I haven't been posting much to the blog recently because I've been not doing much, just relaxing in Melbourne. Soon I'll be heading for a quick visit to Tasmania and then an equally quick trip form Melbourne to Adelaide via Great Ocean Road and the national park at Grampians. So I'm saving my energy for then.
One enjoyable experience in Melbourne happened over a week ago when I discovered the Astor Theatre, an old movie-palace in St Kilda that shows a mixture of contemporary and classic films. On one day they were showing a double feature of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers films, Swing Time and Top Hat. Both were great. I couldn't tell you much of the plots of either - one involved mistaken identity - but the stories of the films are less important than the great music and dancing. Songs included 'Cheek to Cheek' and 'A Fine Romance' by Irving Berlin.
After watching these in the afternoon, I hung around for another double feature in the evening, this time two Alfred Hitchcock films, Rear Window and Vertigo (for which Kristen joined me). I've seen both these before but seeing them on the big screen and in brand new prints was amazing. I'm unsure which is best. Rear Window is so clever in each of the windows that 'Jeff' peers into having its own story, but Vertigo is beautiful and has a dreamy atmosphere. James Stewart is great in both. I even wore a James Stewart t-shirt, which I had bought the day before, to the screenings!
Rear Window is a superb film: I watched it with no prior knowledge of the plot, and the suspense building is excellent, far better than most contemporary films.
ReplyDeleteAm thinking of doing another co. blog on religion and employment, so next time you get an idle moment you can correct all my errors in the last one :-) - or publish an admission you're wrong about WWI being immoral from the Allies' perspective ...
Glad to see trip going well.
Hi Simon,
ReplyDeleteThe Astor was a favourite of Alex's when she lived in Melbourne. I went with her once, don't remeber the film, but loved the comfy armchairs as we waited for the film! It seemed really 'civilised'!!
Cheers,
Liz S.