gOLDen Charm

High adrenaline action. Heavy drama. Intense emotions. Power packed dialogues. Mind-boggling plots. Unexpected twists. Realistic CGI effects. An invincible hero. A sexy herione. All the ingredients of a blockbuster flick, isnt it?

But, you know, there used to be a time when movies could be simpler and yet be capable of touching our hearts. That was the time of the black-and-white and, later, the techicolor movies. That was the time when the same story could be re-packaged in different wrappers and still feel charming.

Yesterday I saw Singing in the Rain. This 1940's dance-musical starring Gene Kelly has inspires these thoughts in my mind again. These musical oldies, they are not technically advanced compared with today's digitally enhanced movies. You can easily recognise the fake trees in the set and the sunset painted in the background. Also the expressions of the actors could sometimes be over the top. Romance is overrated and over-performed. The fight sequences have obviously super-imposed punch sounds.

But it is the simplicity of these films that I find absolutely delightful. One look at Gene Kelly with his 100 watt smile, tilted hat and that glow on his face while dancing, it puts a smile on your face. And the music makes your spirits soar.

Why I Like Old Movies Reason#1: Gene Kelly's 100 watt smile

Yes, there definitely were movies that had a strong story line and plot. Like To Kill a Mocking Bird. Even without Gregory Peck's stellar performance, the movie would have gained appreciation for its story. Or drama ruled as in A Streetcar Named Desire or 12 Angry Men.

Why I Like Old Movies Reason#2: Strong story lines and intense drama 

But usually the movies had the same basic story line. (Still do!) In these movies, it was the actors who pulled the attention and admiration of the crowds. Bollywood is also a veteran in this. The emphasis is on the facial expressions and body language. The actors could hold the camera on their faces for lengthy dialogues and deliver all the emotion with just a flick of the eyebrows or a half smile. The shawl draped Gurudutt in Pyaasa just turning his head slowly tells you everything about the character's state of mind. In fact, whole songs could be filmed with the characters moving minimally. I remember Asha Parekh in a B/W movie, singing "Mann mera naache thirak thirak" and not moving from her place at all! No need for awesome dance moves, flashy costumes or dramatic locations. It seemed that some movies were made only for the songs. Like Kashmir Ki Kali, a song in every five minutes. Or the Elvis Presley movies. Some might even feel slow and dragged out. 

Why I Like Old Movies Reason#3: Emphasis on emotions

Speaking of slow movies, some people find the Western cowboys movies very slow, although I love this genre. There are a few minutes of just plain scenery. Desert and mountains. Slowly from far away come the sounds of horses' hooves. they come nearer and nearer. And they keep on coming. Then suddenly a single shot is fired. Tishhkeeaun! The sound echoes multiple times. Another shot is fired in return and a horse-riding guy is dead. Then comes The Man With No Name squinting under his hat and he ekes out a  signature line from the corner of his mouth. It is not the story but the attitude of this guy that is appealing.

Why I Like Old Movies Reason#4: Attitude of the heroes

In those times, it was also easier to make people laugh. The silly antics of the Tramp, Charlie Chaplin, left the crowd in splits. Although often the story felt like just a series of disjointed comic scenes as in Modern Times, there were some good ones too like The Circus. Some were masterpieces like The Great Dictator, handling serious issues with a pinch of simple slapstick humor. However, these movies might not inspire laughter in today's audience, who will wonder what is so funny in a guy falling headfirst into a barrel again and again. 

Why I Like Old Movies Reason#5: Simple comedies

I am not saying that today's movies are not good. They are good, and very much so. But they are a different story altogether. After all, they do say that Old is Gold. I will not refuse to watch a high-quality heart-racing action movie or an elaborately spun romantic drama. But when I want to have a smile on my face, I will switch on one of the oldies and just go singin' in the rain!

Pune

22nd March