On The Sly

Foxy, you will be happy to know Ali McGraw is alive and well and living outside of Albuquerque. She looks a gorgeous as ever (if not more so since she didn't go the skeletal-aging route) and is a lovely, warm person. I met her several times over the years and am proud to say I am on a hug-and-kiss-hello basis with her. And Judy Geeson from To Sir, With Love is alive and well and owns a store in West Hollywood a few doors down from my old store out there. Also one of the nicest women you will ever meet. She loved to bring me tea.

While I am a fan of the classics, you seemed to have hit most of my favorites, or other readers have. If you have not watched Little Miss Sunshine, I recommend it. That may become part of a top ten list someday.

(Foxy's note: Nan, thanks so much for the update on both Ali and Judy. Gosh, wouldn't you love to be visited by the charming Foxy Gagnon, who would be starstruck to meet Ali and Judy?)

Foxy, Do you recall watching movies at OLVA in the old elementary building? The nuns sold popcorn and cool-aid. It was generally on a Saturday afternoon, if my memory serves me.

(Foxy's note: Lanny, you've got the better memory on this one! I don't remember that. Maybe some other OLVA students can jump in and recall.)

Carver,

Good one! I thought Deliverance was made in Kentucky where everyone has the same DNA. Actually the movie was shot on the Chattooga River, dividing South Carolina and Georgia. The year following the release of the movie, 31 people drowned attempting to travel the same stretch of river where the movie was shot.

Another movie that left an impression on me while growing up in Georgia was "Thunder Road" with Robert Mitchum. I learned to drive on my Dad's flat 8 1951 Ford sedan with stick shift in 1958 prior to us moving to Plattsburgh.

Paul

hey Ron and skipper....any truth to the rumor that deliverance was filmed somewhere between loon lake and mountain view??? seems like there are a lot familiar faces from the movie up that way....

It's on Loon Lake, Skip. Not far from Mtn. View. Hope life has treated you well, Skipper. Many fond memories of the old days at Nash's parties!

Ron

While adding movies to my cue at Netflx today I came across another of my all time favorites, Close encounters of the third kind. I must have watched that movie a million times. I can never pass it up if I am channel surfing and it's on. Break out the popcorn and the mashed potatoes! Don

Ron?? U still have your camp in MT> VIEW?

Foxy,
My favorite trilogy? Smokey And The Bandit. Jackie Gleason was brilliant as Sheriff Buford T. Justice.

Craig Mathews

Foxy:

You can pass on to Miss D that the elementary teacher that she had at Flanders School was, in fact, my first wife Gladys. She passed away in 1972 as a result of a brain hemorrage. I was a high school math teacher at Franklin Academy at the time.

Is there any way, Foxy, for one participant of your blog to directly contact another? I checked the "remember personal info" box this time in case that helps.

Ron

(Foxy's note: I can provide your e-mail address to the person you would like to get in touch with. That has worked in the past. Just e-mail me at foxman@westelcom.com to make the initial connection.)

This is for Ron Turbide and comes under the "you don't know if you don't ask" category. I had a teacher at Flanders Elementary School in Malone whose name was Miss or Mrs. Turbide - any relation?

Foxy,
I was hoping that you would list Dead Poet's Society as one of your top 10. That has to be my number 1. My list would also have to include The Green Mile and Rudy. If you haven't seen either of these, pop yourself a new bowl of popcorn and make a night of it.

(Foxy's note: Nice to hear from you again, Kathy!)

Foxy:

Still enjoying your blog. I've enjoyed most of the movies listed thus far but here's one of my favorites: The Sting. Newman and Redford did an exceptional job with this one - I loved the twists and turns in the plot. I'm posting this from South Carolina where we're enroute to warmer climates for a few weeks. Stay warm!!

Ron

(Foxy's note: Freezing morning here in the North Country. Bring the warm weather back with you.)

miney.. did dale mcnally live on leonard ave????

Hi, Foxy, At Least 80 percent of your favorite movies are mine too.... Midnight Cowboy is at the top of my list too.....I guess we have similar tastes in movies, uh
Really enjoy your blogs, Foxy.... keep 'em coming...

Ray

I always enjoyed all the old war movies on TMC or AMC But have a question. Why are all the soldiers singing at some part in the movie?

Newer releases that I enjoyed are Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, and The Longest Day , and of course ,.
Patton.
Other faves are The Sound of Music. A few years ago I went to Germany and Austria and in Salzburg I danced and sang with my daugther in the original gazebo featured in that flick---I Am Sixteen,
There are so many more including the Harry Potter series, Raging Bull, Pride of the Yankees - but being a Sox fan I must include the Jimmy Piersall story.

Foxy,
Great blog, so many top tens & hundreds. My favorite though was not mentioned, SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION. Great contemporary film with outstanding cast and storyline. Bullet

High Noon, Rear Window and another great Christmas hit, A Christmas Carol.

(Foxy's note: Bill, for some reason the first part of your comment did not come out. Re-send if you want.)

Chief, thanks for the info - I never saw so many bad drivers or pedestrians as down there in Fla. If you're still in Pepsicola - Dale McNally (PHS 70) & his wife Jeannie live there last I heard, he retired from the Navy & is a 'chief' also.

All wonderful movies! How about "For The Love of the Game", "Lawrence of Arabia", "Josie Wales' and "Paper Lion"....

Hey Foxy...A top ten sure is hard to come up with... everytime I try to think of my 10 favorite I come up with 10 more.. I'm up to my top 320 and counting. As much as I hate to admit it, I do appreciate a chick flick now and then (the Notebook was a good one). I blame that on growing up with Miss d and the rest of my sisters... they were a terrible influence. :) I'm not sure what my all time favorite movie would be, but I do know I hate watching a movie more than once... but could watch "Patton" over and over again... so I guess that would win the top slot. May also be due to it being the first movie I remember going to see with my Mom and Stepdad at the old theater downtown. I remember it was so long we had an intermission... I thought the movie was over and couldn't figure out who won. As a final note... for Miney... As luck would have it I'm typing this from Pensacola, FL tonight. And you'll be happy to know the fools are still walking in front of cars. However it was 79 degrees today... and yes, Miss d, I did play golf. Won't say how I played, but it was higher than the temperature. :)

Hi Foxy: I have to throw in a few of my favorites. Many that you chose, I like too. But these 3 classics are "top shelf" 1-The Wizard of Oz, 2- Frankenstein (1931) and 3- King Kong (1933).

(Foxy's note: Yes, Fred, add the Wizard of Oz to my honorable mention list!)

Foxy - Ali in Love Story yes, but don't forget Julie Christie in Dr. Zhivago and the scene where Zhivago is on the bus trying to get her attention but can't and then has the heart attack and dies -Zhivago is my # 1.

Let's not forget all of the great Disney cartoons from over the years!

(Foxy's note: Yes, Rachel -- I have a friend with a 10-month-old daughter, and the first movies she is buying for her are Disney classics.)

Hey Fox,
My first time commenting, but Clerks, and The Big Lebowski top my favorite movies list!

(Foxy's note: Welcome to the blog, Rachel!)

OK, I'm with miss d and chick flicks. A great one was "Fine Things" a Danielle Steele movie and for football movies, "Remember the Titans" - it's a Disney great.

Have to add two of my favorites. Titanic and Rudy.

You mentioned 'Jaws' ... I'm sure you remember there was a sequel 2 & 3. Well, there almost wasn't a 'Jaws 2'. Remember Murray Hamilton who played Mayor Larry Vaughn? They filmed 'Jaws 2' in Pensacola, Fla. when I was stationed there in flight school. One day I'm cruizin through downtown P-Cola in my drop-top Jeep, right in front of the old Seville Hotel. This dude steps off the curb in front, I mean right in front of me. I had to lock up my brakes and come to a loud screeching halt. He gave me a look like what do you think you're doing peon- so I said just because you're a movie star doesn't mean you won't get killed when you act stupid like that. I left quickly because I knew it wouldn't play with the cops, with him being a Star and all. I agree w/Goose - Godfather is way up there. I'm also glad he didn't pick Humpback Mountain. When I was up there 2 years ago I took my 2 kids to the Strand for a matinee, they were thrilled to see where I spent my Saturdays way, way back in the olden days.

Let's not forget The Blues Brothers (1980). Definitely my all time favorite. Also Pirates of the Carribean. That was an instant classic with Johnny Depp's very eccentric character. What about the longest yard, The original with Burt Reynolds of course. I could go on and on. Ha Ha, Take it easy, Don

(Foxy's note: Yes, The Blues Brothers would make my honorable mention list, but it would be in my son's top ten list. I also should have listed Animal House!)

Some great choices there, Foxman, you have several of my top ten listed, few you missed would be my all time favorite. The Graduate, (love Kathryn Ross), Dirty Harry, Rainman and Tombstone. You mention League of Their Own (which is also in my top ten) if you liked that, did you ever seen Sandlot? If not, check it out.. it will really flash you back to your days growing up on fox hill..... Best movie memories are still the days at the old Strand Theater on Saturday afternoons watching Any of the Horror movies, when during intermission, characters such as Dracula, Frankenstein and the Mummy would roam the aisles!

(Foxy's note: Yes, Sandlot is a good one, too! And, I'd forgotten about those monsters in the aisles at the Strand. Of course, I could hardly ever go there, because it was across the South Catherine Street bridge!)

Foxy...you are not a clint eastwood fan????...

(Foxy's note: Good one, Bill ... I should have included Dirty Harry on my honorable mention list, if not on my top ten.)

When I was 20ish (!!) I went to see "One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest," and could not believe how horrible it was. I have over the years become a huge Jack Nicholson fan, and will watch the movie once again to see what I think now. For the girls (even tho you included some of our fav's) - Fried Green Tomatoes, Pretty Woman, Ghost, Beaches, The Notebook and anything, including commercials or even infomercials, as long as Sam Elliott is in it!

Ah yes, when I spent summers with my Grandmother and Aunt Grace in Malone, I do remember going to the Strand or the Plaza theaters.
For 35 cents, I saw so many cartoons and at least a double feature. I had enough left over for the world's best popcorn (loaded with evil trans fats and salt) and Good and Plentys. No R rated flicks - just good wholesome fare.
As for my favorites of all time, there are so many. I can watch Patton, Anne of the Thousand Days, most 30s and 40s WWII vintage movies and all Godfather flims every time there're shown on TV.
I haven't been to a movie at a theater since John took me to see Braveheart at the Champlain Centre Mall. Takes a bank loan today, unfortunately, for a ticket and popcorn.

Lynda

Foxy, I'm not much of a movie fan, but, the absolutely BEST movie I've ever seen was Rain Man.....I thought Dustin Hoffman & Tom Cruise did a fantastic job........and, to think......there really are savants like Hoffman portrayed

I thought for sure you would have The Graduate, Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft .Just the sound track with Simon & Garfunkel was worth seeing the movie. Foxy I am going to make you an offer you can't refuse, THE GODFATHER. Sports movie I got that THE NATURAL .with Robert Redford I can watch that many times.Then my favorite western wasn't in the movies but I have it on DVD and watch it once or twice a year LONESOME DOVE---Those are some of mine--Goose

(Foxy's note: Yes, Goose, The Graduate should have been in my top ten! I know you like Lonesome Dove for a western, but I'm glad you didn't pick Brokeback Mountain.)

Waiting for Mr. Jordon- a classic black and white from the 40's

Greatest movie of all time of all time…one word…”Rocky!” Come on! The trumpets start blaring; the singing ladies belt out "EV'RRR HIGERRRR!" and you just have to jump-up in the theater or your living room and run in place with your fists clinched high over your head! And how can you not be at the edge of your seat as the two heavyweights, Apollo and Rocky, deliver enough skull thumping punches to knock out even Crusher!

And for best modern flick and honorable mention, ‘Napoleon Dynamite’. Pedro for President; need I say more.

And on a side note, contributing to ‘On the Sly’ should here after be known as Fox-ulence.

Foxy: How could you not have "The Quiet Man" with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara on your list of top ten and what about "Hoosiers" with Gene Hackman. Then there is always "The Green Berets", Burt Reynolds in one of the funniest movies ever, "The Longest Yard" and for scary, how about Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds." and for kids "Mary Poppins."