Well, it's that time of year, isn't it? The season when most people dress up, eat candy and scare themselves silly.
I, for one, do enjoy a little scare every now and again. Not the terrible, nasty kind (I don't watch horror films or read anything stronger than an Agatha Christie :), but the slightly eery, gives-you-goosebumps kind. I can conjure it up pretty easily with my imagination. Just give me a dark room and a couple of creaky floorboards... ;)
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My siblings love to make fun of how easy it is to get me to scream. Even when I know that one of them is waiting to leap out and scare me, I still jump and shriek aloud. Just a few days ago my sister almost gave me a heart attack when she hid in a closet in my basement. Totally unexpected. ;)
Do you scare easily? And do you like to be scared?
I thought it fitting, considering the season, to use this month's Classic Actress Style post to share a classic, terribly scary moment from the silver screen. If you didn't get nervous as a child when the Cowardly Lion first made his appearance... you had better not wait around for the Wicked Witch. ;)
(Click to watch Dorothy, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Man scared out of their senses by the Cowardly Lion. ;)
Of course, Judy (or I should say, Dorothy) takes things just the way a plucky American girl should. She is startled and frighten by the CL's appearance, but when he threatens her dog... just watch how she springs into action!
She handles the Wicked Witch just as bravely; dousing the green fiend in water while trying to save her friend. And then, like any polite child, she apologizes. It's a good thing that it came too late. ;)Of course, the truly frightening moment is when the true Wizard of Oz is first revealed. Suddenly, everyone's big dreams don't look so attainable...
The Wizard of Oz was the first movie in which I saw Judy Garland (if you've been following the blog, I think you know how special she is to me :), and even before that, I loved Dorothy. She was my childhood heroine and I envied her the fantastical trip to the "merry old land of Oz." (Oh yes, and that sweet blue and white checked dress!) I have a fair share of movie memorabilia, and Judy singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" still remains one of my favorite film moments of all time.
(Click to watch "Somewhere Over the Rainbow")
You know a movie is a classic when you re-watch it in your twenties and appreciate it as much as you did when you were ten years old... maybe even more.
Do you have fond memories of "Oz?" Anybody have a favorite classic (not really) scary film? ;)
Images: Doctor Macro / NYTimes
8 comments:
Well, I hadn't seen The Wizard of Oz in quite a few years, but I re-watched this year and found that I loved it just as much now as I did before! :) That surprised me, because it isn't the case with all the movies I used to like. I still love the Scarecrow, and the plot is even more amazing than I used to think. It takes "Americana" and turns it into a great fantasy story; and then it combines Dorothy's two contrasting goals--to escape home and to return home. And then they have Scarecrow, Lion, and Tin Man each trying to overcome their weaknesses. That's way more complex, and more interesting, than some of the recent films in this genre.
Another one I like is Disney's Legend of Sleepy Hollow. It's definitely more entertaining than scary. :)
1) I get scared very easily! Even if I know someone is going to scare me.
2) I do not like being scared.
3) I love the Wizard of Oz!
My husband bought me the first few OZ books in a boxed set for my birthday before I knew he was interested in me.... he had just scolded me for having not read them already. ;) I guess that doesn't sound romantic boiled down like that, but I definitely get warm fuzzies just thinking about it. :)
I remember being terrified the first time I watched "Charade." It doesn't take a whole lot to scare me in a movie, because I am always suspecting writers of the worst just because they want to play around with the viewers (not that I'm cynical). Everytime there is a touching scene, I get a dreadful feeling that someone is about to die. :P But in general I do like suspense stories.
To tell you the truth, the Wicked Witch STILL gives me the creeps!!!!
One of my favorite scary old movies is Topper Returns...definitely a must see!
As for Judy Garland, I think my favorite movie she is in, is Meet Me in St. Louis. I have been watching it for as long as I can remember, and it will never, ever get old!
My sister had the COOLEST Wizard of Oz birthday party when she was about twelve. It was SO cool! We taped yellow paper (bricks) onto the floor leading from the entryway to the living room and i drew a "Welcome to Oz" sign that's still hanging in our room. We all watched the movie and everyone got bubbles to blow whenever Glenda came on screen....sigh... it was the awesomest birthday party ever.
Oh... and i Love to watch The Village with Bryce Dallas Howard. It creeps me out every time. so much so that even though i know what happens, i nearly scream at all the "heart attack" moments.
LOVE THE COSTUMES IN THAT ONE TOO!
and.. "Arsenic and Old Lace" with Cary Grant. AWESOME! "oh Johnny.. he's so heavy, johnny!" :D
what's another good one.. ah, yes. Hitchcock. Gotta love Hitchcock. .though i think some of his films are a little TOO scary. ;D "Rebbecca" is my favorite Hitchcock. I haven't watched any of the REALLY scary ones like "Psycho" and "the Birds" *shivers* But if you want to be scared out of your mind, watch "Wait Until Dark" with Audrey Hepburn. *quakes with fear* that movie STILL terrifies me. it probably always will.
aimee
Oh! I totally forgot about Arsenic and Old Lace!! How could I?
Marian - Great thoughts! I'm glad that other people still appreciate it as well. Must be a classic. ;) Oh yeah, and a couple of my siblings just re-watched Disney's "Legend of Sleepy Hollow" the other day. I can't remember the last time I saw that, but they apparently got some laughs. :)
Victoria Rose -Hmm, I don't know. I kind of like the high I get when somebody scares me senseless. But they have to watch out, cause I can get dangerous when I'm scared. Kicking, and clawing and biting and et cetera... ;)
Bets - Aww, I DO think that is very romantic. A guy who buys a boxed set of books for the girl he likes? Amazing. :) I need to see "Charade;" it's on my "Audrey" list. And I HATE it when writers play around with the reader... but as a writer myself, it sure is fun to do. ;) Do you agree?
Ems - Topper returns? Hmm... haven't heard of that one. Yes, "Meet Me In St. Louis" is the best! I love the Halloween scene, especially Margaret O'Brien! lol
Aimee - Oh! I love themed parties! :D Sounds like a fun one! I still haven't got around to seeing "The Village," although it sounds fantastic (I actually know the whole story so I probably won't be scared :P). I've read "Arsenic and Old Lace" and seen the play but haven't watched the film yet. I totally agree with you on Hitchcock. Love "Rebecca," and if you haven't seen "Notorious," with Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant, you have to check it out! Not scary, just amazingly crafted. One of my faves. :) I haven't seen "Psycho" or "The Birds" (yeah, I'm a chicken, too! ;) and "Wait Until Dark" SOUNDS terrifying. I'll probably skip it in favor of her romantic comedies. ;)
The Wizard of Oz stands the test of time. It's required viewing at least once a year. Lucky that it's always on during the holidays! I definitely startle sometimes, and some movies truly scare me. I don't think I'll ever watch The Exorcist again. I'm don with that one. :-)
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