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Post by kims on Jul 22, 2023 0:40:26 GMT
It's an interesting production about the state today of displays of disabilities in film. Using examples of older movies is out of context in my opinion.
I remember when people with disabilities were hidden away. I remember a case going to court to allow a couple with downs syndrome to marry. In 1958 or 9, a girl five houses down the street had Cerebral Palsy or Muscular Dystrophy, some neurological condition. She walked on her toes with her arms up and out sort of the position you take when someone says 'reach' couldn't talk and slobbered. The first time I played with her, her mother gave me a quarter. My emotions weren't sophisticated at 6 years to understand, but I was confused, tried to give it back. Still upsets me that this mother thought she had to pay me in hopes that I would come back. Katy, the girl, didn't go to school, which at my age was also confusing.
I disagree with the conclusion that old films showed attractive people with disabilities as being the only ones entitled to relationships or our attention or aid. Pretty much all older movies were cast with attractive people and one could conclude that only attractive people are worthy of our attention.
As much art as there is in films, it is still a business. There has to be a profit to continue making movies and most are made to attract the largest audience.
This production ends with like so many of these educational productions: we need more people with disabilities in front of the camera, behind the camera, writers, etc. I agree, but these types of programs never offer suggestions or a plan. As a viewer of DISABILITIES, what do the producers wish me to do?
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Post by cmovieviewer on Jul 22, 2023 1:35:09 GMT
The example of Johnny Belinda seemed to be a criticism that either the character should have been played by someone with the disability, or the story should have been told by a director? writer? that can speak with personal experience.
I would think that a 1940’s film was an early attempt at starting the exposure and discussion, given the Hollywood system and available resources of the time. And I agree that in addition to art it is a film that aims to attract viewers to come and see it by telling a dramatic story with actors that people will recognize in the publicity.
It is a little like criticizing the early Sidney Poitier films for not being enlightened enough in depicting race relations, when they were breaking ground and paving the way for everything that could eventually follow in a different environment that they helped make possible.
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Post by jamesjazzguitar on Jul 22, 2023 16:52:54 GMT
The example of Johnny Belinda seemed to be a criticism that either the character should have been played by someone with the disability, or the story should have been told by a director? writer? that can speak with personal experience. I would think that a 1940’s film was an early attempt at starting the exposure and discussion, given the Hollywood system and available resources of the time. And I agree that in addition to art it is a film that aims to attract viewers to come and see it by telling a dramatic story with actors that people will recognize in the publicity. It is a little like criticizing the early Sidney Poitier films for not being enlightened enough in depicting race relations, when they were breaking ground and paving the way for everything that could eventually follow in a different environment that they helped make possible. Very solid points here. |
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Post by sagebrush on Jul 24, 2023 23:00:05 GMT
I would have liked to see them include a film during their spotlight in which the main character is not necessarily a nice person, such as Susan Peters' character, Leah Aubyn, in THE SIGN OF THE RAM.
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Post by kims on Jul 30, 2023 17:54:44 GMT
I love THE SIGN OF THE RAM. Spectacular job by Peters as the devious invalid
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Post by vannorden on Aug 12, 2023 23:53:02 GMT
TCM has regularly spotlighted "disabilities in film" over the past decade. I remember a month-long festival about ten years ago that played everything from The Sign of the Ram to Tod Browning films. Speaking of Browning, I am surprised his carni-dramas were omitted from this "reclaimed" series, as he often employed authentic disabled people to appear in his films or to perform as doubles. Perhaps his work was too macabre and bizarre for this specific programing.
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Post by topbilled on Aug 17, 2023 5:20:48 GMT
Interesting comments. Earlier today I had a memory of a cousin I hadn't seen in years. His mother and my mother were first cousins, meaning my maternal grandmother and his maternal grandfather were sister and brother.
That branch of the family lived in Munster, Indiana and my grandparents were still in south Chicago, which isn't too far from Indiana. Anyway, my parents lived in rural Wisconsin since my father was from a large farm family. And we'd go down to Chicago every year at Christmastime. Usually there were would be a dinner at the relatives' home in Munster, Indiana one of those evenings when we were visiting, with a gift exchange.
These were very fun, warm and memorable occasions. My grandmother's brother, Uncle Arnold, was very fond of my sister and me...especially me, since I was a male child. Uncle Arnold's daughter Jane, whom we all called Janie, the one who was my mother's first cousin had a son who was born with severe cognitive disabilities. In those days, the early 80s, the term was mental retardation. Janie's son was named Bobby, and he was at least two or three years older than me. We never saw him except at Christmastime.
Janie and her husband Larry had put Bobby into a 'home' when he became a young adolescent. They didn't have any other children, but they were running a successful company and taking care of Bobby was probably more than they could handle. Because they made good money, they could afford to put Bobby in this very expensive private 'home' with other children like him.
Keep in mind, this was definitely a sad situation, but nobody in our extended family saw this as heartbreaking because to everyone's best ability, it was a step to integrate him with the others at Christmas and include him with us since he was part of our family. But I always felt a little guilty that Uncle Arnold might have wanted me as his grandson, since I was healthy and active.
So some of the memories I had today were of how Janie would feed Bobby. How she was very attentive to him. He couldn't really feed himself, not even as an adolescent. He just didn't have the coordination necessary to get food on a utensil and lift it to his mouth. He never spoke in real words, usually in loud bursts of noise. I wouldn't call it grunts, but outbursts when he got excited or felt some emotion and needed to express himself.
As I think about it now, my sister and I were very patient and accepting of him. We couldn't really play with him or have a conversation with him. But we'd sit next to him and be there with him.
I haven't spoken to my mom's cousin Janie in years, probably not since I was in my late teens or early twenties. My life took me west, I had my own dreams to pursue. But every now and then I'd think of Janie and Bobby. Janie had divorced Larry, and it was a bitter divorce, so he did not remain in touch with any of our family. Janie remarried, to a guy named Jim who was very tolerant and loving towards Bobby.
Today I had this memory and I thought, I wonder if Bobby is still alive. What would his life be like now? So I googled his name, and I found a photo that was included on a funeral home website, because Bobby's stepfather Jim had recently died. The write-up said Bobby still lives in a home with other people like him. But the photo on that website was a Christmas photo, probably from a year or two ago. He is wearing a holiday sweater and so is Janie. Janie's sister Nancy is in the photo, and of course, Jim's in the photo. Bobby is now middle-aged.
It was interesting to see that photo of him today. I googled the name of the home where he lives, it is a facility run by a nonprofit Christian organization. I found Janie's address online. And I think, once I decide what to say, I think I will send her a letter. Almost everyone else is gone now. Larry died. Jim died. My Uncle Arnold died back in 1983. Arnold's wife, my Aunt Honey (whose real name was Helen) died, though she lived a long life. My grandparents are gone, my grandfather died in 1995 and my grandfather died in 1999. My mother only had a sister, Janet, and she died from Covid at the beginning of the pandemic.
So I think it would be a good thing to reach out to Janie. What I wonder is, what happens to Bobby, after Janie's gone? I would imagine there is some trust set up for his care. But how will it affect him when she's gone. He has no siblings, and I don't know if the other cousins would even go to visit him.
Sorry for this long-winded post. But I just wanted to express something about my cousin Bobby, who helps me look at the world in a slightly different way...not just because of his disabilities, but because of what a special person he is.
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Post by kims on Aug 17, 2023 22:59:09 GMT
One way to start communicating with Janie is to reminisce about the days when family lived closer together and able to be in touch instead of miles apart. Short and sweet ask how everyone is. In this case it may be better to not over think it.
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Post by topbilled on Aug 18, 2023 1:41:41 GMT
One way to start communicating with Janie is to reminisce about the days when family lived closer together and able to be in touch instead of miles apart. Short and sweet ask how everyone is. In this case it may be better to not over think it.
I will send a note to her this weekend, and post if/when I get a reply! |
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Post by marysara1 on Aug 23, 2023 17:29:09 GMT
Two of my nephew's kids have autism. One is nonverbal and the other has no filter. He insulted the way me and my brother talked, and my sister-in-law said he couldn't play unless he apologized, He said we had lovely voices and left. I think my nephew is trying to figure out if it's because of his autism. The nonverbal one hits people when he gets frustrated. My sister-in-law is worried he'll end up in a home.There was even a scene in H
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Post by marysara1 on Aug 23, 2023 17:50:44 GMT
There was a scene in Helen Keller that she locked her teacher in a room and hid the key. Isn't it sometimes a mixed-bag, How many movies are there were the husband is in love with another woman but has an invalid wife? Remember in the movie the tunnel and other woman confronted Richard Dix's wife and said are you blind? She didn't realize she was.In Love Affair the woman was in a wheelchair, so she refused to let the guy know what's going on. What about the Ronald Reagan's character in Kings Row. He wasn't going to let no legs stop him.
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