It’s seafood month here at Oregano. Which means that this
month’s Pizza Movie Night has a fabulous nautical theme. Yes, this March we are
going to suggest to you some of the finest seaside films we could find, and we
think there will be a little something for everyone.
Since the very beginning of film, the seaside has been the
perfect location for observing humanity. The first successful motion picture
shot in natural colour was George Albert Smith’s 1910 film “A Visit to the
Seaside at Brighton Beach”, which was a series of shots of the various
activities taking place along the seafront. The seaside is holiday destination par excellence, the perfect place to
escape as well as the ideal backdrop for stormy action and violence, mirrored
in the untameable beast of the sea.
But enough of that
already. Let’s talk about the food. We’ve gone to the liberty of choosing, what
we think is, the perfect pizza for our seaside theme: the Puglia. Named after
our owner’s coastal home, the Puglia is a riot of seafood delights. Tomato-base
topped with fresh clams, mussels, squid, garlic, olives and olive oil. Want to
kick it up a notch? Why not add any, or all, of the following: tuna, anchovies,
prawns. A fishy feast. Now, on with the films!
- “The Ghost and Mrs Muir” – 1947
- “In 1900, a young widow finds her seaside cottage is haunted...and forms a unique relationship with the ghost.” – This is a lovely film, plain and simple. If you’re looking for a romantic comedy that’s not too soppy, this is the one for you.
- “Et Dieu… créa la femme” (...And God Created Woman), Roger Vadim – 1956
- “In sunny St. Tropez, a young sexpot loves one brother but marries the other.” – This film is sexy as hell. And French. Which is pretty cool. It also has Brigitte Bardot in it, who is amazing. Essentially it was an excuse for director Vadim to show the world how sexy his wife is... Watch this with someone who fancies themselves a bit clever. Or with someone who fancies Brigitte Bardot...
- “Blue Hawaii” – 1961
- “Chad Gates has just gotten out of the Army, and is happy to be back in Hawaii with his surf-board, his beach buddies, and his girlfriend. His father wants him to go to work at the Great Southern Hawaiian Fruit Company, but Chad is reluctant. So Chad goes to work as a tour guide at his girlfriend's agency.” – This film has Elvis Presley in it. Nuff said. Seriously though, this is a family friendly film with gorgeous sets, excellent music, and a lot of very good-looking people. What’s not to like?
- “Gallipoli”, Peter Weir – 1981
- “Two Australian sprinters face the brutal realities of war when they are sent to fight in the Gallipoli campaign in Turkey during World War I.” – If war films are your thing, we offer you “Gallipoli”. Perhaps too tragic to be called a ‘seaside’ film, the characters nonetheless spend a lot of time on the beach...
- “Shipping News” – 2001
- “An emotionally-beaten man with his young daughter moves to his ancestral home in Newfoundland to reclaim his life.” – This film gets mixed reception. Some might call it dull, we think it’s beautiful and a slow burner. Worth a watch just for the stunningly talented all-star cast.
- “Miami Vice” – 2006
- “Based on the 1980s TV action/drama, this update focuses on vice detectives Crockett and Tubbs as their respective personal and professional lives become dangerously intertwined.” – High octane, shiny remake of 80s cop show, if action movies are your sort of thing, then this is the beachy film for you. Perhaps not the greatest action film ever made, but Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell as the leads definitely make up for that.
So, there you have it, 6 films, a couple of Pizza Puglia's and one rocking Friday night. Enjoy!
