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Leading Las Cruces actor suggests movies to watch

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One could definitely say that I am a cinephile, or if you prefer something less pretentious, movie maniac, film fanatic or any alliterative appellation you choose. I love them. And it’s very hard during these viral times when the theaters are shut down. (I especially miss the Mesilla Valley Film Society at the Fountain Theater.) But thank goodness there are still streaming services and, believe me, I have plenty to choose from.

Giving it a quick count the other day I have more than 1,100 movies in various queues and watch lists on Netflix (DVD and streaming), Amazon Prime, The Criterion Channel, Hulu and my own DVR. And don’t get me started on Disney+. That’s insane, I know. But, like I said, I love movies.

And this time of self-isolation is the perfect time to whittle those lists down a bit. Let me see – if I watch three movies a day, it will only take me a year, but I can watch four movies a day, so that cuts it down a little – maybe three months.

I guess I’ve always loved movies but I really can’t remember the first one I saw. I can remember certain ones that had enough of an impact to make a lasting impression – at least little pieces or images that burned into my memory.

I remember seeing “Lonely Are the Brave” with Kirk Douglas trying to escape the law on his beautiful horse. It wasn’t until much later that I discovered the story was based on a novel by Edward Abbey, with a screenplay by Dalton Trumbo. I watched on my grandparents’ black-and-white television. It was released in 1962, when I was nine, but I’m not certain which year I saw it.

Another vivid memory, which my parents insist didn’t happen, was seeing “Gone With the Wind” at the drive-in in Clovis. I remember that crane shot of the hundreds of Confederate wounded as Scarlett wandered among them. I vividly recall telling the kids I played with all about that scene the next day.

I saw “The Alamo” probably in a theater, also in Clovis, sometime after it was released in 1960. We likely saw it in the theater, since we were from Texas. I saw “Lawrence of Arabia,” and I vividly remember Peter O’Toole wandering through the column of Turkish refugees with his bloody dagger. It remains one of my favorite movies, and I had no knowledge of the director, David Lean, who has directed several films I really admire.

But the film that left the most significant impression on me is “Chinatown.” I was on a little road trip with a friend, and we went to San Patricio near Ruidoso to see a girl I was madly in love with. We made the excuse that we really wanted to see the art at the Hurd ranch. We ended up going to Lubbock for dinner and we saw the film afterward.

The rich, powerful and corrupt forces that Jack Nicholson as Jake Gittes struggles against to solve a murder made a real impact. It is still my favorite movie. However, I would be kidding myself if I ignored the circumstances under which I saw it.

My interest and love of films increased as I became an aspiring actor. Theatre and movies were my loves. I had always paid attention to the Oscars, but when I became a member of the Screen Actors Guild, they became an obsession.

With the DVD screeners and now downloads of nominated performances, many of which carry over to the Academy Award nominations, I had an opportunity to see, on video, all the actors who would be nominated. I feel fortunate to have that opportunity, and February is a time when I cram many viewings of different movies.

In addition, as a member, I get to vote on the SAG awards. SAG merged with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and the organization is now known as SAGAFTRA. So that means I also get to vote on television actors, too.

That just about sums up my addiction to films and besides, I need to watch three more movies today to meet my quota. Stay home, stay healthy and watch a movie.

David Edwards is a long-time thespian in the Las Cruces community with multiple movie, television and theatrical roles to his credit.


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