WRITE TEAM: Old movies: Check out Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon

I don’t watch a lot of TV, but when I do, it’s usually something from the ’80s. That’s when sitcoms were funny, people sat down and ate dinner together and things were more wholesome. I like that. I still believe in having family meals together and talking about our day. My kids are older now and busy with their schedules, but when everybody is home, it’s special to have time together.

I think that’s why I love old movies. My husband and I have different interests when it comes to movies, but enjoying old movies together has been our thing over the past several years. The first old movie that I adored, and I loved the actress, Greer Garson, was the star in “Madame Curie” (1943). We’ve all heard about Madame Curie, also known as Marie Sklodowska, the first person ever to be awarded two Nobel Prizes. The 1896 discovery of radioactivity by Henri Bequerel inspired Marie and Pierre Curie to further investigate this exciting phenomenon. This movie follows the tenacity and drive that Madame Curie had. Many scientists didn’t believe in her because she was a woman, but Pierre Curie defended her and knew her talents. Walter Pidgeon did an exemplary job portraying Pierre Curie.

After I watched “Madame Curie,” I wanted to watch more movies with Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon. Upon further investigation, I learned they starred in eight movies together. I programmed my DVR to record anytime there was a Greer Garson or Walter Pidgeon movie on to watch when I was ready to relax and unwind.

Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon both starred in “Blossoms in the Dust” (1941), “Mrs. Miniver” (1942), “Madame Curie” (1943), “Mrs. Parkington” (1944), “Julia Misbehaves” (1948), “That Forsyte Woman” (1949), “The Miniver Story” (1950) and “Scandal at Scourie” (1953). I’ve seen every one of them, and it’s very riveting how times have changed. “Blossoms in the Dust” tells the story of Edma Gladney who helped children find homes and began a campaign to remove the word “illegitimate” from birth certificates, despite the resistance of the “moral” citizens.

“Mrs. Miniver” was the first movie with a plotline centered on World War II and it won an Oscar for Best Picture. “Mrs. Parkington” was an interesting movie about a wealthy woman who was very poor growing up, and how in her later years, her grandson-in-law made bad choices, and he needed help. The family would have to use some of their inheritance to help him, and nobody wanted to assist. They were rich snobs; they only cared about money. I thought it was an engrossing movie.

“Julia Misbehaves” wasn’t my favorite, but you might enjoy it. It starred Elizabeth Taylor. “The Forsyte Woman” wasn’t a beloved movie in my eyes, but it had an interesting plot, marrying without love after numerous marriage proposals. Money doesn’t always buy happiness. I was fond of “Scandal at Scourie” because this movie was in color. I actually could see Greer Garson’s beautiful red hair. All of her other movies were in black and white. It’s about an orphaned girl who was a Catholic and later adopted by a Protestant family. Back in the 1940s, that was a big thing, it caused a lot of trauma in the town, also a lot of tears.

If you want to unwind, not worry about commercials, learn a little history from 80 years ago, watch an old movie on TCM (Turner Classic Movies). You won’t be sorry.

• Amy Roach is a wife, mother and teacher living in Hennepin. She can be reached at tsloup@shawmedia.com.