It’s Christmas break 2021. My mom and I are snuggled on the couch, hot chocolate in hand and popcorn on the table. We are going through our movie list trying to decide on that night’s film, ultimately choosing the original “Sabrina” starring Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart and William Holden. I settle in under my fuzzy blanket and am transported to the black-and-white world of old Hollywood films.
For as long as I can remember, my mom and I have watched old films playing on TCM–“Singin’ in the Rain,” “Pillow Talk,” and “Meet Me in St. Louis” to name a few. I have always loved the clothing, music and aesthetics of these films. My mom and I have a curated list of films that we must watch during specific seasons. For example “The Wizard of Oz” must be watched at least once in October and Christmastime is dedicated to “White Christmas” (our personal favorite), “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Holiday Inn.” I couldn’t imagine the seasons without them. Each year we also bake amazing peanut butter blossom cookies and while we bake, “The Bishop’s Wife,” is the movie we always make sure to play .
My favorite actress in these types of films has been Audrey Hepburn. That might be a very cliché answer, but I love all the movies I have seen her in, my two favorites being “Roman Holiday” (a rom-com co-starring Gregory Peck) and “Charade” (a who-dunnit mystery co-starring Cary Grant). While both of these movies are wildly different, they both have a certain flair that makes them special. The clothing, music, romance and storytelling in Audrey Hepburn films are what have made her the icon we know and love.
Nothing compares to a cool night snuggled on the couch watching an old film. There is something special about the storytelling and performances that is hard to re-create. Stars like Doris Day, Audrey Hepburn, Judy Garland, Cary Grant and James Stewart are continuously viewed as some of the best of the best and their contributions to film were immense. For example, Humphrey Bogart coined the phrases, “Here’s looking at you, kid,” and “We’ll always have Paris.” Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly became fashion icons, while Marilyn Monroe reigned as a pop culture icon. While the actors were a huge part of what makes old films so special, most forget the technological contributions as well. For example, color films, “talkies,” wide-screen formatting and so many other advances were created at a time when only a few studios were producing films.
Overall, my love for classic films is always growing. I love finding a new movie to watch with my mom and discovering new actors and actresses that I haven’t heard of before. Certain movies hold a special place in my heart and I love getting to talk with others about them. I am so grateful to my mom for introducing these films to me, and I can’t wait to find new movies to watch with her.
