April 30th is a special day in our family. That is the birthday of the Cogerson family matriarch. In the Cogerson world her name is Bernice, Mom, Grandma and Great-Grandma. On this website she is known as Bern1960. One of Bern1960’s favorite UMR pages was our look at my dad’s favorite movies which was written after he passed away.
Since then she has jokingly said she wanted to read what her page would say when and if she passes away. So for her birthday we figured we would look at her Top 5 Favorite Movies and as well as a look at 5 other movies she might not have liked….but has never been able to forget.
Bern1960’s Favorite Movies
Jazz Singer (1980)
What is this one about? The son (Neil Diamond) of a Jewish Cantor (Sir Laurence Olivier) must defy the traditions of his religious father in order to pursue his dream of being a popular singer.
Why she enjoyed this movie so much? The music the music the music. No matter what you think about Neil Diamond’s acting skills….you have to admit the man can sing. The grand finale of Diamond singing America is pretty impressive. I remember coming home many times and quickly realized she was watching the Jazz Singer…again.
The Jolson Story (1946) & Jolson Sings Again (1949)
What is this one about? The movies show the idealized career of the singer Al Jolson (Larry Parks), a little Jewish boy who goes against the will of his father in order to be in showbiz. He becomes a star, falls in love with a non-Jewish dancer, and marries her. In the end he chooses success on the stage.
Why she enjoyed this movie so much? Once again the music was the main draw for her. The way we convinced Bern1960 to go on road trips with us…..is to bring the DVDs of both Jolson movies and let her watch the movies on our car DVD player while we drive to our destination.
Magnificent Obsession (1954)
What is this one about? When churlish, spoiled rich man Bob Merrick (Rock Hudson) foolishly wrecks his speed boat, the rescue team resuscitates him with equipment that’s therefore unavailable to aid a local hero, Dr. Wayne Phillips, who dies as a result. Phillips had helped many people, and when Merrick learns Phillips’ secret, to give selflessly and in secret, he tries it in a ham-handed way. The result further alienates Phillips’ widow, Helen (Jane Wyman), with whom Merrick has fallen in love. Merrick’s persistence causes another tragedy, and he must remake his life, including going back to medical school, in an attempt to make amends and win her love.
Why she enjoyed this movie so much? Rock Hudson is one of her favorite actors…so him giving an outstanding performance has made this our all-time favorite movie. Somehow I have managed to not see this movie….but I will see this one at some point.
The Quiet Man (1952)
What is this one about? A retired American boxer (John Wayne) returns to the village of his birth in Ireland, where he finds love (Maureen O’Hara).
Why she enjoyed this movie so much? (1) This is one of the best love stories that Hollywood has ever filmed. (2) John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara make a great screen couple. (3) The movie is filled with excellent supporting characters with Ward Bond, Victor McLaglen and Barry Fitzgerald. This movie is also on my Top 100 favorite movies of all-time.
Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
What is this one about? When an alien spacecraft of enormous power is spotted approaching Earth, Admiral Kirk (William Shatner) resumes command of the Starship Enterprise in order to intercept, examine and hopefully stop the intruder.
Why she enjoyed this movie so much? Way back when Billy Shatner and Bern1960 were young’uns back in Montreal, Canada….they went out on dates…..until Captain Kirk got a little “fresh”. So knowing Mr. Shatner, she was always a Star Trek fan. Bern1960 really enjoyed this movie at the theater, on VHS, on DVD and on Blu-Ray.
Funny to our family Bern1960 movie stories
Halloween (1978)
Bern1960 – “You wanted to watch this movie…well you are going to sit here with me and watch it.”
The situation: Back in the late 1970s our house started getting HBO. Movies at home with no commercials was an amazing development. When the cable bill would arrive….I would give my parents the bill and start highlighting the upcoming monthly schedule that always arrived with the bill. One upcoming movie sounded like a perfect movie for me to watch….even though it was rated R….I figured the title would be a fun movie to watch. So I begged and begged my mother to watch the movie….until I was allowed to watch the movie.
Finally the movie made it’s HBO premiere. My mom and I started to watch the movie. The first scene comes on…..and it shows some kids trick or treating. I am thinking….”this is going to be great”. But…then the movie starts showing a point of view shot of kid in a mask picking up a knife and killing a girl. At that point I told my mom….”I don’t think I want to watch this movie”. Her response? “You wanted to watch this movie…well you are going to sit here with me and watch it.” We were of course watching the classic horror movie….1978’s Halloween. The end result? I was not able to sleep for two weeks!
Scanners (1981)
Bern1960 – “Let me know when I can open my eyes.”
The situation: My mom suggested we go and see this new science fiction movie call Scanners. You younger readers have to realize that back then it was not always easy to know what exactly a movie was about….so we happily headed to our local theater. Everything was going great….and then the movie started. Within the first 10 minutes of the movie…..a person’s head exploded on screen. That special effect now looks cheesy….but back then it was very realistic. We quickly realized that when a certain type of music started playing on screen that something bad was about to happen. By the time the grand finale bloodfest fight started…..I heard Bern1960 say “Let me know when I can open my eyes”. For some reason she has never wanted to re-visit that movie.
Blade Runner (1982)
Bern1960 – “This is nothing like Star Wars.”
The situation: By the time Blade Runner reached theaters my interest in movies was really developing. Harrison Ford was easily my favorite actor as he had already played Han Solo twice and Indiana Jones once. So not having a car, I had to talk my mother into taking me to the new Harrison Ford movie, Blade Runner. I told her that the movie was another Star Wars type science fiction with Ford. Well the movie turned out to be more like Ridley Scott’s Alien than Ford’s Star Wars movies. During the final showdown between Ford and the villain Rutger Hauer, we get to see Hauer put his head through a wall, put a nail in his hands and terrorize Ford. At some point with Hauer howling like a wolf….my mom turned to me and said…..”This is nothing like Star Wars”. Blade Runner has become one of my all-time favorite movies …..but is a movie that Bern1960 is still disappointed in.
Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Bern1960 – “Reservoir Dogs is the worst movie ever made!”
The situation: When Reservoir Dogs was first released I was blown away by it. I told any and everybody that they had to see the movie. That included my parents. So based on my opinion my parents rented the movie. I shortly got a phone call from Bern1960….and she said….”Reservoir Dogs is the worst movie ever made!” I replied …”Sorry you did not like it…but thanks for watching it.”
After that, everytime I went and saw my parents, I had to hear about how bad a movie Reservoir Dogs was. Finally after a few months I asked….”What made the movie so bad?” Bern1960 replied….”We could not figure out what was going on with the guy bleeding in the car and everybody shouting at each other….so we turned it off”. “What?” I said….”That was the first scene in the movie…..you did not watch anymore of it?” “Nope….and never will” she said. Well, I claim, that her review does not count because she has not seen the movie…but in her view….Reservoir Dogs is indeed the worst movie ever made.
The Bourne Identity (2002)
Bern1960 – “Grandchildren make good human shields”
The situation: Bern1960 was taking her second grandson to see The Bourne Identity. At the time Scotty was only 9 years old. Now unlike the previous 4 movies, Bern1960 was really enjoying the first Matt Damon Bourne movie.
At some point in the movie, one of the bad guys jumps threw a glass window and attacks Damon’s Jason Bourne character. Now most grandparents might instinctively put their arms out to shield/protect the child when they are startled.
Well…Bern1960 did reach out for Scotty…BUT only to grab him so she could place him between herself and the movie screen. Cause you know….”Grandchildren make good human shields”.
Happy Birthday Bern1960
Something I had seen or heard recently but couldn’t quite identify kept bothering me all day yesterday and when I woke up this morning and realised what it was I went into shock: in a post Bern had said that WH was just her SECOND favourite son. Surely not! That seems too much for this site, which can accommodate the likes of even Joel Hirschhorn, to take on board!
I am reminded of “Showdown” the first-season finale of the sitcom Cheers, which aired in two parts on 7 and 14 April 1983. In that one Sam Malone the popular bartender of Cheers tells Diane that his brother Derek will be visiting the bar for a few days and Sam is not looking forward to the visit as he has always been jealous of Derek who seemed so much better at everything than Sam was.
And so it is that during Derek’s visit Sam, usually the life and soul of Cheers, is pushed into the background whilst all the regulars fawn over Derek. In one scene Sam stands forlorn in one corner behind the bar as everyone crowds round the other corner to hear Derek -whom you never actually SEE at any time – talk about himself.
One of the regulars has been struggling with a correspondence language course but Derek teaches him the language in a few hours. The bar seems deserted in another scene until you learn that everyone is crowded round Derek in a back room where he is telling hilarious jokes.
On yet another occasion Sam tends the bar alone only to have company when regulars [normally tight with their money] rush in and out of the back room to buy Derek drinks. And yet again as Sam remains alone at the bar a beautiful tenor voice emerges from the back room to sounds of loud applause and Sam says to someone “He always did have a beautiful voice.”
The finale ends with Derek having gone and Sam talking to Diane when they hear high above them the loud whoooosh of a rocket and Sam ruefully says to Diane “He’s off to the moon now. He’s an explorer too.”
I think it’s fitting given how The Work Horse devoutly takes into account entertainment awards in his statistical calculations that this Dan-like linking of “Showdown” with the Brothers Cogerson should occur because that 2-part episode was given numerous re-runs and won 5 Emmys. However Jack Nicholson said of Brando “When he died we all moved up one.” I am afraid that in relation to the Cogerson boys the opposite applies: Bruce has to move down one and is now just the NINTH Wonder of the World in my book.
Second favorite son out of two. I guess Cogerson can be glad he didn’t end up as third favorite son.
Hobson’s Choice! – Charlie Chan’s “No 2 Son” or The Third Man!
Hey, you know how much I love you all and appreciate you all sharing your lives with me. It is so nice being a mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and great grandmother. I can not imagine not having a family and being a part of their lives. Sharing my birthday yesterday at the card class and lunch was so very nice. Thank you for all you do…………………………
Hey WoC…the positive side of me….is happy with being in 2nd place…..that is normally pretty good……the negative side of me…points out the fact that it was a 2 person race…and I finished last. Which side will win out….thanks for hanging out with BERN1960 on her birthday.
HI BRUCE You are “happy with being in 2nd place” You’ve been watching too many Spencer Tracy films! Oh how these humorous exchanges bring back some memories of jostling for pride of place within my own family.
There were 5 of us brothers and bro X was the parents’ favorite though I don’t think that they realized it showed. I didn’t mind but brother Y got annoyed one day when he saw that there were 3 photos of bro X on our parents’ wall and only 2 photos of each of the other 4 of us.
Years ago I had a friend called Cliff who was married to A, one of 2 sisters. Her sister B was married to a professionally upwardly mobile, highly-paid chap called Pat who was English and spoke with a beautiful accent that Olivier would have envied and everyone, including BOTH sisters, fawned over him the way Derek Malone was worshiped in Cheers.
One evening Cliff, Pat and the 2 sisters along with W o Bob and me were having drinks in another friend’s home. Cliff and Pat were each drinking double whiskies and the sisters took turns in replenishing everyone’s glass.
Towards the end of the evening Cliff’s daughter went to pour the last doubles for Cliff and Pat but when she had poured one double it transpired that only a single whiskey was left for the 2nd glass. The daughter went to hand the large whiskey to her father, Cliff, but her mother quickly took both glasses away from her and held them up to Cliff and asked him “Which one shall we give Pat?”
HEY EVERYONE – WHEN I SAID THAT COGERSON WAS MY SECOND FAVORITE SON THAT MEANT THAT HE WAS MY SECOND SON BORN TO ME AND HIS FATHER. HE AND HIS FAMILY HAVE BEEN SO VERY GOOD TO ME……………………………I HAVE BEEN A PART OF HIM AND HIS FAMILY SINCE HE HAD HIS FIRST SON AND ALL THE CHILDREN THEREAFTER. HIS OLDER BROTHER WAS BORN FIRST AND HE DOES NOT HAVE ANY CHILDREN TO SHARE WITH HIM SO BRUCE’S FAMILY HAS MADE ME HAPPY BEING A PART OF THEIR LIVES. ALSO, WHEN I BROKE MY HIP LAST YEAR I MOVED IN WITH THEM FOR AWHILE BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET BACK TO MY OWN HOME. LIVING WITH HIM AND BEING A PART OF HIS FAMILY WAS WONDERFUL. THEY WERE SO HELPFUL AND TOOK CARE OF ME. I REMEMBER WHEN HE AND HIS DAUGHTER ARRIVED HOME ONE AFTERNOON AND THE REHAB PERSON HAD ME OUT WALKING IN THE STREET WITH MY WALKER – THEY WERE SO SURPRISED TO SEE ME OUTSIDE AND I WAS PLEASED TO BE OUTSIDE WALKING. SO BRUCE AND HIS FAMILY ARE A VERY BIG PART OF MY FAMILY – LOVED AND NEEDED BY ME………………..HAVING GRANDCHILDREN AND GREAT GRANDCHILDREN BECAUSE OF BRUCE HAS BEEN WONDERFUL AND BRUCE IS A WONDERFUL AND CARING SON. SO, THANK YOU BRUCE FOR ALL YOU AND YOUR FAMILY DO FOR ME. I LOVE YOU AND APPRECIATE SHARING YOUR LIVES AND HOPE TO CONTINUE FOR YEARS TO COME IN GOOD HEALTH. GOOD HEALTH AND HAPPINESS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND I WILL CONTINUE TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL LIFE HAS TO OFFER US ALL…………………..THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! P.S. I HAVE A GREAT DAUGHTER-IN-LAW TOO…………IT WAS NICE HAVING HER WITH ME AT MY CARD CLASS AND HAVING LUNCH TOGETHER WITH MY FRIEND DONNA. A GOOD TIME HAD BY ALL………….
Nice explanation from you.
In the Gospel of John the phrase “the disciple that Jesus loved” [which refers to John] is used 6 times and many people have taken that to mean that Jesus loved John more than He did the other 11 disciples.
However Biblical scholars have since suggested that John was the youngest of the disciples and Jesus therefore felt more protective towards him without actually loving the other disciples less.
Anyway once again many happy returns and it’s great that you are keeping so well. I found during one of my own bad illnesses it was appropriate and a comfort to watch Magnificent Obsession which I see is a favorite of yours as it is mine [along with its companion piece All That Heaven Allows]. NB: In an interview that I saw Rock Hudson said that HIS favorite actor was Spencer Tracy.
Hey BERN1960…..nice try……but it is too late…..you have let the truth out of the bag……it hurts…but I understand. Explains why you refused to let Bobby play football (for fear of him getting hurt)…but had no problem with me playing football. Bobby could not be put at risk…but me…”no problem”. Sorry it is hard to type this comment….as the tears make it hard to type. Let me check out Bobby’s website…oh wait…he DID NOT do a birthday tribute to you. One day maybe I will understand….one day….
All in jest BERN1960…..thanks for such nice words…glad your birthday was a good one.
Hey Bob…good catch on my mom’s slip (or was it the truth escaping?). I did not notice it until reading your comment…..and re-reading her comment….and there it was……”my second favorite son”…..which can be said as “my least favorite son”….since there are only two of us….lol. Way to flame the fire….lol. I called her on my way to work and gave her a hard time about….lol.
Happy birthday Grandma!!!
Thanks Sam…..I am sure Grandma appreciates the birthday shout out.
Yes, I did appreciate her birthday wishes very much.
Thank you Sam.
Thank you Sam for your birthday wishes. Just think, in August you will be 13, how about that!
Some of my favorite memories are movies with Grandma. She is the reason why I have seen Return to Snowy River as many times as I have, pretty good movie at that. Also, there is a funny story about Grandma laughing when they burn the money in the original Oceans 11. Happy Birthday Grandma!
Hey BryRog57……good information on how grandma used to watch Return To Snowy River…over and over and over…lol. I need to include the Ocean’s 11 story when we come around to the next April 30th. Thank you for the feedback.
Yes, that was a funny scene where they burned the money in Oceans 11 – your grandfather, my husband, Cogerson’s father said I embarrassed him in the movie by laughing so hard…………
Hey, the Man from Snowy River will be on TV this coming Sunday at 2 PM. I think on the Get channel. That was the first one.
I am still traumatized from my bourne identity experience! Happy birthday Grandma!!!
Hey Scotty….maybe that is what is wrong with you…..it’s grandma’s fault….lol. Thanks for the comment.
Hey, what can I say. I just reacted to the scene. It was startling. Scotty was the closest person that I knew. Forgive me Scotty. Thanks for the birthday wishes and call and from all
my family. WOC and I had fun at card class and a good lunch with my friend Donna today.
I had a wonderful morning with you, MoC. Happy Birthday!
Hi, I had a good time too. It was great being together. Hope you enjoy your cards. Lunch was good………………………………………..
Happy birthday, Bern! I’m thrilled to hear that you are fully recovered from your injury.
Thanks Flora. Bern1960’s recovery has been amazing. When she first broke her hip…I googled “over 80 and broken hips”….the stats were horrible. She has beaten the stats. Thanks again.
Thank you for the birthday wishes. Yes, I am doing very well. I exercise every day so that I keep up my strength and continue to do well. It is just over a year now and I feel good. Thank you.