Movie memories of an octogenarian

by Ivan Anandappa

It is very invigorating to know that there are still a few oldies from the mid-twentieth century who have been ardernt movie buffs. My best friend and schoolmate Godfrey and I were like two peas in a pod. We were the inseparable picture going duo of our home town.

It was a Saturday afternoon and the Capitol cinema was showing a black and white cowboy film, a double attraction. The film starred Hopalong Cassidy that was the formal inauguration of my picture going maria. I got bitten by the movie bug. After a few action films came the serials Burn 'em up Barriers, Phantom Empire, Gene Autry, Captain Marvel and Tom Tyler.

Then came the cowboy and Zorro films. To name a few, there were Red Ryder Don Barry, King of the Texas Rangers. Neil Hamilton. Crimson Rider, Peter Cookson, Zorro's Black Whip, George Lewis. Zorro's fighting legion Reed Hadley. Son of Zorro, George Turner. The Nyoka Jungle girl films. Herman Bricks changed his name to Bruce Bennett. Captain America I Dick Pureel. The serial I really enjoyed was Spy Smasher with Kane Richmond. There were several others of mediocre entertainment.

The National theatre in Maradana screened many films. Nearly all action films and Cowboy films of many popular actors such as Wild Bill Elliot, Randolph Scott, Rod Cameron and Back Jones.

There came some top class colour films. Starring actors such as Tyrone Power, Errol Flynn, Blood and Sand, Captain from Bastille, Adventures of Don Juan and Captain Blood.

I remember there was a rumour that Errol Flynn, the star of Desperate Journey a war film was screened at the Regal Theatre and he would be making a personal appearance. My brother who was a soldier had just returned from Poona after intensive training. He took me to the Regal to see the film. But unfortunately Flynn didn't turn up.

We resided in Colombo and we had over 20 cinemas around. It was great fun and entrainment. The Capitol Cinema took the cake. I remember how we used to sit on long wooden benches in the gallery (gallows was then the word) for three long hours donating blood to blood sucking insects, passive smoking canabis but nevertheless enjoying the fisticuffs and pistol shots that were galore.

I am very anxious to meet oldies, if any, in the land of the living who have been movie maniacs like me.

Reminiscing takes me to the old movies we had seen and really enjoyed. I still recall the Marx Brothers. Groucho with his painted moustache, Harpo the musician and Chicco the dumb one. They were real entertainers. I had seen every film of theirs exhibited in Colombo especially at the Majestic, Bambalapitiya, where the lion roared. John Wayne was a treat to watch.

The memories of the old movies and stars will never die, like old soldiers. They'll simply fade way.