Hey, guys. Quint here. What a flat out bummer of a week. Film fans took a big hit yesterday with the death of Carrie Fisher and took another whopper today at the death of her mother, who reportedly had a stroke while planning Carrie's funeral arrangements with her son, Todd Fisher.
It almost seems intentionally cruel, but in order to not get too depressing let's talk a little bit about the rays of sunshine she brought into our lives.
There are a few roles you can't avoid bringing up when discussing Debbie's impact on the silver screen, the biggest of which is unquestionably Kathy Selden from Singin' In The Rain. If you looked up adorable in the dictionary you'd find a still from her in this film. Probably not really, but if I ran the world you sure would.
I wouldn't be shocked if Damien Chazelle based Emma Stone's character of Mia in La La Land on Kathy, at least in part. Both are aspiring actresses trying to make a go of things in the crazy movie business in an upbeat musical. Kathy is a bit more pie-in-the-sky, but has all of Mia's bite, especially when dealing with her leading man.
It's impossible to watch Singin' In The Rain and not fall deeply, madly in love with Debbie Reynolds. She just radiates kindness and enthusiasm from one of the most beautiful faces to ever grace the big screen. Gene Kelly had many amazing co-stars, but she'll always be my favorite. The fact that she matches Kelly's pure joy and Donald O'Connor's zany humor makes an irresistible character in an equally irresistible film.
Another big role for her was the title character in the many-times-nominated film The Unsinkable Molly Brown, another musical in which she plays one of the survivors of the Titanic in a rags-to-riches story. I don't know this one as well as Singin' In The Rain, but my memory of it is once again very pleasant and that Reynolds' distinctive voice was working overtime.
How the West Was Won is another keeper of a movie, this one of the few non-musicals from her that I hold dear (although she does have a song in it). The western epic is mostly famous for it's super-super-super widescreen presentation, but she's really good in it, playing the love interest of Gregory Peck's reckless gambler character. She had a real talent for playing strong women in roles that could have easily come off as submissive and/or inconsequential if played by a different actress.
Other movies of hers worth watching are The Rat Race, Tammy and the Bachelor and the recent Behind the Candelabra, but one of my favorite performances of hers is a little embarrassing. I watched this movie so much as a kid that it remains one of my comfort blanket movies. Her character is in the title, but you never once see her face. I'm of course talking about Charlotte's Web.
How Very Special Are We still brings a little moisture to my eyes. I avoid killing spiders because of this movie. I see little Charlottes, not scary bitey things, so Debbie can claim to have saved hundreds of spiders that I'll safely scoop up and remove from my house instead of swatting with a paper.
Reynolds brought so much compassion and love and understanding to the voice of a friggin' spider that it just about breaks my heart every time I watch it. Her final song saying goodbye to Wilbur will most likely destroy me next time I watch the movie. How very special are we/to have in our family tree/mother earth and father time...
One thing that you might not know about Debbie Reynolds is that she was a huge movie geek. Like big time cinephile. Her collection of original costumes, props and one-sheets was legendary.
She spent decades trying to establish a giant movie museum and only partially succeeded, her big items finding temporary exhibit here and there. I really wish she had gotten her funding and established a permanent shrine for movie geeks.
Some of her stuff went to auction a few years ago and I remember flipping through page after page of Hollywood history wishing I had a bank account as big as my eyes (or a house big enough to display all the history she was letting go of).
I've heard stories about how she'd excitedly show up at the homes of her contemporaries and even co-stars with posters and stills in her hands to get signed. She was a mega-star who still had that doe-eyed innocence of a movie-lover and although I never met her I assume she kept that shine until she left us.
So, goodbye, Ms. Reynolds. You lived a hell of a life and I'm grateful for everything you gave us. For the near future all I'll do the whole day through is dream of you.
-Eric Vespe
”Quint”
quint@aintitcool.com
Follow Me On Twitter
