Thursday, June 24, 2010

The ramblings of a golden-holic

The other day I went to a local store that had a massive DVD sale. I purchased six DVDs, all of which (excluding one which was Princess and the Frog- heh, what can I say? I'm a kid at heart) were from the 'golden era of Hollywood'.


When I got to the counter the woman who served me asked if I was buying these movies for my mother or my grandmother or some other older female relation. When I replied that they were all for me, she looked at me in this sort of disbelieving way as though she didn't know whether to believe me or not.


I get this reaction quite a lot.


For some reason a lot of people in society think that just because I am young means that I can't possibly appreciate things from so long ago. And more importantly, I can't appreciate things that the majority of society has seemed to have forgotten; in this case, old movies.


I know a lot of people don't understand my obsession with the golden era of Hollywood- hell, even I don't understand it. There are plenty of modern celebrities, badly written romance novels, brainless movies and TV shows, etc out there that are currently being obsessed over by those of my age group; but instead of swooning over Justin Bieber flicking his hair in that I'm-so-nonchalant-yet-cool way or sighing over the latest Robert Pattinson and Kirsten Stewart love story, I am busy frantically looking up facts on old Hollywood and constantly searching for new movies, new stars to watch and to admire from that era. I guess that sort of makes me a geek.


Not that I mind overly much, in fact truth be told, I rather enjoy it a lot.


In History I learnt that in order to prepare for the future, you have to first understand the past. I think this also applies to film.


I appreciate some of the good quality films made in modern day even more then the average viewer, because I understand all that the very first stars, directors, producers went through to make today possible. The techniques, effects, acting and the general idea of a ''star'' was all created so many years ago. It’s through viewing the beautiful movies of that era that you begin to realise how much of an effect old Hollywood has had and still continues to have on our movie industry.


I have posters, cds, pictures, dresses, clocks and countless of other things that call back to the old days.
My collection of old movies (silent’s AND talkies) grows more and more almost weekly, thank god that most of the time old movies are being sold for cheap or else I'd be living in a cardboard box, broke, surrounded by all my classics, not unlike a crazy cat lady. But I'd be a crazy classic DVD lady or something to that effect.


I realise that I am probably coming of as a bit strong here- but hey, what can I say? I'm obsessed.


Give me Peck over Bieber, Audrey over Kirsten, black and white over colour, good story over special effects, a kiss on the hand over obscene adult scenes, screwball over vulgarness, any day!!


I guess my rant is over, I had to get that of my chest I do apologise if it did not make any sense, or if it was over-the-top stupid.


I guess all I wanted was to really say was this;


I'm a golden-holic. But unlike most ''holics'' I never, ever want to be cured ;)

Saturday, June 5, 2010

To begin...

I am not sure when it began exactly. It would be hard to pinpoint when it all started- I think it would be suffice to say that it was always there, lurking.

But I think it really began to become apparent, to become known when I was not yet fourteen. The old era of Hollywood had long been a interest of mine, but it was not until I began to buy more of the movies from that era- it was not until I began to do more research of that period, that my interest grew into an obsession.

While I have many other obsessions and interests (some of which no doubt will make an appearance on here) the one that continues to grow from strength to strength, is my fascination with old era Hollywood.

I am seventeen years old (eighteen in only five days!), not exactly your usual fan of such movies. I have a collection of DVDs that span from 1914 onwards. My favourite actors/actresses are from the ''Golden era of Hollywood'' spanning from 1920s-1950s.

People ask me all the time why I like such movies, why that era fascinates me so much. Usually I cannot give an answer, but today as I sit here pondering it, I think I have one. I think I like these movies in particular because they represent a time of simpler life, of values and morals that are no longer present.

Do not misunderstand me, I don't wish to push women back into kitchens wasting their lives as a housewife, mother, etc without being anything more. Nor do I wish to go back to the times were such racial prejudice was present.

But I do wish that our society did retain some of those old school manners and civility that have long been discarded...

I have no doubt whatsoever that every one has heard the phrase ''They just don't make movies like they used too'', and it's true. They don't.

I'm not saying movies today are bad, we all know that there are some brilliant ones out there. I am however saying that back then there was a certain quality, detail, that cannot be copied in today’s standards. The photography, the lights, the glitter, the certain glamour they had back then are irreplaceable. Yes some movies had dodgy effects that are laughable to today's generation (1933 King Kong, a mere example), but that does not lessen the appeal of such movies in my eyes, in fact it rather makes them all the more worth while, all the more valuable.

I guess I began this blog as a tribute to those stars, movies of yesteryear. To share my obsession to the world and to try and send out the message that just because it's old doesn't mean it's broke...
My name, well my nickname really, is Nelly and I want to, should anyone let me, to share with you all My Golden Obsession.