TOP 10 GEEZER MOVIES OF ALL TIME!!!

October 26, 2001

Why, you may ask, are we doing geezer movies now, so close to Halloween? Why not scary movies, for example? Well, there are three reasons. First, I've had this list on hold since we appeared live at Leisure World -- pardon, Laguna Woods, the largest retirement community in the world -- on September 21. The terrorist attack on 9/11 messed it all up. Second, I think that, particularly at this time, a list of geezer movies is appropriate -- particularly if you think about the true meaning of geezers. And third, and most important -- well, you'd have to see Mr. Hewitt's guest host this week, Joseph Timothy Cook, to understand.

So what is a geezer, anyway? As with art, a geezer is hard to define, but you know one when you see one. The great geezer actors of all time -- some of whom actually made my list -- include Walter Brennan, George "Gabby" Hayes, Lionel Barrymore, Burt Mustin and, of course, the King of the Geezers, Walter Matthau. So here, for the first time, are the Top 10 Geezer Movies of All Time!!

	10.	Kotch (1971): Walter Matthau was nominated for Best Actor for his work as an old man who finds new life when he befriends a pregnant, unmarried woman (Deborah Winters). Directed by Jack Lemmon. A fine family movie, well worth a look.
	9.	Murphy's Romance (1985): Don't let the cover fool you -- this is just a fine ol' well acted (except for Brian Kerwin), well written, romantic family movie. James Garner (who was nominated for Best Actor) plays Murphy, a crotchety single drug store owner in a small town who falls reluctantly in love with Sally Fields.
	8.	Robin and Marian (1976): How can you possibly go wrong with a movie starring Sean Connery as an aging Robin Hood who has swashed his last buckle, and Audrey Hepburn as the fair Maid (still, apparently) Marian? A vastly underrated romantic look at Robin Hood past his prime.
	7.	Star Trek II--The Wrath of Khan (1982): After Star Trek -- The Movie -- or as I prefer to think of it, Star Trek -- The Disaster -- the franchise was redeemed by this great action movie starring the usual gang, beginning to acknowledge that they were growing old. Ricardo Montalban gives the bravura performance of his life.
	6.	Cocoon (1985): A group of retired men and women discover the restorative powers that inevitably result when you swim in a pool populated by alien cocoons. Don Ameche (Best Actor in a Supporting Role), Wilford Brimley, Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy, Gwen Verdon, Jack Guilford -- who could ask for anything more with such a grand cast?
	5.	Waking Ned Devine (1998): A fine, fun film. A group of aging seniors try to collect the lottery winnings of a recently deceased friend, without being found out. Any movie featuring an aging actor (David Kelly) riding his motorcycle naked is worth a look.
	4.	Driving Miss Daisy (1989) According to the Academy, the Best Picture -- and as I recall, I agreed. Jessica Tandy (Best Actress) plays an aging Jewish woman in Atlanta whose son, Dan Aykroyd (nominated for Best Supporting Actor) hires an aging black driver (Morgan Freeman, nominated for Best Actor) to drive his mother to the Piggly Wiggly. A fine, warm-hearted family movie.
	3.	On Golden Pond (1981): Katherine Hepburn (Best Actress) and Henry Fonda (Best Actor) play a long married couple spending their summer by the lake, while taking care of their spoiled, bratty grandson (Doug McKeown) -- but with a mother like Jane Fonda, what could you expect? A very well written movie starring two legends going out in a blaze of glory.
	2.	Grumpy Old Men (1993): When you think of geezers, you think of Matthau and Lemon. Although the movie isn't that great, their interaction is.
	1.	The Sunshine Boys (1975): Matthau (again) plays one-half of a retired, infamous vaudeville comedy team. George Burns (Best Actor in a Supporting Role) plays the other. They agree to reunite for a TV special. Too bad they hate each other. Written by Neil Simon and directed by Herbert Ross. Bar none, the ultimate geezer movie.

Almost made it -- but where was I going?