Melody

I saw this film when I was eleven. That was 27 years ago, and I still love it. That's unique because I haven't seen it for 27 years. It was not long after my sister's wedding. I remember this because I went to see it at half term, and I went to see it 5 times that week. I couldn't afford popcorn that many times, so I took a piece of my sisters left-over wedding cake with me each day. It is a gentle story of young love, which ends happily. Simple. What made it so good for me was the way I could identify with the two young lovers (or wanted to). I had a crush on a girl, and this film portrayed for me the fairy tale I wanted to live. And it has a score by the Bee Gees. I still sing "In the morning" (I think that's what the song was called) to myself, a song worth seeing the film just to hear. I've never seen this film on video or TV, and I don't want to. It's one of those films that I know if I see it again, I'll probably be disappointed. To paraphrase Stephen King: I've never seen films like this since, but when you're eleven, who has?

I first saw this film in the early '80s on WBBM-TV Channel 2 Chicago. They were showing it at 2 AM on a Saturday (insomnia). I was familiar with it because I remember the TV ads from '71, Mark Lester sets his dad's newspaper on fire. A friend of mine saw it at the time and said he loved it. What did he know? he was only 14, I was 10 at the time. Anyway when I finally saw it I had to agree. It was like a magical trip to childhood, or in most of our cases a trip back. Although the movie was shot an ocean away from me, I felt like I was reliving my own childhood; the pain of first love, the joy of finding friendship despite social barrier (Middle class vs. lower class), and the wonder of experiencing the world for the first time without your parents. And of course that wonderful soundtrack, when the Bee Gees sang good songs: "To love somebody" and the sadly forgotten "First of May", not Disco. Also, Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young's "Teach Your Children". WBBM used to show this movie about twice a year(They had a rather poor film library), usually at 2 in the morning. But then they got crazy with infomercials and the parent company, CBS, decide to have its own all night news program so 'Melody' virtually disappeared. Sadly I didn't tape the film when I had the chance. I thought I'd just buy a copy, WRONG! Hey! maybe we could get Redford to show it in his Sundance channel. How about it? you overage pretty boy.

I saw this film a month ago and I feel very sorry for all the people who will never be able to see it, because it does not exist in video editions.

The plot is original, and the performance of all the kids is completely surprising. It has several comedy touches, but it is mainly a romantic story. I recommend it to those who have the possibility of seeing it in a cinema, as I had.

What to say about this gem that has not been said before?

That it was written by Alan Parker, before he was recognized as a world famous screenwriter/director? And that even then, it is a movie that has unjustly remained without being re-released.

No, that's just theory. It is the feelings evoked that matter.

I watched this movie once, as it played in an Argentinian TV channel at a time when there were only 4 TV channels. I probably watched it because of a recommendation from my father, who during my forming years, had gained my respect for introducing me to Spielberg in films such as Close Encounters and Raider of the Lost Ark. My guess is that I was probably about the same age of the main characters when I sat in front of the set.

I remember also the following day at school, as all the boys and girls that had watched it would whisper about it. Girls would probably whisper if it could happen to them, too... if those stupid boys would wise up one day. We boys... we were not willing to admit we had seen and liked a "love" story -- a chick film. As such, we had to make fun of it. But deep down, all of us could tell... we could tell when we looked at each others' eyes that we were lying. That this movie had told perhaps our own story of first love and touched us in a way perhaps no one else had before, in a way we would not forget, we could not forget.

I am 33 now, I grew to work in the TV and film industry both in Argentina and abroad and have watched literally thousands of films since. It is a testament to this film that after watching it only once, I not only remember the film fondly, but that some scenes are still etched in my mind: The Frere Jacques scene as the two main characters talk about how they feel.... a scene that has no dialog, and it is just played with music and visual narration. The farcical view on authority and that funny ending, which could be called a teenage The Graduate.

I have since been looking in vain for a copy of this movie or for the chance to watch it again and again and again.

--- Update: I found it. In Argentina, this movie is now finally being redistributed, by a small private company. Alas, albeit it is on DVD, the copy is not a very good one, with muted colors and a somewhat jittery transfer.

I am 32 years old now and have not had the opportunity to see this movie since I was 10 years old. Lucky for the few that have. If anyone knows where to find this movie for purchase, please let us know. My heart beats faster by knowing that there are other's out there that were touched and also felt the same warm feelings that these young actors were able to share on the screen. I will still consider this my favorite movie and I am just glad that after several movie searches, I was able to get more details...a 10 year old child's memory is not very good. May we all keep our sweet and tender melody of childhood! Danny