I have been in CA for a week and a half saying goodbye to my dad. He died last week, and my family and I have been here putting together services and taking care of the necessary business that will make life a bit easier for my mother. Since film is a passion of mine, it is hard to think of films and not remember some of the ones I shared with dad. Dad loved the arts. Interestingly enough, he and I had an interesting back and forth over films. He read this blog and I'm sure he was interested in my points of view on the things I was writing. However, he and I did differ on the kinds of films a person of our faith should watch. No matter, I have several wonderful memories of him and some of the films we enjoyed together.
Just a few months ago, I showed Dad one of my latest favorites, "Moneyball". I loved finding films that I could watch with him. Sharing another piece of art that meant something to me has always been meaningful for me. Finding something to share with my dad carried even more significance. A couple of weeks ago, I posted a list of some of the most underrated movies that I love. One of the ones was a movie called "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty." I remember him showing that one to me at a very young age. Even then, I knew that it meant something special to laugh with him and share this piece of work with him.
When I was 8 years old, dad and mom decided they would take me to the premiere of "Return of the Jedi." There had been some debate as to whether or not I would be allowed to go, since my parents made a habit of screening most movies for my sister and I before we saw them. My parents gave me the thumbs up, and I went to the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood to see it. I remember sitting next to my dad in the crowded and wild movie theater waiting for the movie to start. At that point, I didn't know whether or not Darth Vader was Luke's father, or any of the plot points. The anticipation was great, and I sat in the theater with my heart pounding. As my excitement grew, I leaned over to my dad and whispered to him, "I'm nervous." Dad responded, "Me too."
I have made numerous references on this blog about the love my family has for the movie "What's Up Do?" with Barbara Streisand and Ryan O' Neal. Dad always quoted from that. He loved the little inside jokes he could share with other people who knew this movie so well. He loved to tell the story about seeing this movie for the first time at Grauman's Chinese Theater and how he literally fell out of his chair laughing. Dad was quite serious a lot of the time, but when he laughed, you could hear it from another county.
Another great movie memory with Dad was a "double date" he and mom had with my wife and I. I don't think Steph and I were married yet, but the four of us drove into Hollywood to an art house and saw a brand new print of "Citizen Kane". It was great because Stephanie had never seen it, and we went out for dessert afterwards and reflected on this great work of cinema after seeing it as it was intended to be seen.
When a film he cared about came out, it was an event. We had to see it opening night. It was ideal if we could see it in a special place as well. When "Star Wars Episode 1, The Phantom Menace" came out, we didn't simply go see the movie. We went and saw the movie opening night, stood in line, and the whole family wore matching shirts. I don't remember whose idea the shirts were, but I know that if he hadn't been on board, it might not have flown.
Other memories include:
-Watching "Ben Hur" at Easter time.
-Him introducing me to the "Make 'Em Laugh" routine in "Singing in the Rain"
-Danny Kaye films
-Watching the George C. Scott version of "A Christmas Carol" every Christmas Eve
-Debating with him about which movies a disciple of Christ should watch, and why
-Watching the old animated version of "Gulliver's Travels"
-Going to Hollywood to see premieres of Disney animated films
Dad respected my opinions on the arts. He was patient listening to me go on and on about certain movies that he would never see. I think he may have realized that I had found a niche in which he would never really operate that much. I will miss sharing some of those movies with him. I will think of him when I watch some of the old favorites he introduced me to. More than anything, I feel that cinema (like any art form) was a way in which he and I could connect. Art is like that after all. It brings a timelessness which can bring old memories to light and connect us with people long gone. See you at the movies Dad.
