There is nothing more exciting than grabbing all of your pillows, a blanket and bag of snacks and heading to a cemetery with friends to see your favorite 80's movie. Should I simply say favorite movie of all time? Of course Annakim snuck in early like a ninja and secured the best seats on the lawn. I swear she is touched by an angel, or just crazy in the art of "cutting" in line. While the rest of us stayed waiting in the long long line. On the inside they were playing the best songs, like YAZ Mr. Blue, Tears for Fears-Mad World, Age of Consent by New Order etc...
This was Jeaneen and I as the cemetery got dark, giddy with anticipation...
This is what we looked like after we realized STACEY (Heidi Holicker) was sitting on the BLANKET next to us!! That's right, Stacey (Julie from the movie's BEST FRIEND!!) She has so many amazing lines in the movie- I'm like freaking out!
YOU HAVE TO CLICK ON THESE FOR THE WHOLE IMAGE:
She looked so incredible! Can't believe she starred in this in 1983! When I mentioned this she said "Well I never got married and never had kids!"
The fountain of youth revealed.
"Stacey" even passes some cookies our way from her blanket. She told us some cool insider tidbits of trivia too. She said most of the clothes were her own, and that she was the only actress really from the valley of the main girls.
As soon as the movie started, I felt anxious. I was going to be watching my all time favorite film on a cemetery lawn outside with ton of people. The purple sky lit up the palm trees in the distance and everyone settled into their pillows and snacks. It felt like hundreds of cozy beds lined up at a mega drive in. I couldn't help but look occasionally at "Stacey" whenever one of her scenes played. There was a sweet look of awe on her face, perhaps from the overwhelming fans and the magic of watching it so big with stars above. She shyly held her head in her hands while she laid on blanket near us, a smile on her face.
Although this may sound corny, something super nostalgic happened while watching. I had this feeling that my chest might burst with a powerful emotional surge. Hearing a MILLION Miles AWAY like a time capsule. Every scene as strong as they were the first time I watched them on my friend Samantha's couch in high school. (her parents owned a Video Cassette movie place in the 80's!) I kept thinking that even though this was shot in the 80's, this is the way you want things to be. You want strange boys from another school, to invade your dull house party and drag you to Hollywood and show you a side of town that is scary and exciting. You want to stay out all night making out in a car, and have the time of your life, see things you've only read about in books. Do men even fight for affection anymore? Strange how this film embodies my ideal romance. Viv told me that today it's called "stalking", ha ha.
I just loved that during the scene where Randy gets kicked out of the party and decides to turn the car around go back for that dazzling chick Julie...when he says something like: Who was that guy? I mean I was doing alright with that chick, I dig her-she likes me -Screw it were going back- No one's gonna tell me who I'm gonna score with...EVERYONE screamed and cheered in the cemetery crowd.
Stacey (Heidi) gave Lincoln a sweet kiss on the cheek
The best way a movie can end-
How can I top this!?
i could die!.. you are so lucky!
Posted by: jessie frances | July 15, 2008 at 10:09 AM
sigh. it's a total fairytale movie, and i want it. this sounds like the most amzing expereince you could have watching a beloved movie!
Posted by: lost teeth | July 15, 2008 at 10:16 AM
omg. this is the best blog post i have ever read, and will ever read in life. Just when I thought it was too magical that the movie was shown outside to a huge audience... you revealed you were sitting by Stacey. That is truly dazzlin'. Valley girl is honestly in my top 5 favorite movies ever, and the emotion & nostalgia of the movie is so visceral for me too. For about 6 months after i snagged the DVD (which has some of the best special features of any DVD) I had to watch it every night before bed in order to fall asleep. The soundtrack is always in heavy rotation in my house.
"Let's go.
Where?
I dont care.
What will we do?
Anything."
believe it or not, this is its namesake:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5M9aY7hXjGU
Posted by: ex libris | July 16, 2008 at 02:17 AM
That is my favorite part of this movie, well that 's actually my favorite part of any movie ever. The way he says "I don't care" and "anything"--W O W. I have to admit that in grade school I called the local Cleveland radio station and requested Moon Unit's song VALLEY GIRL no less than 20 times a day. The D.J. actually said once, "Hey, kid we JUST played that song", to which I replied, well play it again. Thanks Ex Libris for the rad comment. It's strange how that night so many feelings and words flooded my brain, and yet the next day when I sat down to write it all out there seemed no way to translate it. It was sorta like that feeling when you were 14 or 15 and you got all dressed up for hours with your friends with the knowing that you would maybe meet up with boys at the local pizza place and maybe kiss someone. I mean, I actually teared up when we parked the car and the HOLLYWOOD sign was in clear view. Everything was perfect, the weather, the crowd, the music...Anyway glad someone else adores this movie like me. It's the new Litmus test for my future boyfriends. IF they do not "get" my obsession with that scene or the movie in general then they gotta take a hike. I'm mean like fer shurr
Posted by: kime | July 16, 2008 at 08:36 AM
p.s. forgot to mention that when I watched the dvd special feature for days, I felt like it was my class reunion, seeing my old friends and what they were doing now. weird. My friend Michael was the asst Director on the film and I asked him where all the scenes were shot and silly trivia
Posted by: kime | July 16, 2008 at 08:37 AM
I was there, under and over the stars (as they say), and you've captured every nuance of the night beautifully! Thank you!!
Posted by: "coquette" | July 25, 2008 at 05:56 PM
What an awesome post. I loved it. It seemed like an amazing time. I would have loved to have been there, but being able to experience it vicariously through you words and pics was the next best thing. Thanks so much for sharing it.
Posted by: Dano | November 12, 2008 at 10:37 PM
Great post about a totally tubular movie! I just watched it tonight after not seeing it for more than decade. I was 15 and fell in love with Deborah Foreman after seeing this movie. The soundtrack was also bitchin' and cemented my love of new wave/punk rock. Sounds like you had an awesome time.
Posted by: Steve | July 12, 2009 at 12:47 AM