Monday, January 31, 2022

SNIFFLES AND SMILES

This Saturday I had a surprise experience I hadn't anticipated at all but it really moved me. 

I'd just finished reading The Boys by Ron and Clint Howard.  It was a delightful read that I enjoyed very much.  

                                             

Ron Howard  was on the much loved and wholesome TV program The Andy Griffith Show. He played Andy's young son Opie Taylor. Ron later became a standout director and a lot of this book is about his intense desire to direct. His brother Clint was a child actor in the series Gentle Ben and has a long list of credits. They were and are very close brothers. 

Their trip though Hollywood and the famous people they met was very interesting. Ron mentioned that American Graffiti was his first role as an almost adult. Since I had recorded it from one of those trial periods when HBO was free, I thought I'd give it a whirl. I had no idea that I would spend a good portion of the movie crying.

This was the  song in the beginning  that started the tears. After that is was pretty much sniffleville.  It was like sharing memories with an old dear friend I hadn't seen in 65  years. 

 If you are a 50's child or maybe just a fan of the era, give it a play. Beware, possible ear worm.

The plot to me was very adolescent but then I am in my 80's  so most things are. However I soon was very much reliving the late 50's. But what made the tears flow was the sound track. The songs put me right smack dab in that wonderful time period. Suddenly, I was no longer watching, I was a teen again and it felt  damn good.  I could put my self in almost every situation in the movie and oh my the cars. 

Yes there were in-town drag races in my youth, our Mel's Diner was called Smacks, and the dancing made my feet twitch. They even did The Stroll which was a group dance. Kind of a 50's line dance, which few people did well:)

Every time I thought I had it under control, another really cool song came on. The music was almost nonstop. There were  41 hit songs in the movie from that era.

So for 2 hours, I was 18 once more and my eyes have been thoroughly cleansed. I am not a movie crier. The last time I cried at a movie was when Disney saw fit to let "Old Yeller" die in 1957.Never understood why he let that happen.

However  in this case these were good, happy tears. I was smiling through the drops. It was fun vicariously being a teen again and was quite a ride. I normally delete a movie after I have viewed it but I may just keep this one in case I need to exercise my tear ducts in the future. 

Ever get involved with something you thought surely would bring smiles, but tears bubbled up surprising you?  I hope like mine, yours were happy tears.

49 comments :

  1. Although the 50's wasn't my era as a teen I've always loved it. I saw American Graffiti when it came out and it was such a good film. The cars, the music, the fashion. The best.

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    1. Joey,
      So glad you saw the movie and enjoyed it. It was a big hit. Oddly I never saw it till this past Saturday. It was really a slice of life for that time period.

      Delete
  2. What a wonderful post Patti!! Tho I don't recall thinking laughter and then tears flowed...but, my goodness what a trip down memory lane! The Stroll ...who could forget that?

    (I didn't know he had a brother!)

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    1. Anni,
      I think a lot of years have to pass to make the tears flow. I loved the Stroll but often had a partner who stumbled more than strolled:))

      Delete
  3. This was a very sweet read Patti. Thanks for sharing. It's been years since I've seen American graffiti, but I can still remember my parents taking us to see that at the drive-in in the early seventies, and going on and on about what a wonderful time it was to grow up in. When I'm particularly interested in here is, that book about the Howard Brothers! I'm dying to read that, I may just have to buy the ebook!

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    1. Doug,
      That would have been a good drive in movie and probably hit your parents time frame. Hope you find the book. I got mine from the Library and loved it. Their Dad did much to form them into nice guys and also actors. It was facinating just who all they worked with.

      Delete
    2. Patti, guess what I'm reading right now? The forward by Ron Howard's daughter. Thanks again for the recommend! 🙂

      Delete
    3. Doug,
      Ha ha, you don't mess around. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

      Delete
  4. One of the great movies. I don't get HBO but I see it's available on Amazon for $3.99. Now it's on my watch list.

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    1. Tom,
      It was and is a highly rated movie. That is a good price and hope you enjoy it.

      Delete
  5. You had to go and mention Old Yeller and just that opened the flood gates for me.

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    1. Olga,
      I know, it took me years to forgive Disney for that terrible ending.

      Delete
  6. I never watched "American Graffiti." I just googled it to see when it came out, and I realized it coincided with my hippie-back-to-the-land-build-my-own-cabin days. Reading this makes me want to watch it, and so I think I'll see if I can find a way. I'm sure it's available on some platform. Thank you for this wonderful memory and review.

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    1. robin,
      I hadn't watched it either till Saturday. Think that even though you were in a different place that you will enjoy it.

      Delete
  7. One of my favorite movies. I've long admired Ron Howard and now I want to read that book!

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    1. Jean,
      Since you admired Ron, I am sure you will love the book. He is just what we thought he was.

      Delete
  8. Oh thanks so much for this movie review. I'll see if I can find it on Prime or Netflix.

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    1. gigi,
      Pretty sure you can find it. It is a highly rated movie for all time. Hope you enjoy.

      Delete
  9. I've not seen the movie, and my memories of Ron Howard are of his stint on "Happy Days". That certainly brings back a lot of memories.

    I grew up in the 70's in a small town and we had laps of Main Street, an Empress Cafe with the wall mounted juke boxes (is that what they were called?), and I have two left feet so dancing was not my forte. :)

    I can't recall a movie that made me laugh and cry. Though I must admit I used to be able to dry at the drop of a hat and would do so quite frequently. Did I see Old Yeller? I don't know but I read "Marley and Me" and that made me bawl.

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    1. Eileen,
      Yep, those wall mounted juke boxes were such fun for a quarter. If Marley made you bawl, Old Yeller will absolutely do the same.

      Delete
  10. I didn't know about this movie and probably wouldn't watch it anyway. If it ever comes to Australian TV, then maybe.

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    1. River,
      You would have needed to be a fan of American late 50's and 60's music to enjoy. The movie probably never made it down under. I didn't see it till Saturday.

      Delete
  11. I will have to check out the book. I like Ron Howard. I saw the movie "Finding Neverland" starring Johnny Depp with the idea it would be this light fun movie. It was just the opposite.

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    1. Sue,
      I just Googled "Finding Neverland" and I can see where you were probably led astray. I would think anything about Peter Pan would be fun also. Isn't that a disappointment?

      Delete
  12. I remember loving "American Graffiti" but wonder if I would now. Many films or programs that I thought were fabulous haven't stood the test of time. That one, because of the music, would be a treat!

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    1. Margaret,
      I have to agree that the music carried the show. It was what made it possible for me to effortless visit that era.

      Delete
  13. I just checked, I can rent it on Amazon Prime or HBO Max. I guess I just might as well watch it again, since it definitely is my era. It's been a long time since I saw it, probably at a drive-in movie. And yes, I do like to cry happy tears. :-)

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    1. Djan,
      Good to know you have access to it. Hope you enjoy it and have a good, happy cry like I did.

      Delete
  14. I have not seen that movie since it was first released. I love Ron and his brother. I love his brother in Ron's movies because he is so funny. The movie with Henry Winkler and Michael Keaton I think was like his 2nd movie he made as a director. We quote from that darn movie all the time. I saw the boys doing the talk show circuit and wondered about the book. I may have to read that one. Thank you.

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    1. Peg,
      You must be talking about Night Shift. I haven't seen it but will see if I can find it.
      Wish I had caught the brothers on a talk show. I like their relationship.

      Delete
  15. I too am a fan of Ron Howard... from his part in the Andy Griffith show to Happy Days, etc. I don't think I ever saw American Graffiti, but I remember the title... and certain remember the song. Very nostalgic! Think I will look for the movie if it's streaming as I'm sure I would love to hear those songs again.

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    1. Rian,
      This was the first time I had seen American Graffiti. If you like the music you will love the movie. There are 41 hit songs in the movie.

      Delete
  16. Oh Patti ... what great years ... the 50s. It was (like the title of the book I wrote 2 years ago)
    'MY HALCYON YEARS". And I agree, there was never music like then ... or could it possibly be that the music that brings back the memories is sacred
    to us !

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    1. Ginnie,
      I am sure if it hadn't been for the music, the movie would not have moved me nearly as much. Music always has a way of putting where us were when we first heard it.

      Delete
  17. Those were, indeed the days of great entertainment. Our movies are clean oldies as well as old TV series. We don't have to worry about language that burns our ears and violence that turns our stomachs. And yes, the tear ducts may get a work out!

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    1. LC,
      I know how you feel about clean shows. That makes me glad I normally can only watch Network shows which still have beepers for profanity.

      Delete
  18. I too loved "The Boys" and so admired the Howard boys' parents. How wise they were! I saw American Graffiti long ago, but maybe it's time for another showing of it.

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    1. Donna,
      Weren't his parents the best? Not at all like most parents of child actors and it shows in the type of men "The Boys" became.

      Delete
  19. Loved the movie. There is a sequel titled "More American Graffiti" It's good, shows what happens to the kids after graduation. This movie shows the changes from the happy days of the fifties to the Vietnam war, women's lib, other social upheavals of the sixties. So, different atmosphere but it is good.

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    1. ming,
      Thank you for stopping by and commenting. I didn't know about the other Graffiti. I Googled it and it really does cover the 70's and 80's. That was a more intense time.

      Delete
  20. Dear Patti, thank you for sharing your experience with us of revisiting your teens. I've never seen American Graffiti and so will see if the library has it. Until 1958, I listened to all the music and danced to a lot of it. Remember "Blue Velvet"? At the time, I thought that was the best song ever written and when I danced it with Palmer Lee (who had no time for me really because my face was covered in acne), I truly through I might faint on the dance floor!

    I've been away more than a month from blogging. So hope that your health is good; your spirits seems, as always, optimistic and outgoing, welcoming all of us to enjoy life with you. Peace.
    PS: I'll get the book from the library. I've so enjoyed Ron Howard's movies.

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    1. Dee,
      Blue Velvet was a wonderful song. Amazing how the music can put you right in the time frame you first heard it.
      Think you will enjoy Ron and Clint's book. I sure did.

      Delete
  21. I just checked our library & they have it available to borrow. It's listed as "American Graffiti Drive-In Double Feature", so you get both movies together. I saw original when it first came out & watched it on TV several times, but didn't know about the 2nd one. Will be ordering this for sure. I'm sure you can just watch the 2n one, but I'll watch them in order. It will give me a better feel for the 2nd one that way.

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    1. Unknown,
      Hope you leave your name at the bottom of your comment next time so I will know who you are.
      Thank you for stopping by and commenting. Looks like you have a double feature in your future. I didn't know about the second one and will check it out.

      Delete
  22. Well, Bob and I are from your era Patti, and we still like the music from way back then! Mostly, the "modern" music and movies just don't interest us. Bob says we're too old, and I guess he's right. Both he and I can cry at the drop of a hat lately. I guess we're sentimental.

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    1. Barb,
      Can relate with you and Bob about the new movies and music. I just don't get most of it. Maybe sentimental comes with the added years. That is OK with me.

      Delete
  23. I recall the Andy Griffith show, saw some fun episodes, and knowing of the movies you mentioned, but think my viewing time may have been limited during those years. Ever since the movie "Bambi" and his mother died, I've avoided animal movies with a sad animal story line if I can. I've certainly appreciated many of the movies talented Ron Howard has directed so can expect his book would be an interesting read. He seems like a really nice guy. There have been some entertainment celebrities books I've enjoyed reading, too, and some books written by others about them which can present another interesting perspective sometimes.

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    1. Joared,
      You wouldn't be disappointed in Ron. He is just as nice as you would think he would be. His parents did a great job.

      Delete
  24. Oh goodness! This brings back such memories. I loved Opie and watched The Andy Griffith Show all the time. And yes, I've watched all those movies. Sigh... Those were the days, my friend.

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