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At the Movies<br />
by Ric Pantale<br />
is month let's concentrate on the<br />
best anksgiving movies.<br />
We all love anksgiving: the parade,<br />
turkey roasting in the oven, a time to<br />
share joys with relatives and friends.<br />
After the meal is a special time to gather<br />
around the TV.<br />
For many, it’s a time to watch some good films.<br />
I've made a list of my favorites. Pay no attention<br />
to the wacky lists put out by some of the<br />
critics. ey list e Ice Storm as great family<br />
fare. Really!? A movie about incest in which a<br />
character gets electrocuted? You want a movie<br />
that won’t make grandma & grandpa pass<br />
out, right? You probably want a movie that's<br />
not going to think it’s funny to pass gas, get<br />
drunk, or seduce the next door neighbor<br />
under the table.<br />
So on with the list:<br />
1. A CHARLIE BROWN THANKSGIVING<br />
Start off with this classic to set a good mood<br />
instantly.<br />
2. HOLIDAY INN<br />
Not the hotel, but the good old classic with<br />
Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire—the only time<br />
they appeared together; Astaire was all set up<br />
for White Christmas years later, but he suddenly<br />
lost the part to Danny Kaye.<br />
3. MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET<br />
Any version is ok, but the original, made in<br />
1948 is the best. Sure times have changed,<br />
but Macy's is still with us. So is Santa Claus.<br />
gimbels is long gone, as are some of the really<br />
simple parade balloons, but it's a great peek at<br />
a Christmas before cell phones, iPads, computers,<br />
and all the other things we think we<br />
can't live without.<br />
4. WALTONS THANKSGIVING<br />
is is a great movie for the<br />
whole family, with lessons about<br />
the lost art of good manners, respect<br />
and caring for others.<br />
5. MARCH OF THE<br />
WOODEN SOLDIERS<br />
is is usually on TV around<br />
anksgiving. Who could resist<br />
Stan laurel & Oliver Hardy in Toyland—and<br />
not laugh when Oliver tastes a suspect sausage<br />
made from one of the 3 little pigs and says,<br />
“Why, this is neither pig nor pork”.<br />
6. KING KONG<br />
Ok...so it has absolutely nothing to do with<br />
anksgiving and never will, but it has a<br />
magic about it that should be consumed on<br />
any special holiday.<br />
7. ALICE'S RESTAURANT<br />
A fun movie that takes place in and around<br />
Stockbridge Massachusetts. Rated Pg, it’s directed<br />
by a master, Arthur Penn.<br />
8. Any old black & white movie<br />
starring Carry grant, Spencer Tracy, James<br />
Stewart or John Wayne.<br />
9. PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE<br />
An MgM color classic starring Spencer Tracy<br />
and Van Johnson. It is a fairly accurate<br />
retelling of the crossing of e Mayflower and<br />
the establishment of Plimoth Colony and, for<br />
all purposes, America.<br />
Here is a short list of modern anksgivingthemed<br />
films. Caution: some are rated R.<br />
• PLANES, TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES<br />
• HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS<br />
• PIECES OF APRIL<br />
• HANNAH AND HER SISTERS<br />
• DUTCH<br />
Ric Pantale, writer and director, is an independent<br />
film maker. ✫<br />
Ric will continue his history of Hollywood and its studios after the holidays.<br />
18 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> <strong>Nov</strong>ember, 20<strong>10</strong>
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