A new year, an exciting new venture
Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in "Casablanca." (Courtesy: Warner Bros.)
I've spent almost 30 years reviewing movies for major daily newspapers, NBC-TV nationwide and local San Antonio radio and TV stations and interviewing movie stars and filmmakers all over the U.S. and in several foreign countries.
It seems like a good idea at this point to me, my wife Suellen and friends Nancy Oppenheimer-Marks and Melinda Bond over at Home Instead Senior Care to share some of the memories, adventures and brushes with Hollywood's elite I've encountered over the years.
So, the New Year begins with an exciting new venture, which will coincide with my reviews, columns about life and commentary on this Web site.
Movie Memories with Larry Ratliff is a series of fun-filled presentations designed with the 50-plus crowd in mind, but suitable for any age group.
If you have a facility, a group of film lovers, or a business, organization or club in need of a speaker, look around on this page to see how a Movie Memories presentation can enlighten and entertain your group.
I'm partial to "Casablanca," as you'll see. My hour and a-half presentation utilizes film clips and little known facts. We'll explore what I believe is one of the most interesting movies ever made. Other presentations will follow. See above and to the left.
Call 972-599-2150 to check for availability and book your group's presentation.
Oh Christmas tree, why'd you do that to me?
I knew right away when we tried to put up our Christmas tree this year that there was going to be trouble. Without going into too much detail, just know the stupid, #&^)$#@#@ stand was malfunctioning to a point that it could not be adjusted properly.
Suellen and I, bickering all the way (not laughing as the joyous season suggests), finally achieved something that appeared to be a semi-straight Christmas tree truce.
Long story short, after all the presents were unwrapped and a house full of relatives were bravely sharing the holiday with us, the Christmas tree, Suellen's most cherished decorating prize of 2009 or any year, decided to take a bow.
"The tree's falling," I said, too stunned to jump up from my lopsided, eroding, fairly new recliner (another story for another time).
Luckily my stepson Marc, who has the quick reflexes of a former star athlete, caught the tree, saving all the family heirloom ornaments and, quite possibly, my life.
That's my bad, Suellen. In 2010, I promise we'll start the Christmas season off with a new tree stand that can handle your strict requirements; thick, full bottom and a nice shape above. (I'm still talking tree here, folks.)
"You must remember this." -- Movie trivia
Ready for a little movie-related fun? Answer all five of our trivia questions correctly and you'll earn the Movie Memories 4-jalapeño salute, a high honor indeed. (See answers below.)
1. At midnight on New Year's Eve we usually sing:
a: "Oh my aching head."
b: "Auld Lang Syne"
c: "I can't believe I stayed up this late."
2. It's good luck on New Year's Day to:
a: Eat black-eyed peas
b: Eat Brussels sprouts
c: Listen to the Black Eyed Peas sing "Boom Boom Pow"
3. In the 1972 movie "The Poseidon Adventure," what happens to the luxury liner as revelers ring in the New Year?
a: The ship hits an iceberg.
b: The kitchen runs out of crab legs.
c: A giant wave turns the Poseidon upside down.
4. Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr share a New Year's Eve kiss in "An Affair to Remember" (1957) and vow to meet six months later at:
a: A Black Eyed Peas concert
b. The top of the Empire State Building
c: Walgreens pharmacy window
5. The most common New Year's Resolution is to:
a: Lose weight
b: Deal from the top of the deck this year
c: Never eat another black-eyed pea
(Trivia Answers: 1-b, "Auld Lang Syne"/2-a, Eat black-eyed peas/3-c, A giant wave turns the Poseidon upside down/4-b Top of the Empire State Building/5-a Lose weight)
Upcoming presentations
June 9: "'Casablanca' -- My Favorite Movie of All Time" presentation at The Forum at Park Lane, Dallas. 6:45 p.m.
July 21: An Enrichment Presentation at Richland College, Dallas. "'Casablanca' -- My Favorite Movie of All Time." 1:45 p.m.
Aug. 2: Richland College Emeritus Program class No. 1. "If You Can't Say Something Nice -- My Career as a Film Critic" presentation. 10 a.m.
Aug. 9: Richland College Emeritus Program class No. 2. "Deadline Pressure ... What Deadline Pressure" presentation. 10 a.m.
