Out of the Loop

I have some cherished friends with whom few people seem familiar. On occasion, when their names are mentioned I draw blank looks, and wonder if I am from another dimension....or have dementia.

Maybe, it's because I spent large quantities of time with my grandparents (no dementia) when I was a kid, or a fascination/delight with history, or..... who knows.

So I don't feel alone, and out of curiosity- Do you know or have you been introduced to:

Greer Garson

Walter Pigeon

Myrna Loy

Irene Dunne

William Powell

How about:

Gary Cooper

Rita Hayworth

Clark Gable

Cary Grant

Carol Lombard

Jimmy Stewart

Obviously these are all movie stars. I am not trying to be patronizing. I just want to spread the love AND these people are a delightful answer to today's mucky media options. After hounding my family and dear friends over and over and over and over again- inquiring if they had seen certain films- I thought I would just post a list of some of my favorites and leave the poor people alone. So, thank you for allowing me to indulge. Here goes:

*My latest favorite: "I Remember Mama"- with Irene Dunne. About a turn of the century Norwegian family in San Francisco.

"You Can't Take it With You"- Centers around a quirky family -staring Carol Lombard and a young Jimmy Stewart.

If you like Carol Lombard (wife of Clark Gable and sadly died young in a plane crash) check out "My Man Godfrey" also, with William Powell.

William Powell can also be seen in the "Thin Man" series with Myrna Loy. I think there are five movies in all. They are sort of "Perry Mason" meets a mild Lucille Ball mysteries.

Some of you may be familiar with Greer Garson in a very loose adaptation of "Pride and Prejudice", but have you seen her in "Goodbye Mr. Chips", "Mrs. Miniver" with Walter Pigeon, or "Random Harvest" . Very good movies, a bit more on the emotional side bring a hanky.

We have all seen Clark Gable in "Gone with the Wind", but have you seen him do comedy? Check out "It Happened One Night" where he stars with Claudette Colbert. I think she has the biggest eyes in Hollywood history.

Gary Cooper is one of my favorite leading men. I am a sucker for a soft spoken man. "Sergeant York" is a movie worth watching- about a pacifist who was drafted into WWI- based on a true story.

Others:

"On Moonlight Bay" & "By the Light of the Silvery Moon"- with Doris Day

"The Ghost and Mr Chicken"- with Don Knotts- a very silly family favorite

And- you can never lose with "Singing in the Rain" or "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" if you are into musicals.

I will get off my box now.

*Disclaimer: Children may react adversely to black and white movie media. They may convulse and show signs of Turrets.