by Joel Bocko
In the old Westerns, an outlaw will saunter up to the out-of-town gunslinger and give him an ultimatum: git out, or meet me at high noon. In a more benign fashion, consider this advance notice to Wonders readers: next week, at 12 pm East Coast time (4 pm by the site’s numbers) on October 17, I will launch a new series, exclusive to Wonders in the Dark: “The Sunday Matinee.” In it I will discuss a personal favorite from cinema history – for the most part these will be neither obvious masterpieces (those have been well-covered here; besides, I want to save many of these for my eventual “favorite great movies” canonical series, which is still on the horizon) nor total obscurities (also well-covered on the site). Most of the movies will be readily available (quite a few will probably belong to the Criterion Collection), usually from celebrated auteurs, and coming from my favorite periods in film history (the 30s through the 60s, with some 70s thrown in; definitely nothing post-1980 and probably no silents) as well as my favorite national cinemas (American, French, and Italian). These will be excellent films which really connect with me for some reason, and with only one possible exception, films which have not yet been discussed on Wonders in the Dark. The possible exception is next week’s Fists in the Pocket, which may make a surprise appearance on the horror countdown (fingers crossed), but I will not be approaching at all from that genre’s perspective so if anything, the piece will provide a nice complement.
Here are a few reasons for and ideas behind the series:
1) Why these films? One thing I love about this website is that it has introduced me to so many unseen movies; yet at the same time it’s enriching to replenish ourselves at familiar hunting grounds. I was initially drawn to Wonders during the 60s countdown, and loved seeing unknown features alongside familiar classics, across a wide range of genres and styles. Since then, we’ve moved on to later eras and different channels of filmgoing, with more recent decade countdowns and the advent of genre explorations. I’m thrilled with both approaches, but admit that I also miss visiting and talking about what are, for me, the fundamental touchstones.
2) Why Sunday afternoon? This is a good question, particularly since weekends tend to be slow on blogs, and mornings are generally best to garner the most hits. I’ll admit I have a sentimental attachment to the time slot – it makes me think of spreading out a Sunday newspaper in a sunny living room, wiling away a lazy Sunday by exploring its pages before going out to the beach, or for a walk, or whatever else (no errands, though). The obligation of church is over, the impetus to activity not yet arrived, and the afternoon stretches before you with the opportunity to both relax and stimulate your mind and imagination.
3) Why Wonders in the Dark? ). Ultimately I decided to center the series on Wonders. It seemed a natural fit, since there are so many classic-lovers here and since it was Dennis Polifroni who first drew my attention to that reading reviews/Sunday newspaper connection last summer, in a discussion surrounding my write-up on Jaws. (Dennis, though he likes to keep to the comments, once penned his own superb memory piece on Jaws and the cinema-going of his youth – one of the signature pieces in the Wonders pantheon; you’ve got to read it.) All in all, this seemed a natural fit. So I hope you can make some room for me on your own lazy Sundays; see you next week!
Super new feature Joel. I’ll be there.
Thanks Frank – look forward to hearing from you (if you’re in the mood to talk of course, it is a lazy Sunday after all and the vocal cords – or in this case – typing digits, need their rest too…)
Yeah, this has the potential to really rock! And with Joel at the helm it should be a popular weekend feature! Can’t wait.
Yup Sam, it should be fun. Thanks for giving me the go-ahead!
Well, not only is this a welcomed idea that, I’m sure will see an expert and loving execution but, I myself, am dying to see what films personally turn on a writer and friend of mine. On a side note: I am overwhelmingly flattered by the compliment JOEL had heaped upon me and that very first essay I ever wrote for SAM and ALLAN. Trying to find my voice for that piece was as simple as looking back at films I grew up loving. In that early case, I went to Woody Allen. His loving narration and sentimentality for his look back on his youth, RADIO DAYS, was a perfect fusion of fact and fantastical assumption that perfectly complimented the reality of life with the dreams we all have. Again, JOEL, my thanks for the lovely tribute. I’m sure I don’t deserve it. Thank you my friend….
Dennis, I think you keep us all on track here remembering the sheer joy of movies – your comments are some of the most evocative of just what it is that drew us all to cinema in the first place. Hope to hear more from you on that note, but in the mean time, yeah, readers should definitely check out the earlier piece…
Well, JOEL, I don’t usually write pieces/posts as 1. I’m so busy with work that I hardly find the time to collect my thoughts. 2. I’m constantly second guessing myself on presenting film favorites of mine that I’m afraid would look embarassing to me for admitting my love for them. 3. I love the commenting to others work. HOWEVER: I will let a small cat out of the bag for ya MOVIEMAN. If you liked my JAWS piece then I’ll tell you only to follow WITD for the next couple of weeks as I have a big surprize coming for all of you. Joel, always look for the authors name on each post, you just might get a treat. That’s all I’m saying… 🙂
Can’t wait!
High Noon, eh? Count me in…
Well I didn’t have “High Noon” specifically in mind, but now that you’ve forced the issue haha…
The best thing about this idea is that they are favourites of yours, Joel. I like to read what gets people (and you) passionate about something.
I’m looking forward to it. I’ll bring my slippers and a cup of cocoa.
Me too, Stephen – should be fun.
On a side note: Its also really flattering to have your name put in print with an illustration by my favorite comic strip artist ever. Sharing a page with CALVIN AND HOBBES is a dream come true. One of my greatest aspirations in life has been fulfilled! To quote Kevin Spacey as Lester Burnham in AMERICAN BEAUTY: “I RULE!!!!!!”. LOLOLOLOL!!!!!!
Yeah, they are great aren’t they? I typed Lazy Sunday and that image was the first thing that came to mind (followed closely by the Small Faces…)
I was so obsessed with CALVIN AND HOBBES when they were running daily and in color on Sunday that I used to clip the strips out of the newspaper and glue them in a photo-album. It was an attempt to save them for prosterity and as hard as I tried the wrath of time and air withered the books and browned the paper they were printed on. It was a sad day to toss them in the trash as I felt all that effort had gone for nothing and my love for this artist culminated into a ride in a garbage truck….
BUT…
As luck would have it, Andrews McMeel Publishing, the ones that handled Bill Watterson and his beloved creation, released a three volume box set that contained (in chronological order no less) every single daily and color Sunday strip he ever created. That box set, I’m proud to say, has a special place on my desk and I ofeten open it up and preruse through them whenever I need a smile or a out-of-control belly laugh!
Along with PEANUTS, the most perfect comic strip to be published since my birth.
P.S. My favorite strip opens with Calvins mother in the kitchen washing the dishes. She hears this “WHACK WHACK WHACK!” pounding coming from the living room. Putting the dishes down and taking off her wash gloves, she strolls inton the other room to see what the source of the noise is. When she enters the living room she finds Calvin (Hobbes is in his stuffed animal mode on the sofa as others are in the room and not just Cal) kneeling next to her antique Oriental coffee table, pounding carpebtry nails into it with a hammer. Shocked and hysterical, Mom screams out: “What ARE YOU DOING!??!?” Calvin stops, turns slowly to his mother, and replies: “IS THIS A TRICK QUESTION????”
On rare occasions I like to pull out the “LOL” – preferably when it’s true. It was in this case – I forgot that punchline! Classic!
Forgot to respond here Joel. This is a great idea now that winter is coming. More traffic on Sunday afternoons for sure. Ogdens Nut Gone Flake is a great 60’s album. My fav track is Afterglow……
Classic, I also liked the Small Faces/There Are But Four Small Faces album which I could rearrange on whim on my iPod as either the US or UK release! Ah, bonus tracks (and iPods 😦 mine’s been broken & unreplaced for a year, alas…)
Yeah the indoor winter traffic is a good point, I hadn’t thought of it. Nice to know there’s an upside to the miserable weather!