What Movies Have Had The Greatest Impact On Your Life?

Posted February 15, 2008, 10:16 pm by Growing Bolder

Growing Bolder asks leaders, thinkers, writers, life coaches, entertainers and role models to weigh in on issues affecting our lives.

The Oscars are a hot topic, so we ask: What movies have had the greatest impact on your life?


	Susan Silver My two favorite older movies are Darling with Julie Christie and Random Harvest with Greer Garson. From the first one I got a wardrobe icon...in the seventies I wore turtlenecks, short corduroy skirts and boots and actually was told by a cabbie once that I looked like Julie! The second one is my all time favorite weepy. It's about amnesia, true love, fairytales that it's all going to work out and that you do indeed have a soul mate. It corrupted me forever but I don't care. I love it every time I see it. Movies stars today cannot compare to those of old. Except for George Clooney. George...call me. I mean it! About Susan Susan was a writer for many of the greatest TV shows of all time, including "The Bob Newhart Show," "Mary Tyler Moore," and "Maude." These days, she writes a hilarious relationship column called, "The Search for Mr. Adequate." She is a frequent guest on the Growing Bolder Radio Show.

Nancy Daly All time favorite movie: "Mary Poppins" There's a lot of happiness and range of emotion. I love the colorful scenes - favorite is when they jump into the sidewalk chalk art, go on the merry-go-round, fox hunt, etc. - great fantasyland. Movie that made an impact: "Nell" with Jodie Foster. Big emotions, great scenery and great acting; you could feel her feelings when she re-lived memories. Other movie with impact: "The Piano" with Holly Hunter. Silent Films: No words, but huge ability to communicate through eyes, body language, movement. Wonderful film making and acting, and demonstration of how strong nonverbal communication can be. Today's films: I'm not interested in the content or being indoors in a movie theater. I prefer first-hand experiences and reading good nonfiction. There are some talented actors, and I hope that they stay strong in demanding high quality scripts/roles that contribute positively to our world, and add to the happy, clean quotient in viewers' lives! About Nancy Nancy is the author of numerous published articles on transformational change, leadership and planning. Her newest book, A Left-Brain Thinker On a Right-Brain Journey, captivates readers seeking breakthrough change and passion-filled results by combining analytical intelligence with creative intuitive processes to originate new formulas for life transformations.

	Bobbe Lyon Movie faves and the impact they had on my life: Casablanca - true love trumps all but if it's pure, it can be given up for the greater good. Pay It Forward - random acts of kindness, cast your bread upon the waters, it always comes back but that's not your reason for doing it. (I still do this almost daily giving change to someone who's short a few coins in the check-out line, letting somebody go ahead of me, and if I'm feeling SUPER generous, paying the toll charge for the car behind me) The Bucket List - I thought this would be light hearted and funny and it was, but it was also profound. I find that my bucket list is almost complete (things you want to do b/4 you 'kick the bucket') and I'm not even sick! About Bobbe Bobbe Lyon, M.D. (mirth dispenser) is a believer and practicioner in the power of humor. She thought her life was over at age 45 when her husband died. After wallowing in despair, humor became her primary tool for survival. It worked so well the Laughing Lyon earned a BA in Journalism and an MA in Counseling. Soon she decided to take her humorous ideas public. She has been a National Speaker ever since.

Christine Schwab Movies allowed me to escape a difficult childhood. It wasn't one, it was most of them. When I saw a movie I became the heroine. I lived in their fantasy world. I knew that there was more to life than the life I was living. As a young adult that inspiration enabled me to reach for the stars in my career. I knew that any failures along the way were just stumbling blocks on the way to my success. I think today's movies are even better. They deal with many sensitive issues that help to make all of us more compassionate. I don't like all the violence like There Will Be Blood but I recognize the importance of the story and the creativity and brilliance of the acting. Movies are an escape to fantasy. We all need an escape at times. I adore going to the movies. I am thankful for their influence in my life. About Christine She's a renowned style expert and fashion consultant who has appeared on "Today," "Oprah," "Live with Regis and Kelly" and more. She's been a spokesperson for many of the world's most powerful fashion brands and retailers. In her book, "The Grown-Up Girl's Guide to Style," she smashes ridiculous and unfounded stereotypes.

	Cliff "Irongeezer" Eggink I grew up in the dream factory, the Hollywoodland of old. My father was a gaffer, a lightening director in today's parlance. I guess my fascination with the celluloid world was never that great because I knew from early on what went on behind the scenes: all the tricks of the trade that made the fantasy become real on the flickering screen. But, before this full behind-the-scenes awareness, I do remember one particular instance where the fantasy world still affected me, and I was reminded of that magic moment recently when watching King Solomon's Mines. At the conclusion of shooting that Academy Award winning film, my father returned home with bags and bags of jewels, gold, gems, baubles, bangles and beads which filled my room with the treasure of the Solomon mines. Of course, this treasure was nothing more than colored plastic and made me realize, in time, that many of the dreams in Hollywood were the same, then and now, empty dreams dreamt by many, realized by a few. My general sense of the mundane, that stars were just people with a job, that many times was quite boring, considering the endless takes and waits, while the majority of the population thought such idols of the screen of as semi-gods living a most glamorous life, was not helped by the fact that I was, in one of my earliest jobs, a telephone man in Beverly Hills. In that capacity, I came face-to-face with many a star, including Lauren Bacall, Kim Novak, Tony Curtis, who were just plain faced, normal folks going about their day-to-day life. And why not? Maybe it is precisely because of this understanding that people are people garnered in the land of glitz that I have walked relatively unintimidated and unimpressed by status and power, while appreciative of true talent coupled with a lack of pretension. At the same time living and working among the stars, I realized that there was another world beyond my blue collar life and I sought to "star" in the movie script of my own making, and I did, never forgetting the lessons of Hollywood: to treat everyone as an equal, especially if you are the "star" du jour, because the other "players," whether the camera man or your co-star, can make you look really bad, if you act like the divo; to realize that beyond the glamorous exterior of most things, there is the ordinary, which, in turn, can be quite extraordinary; to understand that no one gets to the top without a lot of work, even if it looks like someone was an overnight success, but, at the same time, grasping the concept that much can be accomplished simply through appearance, and that it isn't always the most talented, but often the savviest marketer of self who makes it to the top. That's the introspective answer to your question, but, if pressed, I would say that I favor the movies of David Lean, such as Lawrence of Arabia, Bridge on the River Kwai, and Dr. Zhivago, for their cinematic beauty and scope, but also movies which put content and theme before action, such as Casablanca and a myriad of other films that came out of that old Hollywood where writers of substance not only wrote novels, but also scripts. I find few movies in the last years to recommend themselves in that way and am often confounded at the glorification of gratuitous violence and gore, the absence of a story line set above the action, and the praise heaped upon mediocrity. Again, if pressed, I would say that The English Patient is reminiscent of a Lean film, and that actors, like Cate Blanchett, Daniel Day Lewis, Meryl Streep, and Helen Mirren, are shining examples of their craft, while remaining grounded in real life. About Cliff Cliff Eggink is a 70-year-old former CEO known around the world as the Iron Geezer. By his own admission, he was once a coach potato. But when he was 60 years old something motivated him to change. He didn't just decide to get in shape, he decided to tackle an Ironman Triathlon. And he's been joined in his athletic adventures by his wife, Tatjana, the Iron Geezelle.<

Patricia Bond I got so disgusted with movies around the 70s that I quit going. One of the worst was Clockwork Orange--violent, smutty and disgusting. There was another one or two that were widely acclaimed that I thought were not worth the price of admission: Cool Hand Luke was one. No plot, no acting, no point. Or maybe I missed it. I occasionally see a movie on DVD at someone else's home, as I do now own a player. The most recent movie I have seen that I enjoyed was Pirates of the Caribbean with Johnny Depp. Quite entertaining. A friend recommended the March of the Penguins. We like photography and the film was certainly about that. Amazing photography. We also saw a documentary about Andy Goldsworthy. Since his art is "temporary", it is also about the photography. I have to say that I enjoyed both of those. The new concept of theaters doesn't appeal to me. A smallish room with squirming people, mostly talking and eating. I would rather stay home. About Patricia Patricia Bond is a multi-sport athlete who has been involved in the Senior Games for many years and thrives on the competition. She won 8 gold medals in 2007 Games in the 65-69 age group. She is the Chair of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee of Manatee County and enjoys photography.


	Elaine Beaubien Oh my gosh. I'm so shallow. Most of the action, adventure, nonsensical movies I love aren't nominated. I watch the academy awards to see all the fashions, the hair-dos and the jewelry. I score on some, thinking there are designers somewhere laughing their heads off astounded they actually got someone to wear the freakish gown they built, (don't you do that too?) and just go ga-ga over others. What's more beautiful than a stunning woman in a gorgeous gown accessorized by a handsome man in a tux? Half the time I haven't seen the movies that are nominated. Nor are they on my Netflix "must see" list. The movies that appeal to me rarely make the cut. Okay. I admit it. I like the blockbusters. I just love to sit in the dark with my huge bucket of popcorn and escape for a few hours. No cell phone, no deadlines, no meetings, no problems. No matter what's on the screen, that serene feeling of not having to be anywhere else is delicious! Or maybe it's the euphoria induced by the 32 ounces of Diet Pepsi I slurp with my popcorn. I think in a very real way it's this escape into a dark place with yummy snacks and no other duties that makes movies still wildly popular even when you can rent the same show much, much less expensively a few months after its initial release. People crave the whole experience. I know I do. It is the only reason I would spend more for popcorn and a soda than the weekly grocery bill! My two favorite movies are Little Mermaid and It's a Wonderful Life. Little Mermaid because finally, finally Disney wrote a female character that didn't wait for her prince, but went after him. It's a Wonderful Life because it shows the impact of one life and makes me cry every Christmas. Oh wait! Under the Sea, a song from Little Mermaid, won best song and the movie won Best Original Score in 1989. So I answered your question, in the end! About Elaine Elaine Beaubien is an award-winning professor, an international speaker, entrepreneur, corporate trainer and a popular columnist. Still, after turning 50, she wanted to try her hand at something else -- writing romance novels. So, she started writing under the pen name E.K. Barber but the secret is now out. Her latest is, "Flight into Fate and Flight into Destiny."

Dr. John Langdon Last night I saw "No Country for Old Men". That was a creeper. Woke up thinking about it and checked all the locks before bedding down! But I don't count these kinds of movies in my top list though no one can argue with the acting. I tend to resonate with movies that are musicals or have a strong musical score. In that sense I think "Chicago" would rate near the top as I love the cast [I will see anything with Renee Zellweger. Richard Gere and Catherine Zeta-Jones don't detract either] and it makes the leap from Broadway to the silver screen flawlessly. Did I say "Chicago" is probably my favorite Broadway production as well? It's tied with "O Brother Where Art Thou". Wonderful music that picks up ancient themes of traditional Southern stuff and some of it even comes from medieval genres that the group Anonymous Four sings and has popularized. Again, incredible casting. And I am touched by George Clooney and his personal zeal to make the world a better place [as in his Darfur work with his dad - a relationship in addition that I respect]. As far as other films, who can deny the absolute power of "Fantasia" - the range of emotion and sentiment conveyed via the golden era of hand drawn animation and the classical scores from so many music collections is an unforgettable mind expanding experience that quite literally carries you away on a magic carpet. Just and finally to get Johnny Depp on the table, "Finding Neverland" captures your heart in a way that few movies can and it did mine. I would also love to throw in a mention for the likes of James Cagney and Lauren Bacall et al because my maternal grandfather was a Hollywood character actor who played various supporting roles in many of the films of that era and photos of casts including him with the likes of Rita Hayworth are still compelling to me and explain some of my penchant for enjoying on-camera work personally. Great idea for Growing Bolder to bring up our favorite films around Oscar time! Here's looking at you, kid. About John Cancer continues to be a major cause of death, but Dr. John Langdon says there have been major advances in treatment. In his 40 year medical practice, most of which has focused on cancer, Langdon has seen, and has been part of an evolution in treatment. He believes the shift to genetic treatments holds all sorts of potential, and he also believes in the power of attitude. As an expert in cancer risk assessment and a Growing Bolder guru, Langdon wishes to share his knowlege and to continue to learn from those of us facing cancer head on.

	Ellyn Brown The African Queen has been my all time favorite movie. It has played a very important role in my life. Katharine Hepburn's role as Rose was that of a strong woman. No actress since has been able to represent the strength and independence like Katharine Hepburn in this role. About Ellyn Ellyn Brown recently ran three miles up a 3,500 mountain in 54 minutes and 57 seconds. At 54 years old, she became the first woman in the 19-year history of the Bird Ridge Race to run it in a time equal to or less than her age. She's as tough as they come. She runs races as long as 24 hours long and competes in grueling snow shoe events as well. And she believes that turning 50 was one of the best things to ever happen to her!

What Movies Have Had The Greatest Impact On Your Life?

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