[Where does "classic" draw the line?]

Dear "Getoverit718" ...

 

I'm awfully curious as to how old you are that you have restrictions on your television viewing. I ask because I'm hoping you're young enough to be in perhaps what TCM considers a more desirable demographic -- seemingly one of the reasons they're showing newer films -- and yet you still love the older films.

 

For the person who mentioned "how closed-minded it was" to say something negative about a film because "it's younger than you are," I feel compelled to point out that I'm 38 -- or about 20 when "Moonstruck" originally hit theatres, and while I saw and enjoyed it then and now, I'll still take Bette Davis or Humphrey Bogart any day.

 

Perhaps before TCM assumes that more modern fare might lure a younger viewing audience, they might do a little research into the wide range of ages that enjoy -- and in some ways count on -- the unique offerings of this very special channel.

 

 

 

 

[Where does "classic" draw the line?]

I guess that's ultimately the point I was trying to make: I don't dispute how great a movie "Moonstruck" is (and I'm not THAT much older than it), but how often have we seen it on TNT, AMC or one of the pay-cable channels? Meanwhile, how many of them are showing "Now, Voyager" (OK, maybe once in a blue moon on HBO2 or 3) or "Tess of the Storm Country?" They'll throw "Gone With the Wind" onto TNT every once in a while (likely 'cause it's Ted Turner's favorite), or "Wizard of Oz" between "Law & Order" marathons, but nothing else when it comes to older films. Like I said, if they hadn't slowly changed AMC's programming, I'd let "Mask" and "Moonstruck" slide -- but five years hence, what could the TCM schedule look like? Will "Meet the Parents" or "Legally Blonde" be someday dubbed a "classic"? Either could have the legs that "Back to the Future" did, which already has shown on TCM. An all-night showing of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy?

 

What will happen to the great silents or the B&Ws of the 30s, 40s and 50s as they slowly get shunted aside amid an increasingly crowded field of more modern "classics"? I guess that's what DVDs ultimately are for (hey, it's lucky that TCM sells those, isn't it?). Just kidding about that last part -- but for me there's a small delight that comes with flipping through the channels and, like an old friend, happening upon "To Have and Have Not" or "Mildred Pierce," a feeling you just can't get with popping it into the DVD.

 

Call me a purist, call me naive, but that's how I feel ...

 

 

[Where does "classic" draw the line?]

Well, I definitely agree with you about the idea of "spreading the wealth" in their programming. I guess I wouldn't be so concerned about TCM showing stuff like "Mask" and "Moonstruck" if a) the Turner people didn't already have a history of changing programming on us as they did with AMC, and if older films were as readily available on other channels as they are on TCM. As it is, TCM is pretty much the only game in town for black-and-white films (PBS showing the ever-great "Mrs. Miniver" tonight being an exception), and I'd hate to see that slowly (but surely) disappear ...

 

 

[What rarely shown movies would you like TCM to play???]

I'd definitely cast a vote for "That Hamilton Woman." One of the most beautiful B&W films ever. For the same reason, I'd also cast a vote for "Marie Antoinette" with Norma Shearer.

 

 

[Where does "classic" draw the line?]

I have only one fear when it comes to television viewing, and it is that my beloved Turner Classic will someday soon go the way of American Movie Classics ... anybody out there remember the days when AMC used to show the stuff we love, and now shows every installment of "Friday the 13th" and Keanu Reeves movies ad nauseum?

 

This fear creeps into my psyche every time I see movies like "Moonstruck" and "Mask" make their way onto the TCM schedule, as they do tomorrow (Sunday) evening. Now, I'm not disputing that both are quality films, and I'll admit that I'm not such a classics snob that I can't watch any film made after, say, 1965 (a topic in itself); on the contrary, I love any and all movies! But some part of me wants TCM to remain a sort of safe haven of truly classic films of a bygone era, and save the more modern fare, the "Masks" and "Moonstrucks" of the world, for AMC, TNT or the thousand other cable channels. Because at the end of the day, should Bette Davis and Joan Crawford jockey for position with Cher on the TCM schedule?

 

So the question, and I'm ready for the criticism: Am I wrong? Or does anyone else out there feel the same?

 

Thanks for listening!

Laurie