Carolyn Hastings

There’s a New Year Coming!

December 21, 2020 by Carolyn Hastings Leave a Comment

I seem to always start my December movie review with how much I love Christmas. Well, I still love Christmas, it’s just Christmas of another kind. I’m sure this isn’t the first weird Christmas in my life, in fact as a newlywed I remember sending a wee Christmas tree fully decorated and enough Christmas cookies and candy to my new husband in Viet Nam to feed a regiment. I had family all around me, he didn’t, so it seemed the least I could do. That was a weird Christmas for me, for him but not for everyone.

This year just seems to be a little weird all around the world. So the big question seemed to be, tree or no tree? I decided this year, for sure, was a resounding, YES! It may seem like an unusual quandary but I live alone and with Covid, that means very few visitors. If I get the only vote in my household, it was most certainly uncontested. My precious son, had called to ask when I needed him to ‘bring Christmas down from my attic’, I responded with “the sooner the better”! I’ve been turning the Christmas lights on every morning and turning them off when I can’t hold my eyes open any longer. Christmas is alive and well and decking my home!!

I did notice something this year (more time to ponder may be one of the few good things), that made me stop and wonder if this might only apply to me. I think not. What I realized is when decorated, my tree is a true reflection of, well, Me. I’ve never been a “decorator” tree person, it’s too precious to me.

I don’t think less of you if all your ornaments and bows have to be turquoise, it’s just not for me. What I noticed is my four most important things in the world; God, Family, Country and Travel. Every single ornament on my tree is a reflection of who I am. My confirmation of this came when a dear friend showed up at my home this week excited to give me her present. It was a very unique, big heart-shaped ornament that was painted like an American flag! Absolutely gorgeous, so unique and, I already had one hanging on my tree just like it! I had never seen another one like it. Now my Tree has TWO!!

My Christmas Spirit doesn’t stop at my tree. My tree is best enjoyed while watching Christmas movies. As you know, I have more favorites than room in this column to mention but here are just a few that I try to watch yearly. Even though it’s not in 3D on a big screen, I absolutely love The Polar Express. There is absolutely not another movie like it! For more nostalgia, I’ll go back to the Bing Crosby era where everyone seemed to spend Christmas in Vermont. I still start singing “Sisters, Sisters” when Thanksgiving is done. It’s a Wonderful Life won’t ever grow old for most of us as well as Miracle on 34^th Street. The Grinch must never be forgotten or underestimated and then the beautiful nativity story told by some insider animals with true spunk, The Star. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention a wonderful movie added to my list last year, The Christmas Jar. This one is not to be missed.

Thank you, my movie friends, for letting me into your lives for yet another year. I wish for an amazing 2021 for you, my little world, and the big turning world as well. Remember, money is just a way to pay for life. Enjoy the small blessings as well as the large. I love Christmas because…

Christmas is the tether that once a year draws us back to our roots.

As always, you can share with me at carolyn@carolynhastings.com

Bond. James Bond.

November 30, 2020 by Carolyn Hastings Leave a Comment

I was on FB the other day and made a comment about binging on Magnum P I. I received a comment from someone I didn’t know, saying, “What?” There’s nothing like a reminder about how old you’re getting.

We lost one of our “greats” a few days ago. Sean Connery has passed at the age of ninety. While saddened, it made me remember how many hours of pure enjoyment this one man gave me. While having never actually met him (my sister in law saw him walking down the sidewalk in Palm Springs once) having graced the big screen for decades, I almost felt like I knew him.

You never really knew what genre of movie he would show up in next. He was the first movie “007”. In my opinion, Sir Thomas Sean Connery was the perfect James Bond. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1930, to very humble beginnings, at the age of thirty-two he was cast as the first actor to play James Bond and went on to portray the fictional British secret agent from 1962 to 1983 in seven films.

But Sean’s early life was anything but glamorous. A depression-era baby, it’s said that he slept in a dresser drawer. He started working at age nine to help support the family, delivering milk and assisting the butcher. He left school at thirteen. He joined the British Royal Navy in 1946 and served for three years.

In 1953 Sean won third place in the Mr. Universe competition. He then heard about and audition for the musical South Pacific. He decided to try out, so he took a class in dancing and singing and was cast for a role in the chorus. He must have looked really good because the opinion on the street was that he couldn’t sing very well!

At this point Connery was looking for a new career and was trying to decide between acting and being a professional soccer player. On some sage advice, he chose acting. His first television role was in Requiem for a Heavyweight. This brought him some attention and some B movie roles until he met Terence Young, the future director of the James Bond films. Dr. No was his first but not his last.

Of all the Bonds thru the years, Sean Connery was my favorite. We all see things through different lenses, but for me, he was the perfect blend of masculinity and sophistication. I won’t name names, because it, after all, is just an opinion but I feel like some were, well, too masculine, while others were way too sophisticated. Connery was perfection.

Mr. Connery was also very versatile. Anytime you can go from Darby O’Gill and the Little People to James Bond, you’ve got talent. After the Bond movies Connery focused on movie roles he found interesting. He would also do films if he felt his help was needed. He was also an Executive Producer of many movies.

Sean Connery at the 35th Annual AFI Life Achievement Award celebration honoring Al Pacino. Kodak Theatre, Hollywood, CA. 06-07-07

After Never Say Never Again Connery starting acting in more movies; so many more I can’t begin to name them all. I do have a favorite though—I loved him in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Joining Harrison Ford as his father, Henry Jones Sr., they were the perfect duo for an epic adventure.

He won an Oscar and three Golden Globes as well as so many more, once again, too many to name. On July 5, 2000, Queen Elizabeth II knighted him Sir Thomas Sean Connery.

What a life, from sleeping in the bottom drawer, to butcher’s assistant, to school dropout, to Knight in shining armor. And of course, also, Bond. James Bond.

Dave

October 11, 2020 by Carolyn Hastings Leave a Comment

We are living in some crazy times. Times when I’m so very thankful that I know who I am, and what I believe…maybe even why I believe it. I’ve been writing movie reviews for considerably more than a decade. During that time, I haven’t always been able to keep my mouth shut, or shall I say, my pen down. This review, I have opted for some humor. Dave is a comedy. But dare I say, while you’re laughing you might recognize a message.

Twenty seven years ago, a movie hit the big screen that should be resurrected. This is me, Carolyn Hastings, exhuming Dave.

Dave was released in 1993. I loved it then and I loved it even more the second time around. With all the “stuff” hitting the proverbial fan right now, Dave Kovic is a refreshing change.

Bill Mitchell is the philandering and out of touch President of the United States. Dave Kovic is a sweet-natured and caring Temp Agency owner, who by a staggering coincidence looks exactly like the President. As such, when Mitchell wants to escape an official luncheon, the Secret Service hires Dave to stand in for him. Unfortunately, Mitchell suffers a severe stroke while having sex with a staffer and Dave finds himself stuck in the role indefinitely. Corrupt and manipulative Chief of Staff, Bob Alexander (Frank Langella) has Oval Office aspirations and conspires to sit in the big seat. He even creates lies about the Vice President (Ben Kingsley) to discredit him and leave the path clear. The First Lady (Sigourney Weaver) who had been barely tolerating her husband, the President, starts to see little differences in her husband. As Dave starts to get a feel for what being President should be, he starts having a few ideas of his own.

After Dave spends a day with the First Lady at a homeless shelter, Bob Alexander forges the President’s signature on a bill to cut the funding for the homeless shelter. The First Lady lashes out at Dave thinking that her husband had wielded the pen that slashed the much-needed program and Dave insists that the Chief of staff makes it right. Alexander flippantly tells him that if he can figure out how to cut the 650 million dollars out of the budget he can keep his “lousy shelter,” so Dave goes to work. He calls his accountant buddy, Murray Blum (Charles Grodin) to the White House to give him some advice. Murray says, “Who does these books? If I ran a business like this, I’d be out of business.” At the next cabinet meeting, with a yellow notepad and some “simple changes in our cash management,” Dave gets it done and gets the shelter back.

If you haven’t figured out by now, Ellen Mitchell, the First Lady starts to see something in Dave that she hasn’t seen in her husband, the President, in a very long time and the relationship starts to build.

Dave is light and sweet and terribly thought provoking. In a speech of his own, he says, “This government’s responsibility is to find a job for every American who wants one. Getting a job when you so desperately need one makes you feel like you can fly!”

Is Dave Oscar material? No, but I’ve seen a lot worse take home the gold statue. Dave makes you think about what the government’s role is in our lives. Government is a tight rope—if it’s too big or too small, it fails. This little movie has a great cast and an incredible heart! As always, I invite your comments at carolyn@carolynhastings.com.

Woodlawn

September 16, 2020 by Carolyn Hastings Leave a Comment

We’ve had plenty to deal with in 2020. As I was sitting down to write about this amazing movie, I realized we were first required to “Shelter In Place” six months ago today. While many of us are back in the workplace, many more of us are working from home, attending school online, or just plain hesitant to spend our days and nights out in public. The 2020 fear started with Covid-19 and has progressed through protests and riots to wildfires.

Things have changed; the “norm” is new. Many of us have transitioned to working or schooling from home as a temporary inconvenience to the belief that we are now dealing with our future reality. Restaurants are limited, so we have started cooking more for ourselves and our families. We’ve even worked our ways through a puzzle or two, or twenty.

One of the more concerning issues we’re dealing with as well are the protests, peaceful to truly scary! Racial unrest. Hot days and warm summer nights have seen the protests crop up in every city. Big-city police officers are fighting for the right to protect their cities. Racial unrest. One would think it would have become a thing of the past by now.

Woodlawn, a true story, is a powerful movie. It takes place in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1973, another time and place of racial unrest.

A gifted high school football player must learn to boldly embrace his talent and faith as he battles racial tensions on and off the field at Woodlawn, a moving and inspirational film based on a true story of how love and unity overcame hate and division in early 1970s’ Birmingham.

Tony Nathan (Caleb Castille) lands in a powder keg of anger and violence when he joins fellow African-American students at Woodlawn High School after its government-mandated desegregation in 1973. The Woodlawn Colonels football team is a microcosm of the problems at the school and in the city, which erupts in cross burning and riots, and Coach Tandy Gerelds (Nic Bishop) is at a loss to solve these unprecedented challenges with his disciplinarian ways. When Coach (Jon Voight) goes to Tony’s home to recruit him, his father asks how many black players are on the team? When the Coach answers, his father asks, “Why do you see that changing?” The answer? Because it’s time.

It’s only when Hank (Sean Astin), an outsider, asks to speak to the team that everything starts to change. Hank becomes the team’s unofficial chaplain giving these boys the grounding they need to thrive in this turbulent time. The change is so profound in the team it affects their coach, their school, and their community in ways no one could have imagined.

Mark Burnett and wife, Roma Downey, are the Executive Producers, and Jon and Andy Erwin wrote, directed, and produced this Pureflix film. It is a well-done gem.

In my life I have experienced racial tension. I have to admit that after almost 60 years, I would like to think we were done with that part of history. We obviously haven’t resolved that issue. I do believe that the answer found in Woodlawn in 1973 is still the answer for today.

Find Woodlawn, the movie and watch it. It’s great for teens and pre-teens. It was produced in 2015, so you should be able to find it. It’s worth the search.

As always, send me your thoughts to carolyn@carolynhastings.com.

Beth Batchelor: Living Well at 103

August 10, 2020 by Carolyn Hastings Leave a Comment

Beth Batchelor is a HOOT! I hadn’t met her before even though we’ve lived in the same community for almost fifty years. In our first conversation, I mentioned that my goal in life is to Live ‘Til I Die! She quickly corrected me saying that I needed to change that life goal to, Live WELL ‘Til I Die! Thus, the title of this article, and may I say, a life goal that pretty much exemplifies Beth Batchelor.

Beth is truly amazing. She and her husband, Steve, moved to Alamo fifty years ago. An artist for almost ninety years, Beth studied art as a young girl and at the age of 14 won the Brooklyn Museum textile design competition. She went on to study commercial art at Cooper Union Art School and Girl’s Commercial Art High School in Brooklyn, creating a career in graphic art for a variety of large companies. Beth married Steve, a retired sea captain who was licensed as a captain at 18 and traveled the world for many years. At 103 and 97 years of age, after 60 years of marriage, Beth and Steve still live independently in the home they purchased when they first moved to Alamo.

Talented artist and teacher, Beth’s passion led her to founding the Alamo Danville Artists Society (ASAD) in 1977, an organization that has encouraged many local artists to the enjoyment of our entire community. ASAD is, to this day, an active, thriving part of the Alamo-Danville, the San Ramon Valley, and the Bay Area culture. Our passionate Lady didn’t stop there, she also founded the Contra Costa Academy of Fine Arts in 2001.

The indomitable Miss Beth also has a lot of life lessons she wants to share.

Longevity Tips from Beth include:

Eliminate Processed Foods
Avoid Stressful People
Cultivate Laughter
Get a Bitsy (Pet)
Speak Positively
Think Hopefully
Have Empathy

These Life Lessons have obviously worked well for Beth. If it hadn’t been for all of her friends on social media I wouldn’t have met her. I wouldn’t have gotten to decorate my SUV in pink and purple ribbons and followed her dear friends through her neighborhood honking my horn and screaming “Happy Birthday” at the top of my lungs out my windows and sunroof like a crazy lady.

I would have missed the elegant Beth Batchelor, sitting at the top of her stairs, like she’s holding Court in her gold sequined gown and tiara. At her feet and down the stairs was her second favorite man—Elvis.

The Bay Area’s #1 Elvis Impersonator, Rick Torres, was there with all of his sound equipment to give Beth all her favorite songs.

Now this is a secret I wouldn’t want her husband, Steve, to hear, but as Elvis was singing “It’s Now or Never,” I do believe I saw our saucy lady looking directly at him and mouthing, “It’s now”. What fun!

Beth Batchelor, 103 years old and cultivating laughter wherever she goes!

The Pursuit of Happiness

August 10, 2020 by Carolyn Hastings Leave a Comment

Not everything gets better with change. I know I may sound like a stick in the mud, but I love DVDs! I just learned that Netflix has officially stopped distributing them. The company business model is 100% streaming. Now, I do see the business perspective of this. Nothing to handle, nothing to return damaged, much more cost effective, plus hardly anyone has a DVD player anymore. I have a little secret. If I have a DVD in my hand, I watch the film and then I watch the rest of the story. I watch all the Bonus cuts after the movie. The “Special Features,” the Director’s explanation of the film, literally frame by frame, and more. I suppose the world may have to pry my DVDs out of my hands but I’m sure the time will come.

The Pursuit of Happiness is the inspiring true-life story of Chris Gardner. Chris, played brilliantly by Will Smith, is a man struggling to make ends meet in the 1980s in San Francisco. One day, by chance and perseverance, Chris ends up in a cab with a stockbroker. Trying to convince the man to take a chance on him during a short cab ride, the man is distracted by a Rubik’s Cube he is trying to solve and Chris challenges him by saying if he can do it by the time he gets to his destination will he talk to him again. The man “knowing” Chris won’t be able to accomplish something even he can’t do, agrees. This chance encounter changes Chris and his son’s life.

Chris talks his way into a six-month internship at a highly competitive stockbrokerage firm, just to find out that the six months is unpaid with long hours. His wife buckles under the pressure and walks out. Chris and his son soon find themselves homeless. They spend their nights sleeping in shelters, buses, and Bart station restrooms. They even spend many nights at the iconic Glide Memorial Church (with cameos of Reverend Cecil Williams). Through it all, the relationship between father and son is strengthened, sweetened, and even in the middle of dire circumstances, full of love and trust.

Chris Gardner wanted a better life for himself but even more so, for his son. He was willing to do whatever it took for as long as it took. At one point in the movie he tells his son, “Don’t ever let anyone tell you, you can’t do something, not even me.”

It seems like hope is in short supply today. I’m not sure exactly why. I do know that we still live in the best country in the world, the United States of America. There are still people, everyday who rise above their poverty to beat the odds, like Chris Gardner. Am I saying it’s easy? Absolutely not! When you look at someone else, you may automatically assume that what they have or what they have accomplished was easy. There is one thing I have learned in life and that is, everyone has a story to tell; everyone has something they had to rise above. They may have stopped talking about it as they managed to change their circumstances, but it doesn’t mean they have never struggled. A friend of mine used to say, “We all put our pants on the same way, one leg at a time.” Next time you’re tempted to think someone had it better than you, think again. You might even want to get to know them. Hear their story. With an open heart and an open mind, you might be surprised.

There is a happy ending to The Pursuit of Happyness. Since I had the DVD, I was able to see an interview with the real Chris Gardner and Will Smith. And you may have guessed, Chris became a very successful stockbroker, eventually starting his own brokerage. Years later, he sold a part of his company for a very large amount of money and retired. He then met Nelson Mandela, starting yet another passionate and impactful phase of his life.

At the end of the movie, Chris (Will Smith) and his son, Christopher (Jaden Smith, Will’s actual son) can be seen walking down a street in San Francisco just talking back and forth. Christopher is telling his father yet another silly joke and walking by is a well-dressed businessman—the real Wall Street legend, Chris Gardner.

Hidden Figures; Take Two

July 9, 2020 by Carolyn Hastings Leave a Comment

I often choose my movie to review by something relevant. Sometimes it’s an iconic actor’s death, a time of the year or an important period in time.

When I set about making my selection for this review, I first thought about the iconic businessman, Elon Musk and his and NASA’s recent launch of Space X. I have a granddaughter (brilliant like all of my grandchildren), that loves the subject of space. I must admit that space was a much safer topic than what else was “relevant” in our country today. As my thoughts combined the two subjects I came up with a movie that I love and had reviewed three years ago.

As I re-read my review, I thought, “Not bad, Carolyn. But, does the message still ring true today?”

Three years ago…

I’m a native Californian. I live in a “nice” area of California. I have only experienced a race riot on television. I will admit to not truly understanding being a minority (other than being a woman and I’ve never really let that slow me down). I did live in Louisiana for a very short time in 1967; still no riots, just a surreal feeling. I didn’t understand it then and I don’t understand it now. I do have friends who are African-American and I love them dearly.

Hidden Figures is a slice of history. Virginia in the early ‘60’s. NASA.

A slice of history from a different perspective, racism, front and center, yet all working hard to contribute to their country in spite of the barriers of race and gender.

John F. Kennedy was President and we were in a race for dominance in space. NASA was newly formed and didn’t even know what they didn’t know. Hidden Figures is based on the true story of three African-American women. All three had brilliant minds and ended up being critical components of the quest for space travel. It wasn’t easy in 1961.

These ladies worked in the West Computing Group. An all “colored” group of ladies known as Computers…as in, they compute. Computers (machines) were just starting to be introduced into the workplace. Educated as high as they were allowed to go, these ladies got dressed up and went to work, separate bathrooms, lunch rooms and in fact a whole different building. When their computing skills were needed, a white woman entered their building with an assignment.

Al Harrison, NASA Director, was played by the one and only, Kevin Costner. I don’t know him, only saw him once, but he seems like someone I’d invite to a backyard BBQ. I loved him in this movie. He has scenes that make you want to jump up from your seat and cheer! When on assignment the ladies of the West Computing Group had to return to their own building a half mile away to use the Colored Ladies facility. My favorite Harrison quote is, “Here at NASA we all pee the same color”.

The casting was excellent. Along with Costner we have Oscar winning, Octavia Spencer playing Dorothy Vaughn, Taraji P. Henson, excellent as Katherine G. Johnson and Janelle Mona’e as Mary Jackson.

Kirsten Dunst does well as Vivian Mitchell, the woman in charge of the “Computers”…from another building. Toward the end of the movie she tells Dorothy, “Despite what you may believe, I have nothing against y’all.” Dorothy simply answers, “I know that, I know you think that.”

Somewhere in that statement is the truth about racism.

I love true stories, even if they are only ‘based’ on the truth. This film certainly did not disappoint. The story line was both insightful and redeeming and with this talented cast it was a home run.

The music was inspiring and upbeat. There were actually lyrics to the songs and those words fit perfectly with the story. It certainly added one more dimension to the film and scored (pun intended) them a Golden Globe nomination!

I would definitely recommend this movie to anyone. Three Oscar nominations as well as other accolades were well deserved. Hidden Figures is fun and you actually get a history lesson. This trio crossed all gender and race lines to inspire generations to Dream Big!

As usual, I would love to hear your thoughts at

I don’t believe I got any comments to that particular review, yet three short years later there are protests, mostly peaceful, some definitely not so peaceful. People reacting or over-reacting, depending on your vantage point, to the abhorrent death of an African American man at the hands of a white policeman.

I recently read a written journal of a Guardsman that was assigned to Seattle at the beginning of the protest. Peaceful? Depending on whose reporting. No lethal weapons. Yet, reportedly, there were deaths. This was one of the saddest things I’ve ever seen.

Whether we’re a supervisor in a workplace, a pastor of a church, a teacher in a school or a neighbor down the street, we all have our part to play. Whatever the color of our skin, it’s going to take all of us to make the change. We each need to draw the line in the sand and say no more, not just with a sign in the street but with a hand out at church or school or work. If the multi-racial NASA team could find a way to work together to put a man in space nearly 60 years ago, then we should be able to work together to put an end to racism today.

I’ve no doubt I will get responses to this, just know, my words are words of hope. I believe God loves us all and we are called to love each other. Comments to carolyn@carolynhastings.com

Network

June 1, 2020 by Carolyn Hastings Leave a Comment

AKA Back to the Future

I watched a movie last night that I don’t believe I ever actually saw before. Why? Because it was a huge hit in 1976 and I was busy having babies, raising kids and kicking butt in business. Network won a boatload of Oscars, but I can’t remember watching it. If I had seen it, I think I would have remembered.

I say I would have remembered it, but maybe I wouldn’t have. Network is a prophetic movie. Fast forward forty four years with me. We are sheltering in place for weeks. The world as we know it has slowed to a snail’s pace. Why? Because of a pandemic that shot around the world before we even realized it was happening. There have been many theories floating around by our governments, our media and yes, our self-proclaimed prophets of how it happened. Most agree that it started in China, this time. We will survive this, but the scary part is how we’re getting our news coverage. Yes, my friends, Network is alive and well and being revealed today.

Network is about a fictional television network that’s ratings keep plummeting. The News Anchor, Howard Beale (Peter Finch) is a veteran newsman whose wife has died, and he knows his professional days are numbered. The local stations are being taken over by the networks and the networks are being sold to major corporations. The major corporations are being bought up by foreign entities. Things are changing and competition is fierce. The News division has always been kept separate from the programming executives. All that is changing and the monster of commercial amorality is surfacing.

Howard Beale has a breakdown on camera and Max (William Holden), his old friend at the network wants to remove him and get him help. The new programming Executive, Diane (Faye Dunaway) sees an opportunity for ratings and sets the wheels in motion to capitalize on his insanity. “Americans want someone to articulate their rage” and a new star is born; Howard Beale the anchorman who thinks he speaks for God. When insane Howard Beale asks the head of the network why they want him, the answer is “Because you’re on television, Dummy!”.

If you think the media is biased today, it’s been a long time coming. It’s time, in the words of Howard Beale to go to our window, open it and yell, “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore”. Maybe another way of expressing that sentiment is to not take every word that is said or written by the media as the “gospel truth”. Just maybe we should start verifying the stories. Everything is moving so fast today, it’s gotten too easy to feed us unverified information and when it’s proven wrong nothing happens. No retraction, no clarification, no apology, just on to the next spewing of hearsay. I’m stopping just short of calling the whole media bunch a pack of liars and lying is not acceptable! They follow the politics and the politics follows the money. The Big Money. The Global Money.

Watching Network is seeing the future with the most disturbing clarity. We see, quite literally, the “Takers being Taken”. Back in 1976, Network was entertainment, even satire, today it is truth and it is alarming.

This brilliant film won four Oscars. Best Lead Actress and Actor went to Peter Finch and Faye Dunaway. Best Writing went to the amazing Paddy Chayefsky. There were also 6 Oscar nominations including Best Picture (Oscar went to Rocky).

This is not necessarily a “sit the family down with a bowl of popcorn” kind of movie. It is rated R. An R rating in 1976 isn’t quite the same but your younger children wouldn’t enjoy it anyway. So save it for after the kids are in bed and prepare to become illuminated. Let me know what you think and even if you’re “mad as hell and you’re not going to take it anymore!” at Carolyn@carolynhastings.com

The Duke

May 2, 2020 by Carolyn Hastings Leave a Comment

Ring, Ring! When I decided to write an article not about a movie but about a legend, there was but one place to start. My brother. Why? Because he’s been retired for decades and now is the ultimate authority on all things “Western”. When you think of a cowboy, who do you see? None other than John Wayne, The Duke.

According to my expert, the very best John Wayne movies are the old black and white’s filmed in the 1930’s. The Duke was “Bigger than Life” but in real life he was big. He was 6’4” and weighed 240 pound and was a handsome devil. He had instant stage presence and even better, everyone seemed to love him.

Born in Winterset, Iowa in 1907, Marion Michael Morrison moved to Southern California when he was seven years old. He played football on a scholarship to USC for two years and then he lost his scholarship with a shoulder injury. He went to work in the backlot of a film studio. The rest is truly history. His first film was in 1930, and 140 movies later, in 1976, The Shootist became his last. John Wayne died of cancer in 1979. The Shootist was about an aging gunslinger dying of cancer.

Back to my brother, the expert. He explained to me that in the 1930s when The Duke was doing his best work, he became known for his work ethic. Back then, the studios would be on set and while the actors were shooting (quite literally) scenes to be added to the film, the writers would be on the set writing the dialogue. That’s an interesting process; it puts a whole new meaning to low-budget Westerns! Actors like Wayne made low budget possible. He showed up on time, knew his lines, did his best work and didn’t complain.

John finally won an Oscar for Best Actor in True Grit in 1969. Two of his 7 children followed in his footsteps. Patrick acted in many of his dad’s films as well as brother Michael became a producer. Both children had successful careers.

The Duke had a “Man of Action” persona that he carried into every film he ever made. He quite literally is an Icon. Years after his passing he is still alive and well. How could he not be? Most of us have flown into John Wayne Airport named after him in 1979. In 1985 his children built The John Wayne Cancer Institute and Patrick is Chairman of the Board of this prestigious medical center. Wayne was inducted into the California Hall of Fame in 2007. The list goes on, not only is his image on a 1990 stamp but again in 2007. That’s a legend. Oh, yes, I almost forgot, in 1979 he also received the Congressional Gold Medal. Not bad for Sandy, “The Singing Cowboy”!

John Wayne was a ‘died in the wool’ Conservative and anti-communist. He helped his friend, Ronald Reagan get elected, more than once. He even did promotional ads for him. After filming Green Berets he was asked to speak at the liberal Harvard Lampoon Club and receive the Brass Balls Award on January 15, 1974. He admitted he had no idea what kind of reception he would get but he showed up like it was a parade of one. He rumbled through a packed Harvard Square on a 13-ton Army Personnel Carrier to battle the liberal college students and they loved it! He loved his country, a true patriot. Do yourself a favor and look up his “America, Why I Love Her”!

Whether you talk to his children or his colleagues, you get the same answer; John Wayne was the real deal, a true 20^th Century, bigger than life, Hero. As my brother told me about The Singing Cowboy, “he was comin’ and he was gonna to slap leather”! Thank you for all the hours a good wholesome entertainment. Rest in Peace, Duke, and may your memory last forever!

Email me at Carolyn@carolynhastings.com if you have any questions or comments…I’ll forward them to my brother!!

Braveheart

April 7, 2020 by Carolyn Hastings Leave a Comment

Can you believe it’s been twenty-five years since this masterpiece hit the big screen literally screaming and yelling…ARGH? Bloody, bold and well, brave are just three ways to start this review. Mel Gibson is iconic. Whether you love him or hate him, he remains bigger than life. Slightly less than full-blown crazy, the man is bloody brilliant! Nothing short of, never will be. He’s had his issues in life and in Hollywood but he can never be counted out or underestimated. His talent is legendary, and his work is always jaw-dropping.

I’m sorry if I seem to be gushing. When I read that it was anniversary time for Braveheart I decided it was time to take another look. Yes, I had forgotten, almost, how bloody, for real it was. Even viewing this slice of history is a feat in itself. It’s not short. If I told you exactly how long it is you might decide not to watch it, so, I just won’t do that. I want you to find it and watch it again. Gibson is not only the star, he is the producer and director of Braveheart (I did mention he was brilliant). It was not only nominated, but walked away with five, yes, five Academy Awards. Not bad for a virtual one-man show! The Academy bestowed Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Editing, and last but not least, Best Make-up and Hairstyling. You know Mel and his long flowing locks. Oh, by the way, there were another five nominations in other categories. That was just the Oscars; he probably had to put another set of shelving in his den.

William Wallace is the medieval Scottish patriot who is spurred into revolt against the English when the love of his life is slaughtered. When he was a wee lad his father and brother were killed by the same regime, leaving him to be raised by an uncle away from his beloved homeland. He had returned home looking for a peaceful place to marry and raise a family to once again come face to face with the cruelty of the times. The killing of his beloved Murron had him vowing to free Scotland from the tyranny of the English. Leading his army into battles that become a war, his advance into England threatens King Edward I’s throne. The passionate and fierce Braveheart becomes the symbol of a free Scotland.

I believe that there are some movies that just cry out to be seen on the biggest possible screen. Braveheart is one of those. Fathom Events brings classic movies to the theaters, and a truly big screen, not just your 50 incher at home. If you’re a true movie lover or just crave a little something different than the normal faire that comes to our theaters, may I suggest you subscribe to the free notices sent out by Fathom Events? Courtesy of Fathom Events, Braveheart is coming back to the theater soon as well as Gladiator, another big screen film. They also bring back classics; from Sound of Music to Lawrence of Arabia. You won’t be sorry and you might even find some bring-backs that earned their box office without foul language and immorality. Having said that, Braveheart is not for the faint of heart. A great history lesson for adults and teens, probably not so wonderful for younger children. As always I enjoy your feedback at Carolyn@carolynhastings.com.