Beyond the Average 'Fare'

There are several versions of "An Affair to Remember" - you perhaps recall as far back as the 1957 one with the classic Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, and may be familiar with "Love Affair" with Warren Beatty and (his wife) Annette Benning in 1994; BUT were you aware they originated with the 1939 film "Love Affair" with the even more ever classic performers Charles Boyer and Irene Dunne. I like each of the movies in their own right. Although today, the older ones seem to go so so slowly. Cinema has changed so much. But, then, people had time for a movie.

Still in a unique class of its own and so very captivating is "A Fare to Remember". If you like any of the three above, this is a MUST SEE, but don't go rushing to purchase it - its a rare find; I've only seen it (every chance I get!) on cable/satellite TV programming. Out of the countless movies we own, we have yet to acquire this one. This re-make veers from the films above, stealing mostly just from the title. It stars Malcolm-Jamal Warner (of The Cosby Show fame with subsequent shows that reveal his maturing talent that resounds in this movie) and a less known actress/producer Challen Cates.

My common thread: to be true (really true, not simply what we've defined as true) to one's own self. Sometimes we go adrift, off-track. But hold fast to God and let Him straighten your path. When you recognize your mis-step what are you going to do? Make the best of things? Or correct them? Don't allow life to make yourself into something you're not; but allow God to mold you into who you should be. Selah :-)

A Fare to Remember takes place around Christmas time, making it particularly sentimental, and I particularly like seeing it around that time of year. Another Christmas movie chock full of romance (in a It's a Wonderful Life sense) to get a glimpse of is 'the family man' with Nicolas Cage and Téa Leoni and a wonderful part for Don Cheadle! Yet these movies are great to watch absolutely any time of the year. Enjoy!

at Hello!

"So ... tell me how you met your wife."
"Oh", smiling, "well that's a funny story. See, one Christmas my young son, being concerned about how I was dealing with the death of his mom, calls a talk radio show to discuss it with them. To make a long story short a host of mail resulted from the airing, and my son fixed upon one particular responder. After a series of events he set in motion we met, she and I, on Valentine's Day atop the Empire State Building" - _{hypothetical conversation with the Sam Baldwin in Sleepless in Seattle.}

Sleepless is most definitely a frequent viewer for any romantic. I have no idea why I didn't mention this in my Affair to Remember coverage. If someone were to inquire of me, "how often can you watch this movie;" I'd clarify "in a day?" While simply falling in love with the story in its entirety, box of kleenex by my side, I too thoroughly enjoy the timelessly romantic soundtrack. Another such sountrack is the one to One Fine Day also from a delightful romantic comedy, not based at Christmas.

But to get to my point, there's a dialogue in Sleepless where Rosie O'Donnell - the best friend - having been told that 'boy met girl' and boy said 'hello,' asks Meg Ryan what did she say - She tells her with dismay, she could only say to Tom Hanks 'hello'. They flash to the scene in Affair to Remember to witness this exchange between Carey Grant and Deborah Kerr as she also says as Terry McKay: And all I could say was, "hello". (Watch the movie - really!) I was reminded in that moment of another 'hello' with Renee Zellweger and another Tom - Cruise, in Jerry Maguire (1996). There you have have this discourse that ends with:

Jerry: I love you. You... complete me.
Dorothy: Shut up. Just shut up. You had me at "hello".

I conclude, romantically 'hello' can say everything!