There are signs that let you know when you are getting older. Of course, none of us baby boomers over the age of 50 believe we really are old.
I got a wakeup call when I picked up my Friday morning Tulsa World. One of those teasers at the top of the front page informed me that this issue held a list of classic movies that will be shown at the AMC theaters over the course of the next few months.
I love old movies and was happy to know that I would have the chance to see some of them on a big screen. Many years ago I was fortunate to get to see one of my all-time favorite movies, "Casablanca," on the big screen. I also saw "Gone With the Wind" and the Marx Brothers classic "Animal Crackers." So, I was really looking forward this event.
I quickly turned to the Scene section so I could make my movie plans. So, what did I find? Here is the list: "The Wizard of Oz."; "The Shining"; "The Shawshank Redemption"; "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly"; "The Fly"(circa 1986); "The Exorcist"; "A Clockwork Orange"; "Edward Scissorhands"; "Big"; "True Lies"; "The Goonies"; "Batman", and "It's a Wonderful Life."
Now, don't get me wrong. These are all good movies. I have seen all of them – most on the big screen. I can't, however consider anything made after my 22-year-old son was born a classic. And that eliminates about half of the offerings.
Classics to me remain such films as "Casablanca," "The Philadelphia Story," "It Happened One Night," "His Girl Friday," any and all of the "Thin Man" movies, any and all movies made by Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn or Clark Gable or any directed by Frank Capra (which include the aforementioned "It's a Wonderful Life", which I watch every Christmas season and which chokes me up every time they get to the part where the brother says: "Here's to George Bailey, the richest man in town." Go ahead, try not to tear up. I dare you.)
There are far too many others to mention. Yes, I left out "Citizen Kane."
I suppose the ones showing at the AMC from October through December are all classics to someone. I simply wasn't prepared to find a movie by Arnold Schwarzenegger on the list.
So, someone let me know when they start showing real classics on the big screen. In the meantime, I'll be at the video store.
