The First Ever Movie Night

Some of the guys came over tonight. Tim will be going to Nepal for a month from next weekend, and we wanted to see the gang.

   

So, we had the first 'Movie Night' at our place this evening. I have quite a collection of films, some of which are Hollywood classics. I also have some personal favourites that more accurately fit the cult genre. 

I wanted Ed and Shinji to see Summer Lovers (1982) as they'll be taking a Mediterranean cruise later this spring. Tonight's movie takes place in the Greek Islands, primarily on Santorini and plays as a picture postcard from that era.  We used the evening as an excuse for Jay to make some dinner.

Many reviews pan the movie by director, Randal Kleiser and dismiss it as a low-budget exploitation flick. However, it's a film I've watched a number of times. I'd suggest it does an excellent job of encapsulating the ideals of gaining freedom and mature insight through travel. The soundtrack definitely helps with its nostalgic aspects. 

It is not a film for everybody, but who'd really want to watch a film for everybody?

  Jay and I visited Oia in the fall of 2017 on a trip aboard the MS Westerdam.

Santorini, Greece

Day 25 - With the extra pounds I've put on during this cruise, riding a donkey up to the town of Thira would have been classed as animal cruelty. The cable car wait seemed too long so we walked up.

We didn't celebrate the five month anniversary of Jay's open heart surgery yesterday. So, today marks a new beginning in recovery! My Mi Band has recorded our daily, count between 6 KM on sea days to over 13 KM on several port days. Today, it wasn't the total number as celebration; it was the accomplishment of 900 steps both up and back from the biggest town to the Old Port!

The MS Westerdam dropped anchor inside the water-filled caldera of the ancient volcano. Thira is one of the strips of land that make up a noncontinuous, ring of land.







As soon as we scaled the donkey trail with the multitude of people and animals, we found the public bus station. It cost €1.80 each to ride to Oia (pronounced Eee-ah). It took 35 minutes due to the small, crowded highway. This is the spot that makes all the Greek tourism publications. Two other large cruise ships were at Santorini today and thousands of tourists were swamping the picturesque streets and alleys.







One of my favourite cult movies from the 1980's, featuring Daryl Hannah, was shot in Santorini. Summer Lovers took place here. At last, after thirty years, I got to see the island with my own eyes.

What a Rush!

It's not as profound as suddenly grasping the concept of the circle of life, but I do enjoy when isolated occurrences seem to merge.

What we've got here is a classic, 50's sci-fi thriller called, It Came from Outer Space. I have to admit a weakness for these adventures and blogged about When Worlds Collide just about a year ago. This genre of film served as an inspiration for many future educators and scientists, I would presume. In one blog entry, I even tried to relate some societal implications of science fiction on film.

Today, I want to relate how two separate streams from my strange taste in movies seemed to coalesce due to one actress: Barbara Rush. She won the 1954 Golden Globe for the MOST PROMISING NEW COMER (FEMALE). Yet, I'd come to know her in my oft-cited, favorite early-80's exploitation flick, Summer Lovers. In that great period-piece, she portrayed the mother of the character played by Daryl Hannah.

I found this connection interesting.

Counterfeit Corfu

I was at a bit unsure what to include today. It does seem as if my recent entries have been a bit wordy. So, I decided that it was time to look through old photos to scan. That's always easy.


The other weekend at Bret's house, Joel and I agreed on the profound human themes found in the movie, Summer Lovers (1982).

Although, I never visited the Greek islands at the same time as the Joel and Lynne, through the magic of a photo editor ... it apparently occurred. (You should note that we are wearing many more clothes than the people in the early 80's flick.)

This, however, is to encourage you, Mr. Wirta to watch the movie as soon as it arrives in the mail.

It's All Greek To Me

I caught a move, entitled Summer Lovers, on TV last night. It was showing on a channel we get called Drive-In Classics. I remember it on VHS tape copied from Laser Disc when we worked in the 1980's in Saudi Arabia.

It has Daryl Hannah (who was frightfully young) and a French gal (who died in a car accident in 1989).

Some reviewers call it an exploitation flick but I think it captures a time and the fascination when visiting a new place. The music is retro and fun. Overall, the movie has held up well for being over 20 years old.