After more than 30 years of reviewing almost every movie that hit big screens and small, Larry picks and chooses the movies he reviews these days. Many are aimed at baby boomers and those who want a little more for their movie money than merely gratuitous violence, sex and F-bombs.
Thanks to everyone over at C. C. Young Senior Living near the shore of White Rock Lake in Dallas for the fantastic reception and turnout on Friday (Jan. 17).
And a special thank you to three ladies: Carol Butler, editor and publisher of The Senior Voice, who was generous enough to sponsor the event, and Denise Aver-Phillips (Director of The Point, C. C. Young's Center for Arts and Education) and Angela Castillo (Event coordinator & administrative assistant), who graciously welcomed our Movie Memories "Savor Those Tunes -- Great Movie Music" presentation and provided excellent support.
And while I'm gushing, something I rarely do in print, I'd like to thank Carol Butler for a terrific introduction. Carol said such impressive things about me I almost wanted to take a seat and listen to me myself.
Also, thanks to the fine folks who filled the Point's auditorium to celebrate the joy of excellent movie tunes throughout cinematic history, and especially for responding to my comments about why I think it was a good thing that the characters portrayed by Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford in The Way We Were didn't make a lifelong relationship work out.
It was a fantastic afternoon, so thanks, everyone involved, for making it happen.
And one more thing, you could have heard a pin drop when Bette Midler poured her singing heart out as The Rose.
It's always a joy to begin a new year with some exciting news, and I've got some.
Movie Memories is teaming up with The Senior Voice to bring my "Savor Those Tunes -- Great Movie Music" presentation to The Point at C. C. Young, the premier senior living center located near the shores of White Rock Lake in Dallas.
It's all happening from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 17. Here's the best news: You're all invited. It's free and open to the public.
Liza with a Z belts one out in "Cabaret." (Allied Artists)
Help us fill the house to start the New Year off right by celebrating memorable music like Singin' in the Rain from the 1952 classic starring Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O'Connor. We'll go behind the scenes to reveal something surprising about Gene Kelly's splash through the title tune that you may not be aware of.
You'll learn how music guides an audience through an emotional cinematic roller coaster ride as a movie flickers through a projector when the filmmakers know what they're doing.
Without giving too much away, let's just say that we'll begin our movie tunes journey in New York, New York and wind our way melodically to the Midwest.
Thanks to Carol Butler at The Senior Voice for sponsoring this event and all the kind folks at C. C. Young for inviting us, we'll clap along as Liza Minnelli belts out the title tune to Cabaret.
So, to borrow a phrase from the movie: Don't just sit there alone in your room, come to the Movie Memories cabaret on Friday, Jan. 17. Call C. C. Young at 214-841-2831 to reserve your seat today.
Want a little sneak preview? Just click on the arrow below.
Don't let foreign films scare you
I'm also excited about my "Get to Know Your Classic Foreign Films" Movie Memories presentation Wednesday (Jan. 8) from 3:15 to 4:45 p.m. at Meadowstone Place senior living center in North Dallas.
Salvatore (Salvatore Cascio) discovers the magic of the movies in "Cinema Paradiso." (blogspot.com)
Join us at Meadowstone Place (10410 Stone Canyon Road, Dallas 75230) for this revealing presentation under the auspices of Director Mitzi Werther and the Richland College Emeritus plus 50 program.
It's also free and open to the public. Call Meadowstone Place at 214-987-0943 to reserve your spot.
If you didn't know it already, you'll discover that movies from other countries often greatly influence American films. Did you think, for instance, that the classic Western The Magnificent Seven or the romantic City of Angels were cinematic experiences born in the USA? Well, you'd be wrong about that.
Join us and find out why. You'll also get to know some foreign film classics you might want to rent; wonderful movies like Cinema Paradiso (1988) from Itay.
Before the hour or so of spanning the globe for movie classics is over, you'll also discover why subtitles are not to be feared, but appreciated. See for yourself. Click the arrow below.
(Gene Kelly photo from "Singin' in the Rain" courtesy: MGM)
