Phillums I Like

My Dad's Dad was originally from Edinburgh and although I never knew him as he died a few years before I was born, some of his obviously Scottish pronunications have kept on going down the family line.  My Dad often pronouned films 'phillums' and it's a word that tends to stick in my mind when I've enjoyed a good film - I think to myself 'Ah, that was a great phillum'  (There is also the word 'dobeying' for washing clothes, something I believe came from the Indian word for washing and which seems to be particular to southern Scotland - I still think to myself I'll just do a bit of 'dobeying' whilst the weather is good - somehow, in my mind, it is particularly apt for hand washing clothes.) 

Anyhoo, I digress.  I've been picking up a few videos again lately in charity shops and car boot sales and it got me thinking about the films I can watch time and time again and still enjoy every minute of.

1. Grease.  I picked up a copy of Grease last week in a charity shop and thorougly enjoyed it for the umpteenth time.  I know it is often on telly, but it's nice to have a copy that I can watch whenever I fancy - and which isn't interrupted by advert breaks.  I remember going to see Grease in the cinema (or 'picture house' as Dad called them) when I briefly lived in London in 1978.  It doesn't seem true the film is now 30 years old - where has my life gone?

2. The Commitments.  Another fabulous musical film, although a world away from Grease.  The humour is fantastic and still makes me laugh out loud.  And the soul music is amazing.

3. Reykjavik 101.  A very off-beat Icelandic comedy - half in English, half with subtitles.  We've only got a copy we taped from the TV some years ago and the first 20 minutes are missing.  Not that it really matters as the film is still great, but one day I should love to get my hands on a proper copy of the film - just so I know what happened in the first 20 minutes.

4. Witness.  This is another film that was taped from the TV.  Sadly, I can't find the tape anywhere.  I've even had a good look at Mum's house as she loves this film too but to no avail.  Goodness knows whatever happend to it - I do hope it wasn't taped over with some cr*ppy football match by P!!  I know it's a violent film in parts but it's the depiction of the Amish way of life that I love so much - especially the barn raising scene - and, of course, the always gorgeous Harrison Ford.

5. Working Girl.  Another one starring Harrison Ford, and another one taped from the TV.  I watched it again the other evening and realised the tape must be at least 12 years old as there is the Central TV logo at the beginning and we left Nottingham in 1997.  When my sister and I went to New York a few years ago we especially wanted to ride the Staten Island Ferry because it features so much in this film.  It was a great trip on the ferry with amazing views of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty and it was free!!

6. Amelie.  I've only seen this film once on Channel 4 one Christmas evening a few years ago and I was enchanted by it.  I wish they'd show it again and I'd make sure I had the video running.  Sadly, it's one of those films I never seem to find on video at a car boot sale.

7. This Is Spinal Tap.  Another video I've picked up recently.  I've seen this film loads of times and it never fails to make me laugh.  Although it's somewhat dated now in a way that adds to it's charm.  It must be the original 'mockumentary' - preceeding 'The Office' by some 20 years.  What I did find surprising was that none of the members of the group are in fact English - they're all Americans - but you'd never realise by their very authentic English accents.

8. Dirty Dancing.  What is there not to like about this film, I can watch it time and again and never get bored.  Great music, great dancing, and a very predictable storyline.

9. The Dish.  Another fairly recent video purchase but a really sweet quirky little Australian film set at the time of the American Moon Landing.  A gentle story with wonderful Australian humour.

10. Close Encounters of the Third Kind.  Just the best 'alien' film for me.  Not too frightening and still stunning special effects.

What are the 'phillums' that you can watch time and time again?  Also what's the worst film you remember seeing - mine is 'Electra Glide in Blue', the most boring film every made about a police motorcyclist and his bike - utter drivel!

Comments

[Heather]

Oh phillums! Dad was part scottish too! my favourites? Oh that could be a long long list! anything with Harrison Ford! Love all the early star wars films.
Also the one which brings a lump to my throat without fail is "Awakenings" with Robert DeNiro and Robin Williams - probably affects me because my Mum had parkinsons, not the illness depicted but close.
Off to make a list now!

[jeanie]

I also love Working Girl, and I just watched it again. Love the ferries, love the views of the World Trade Center. The building in which much of the movie was filmed, by the way, was WTC Building 7, which also collapsed the same day as the twin towers.
Other movies I could watch a million times: Chariots of Fire, also Tea With Mussolini.

[Maureen]

Phillums and dobeying. I remember them well. The first is also very much an Irish way of pronouncing ( a bit like saying Haitch for H) and my Dad always said that dobeying (which does have it's roots in India) was also a term much used in the navy during and after WW11.

As for movies, I'll watch anything with Christopher Plummer but love The Sound of Music, Etre et Avoir (To Have And To Be) Cinema Paradiso, A Town Like Alice and, one I saw for the first time in years in the video shop only this morning, William Holden in Breezy.

Actually breezy, freezing cold and wet is just what it is down here in New Zealand!

[Gill]

Anything with Kevin Costner is good by me....T I do like a soppy film too, recently bought Amelie on Ebay but haven't watched it, also The War bride which I really enjoyed. Period dramas too, but generally I'm a bit out of touch with movies and tend to rely on other people recommending them.