What Five Movies Would You Pick To Teach Good Values?

[Donald Binks]

Speaking as a small shopkeeper, Mr Fields is indeed a model example, whether in IT'S THE OLD ARMY GAME, IT'S A GIFT or THE PHARMACIST, and one identifies with him completely. (And on a television note, 'Arkwright' in 'Open All Hours' and 'Auntie Wainwright' in 'Last of the Summer Wine')

Have you ever been closed "on account of molasses"?

[boblipton]

Not since the Great Molasses Flood of 1919, although I harbored some hopes when they stole the Global Strategic Maple Syrup Reserve a few years ago.

Bob

[telical]

What pictures have taught me good values?

Well, let me see - firstly, any W.C. Fields picture would tend to teach me how to overcome the foibles of the business world by becoming a racketeer and charlatan myself. He also taught me that drinking was an art.

Next - any Marx Bros. picture. These helped me immeasurably in coping with legal people and how to generally deal in business undertakings. Above all, the Marx Bros. showed that the world is basically a ball of lunacy and that being a lunatic oneself was the best way of dealing with it.

And, not forgetting any Laurel and Hardy picture. It shows that one doesn't need any intelligence whatsoever in order to survive - in fact life can be very enjoyable even if you don't bother to use your brains. (Provided one possesses one).

Lastly - "Bedazzled" with Pete and Dud guiding me around the seven deadly sins.

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=c ... f%20trolls" target="_blank

[greta de groat]

I don't really try to figure out the moral of the film. There are values that they commonly espouse that i sometimes find annoying--racism, sexism, etc., that kind of go with the territory if you watch old movies. A particularly common one is that if a women has ever really loved a man, she'll always go back to him no matter what a jerk or irresponsible parasite he is (even if a much nicer rich guy wants to marry her)

Sometimes, though, the moral message really intrudes--especially if i'm confused about what they are trying to say. This discussion put me in mind of a comment i made a few years back on Alles für Geld/Fortune's Fool
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=17032&start=150#p133572" target="_blank

Re: learning from W.C. Fields--i have often said that my world view was formed by Monty Python and the Marx Brothers.

greta

[Spiny Norman]

Not since the Great Molasses Flood of 1919, although I harbored some hopes when they stole the Global Strategic Maple Syrup Reserve a few years ago.

Bob

That actually happened!

wikipedia: The Great Molasses Flood

[Robert Moulton]

Not since the Great Molasses Flood of 1919, although I harbored some hopes when they stole the Global Strategic Maple Syrup Reserve a few years ago.

Bob

That actually happened!

wikipedia: The Great Molasses Flood

Bissonette Groceries was completely destroyed.

[Frederica]

Not since the Great Molasses Flood of 1919, although I harbored some hopes when they stole the Global Strategic Maple Syrup Reserve a few years ago.

Bob

That actually happened!

wikipedia: The Great Molasses Flood

Bissonette Groceries was completely destroyed.

You win the interwebs for today.

[earlytalkiebuffRob]

Speaking as a small shopkeeper, Mr Fields is indeed a model example, whether in IT'S THE OLD ARMY GAME, IT'S A GIFT or THE PHARMACIST, and one identifies with him completely. (And on a television note, 'Arkwright' in 'Open All Hours' and 'Auntie Wainwright' in 'Last of the Summer Wine')

Have you ever been closed "on account of molasses"?

Nearest thing was being closed on account of being press-ganged to the pub across the road. And of course the word 'molasses' might confuse the Brits. 'Treacle' just doesn't have the right ring to it...

[thanks for reminding me of that wonderful moment - in the film, that is]

There was an incident when a customer (whom we referred to as 'Mr Pastry') made some comment about a canary. I realised that he was referring to a real one, which had some way found its way into the shop. The next day (a Sunday) I went in and was able to locate the little sweetie (there was a lot of clutter) and he / she was taken to a rescue centre by a friend...