The Burrow

We introduced the Amster to Humphrey Bogart last night. She gets a great smile on her face when she sees that Movie Night will be in black-and-white. I'm not sure exactly what it signifies, but it sure is nice to look at. Does she think that it means the movie is really old ? Last week we saw The Adventures of Robin Hood in gorgeous Technicolor; it predates last night's flick by 3 years. That era before the studios and the movie theaters were separated into two different revenue streams produced stunning films in both black-and-white and color. (Will CGI and films with actors be the next dividing line? You'll have to read the Cuters' blogs 70 years from now for that answer. ) Maybe she, like me, loves the texture of those shades-of-gray films. Every once in a while I wonder about the color of the gowns by Orry-Kelly (who was Cary Grant's roommate in NYC in the early 20th century) but mostly I give myself over to the shadows. The diaphanous curtain in Bogie's...

Robin Hood is an old old friend. Long cold wintry Chicago afternoons with Cuters under afghans (the green ones) and snacks everywhere and Errol and the gang in green tights. They were definitely Men in Tights , dashing sword-fighting athletic men. We all wanted to swing from those vines into Sir Guy's gaping face, and then stuff ourselves at the feast with The Lady Marian by our side. Except for the times we wanted to be Little John and Friar Tuck and pick on each other. There's intrigue and love and honor and justice and and there are horses and castles and bows and arrows in addition to those swords. It's just wonderful. TBG first gave me this gift, and endeared himself to G'ma forever in doing so. She's always said that if Errol Flynn came to her door, she was ready for him. This was the first time I'd ever heard the expression "I wouldn't kick him out of bed for eating crackers." We've seen every incarnation of the movie (Kevin...