Allow me to describe the quaint scene at the Lord house on Saturday night at 9:30 PM: the wee ones are all nestled in their beds; Hallie is over on the couch watching girlie shows on her computer with a pair of earbuds on. I’m in my La-Z-Boy wannabe with my own pair of earbuds and my own computer.
Is this the 21st century, or what?
Ironically, I’m not watching a 21st century movie. I’m watching a really excellent film from 1962—one year before the Council Fathers published Sacrosanctum Concilium—only a theology nerd like me would make that connection. Anyway, the film is The Manchurian Candidate. This is maybe the third or fourth time I’ve seen it. It’s brilliant. With the aid of a couple of Hienekens and a couple of Jose Cuervo shots I’m PARTICULARLY perceptive, and I can tell you: The Manchurian Candidate is a great movie. Every scene is meticulously crafted. The casting is perfect; Frank Sinatra is so very good—truly an underappreciated actor. My other favorite from the film—excluding the slithery asian Communist brainwasher named Dr. Yen, of course—is Janet Leigh.
I really am an anachronism; Hallie is, too. We are both in love with bygone eras. Modern guys get all hot and bothered over modern film bombshells—but I’m left cold, people. You can keep your Megan Foxes and your Jessica Simpsons. The two most beautiful ladies in film are long dead: Marilyn Monroe and Janet Leigh. Marilyn’s just awesome: fun and silly and lovely. Janet Leigh, though: beautiful, sultry, smart, sophisticated, and, sadly, doomed to be hacked to pieces by Anthony Perkins. These women from a bygone era…there’s something there that I rarely see anymore. I know my wife’s got it—I guess that accounts for why I laid lips on her in the first place: she’s smart, sexy, silly, cute, glamorous—a Monroe/Leigh combo!!
Assuming she hasn’t been put in place by a hostile Communist regime to manipulate me into performing some heinous act, I have to admit: Hallie’s a dream come true.
Wow.. to neither list Rita Hayworth or Grace Kelly makes this post HIGHLY SUSPECT
Just saying…
Or Audrey Hepburn for that matter.
Two things: you are a crazy, crazy man, and I am madly, madly in love with you.
As for that hostile Communist regime? Well, I guess you’ll just have to wait and see…
You know you’re getting old when you’re making, “Vivien Leigh could do more for me with one raised eyebrow-” comments….
But I’m in absolute agreeance; Today’s women (in media anyways) lack a certain something….
My advice, roll with the regime, it’ll be good for you.
Huzzah for anachronisms! That’s what the kids are saying these days, right? Thank you for another entertaining and heartwarming post! The Manchurian Candidate has made my to-do list.
Ha! Yep, Mike, I was out doing ollies with all my krunk homies just yesterday and they were all saying “huzzah for anachronisms!” Thanks for reading, and enjoy the movie!