The Mating Season

This is one of my favorite movies.  At one time I noticed I had it recorded twice on my DVR.

Made in 1951, it stars Thelma Ritter as Ellen,  a hamburger stand owner from New Jersey who decides she has had enough and heads to the midwest to live with her son Val, a very handsome John Lund.  What she doesn't know is that she arrives on his wedding day (he could not reach her on the road).  But she feels she would be out of place at a society wedding so she does not attend.  She wants a new suit and new hat to impress her new daughter-in-law, beautiful Gene Tierney.  When she finally goes to the apartment to meet Maggie, Ellen is mistaken for the cook they hired for a party.  Thinking that Maggie would be be embarassed,  Ellen goes along with the charade.  It's only at the end of the evening that Val sees his mom and she promises not to leave town until all is cleared up.  But the next day, Ellen decides to continue as the cook so she can live with them but not be the "mother-in-law" because they are in their mating season, their honeymoon period.    Maggie comes to love Ellen  When she finds out the truth, she thinks Val is ashamed of his mom and although he loves Ellen very much, he does seem to think she would make a better impression if she was a little more polished.  Maggie leaves Val, thinking he is responsible for Ellen playing cook.  The end is happy (it's 1951) so Val introduces his mom to his boss (good) and his snooty potential new employer (bad) and tells them that he and mom are a package deal.  Maggie overhears and takes Val back.

Thelma Ritter is wonderful, one of my favorite actresses.  Gene Tierney is gorgeous.  And who would not want a man looking at her the way way John Lund looks at Gene?   I love their relationship and the relationship between Val and his mom.    Miriam Hopkins plays Gene's flitty, overbearing mother.  Larry Keating is adorable as Val's boss.

It's a fun, charming movie.  And obviously I record it every time it comes on!

Robin WIlliams...may he rest in peace

Yesterday while watching the news they broke the story that Robin Williams had committed suicide.  So very sad.  He was what I pictured when I heard the words manic-depressive, although I know nothing of what was actually wrong with him.  He seemed to have great highs, performances where he was brilliantly out of control.  And apparently, we learn, great lows, depression & sadness.  He has millions of fans everywhere, was reputed to be a really nice, generous and genuine guy but apparently he had demons that overtook him.  He has a wife and children who I assume loved him.  Fans everywhere mourn his death.  Co-stars praise him.  And sadly, it was not enough.  It was not enough.  So he checked out.  

I remember seeing RW on Johnny Carson one night with his idol Jonathon Winters and things were so fast & furious that JC just sat back and watched the show.   There was another guest, so insignificant in the picture, that came out and her line “I don’t know about you but these two are wearing me out!” 

I loved his dramatic turns too…Good Will Hunting, Insomnia, his heartbreaking performance in Fisher King.   And I admit I watch Birdcage every time it comes on. 

His family will never see this but I wish them peace.  I hope they understand that maybe a comet that bright could not help but burn out too soon.    And I wish I could tell him thanks for all he has given us over the years.