NYC Mom

My love of movies comes from my dad. He's always been a huge movie buff and instilled that in me. I remember when we were little we had a black and white television. My dad took us to see The Wizard of Oz in a revival movie theater. It was the first time we saw it in color. When Dorothy opens the door to Munchkinland and there's all that color I remember gasping in delight. I was about 7 years old at the time I can still remember it clear as day. Ask me where my glasses are and I have no clue even though I was wearing them this morning. But I digress.
When I was a kid he'd tell me the plotlines of movies then take me to see them when he'd find them. Dad would take us to little theaters in Manhattan to see almost any old movie. I remember a slew of Judy Garland movies in particular. This was before cable being so accessible. We had no AMC or TCM then. Not only old movies but good movies. He'd take us to all the kid movies, he took us to see Rocky when it first came out and I remember how much he liked it, even if it was in color.
I remember him telling me the plot of the French movie Diabolique. I was enthralled by it. Once when I was in my early 20s he called me. "Hey Sus...what are you doing tonight? Wanna go see Diabolique?" He'd found it was playing in some tiny, obscure theater in the West Village. I couldn't get there fast enough. It was even better than I'd imagined. I don't know if it was because it was a great movie or because I was seeing it with my father. Another time he asked me if I'd seen The King and I and I hadn't. He was astounded. How could I have lived to 25 and NOT seen this movie? Oddly enough, within a few months, they rereleased it in a huge theater in the city for limited release. I got another "Hey Sus...what are you doing tonight?" call and you can bet your bottom dollar I was there to see it with him.
We talk about movies all the time. It's always common ground for us and we can talk for hours. He's like a walking encyclopedia of great movies. Here Comes Mr. Jordan, Gunga Din and The Quiet Man are amongst his all time favorites. I have to admit, they're some of my favorites too. And they're movies I've shared with my kids. I'd tell them "Come on...I have a GREAT movie for us to watch!" Their reply? "MOM! Is it black and white?" And when I'd reply yes, I'd hear a groan. Now? Not so much. They, too, are learning to appreciate Papa's taste in movies. Thanks Dad!