Top Ten Favorites - My Dad’s Movies

 "Death ends a life, not a relationship." — Mitch Albom

 

Hello, my lovely friends! 

 

    I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how much of our parents stays with us in the random, everyday things they loved. For my dad, it was always his movies. After he passed, I found myself looking through the films he watched over and over again, the ones that could instantly change the mood in the living room the second the opening credits started rolling. They are a funny, beautiful mix of high drama and absolutely ridiculous comedy, and looking at the list feels like looking at a roadmap of his sense of humor and his heart. I wanted to share them here with you all, mostly because you’ve known me long enough to know exactly where I get my weird quirks from, but also because any of these would make for a perfect night in when you just need something familiar and comforting to watch.

 

    He had this ultimate appreciation for the absolute masterpieces of cinema, which is why the first two Godfather movies always topped his list. He could watch the Corleone family saga unfold for the hundredth time and still sit there completely captivated by the tension, the music, and the drama of it all. But just as easily as he could get sucked into a serious crime drama, he adored things that were completely and utterly absurd. The Pink Panther movies were a staple in our house, especially the original from 1963 and the sheer chaos of The Pink Panther Strikes Again. He would laugh so hard at Peter Sellers stumbling around as Inspector Clouseau, and that laugh is honestly the main thing I hear whenever I see those titles pop up on a streaming menu.

 

    The rest of his favorites were just pure, unadulterated fun, heavy on western spoofs and sharp comedies. He loved Blazing Saddles for how unapologetically wild it was, and Cat Ballou was another one of those classic, lighthearted western comedies that he just never got tired of. Then there were the movies he’d put on whenever they happened to catch his eye on television on a lazy afternoon. My Cousin Vinny was a permanent fixture, and he’d quote the courtroom scenes verbatim, completely delighted by the back-and-forth banter. He had a soft spot for As Good as it Gets too, finding something really grounding in that messy, grumpy, but ultimately sweet story.

 

    Rounding out the ones that truly defined his movie nights were The Blues Brothers and Zorro the Gay Blade. The Blues Brothers was all about that incredible energy, the music, and the car crashes, while Zorro was just pure, campy 1980s joy that never failed to put him in a great mood. Looking at this collection of films, I realize how much they represent the best parts of him—the ability to appreciate the great, serious things in life, but an even greater capacity to just sit back, laugh, and not take the world too seriously. Next time you're flipping through channels trying to find something to watch, maybe pick one of these and think of him.

 

Top Ten Favorites - My Dad’s Movies
1. The Godfather (1972)
2. The Godfather 2 (1974)
3. The Pink Panther (1963)
4. Blazzing Saddles (1974)
5. Cat Ballou (1965)         
6. The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976)
7. My Cousin Vinny (1992)
8. As Good as it Gets (1997)
9. The Blues Brothers (1980)
10. Zorro the Gay Blade (1981)

 

 Thanks for dropping in! I’d wish you a good morning, but since I don't know your time zone, let's just go with: Have a spectacular next 24 hours. See you at the next one!