In 1994, when Burt Lancaster died at age 80, my grandmother was bereft. I
was surprised, because she had never expressed any affection for him
before. She seemed to go for the Latin lovers that were popular in the
old days -- Fernando Lamas, Riccardo Montalban, and most of all, Cesar
Romero.
"You don't understand," she said sadly. "Even my movie stars are dying." My dad (her son) was gone. Her husband, her sister and parents were gone. And now, even Burt Lancaster, who was crazy popular in her regular movie-going days, was gone.
"You don't understand," she said sadly. "Even my movie stars are dying." My dad (her son) was gone. Her husband, her sister and parents were gone. And now, even Burt Lancaster, who was crazy popular in her regular movie-going days, was gone.
I know how she felt. Burt Reynolds died this past week. Between 1978 and 1982 -- for five straight years -- he was the #1 movie star in the world. So even though I wasn't a fan, I have memories attached to his movies, his talk show appearances, and magazine covers ("Will Burt marry Dinah?" "Will Burt marry Sally?" "Loni vs. Burt: Hollywood's Nastiest Divorce.").
And so, in tribute to one of the lions of my girlhood, I share this TCM tribute.
I wasn't really a fan, either, but we always watch the "Smokey and the Bandit" movies when they are on. They're dumb, but so much fun and they really bring back the memories of those times.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't particularly a fan, either, but my eldest sister was!
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