Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Tammy

There are some old films that deserve to be pulled from obscurity and enjoyed in the present.  Let me tell you about two of them.  Both star the adorable Sandra Dee.

Sandra Dee was a popular actress in the 1950's and '60's.  She portrayed Gidget in the original movie of that name.

In the early 1960's, there was a series of three movies depicting a character named Tammy Tyree.  In the first movie, Tammy was played by Debbie Reynolds.  In the second and third films, Tammy was played by Sandra Dee.  While you can watch the first one if you want, I recommend the second and third films with Sandra Dee.  (They are called "Tammy Tell Me True" and "Tammy and the Doctor.")

Tammy is a country girl who grew up in a houseboat on the river with her grandfather and a pet goat.  Tammy speaks in an old-fashioned way with a pronounced rural accent and archaic words.  Her language is appealing in its own right and a main focus of the films.  "He looks as discombobulated as a short dog in high grass," she says of someone.  She describes people as "monstrous kind" and ends statements with, "I reckon that's all I have to say about the subject."

The idea of the Tammy movies -- which really works wonderfully -- is that an uneducated, unworldly girl visits "civilized" society (where people act badly) and finds it perplexing: the odd ways of modern people are "mighty peculiar" to her.  Tammy has admirable values which radiate out and influence everyone around her.  She reminds people of the importance of honesty, loyalty and basic decency.  Eventually, she converts all around her to recognition of these fundamental values.

The films are entertaining and you can't help but love Tammy.  Try 'em!

P.S., Both films are on a single DVD, available at NetFlix and other places.

10 comments:

  1. I caught a little bit of the Debbie Reynolds Tammy on tv a few years ago, but did not watch much of it. Now I will have to see all of them! Sandra Dee is cute. I love her in Gidget.

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  2. What a fabulous post! I'm going to start using some Tammy-isms in my speech. "Monstrous kind" is a great description, and "that's all I have to say on the subject" is a perfect (and ladylike) way to say "don't argue - I'm right." Thanks for this, Shy.

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  3. You're muchly obliged, Miss Baxter. Your comment is sweeter than a puppy in my arms.

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  4. ... and the song "look at me, I'm sandra dee" suddenly makes so much sense.

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  5. The films sound fascinating. I will be sure to look for them during this break.

    BTW I am hosting a giveaway for a $45 USD csn stores gift certificate. Don't miss out.

    Love

    Tashrin from Toronto, Canada

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  6. woot woot movies to add to my list! This sounds a lot like a play I just read, "The country wife" where a Gentle weds a girl from the country and he is so scared of her being corrupted by the city, he hides her. Well, kind of like that I guess. :P

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  7. Oh yes I love old movies!! And so strange I had never heard of these so I will DEF have to watch them!!!
    HAve a great NYE!!

    XX

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  8. I'll have to check these out! I'm a huge Gidget fan :)

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  9. This was one of my favorite films as a little girl. My sisters name is Tammy and we used to sing, "Tammy Tammy Tammy's in love..." all the time to her. I watched it again a few years back. Still really great! Thanks for bringing up that memory for me.

    xoxo,
    Tracy

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  10. I love that song and especially the sweet way it's sung. Having music in the Tammy films is like finding a cherry atop your sundae.

    For the rest of you, please note Tracy's endorsement. If she likes the Tammy movies, so will you!

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