Is There One That You Hate?

I like this Graphic of Big Ben and the scene on the River Thames.  Many people think that Big Ben is the name of the tower when, in fact, it is the name of the bell that chimes out the time.  The bell is silent at the moment as essential maintenance work is being carried out.

I am sick of talking about the weather.  It is truly awful.  The trees are practically bending double today, leaves flying off them, things being blown around the garden. I even have the light on because it is so dark and gloomy and the heating is also on low.  We have to be thankful that we did not experience any of Hurricane Dean and I know that many countries get much worse happenings, but this is the worst "summer" I ever remember.  They say it might turn warm and sunny for the weekend.  The leaves on my trees are already turning to Autumn colours.

So why the title of this entry?  Well, I was discussing films with someone the other day.  I was asked which one was my favourite film and was there one I absolutely detested?  I said there was one that I could not abide and was asked the reason why.  As I do not have anything else much to write about I will tell you why.

Firstly, this is the film

Yes, I know it is considered a classic, the acting was excellent, the settings beautiful.  So what do I have against it?  Well, the film was released in 1952 and I was obviously still a young child.  My family were great movie goers.  Both my parents adored films and we, as a family, would attend two or sometimes three times per week.  My father always fancied being a cowboy so I do not think there is a western film that I have not seen!

We had a cinema at the top of the road we lived in.  It was called the Astoria.  It was managed by  an elderly couple - I shall never forget them -  especially him.  He moaned about every film they showed.  When you went to buy your ticket, his wife would be in the box and he would be standing next to the ticket box.  He always said hello and then " we have a duff old film on this week".  Everything was a duff old film to him, I do not think he liked anything.  Anyway, I digress.

My Mother worked in those days when women generally did not.  She had no need to, my Father earned enough money to keep us all in reasonable style.  She worked because she wanted to, she hated housework and most domestic things.

This always caused a dilemma because she had nobody she could farm me out to.  My Dad repeatedly asked her to stay at home but she would have none of it.  The neighbours all got fed up with my being foisted onto them so on summer holidays she got really stuck.

Came the above mentioned year and The Quiet Man had been released.  Naturally it came to the Astoria.  As it was a very popular film, the elderly managers either decided or were told to run it for two weeks.

My Mother got on very well with the wife of the couple who ran the cinema and that is how she found her answer.  Every day on her way to work on the afternoon shift we would take me with her, drop me off at the cinema, pay my entrance fee and then go off and leave me.  The attendant ushered me to a seat and that was it.

The first time I saw it I quite liked it.  After all I did not know the story and although young, I was quite entertained by it all even if I did not understand all of it.  However, day followed day and there I sat seeing the same scenes re-played over and over again, the same advertisements, the same second feature.  For ten whole days I had to watch that film!  I sat there miserable and lonely, nobody to talk to, having to constantly move seats because of the "dirty old men" who frequented afternoon matinees - although the usherette did try to keep her eye on me.

My brothers teased me with it for years afterwards but for me, it was no laughing matter.  I came to detest that film with a passion and I still do.  I think if I was onboard a plane and that was the film they were showing, I would bale out. I run a mile if it ever comes on the t.v.

You may detect a hint of bitterness in what I have written. Yes, I am bitter about many things that happened in my childhood, things that formed me into the fearful person that I am today.  However, this is not why I am writing this entry.

It just gave me an idea.  I wanted to find out if there is any film that you particularly hate.  Any film that frightened you, upset you or you took a dislike to for any reason.  If there is, I would love to know what the film was and why you dislike it. 

So, come on dear friends and readers, I am sure you can come up with something.  If you cannot think of a film then maybe there is a t.v. programme you dislike or disliked.  I shall be interested to read your answers.

*P.S. Strange that I was to meet John Wayne in person and have a conversation with him many years later whilst I was holidaying in Spain.  I have written about it earlier in this journal.  No, I never told him that I hated that film lol