GENERATION BEFORE

Who invented movies? I honestly have no idea, and I'm too lazy to check the ever-accurate Wikipedia. Thousands share in the success and development of the motion picture industry. It's hard to imagine anyone who hasn't run an emotional gamut through a century plus of watching films. The so-called big screen has thrilled, saddened, provoked, inspired, and brightened at least a couple of billion people in the last 100 years or so. But for the first time I noticed something different this summer. There hasn't been one new movie I really wanted to see. I've paid attention, but the anticipation meter failed to jump even slightly this time. The easy answer leans toward a generation gap, as in I'm too old to appreciate the flash, dazzle, and suspense of super heroes, F-bombs, and Batman #15 (Good Joker, Bad Joker??). Reasons abound for my movie lethargy, and I think I owe the audience an explanation.

For many years movies maintained a position as the preferred casual entertainment vehicle. We tend to forget the medium's role in assisting the country's survival through the Great Depression and World War II. No matter how bad life seemed, the nickel or dime admission price for a newsreel, cartoon, previews of coming attractions, AND a double-feature lightened the burdens of everyday struggles. Through the 50's and early 60's that status didn't change as television plodded through its pioneer existence. In our family, we frequently journeyed to downtown and neighborhood theaters for the visual treats. I accompanied my mother to GONE WITH THE WIND, my father to THE JIMMY PIERSALL STORY (Anthony Perkins' baseball skills needed work), and my brother to see John Wayne's worst movie, GENGHIS KHAN. The Neptune Theater, near the University of Washington, became the destination for my first date, and I was far too nervous to enjoy Frank Sinatra in NEVER SO FEW( I also dropped a box of Milk Duds and watched them roll down the aisle). For all those decades, the movie industry supplied our preferred leisure activity through a varied assortment of escapist productions -- dramas, comedies, musicals, biographies, action, adventure -- that satiated our eagerness for affordable diversions. In the current time frame, numerous technological options compete for that diversion dollar.

There remains IMHO (showing off my text messaging lingo -- in my honest opinion), another variance between old movie, new movie -- the writing. With technology's advancements, the visual has become even more dominant. In studio thinking, special effects must surpass the video game in terms of shock, colors, and stimulation. What suffers are the scripts. My brother and I saw NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN several months ago. It received the Oscar for Best Picture, and had a sterling cast. I'm not sure as to the length of the script, but I'm guessing about 10 pages. Visually enticing, with requisite quantities of blood, bullets, bodies, and explosions, but not much dialogue until the final scene when Tommy Lee Jones babbles for several minutes and the screen fades to black. Now, my brother is a movie freako and much more analytical than me. So I looked at him, he to me, and we both said in unison, "What just happened?" It seemed the perfect example of modern style, but quality dialogue vacated the production.

This summer I have become addicted to a cable station, Turner Classic Movies. I think it may have prompted this posting because I've watched so many great videos from the past. Last week I visually inhaled Billy Wilder's gem, WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION, with Charles Laughton, Marlene Dietrich, Tyrone Power, and Elsa Lanchester (You can look them up; they all possessed impeccable acting credentials). The movie is a court room thriller set in London, but the dominant factor throughout the performance remains Wilder's script and the cast's remarkable interpretation of same. No explosions, one death at the end (no blood and cheered by most), no car chases through downtown London, no sidewalks destroyed by careening vehicles and spontaneous combustion, AND (gasp!) it was filmed in black and white. But, the WRITING displayed itself better than any five Javier Bardem's assasinations in NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN.

As always, I seem to have gone off the deep end. Yes, I realize I'm showing my age. However, I'm not castigating Hollywood, because every generation has different tastes. Even though my summer attendance doesn't look encouraging, I still revere and enjoy movies. I know what I'm missing, but does this generation of moviegoers?

Tonight should be wonderful. TCM (Turner Classic Movies) will be airing three Fatty Arbuckle silent films. You should see the dialogue.

My own tastes vary, but I conjured a Top Ten list (at least until I think of 100 more that I love), and placed it adjacent to this text.

MM