Robert Redford - actor, director, producer, musician. He’s starred in some of the most memorable movies of any actor in my lifetime - two words - Sundance Kid.
So the other day, my husband was getting his hair cut. The stylist’s 35 year old sister walked into the salon and the three of them began chatting, mostly about Robin Williams’ upcoming nuptials at a local resort. For some reason, Mr. Redford’s name came up and the stylist’s sister asked, “Who’s that?” Seriously, she was clueless.
When my husband told me this story, I began hyperventilating. “Who’s that? Who’s that? She actually asked ‘who’s that’? No way. No way. She doesn’t know who Robert Redford is? No fuckin’ way. Was she born in a barn? Does she live in a cave? Is she deaf, dumb and blind? Everybody in the whole fuckin’ world knows who Robert Redford is.” (When I travel to the dark side, I use the word fuck a lot.)
How can a thirty-five year old woman be unaware of Robert Redford and his movies? Good grief.
I decided to plan a series of posts on the twenty-five most influential movies in my lifetime - just my opinion, you understand. You’ll see my list. I’ve asked my dad for his list, my husband for his list and my son, a filmophile, for his list. There may be some overlap. I’m talking about movies that changed your life, impacted society, scared the ever-lovin’ shit out of you. These are the movies I want to hear about.
So…you with me? Should you decide to post your own list on your own site, please let me know so I can link ASAP. Or feel free to send me your list and I’ll give you a day to talk about movies that influenced you.
Doesn’t know who Robert Redford is my ass…
I’m a guest poster today at Secrets of 7 Scribes. Stop by!
***Super amazing thanks to MTNickerson who gave me a great shout out on his blog yesterday. He never fails to make me think. But man, I ain’t all that. Ask my mom.
What!?! I bet she doesn’t know about Steve McQueen, Lee Marvin, Paul Newman, Charles Bronson, or or or… Shees.
I’m looking forward to your movie list.
Jaye - I know! I was speechless!
I’m 30. I know who Robert Redford is. She’s 35? She’s got no excuse.
At 35 she should know who Robert Redford is..unless she grew up with no technology and never watched TV.
Jeremiah Johnson! Beardilicious! :^)
If she was 15 years old, I could understand. But 35…..that makes no sense. Yep, I think she’s been living under a rock.
OMG - This just kills me! Even my fifteen year old son knows who Robert Redford is. She is a clueless wonder.
I love Robert Redford. It’s totally her loss! I wonder what else she’s missing out on?
Post that movie list I can’t wait to read it!
XXOO Kat
love this post: I can probably give you all a few years but I love the way you are going to turn the earth shattering news of a 35 yr old not knowing who Robert Redford is into a massive filmography of peoples greatest movie moments. Does it count that my wife had to tell me who Ashton Kutcher ( I really still have no idea who he is) was the other day when I wrote a response blog about him, Demi Moore and January Jones. I knew who she was (Demi, well I suppose most men would, wouldn’t they), but I had no idea who he was or that he was married to her?
Oh and by the way I thought Ciara Ballintyne another commentator on here was only 25!(ish)
I recently had a similar thought when someone who is only 6 years older than me said she didn’t know who Anne McCaffrey was.
Now I’ve read just about every series but Pern is the biggest. How could she not know AM??
No excuse. I’m 38 and I’ve been watching Robert Redford for years! I love so many of his films.
What! I suppose she doesn’t know who Paul Newman is either. Or wait, maybe she does. He the guy on the salad dressing bottle. Good grief!
Tom - Ashton Kutcher? I only know who he is because he’s from Iowa and I’m from Iowa.
No, honestly I know who he is, I just don’t care. Robert Redford is another story. My kids all know who he is, in addition to knowing who Ashton Kutcher is, and they love RR’s movies.
Ciara, are you 25?
Hey Tom, come up with a list of movies…
Kat - you’re kinda in the business - let’s hear your list!
Yeah, Casey - all three of my kids love Robert Redford. He was the Brad Pitt of a certain generation.
Jeremiah Johnson is up there because of your beard fetish, Penny. Also because I just read Winter Woman! Yes, under a rock. I swear…
Hi Amber. I’m quite sure she’s watched TV. Probably Beavus and Butthead. I prefer Southpark myself.
Oh good, you’re not 25. If you were 25, I’d feel bad about using the ‘f’ word, even though I’ve been using it since I was 14.
Shawn - LMAO! Yes, you’re right. The guy on the salad dressing bottle!
Hi Beth. I guess AM I can sort of understand if you never, ever read, especially fantasy or sci fi. I can maybe get that, despite the popularity of the Pern series. RR I can’t understand - when she’s 35. It is interesting - I wonder if she’s read The Handmaid’s Tale?
I’m surprised she doesn’t know him. Though he currently has no movies he’s starring in, the new movie “Moneyball”. People are saying Brad Pitt looks/acts like a young Robert Redford and I have to agree. So his name is being thrown about.
I love watching movies, but I’m not sure any of them have been influential. Entertaining for sure, but nothing that changed my view of the world. I think I must not watching the right movies.
Nina - LOL! I think some movies not only entertained, but expanded my mind, and not just because I was stoned.
I guess I must be the generation before y’all. John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, Kirk Douglas, Charlton Heston, Jack Lemmon, Doris Day, Kathrine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Sidney Poitier, Grace Kelly, Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton…to name just a few. I would still rather watch one of their movies…
I have had a kid ask what a typewriter is. We collect typewriter ribbon tins and have them displayed on a sheet of steel via magnets. Type writer ribbons were sold in tins with great advertising art on them. One of our neighbors children was obsessed with our house and desperately wanted a tour. When we got to that I exlained we collected, blah blah blah and he said “what’s a typewriter.”
There is also the old joke about a kid asking about the Beatles and after hearing they were a band with Paul McCartney saying he was in a band before Wings? Now the question would be “Wings?”
As the very, very old song says (more or less) “Time goes on, and we’ve often rewound the clock, since the Puritans got a shock, when they landed on Plymouth Rock.” I do believe Cole Porter died before I was born but I still know him. Time moves faster now than ever and you can’t rewind a digital clock.
Hahahahaha…I’m a South Park girl too.
Yes, I agree, Steph - nothing stays the same. But I know who Clark Gable is. I know what a printing press is…
Oh no, Anny - I’m a big fan of those stars too!
Unbelievable, one of the sexiest men of the decade. Okay, and yes he has talent:)
Your post made me smile because I would have reacted exactly as you did - bad language and all!
Robert Redford is in two of my favourite movies of all time - Barefoot in the Park and The Way We Were. Besides having a major crush on him for half of my life, I love his work. I love too that he is a deeply serious film maker who refuses to trade on his (jaw-dropping, too-handsome-to-be-real, instant-panty-dropper) good looks.
Fab article. I love your other post about your top 25 movies. I might well do a list too. I am such a huge movie fan that it will be great to remember just how much some films mean to me.
Sandra - absolutely!
Luxie - you make me laugh. Write a list! My daughter is a huge fan of The Way We Were…Huddle….Yeah, he is one multi-talented, appeals to all generations, brilliant dude.