The beauty of watching a DVD in the home cinema, is that not only do remember the movie itself, but you also think back to when you first saw it at the real cinema. In turn this triggers related memories. In my case, recently seeing two Aussie Classics on DVD, made me think of Great Movie Giggle Moments
GMGM #1. Back in 1976. The school has taken us to see the very serious Picnic at Hanging Rock. My fellow 15 year olds are quite getting into it. The film is quite tense as the girls have just gone missing. The search has not long started, when up the hill walks the great Garry McDonald, playing a policeman. The cinema erupts with “hey, that’s Norman Gunston. Norman! Norman!”
GMGM #2. Not long after. Probably 1980. Mad Max is still showing at the cinema in it’s first run. I’m sure I’m at the East End cinema in Bourke Street (100?). Don’t look for it, it’s no longer there.
Anyway, another tense scene is upon us. Jim Goose is about to be told the bad news that there’s no case against the rogue cycle gang. The music swells, Max enters, all ready to tell Jimbo that all their work was for nothing….
There, walking with Max is the actor Gil Tucker; he’s playing a legal clerk of some type. For years Gil had played Constable Roy Baker on the TV show Cop Shop. The very straight, dorky, daggy Roy Baker. Again, the cinema rings with giggles and muffled smirks..