Access Atlanta > Movies > Blog > Archives > 2006 > August > 04 > Entry
M is for the many mean things done to movie moms
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Dear Mr. Smithee,
What does Disney have against mothers? It’s been a long summer, and we’ve watched a lot of Disney movies. I can’t help but notice a lot of dead and missing moms. “Aladdin,” “Chicken Little,” “Ella Enchanted,” “Finding Nemo,” “The Fox and the Hound,” “Herbie: Fully Loaded,” “Snow White,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Brother Bear,” even “National Treasure” have killed off the mom. What’s up with that?
My 6-year-old now realizes she can never be a Disney princess as long as I’m around.
DEBRA SVITIL , Alpharetta
Dear Feeling Vulnerable,
Just imagine, Mom, you are just a few short years away from the joys of knowing your princess-in-waiting will see “Carrie” (“I should have given you to God when you were born, but I was weak and backsliding”), “Psycho” (“Go tell her she’ll not be appeasing her ugly appetite with my food … or my son!”) and “Mommie Dearest” (“I should’ve known you would know where to find the boys and the booze”).
Oh, and the original “The Manchurian Candidate,” too.
There’s nothing like Angela Lansbury as the ultimate plotter, trying to entice her son to commit murder for political gain and election to the White House.
How does she instruct her offspring? Oh, yes — “I want the nominee to be dead two minutes after he begins his acceptance speech, depending on his reading time under pressure.”
There’s the thrill of “Throw Mama From the Train,” the hugs and kisses of “Terms of Endearment” and the shared moments in “Thirteen.” In the latter, what does dear daughter Tracy chant for all the world to hear? “No bra, no panties! No bra, no panties! No bra, no panties!”
Looks like life is just getting started.
But, Debra dear, why are you blaming Disney for making movies that are, at least some of them, based on tales by the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen and others?
Do you actually expect more from the House of Mouse (aka SATAN)?
Why have you left out “Bambi,” the greatest off-screen whacking in cinematic history?
I say put that DVD in pronto.
If you want to feel better, which I am sure you do, consider also watching the wonderful and oh-so-present mothers in “Swiss Family Robinson” and “Old Yeller.” The elephantine mommy in “Dumbo” is pretty darn swell, too — as long as she lasts!
But, seriously, just move on over to 20th Century Fox, and you get to observe the absolute joys of motherhood in “The Sound of Music.”
Oops, make that stepmotherhood.
ALAN
P.S. You get a “Carsâ€? shirt and “Ask Alan Smithee” T-shirts for you and your wee one.
Dear Mr. Smithee,
The darkness at the Lefont Plaza Theater - broken only by the wonderful summer film festival on the weekends - leaves me wondering: What would you suggest to George Lefont that he do with the theater to make it more successful?
SHEA BOUCHER, Atlanta
Dear For Love of Cinema,
For years, I’ve taken opportunity after opportunity to encourage Mr. Lefont and Turner Classic Movies to join forces and program special revivals.
Couldn’t you just see a swell film noir series at the Plaza? On successive weeks single showings of “M,” “The Third Man,” “Sunset Boulevard,” “Touch of Evil” and “Sweet Smell of Success.”
Imagine the talent that TCM could bring in for brief post-screening talks. Tony Curtis, for instance, has mountains of incredible background stories involving “Sweet Smell” and co-star Burt Lancaster.
These could coincide with Turner bringing in stars to film similar “talks” for the cable channel.
Lefont could work with film professors at Emory, Morehouse, Georgia State and other schools to book pertinent films for students that also could be enjoyed by the community.
He could work with Eyedrum to give a bigger venue to some of the wonderful experimental film programming going on there.
I still recall the High Museum of Art’s great Akira Kurosawa series (not to mention this summer’s samurai series). A similar series could work at the Plaza as easily as it does at the Woodruff Arts Center.
Or maybe just sell the Plaza.
I guess George and others realize the difficult financial restrictions involved with any or all of these ideas.
But a movie lover can dream, can’t I?
ALAN
P.S. You get a “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” cap and an “Ask Alan Smithee” T-shirt.
HAVE A QUESTION FOR MR. SMITHEE?
E-mail him at alansmithee@ajc.com or go to accessAtlanta.com and click on Movies. Please include your name, city and daytime phone number. Mr. Smithee can’t reply to every request, but inquiries chosen for publication will receive movie-related prizes.
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