940, when this movie was filmed. While grandpa was busy scattering locusts on the set, grandma was birthing my mother. Would love to have a copy of this gem, all I have is a poorly recorded network TV airing. Another great local movie is a comedy filmed about life in Lynchburg, "The Vanishing Virginian."