MovieChat Forums > Victor/Victoria (1982) Discussion > How often...?

How often...?

posted 19 years ago by thoroughly_modern_hillry
30 replies | jump to latest

How much is too much?
I just have to ask all you other V/V devotees if this film never gets old for you? I bought the dvd this weekend, and it's just run a constant loop for days now, the latest in my utter devotion to Blake Edwards' films. I can't get over how charming, poignant, clever, witty, aesthetically-pleasing and lushly-filmed this movie is. Just that beautiful score can do it - 'Crazy World' at the beginning, sung in the middle, and at the very end :tear:
I initially saw it on the big screen and was just in awe of the color, the lighting, the camerawork, the musical numbers, and JULIE ANDREWS...I was totally blown away. The small screen definitely minimizes the impact, but I still love this movie just the same.
Still, I am a busy college girl who is barely ever home, yet I've just about memorized this movie. It's on while I get dressed, study, do laundry, make dinner. I truly adore it. This is gonna have a negative impact on my social life, isn't it? ;)
For those of you who own it, how often do you pull it out for a viewing?

Also, baby, le jazz hot may be, what's holdin my soul to-geth-er...

[–] Immy 19 years ago

I too love it a lot. I haven't as yet bought the DVD (Turner Classic Movies always seems to air it just when I'm in the mood to see it) but I will.

You'll probably reach a saturation point eventually where you'll get a little sick of it, but it'll be temporary. And a current or future boyfriend better like it too if he knows what's good for him!

My many viewings have led to what I think are lulls in the movie. Right after the "cockroach incident" back at Toddy's place, and believe it or not, the Crazy World solo by Julie. This doesn't mean I wish the scenes were cut, just that they're an abrupt departure from the film's pace in a way that's different from other quieter moments.

But I could watch Le Jazz Hot on an endless loop!

"I will rise from the ashes like a Tuscon!"

[–] thoroughly_modern_hillry 19 years ago

Immy, excellent comment about the whole reaching-a-saturation-point with a film - it is inevitable (my last film on constant play was The Great Race, if you can believe that. I can barely watch it now !). I wear myself out in about the course of a week just by getting way too acquainted with a newly acquired dvd. Thing is though, I rarely sit down and give my full attention to the film, I just have too much to do.

To Immy as well - I love the dvd simply because of the sound and picture quality, the ease of going from chapter to chapter when I'm not in the mood for one of the more slowly-paced scenes, and the option to put certain musical numbers ::le jazz hot:: on loop for some sexy background noise. Additionally, the commentary by Blake and Julie is great to watch at least once (a lot of fun insight and trivia on the making of the film, some reminiscing about Henry Mancini and Robert Preston - Blake's take on the way he 'wrote' and directed the film makes me watch it with a new appreciation).

So anyways, yes, I need to learn how to control myself. Even with work, classes, studies, a social life and quiet time, I somehow go overboard with my love for classic cinema. Maybe I should give up my dvd player...!?

and p.s. - I agree with you about the early scene's at Toddy's apartment being slower and not as exciting as the rest, but STILL - when Victoria launches out of the armoir in the pinstripe suit and cocked fedora to break that guy's face, it's pretty badass, if I do say so myself. I love the "GET UP. YOU - get back in bed." Aw, now I want to go watch it...

Moon River, wider than a mile...

[–] belacane 19 years ago

About once a year, maybe more. I can't watch a movie unless it's start-to-finish, so that limits me, and we have a 5-year-old son and am not sure this movie has a message I want him to see!!! But I do love it and get in the mood by opening a bottle of champagne, getting out a pink feather boa, and talking in my Norma Cassidy voice for a few hours while my husband grinds his teeth :-)

Clover says: Never underestimate the power of cashmere!

[–] thoroughly_modern_hillry 19 years ago

Belcane - LOL! Ahhh, Norma Cassidy. Hard as I try, sometimes "Trendy travellas tend to tawk" comes out of my mouth SO RANDOMLY and it drives me nuts. I wish I had your inability to watch partial movies, because then, I'd probably break out my dvd collection once a decade instead of nonstop.
I used to nanny for a wonderful family with three very bright boys your son's age...while the movie isn't inappropriate, I don't feel it's standard fare for anyone younger than at LEAST a very mature high school crowd. I know the boys would absolutely love the cockroach scenes but, alas, when I want to share some Blake Edwards with them, we curl up to "The Great Race" and all is well. Now that I live by myself though, it's not unusual to have a movie playing for days at a time because I only have enough free time to catch it in its entirety by piecing it together over the course of a week or so.
I could never drink champagne with this - I laugh too hard at this movie as it is. The detective alone has me in gales of laughter even after all these viewings.
Thanks for the reply!

Moon River, wider than a mile...

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] khmmo 18 years ago

Not letting your youngun watch!!!???? Horrors! I was lucky enough to have parents who let me see stuff their friends would not let their kids see, such as blazing saddles etc...the sex went over my head but i still enjoyed the films for the other stuff...hell, they let me read Carrie in third grade too...

[–] cmswallace 19 years ago

How much is too much? Just look at the dates of the postings; can you believe that a movie that is going on 25 years old is still getting posted? I just finished watching it again--I only allow myself to watch it every few years so it is always fresh with every viewing--and it is still in my top 5 of all time category. LOVE IT!!!

[–] ekb4650 19 years ago

At least once a year. Still need to finish the commentary track.

[–] thoroughly_modern_hillry 19 years ago

I thought the commentary track was really informative and entertaining, as Blake and Julie reminisce about a lot of the people they worked with on the movie and knew well. Blake's comment during the end credits about "working with someone you love" just clinches the deal for me. Such a great film.

Moon River, wider than a mile...

[–] BroadwayBabe 19 years ago

The first time I watched a film with commentary it was "The Princess Diaries" because the fact that the two stars, Julie especially, interested me, and ever since I've been spoiled for them! The whole cockroach senario cracks me up every time! But as for the film, I could watch a hundred times! It brings new laughs every time I watch it.

"So? If you got it, you got it."

[–] thoroughly_modern_hillry 19 years ago

I love your signature, BroadwayBabe! I absolutely lose it during that entire scene of TMM...John Gavin plays it perfectly. "He was twelve!"

Moon River, wider than a mile...

[–] forchatting 19 years ago

Great discussion!
Like most of us, I have viewed and interacted with (you all know what I mean!) this delightful musical too many times to count. But, you are right in that there are some lulls I skip past now. Actually, I usually skip through to begin watching at the start of the cockroach restaurant scene- and then I mostly let it play through. But, I do fast-forward through the "Crazy World" song and accompanying sad scenes until Sal and Norma reappear in Paris. (I can't even remember the last time I heard that song being sung- I've never enjoyed it the same as the others, and have been fast-forwarding it since the early 90s).
But really, I can watch this film most any time, and never tire of its entertainment.

[–] susan8one 19 years ago

I also watch at least twice a year, from start to finish; I love everything about this film. I have never been a Julie Andrews fan; this movie (and the Sound of Music) being two exceptions.

(My husband thinks I'm a cook because I own the soundtrack as well - but, he loves this film too!)

[–] daniexj 19 years ago

Hmm...wonder what that makes me, I own the Movie on DVD, the Stage Show on DVD, the movie soundtrack on CD, the stage show soundtrack on CD. :)

In my defense I own both the movie and stage show soundtracks for Little Shop of Horrors as well.

Ah, Julie Andrews....

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ijones-9 19 years ago

I have lost count of how many times I have watched this movie...it's part of my permanent collection and I never get tired of watching it. This thoroughly entertaining musical comedy just seems to get better with repeated viewings, where I notice things I didn't notice the last time I watched it and appreciate it even more. The movie is almost 25 years old but you can't tell by looking it. An instant classic that has remained so.

[–] gaterz 19 years ago

goodness, there is no such thing as too much v/v.i saw it wayyyyy back in the day and i thought mom was gonna throw out the tv and the vcr i watched so much. truth be told, i haven't thought about this movie in a very long time. work and school had a way of getting in the way. last christmas i got "sound of music", just like i asked for and then only recently i started looking for v/v, ordered it off a site and for a week straight i have watched it incessantly- before work, after work, before bed. i think none of my friends understand how much i love broadway and musicals in general, they usually go really quiet when i talk about those things. guess i'm just an oddball in a room full of nuts. anyone care to join?!

[–] gaterz 19 years ago

i still cannot believe that julie was in her late 40's when she did "v/v". my mouth dropped when i read that. she's astounding!