A Grand Adventure Comes to an End!!

Well, we did it! We visited all 50 states by sitting on our buns and watching movies. It was a good way to spend some winter nights. We only used the movies we had but one. We did buy one for North Dakota. We did get reacquainted with some good movies we had forgotten and many favorites. We ended up with seven links to check filming locations, state facts, nicknames and movie trivia and stumbled upon new information about the areas we were going. Using the Stat's function, it was fun to see that people from the US, Canada, Russia, Kenya, Hungary, Indonesia and Japan all accidentally visited my blog. My sister, Sue, saw my blog and figured that if I could do it anyone could. She, of course, has taken hers to a whole different level and you should check it out at
henry-dogslife.blogspot.com
I don't have any idea what to do now, but if I can't figure it out, it's back to chopping firewood.
Please Help!

Movies from every state day- 50 - Alaska

I know. Finally we're back and ready to tackle our last and favorite state. " The last Frontier" and  " The Land of the Midnight Sun" are both very appropriate nicknames for ALASKA! We did live there for 30 years, so we got kind of attached to the place. This is one big dang state. Placed over the rest of our country, not including Hawaii, it would spread from the Atlantic to the Pacific, Canada to Mexico. We lived on two different islands in Alaska. They were Popof in the Shumagin Islands of SW Alaska and secondly Prince of Wales Island in SE Alaska. Even at 1085 miles apart, they were still closer than other points in this vast state. It's so big it's going to take more than one movie to cover this one. What better movie to start with than "North to Alaska". Not only does it cover the far NW area of Alaska at Nome, it's got John "The Duke" Wayne as it's star and if that's not enough, it has the 1960's heart throb Fabian in it. The Duke shows his tough as usual side, but in this one he gets to show a lighter and comedic side. Although the closest this got to being filmed in Alaska was the Yukon Territory of Canada I'm including it anyway. Next up is "Chilly Dogs" first released as "Kevin of the North". A LA travel salesman gets a big inheritance and travels to Alaska for a big adventure. He ends up in the most amazing sled dog race on earth, the Iditarod, a race, from Anchorage to Nome.  It's kind of corny, but corny's OK.   At least 3 more to come soon!

We could have re-watched  Hawaii's - 50 First Dates, since it's last scene is in Blackstone Bay, Alaska.
or  North Carolina's - Hunt for Red October, it's first scene was of the Port Valdez, AK., but we won't.
We still have three to go and we'll start with one that really shows the danger of the ocean and the bravery of those that rescue those who find out just how dangerous it really is. The Guardian is a fairly good portrayal of what the members of the US Coast Guard are willing to do to save others.
Most of the rescues are based on actual events.
Just making it though Rescue Swimmers training should be enough. Since they are the ones that actually jump out of perfectly good aircraft they get the glory, but all on the crew are the true portrait of heroism.
Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher make a good team as a veteran rescue swimmer helps to train a rookie. This movie could have been used for Oregon, California, Louisiana and North Carolina but Alaska weather and remoteness puts these USCG men and women to the ultimate test.
Our next film will be far less emotional, at least for me, and although it was filmed off the east coast parts of it were set in Sitka. It's star is female and she's in at least six movies of our collection. There will be an Alaska prize in it for the first correct answer posted before we watch it.
I decided to watch another one while you're trying to figure out who and what the other movie is going to be. It just so happens this one is about Alaska, Dogs and a professional that lives in the warm south, this time Florida, that has to go to the state about a will. This one is "Snow Dogs". An adopted guy who follows in his stepfathers foot steps and becomes a dentist. He inherits a dog team and runs the big race. It's funny, stupid, they mispronounce some Alaska names and none of it is actually filmed there. Other than that it's great! You do get to see some excellent Canadian scenery. Must be magic. During Snow Dogs we got our first dusting of the year at our house. Not enough to plow with LeRoy, but it's nice out!
Our next to the last film also is "set" in Alaska, but the cheap buggers didn't want to fork out the money to actually film in Sitka and the surrounding area. Don't they know that it's ecomomy needs stimulation as did Massachusetts. Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds are both favorites of ours and it also has Betty White, Mary Steenburgen and Craig T. Nelson. "The Proposal" is a fun movie, but the sun does not rise from the ocean in Sitka it sets into it. I want the family home and of course the money to staff it.
This is it! The last movie in our last state. It's been a great adventure getting to know the USA a little bit better (no not ready for a geography test, Sue!). What better way to end our trip than with one about a family we know well. This story is about the Wortman family, father Elmo, son Randy and daughters Cindy and Jena. Elmo first wrote the book as "Four Against the Wilderness" If I remember correctly, he didn't like what the editors had done and retold the story in "Almost to Late". The movie was released as "Anything to Survive" Staring Robert Conrad, Matt Leblanc and others. As with most movies based on true stories, they get a lot wrong and once again Alaska gets the shaft in that it was filmed in British Columbia, but you'll get some idea of what this family went through and what kind of people they are. If you've traveled the area where they were, as we have, you'd have a better understanding of just how much "up the creek without a paddle" they were. They survive unbelievable hardship, show an amazing will to live and use their skills and Alaskan spirit to get them through this ordeal that would have beat most of us.

Movies from every state day 49.5 - Limbo

We're awaiting the prodigal son's return to Toutle for the visit to state 50, Alaska!!
To give you an idea of what to expect, we'll start our movie marathon with:
John Wayne and "North to Alaska". Additional updates of the movies we'll see and the date of the event will be forthcoming. Well, actually the date is dependent on Adam's arrival and as parents, we have no idea, but we do have control over the list of films, maybe!

Movies from every state day 49- Arkansas

Arkansas is known as "The Natural State" for it's natural beauty, clear lakes and streams along with an abundance of natural wildlife. Another state I haven't been to, so I'll take their word for it. We should see a good sampling of AR tonight since we're visiting Clarendon, Fort Chaffee, Fort Smith and Lamar Porter Baseball Field in Little Rock.

We know nothing about this one "A Soldiers Story". It's timing is near the end of WW11 at a Black Army base where there is a murder of a Sargent. A black Army attorney is sent to investigate. The segrigation and hatred at this time in history still amazes me. I was actually stationed in Alabama in 1971 and the signs were still, literally, in the South then. Most had been painted over or removed, but you could see the outline of "Colored Entrance" or "Whites Only" in many places. Two different drinking fountains that were once race separated. 

Before and during WW11 there were very few "Colored" officers and none in the South until a Black Captain shows up from Washington DC to investigate the killing. It's eye opening to see how he is treated by "White" officers. The show is of a troubling time, but the humor and the acting make it a pretty darn good one. Denzel Washington is in it and in 1984 he's way down the list of actors. 

Well, That's #49. One to go. We've saved the best for last. A movie marathon celebrating our favorite state 'The Last Frontier" ALASKA!!! Adam will be home for Thanksgiving next week and we're going to save #50 for then. You'll see many parts of the biggest dang state in the union and actors like John Wayne, Sandra Bullock, Cuba Gooding Jr,. There will also be a story about real Alaskans and friends who survived everything by doing anything they need to do.

 

Movies from every state day 48- North Dakota

I know, I know, it's been awhile. We finally found two movies that cover states we had to pass over. Our collection did cover 48 states with no problem, but Arkansas and North Dakota were giving us a hard time. I'll admit we had to shop for these two. Thank goodness for Amazon.com and a huge list of  movies. Better yet is the fact that the two I chose must not have been highly sought after, because their prices were slashed. Tonight we are in North Dakota, because #4 child (Rob) is there too. North Dakota, known as the "Peace Garden State" because of the International Peace Garden that straddles the international boundary between ND and Manitoba Canada. Flickertail State, because of the way the Richardson ground squirrels flicks it's tail or " The Roughrider State" because of the ND Cowboys who joined Teddy and his First US Volunteer Calvary.
We'll visit Medora, Fryburg and Beach ND. A Medora local (Sheila Schafer) has one line and plays "Lady at Diner". Her husband, Harold, also had one line as an extra in "How the West Was Won" with Henry Fonda who happens to be the father of one of the stars in tonight's show, Peter Fonda along with Kris Kristofferson, Keith Carradine and Joe Mazzello all round out the cast of "The Wooly Boys"a story of an older ND rancher, his cronies, his young "Big City" grandson and the adventures they have when Stoney (Peter Fonda) goes to Minneapolis for medical treatment he doesn't realize has been set up for him. He ends up schooling his pampered grandson about life in general and his roots. The reviews I've read said "Funny, Sad, Heartwarming all make this a Winner". With a few big names you'd yhink the acting would be a little better. Must be why it did less than $500,000 at the box office. I might be a little too harsh, it is watchable, a good idea for a film, and it was filmed in North Dakota. Thank goodness for Dakota the one bright spot among the characters played by Guapo a big, black, beautiful horse who can actually act.

Movies from every state day 47- Hawaii

In order of Statehood, "The Aloha State", Hawaii is the last and it's out in the middle of no where in the Pacific Ocean too. It consists of a group of mountains that stick out of the ocean. Gee, 1959 aren't we overdue for another state. Maybe Puerto Rico should make the move from unincorporated territory.
Even though our son was announced as Adam Sandler at several of his out of town basketball games, Adam , the Sandler one, has not been my favorite actor. In this show he actually works pretty well with Drew Barrymore. Whoever came up with the idea of "50 First Dates" had a great idea. It's a little to corny at times, OK most of the time, but the idea was great. Hawaii, what a great place, where Aloha is used as Hello or Goodbye, just in case you can't remember which way you're going. If you haven't seen it yet, quit reading now........... Because they end up in my favorite state, Alaska at the other end of the Pacific.

Movies from every state day 46- California

"The Golden State" has been the official nickname of California since 1968, but the third biggest and by far the most populated state first became known as golden during the 1848 rush for nuggets and I'm not talkin' McNuggets. The title "Golden" also results from the fields of golden poppies seen throughout the state each spring.
For tonight we are not only going to California. We are not only going to watch the best of a trilogy.
We are going to 12417 E. Philadelphia St. Whittier, Ca. Home of Richard Nixon's and Marty McFly's high school, Whittier High and Hill Valley High respectively. Just so happens my sister Sue and her family reside there too, in the city not the school. "Back to the Future" may have had II and III, but nothing beats the original for me. Not only did Doc build a time machine out of a Delorean, but Karrie "drove" the front half of it used it filming when we visited Universal Studios Hollywood Theme Park. I love when the Pinheads audition for the "Battle of the Bands" playing "The Power of Love" for the judges, one of them being none other than Huey Lewis, who proclaims them as being "Just to darn loud!". Never again will 88 miles per hour be the same since we've now seen "Serious Shit" happen at it. As one who worked at a "Full Service" gas station in the late 60's, when gas was .25 a gal , I like the four attendants at the Texico. I think it might be some what safe now to say, I my have used the wheels of my dear sister's roller skates to make my first skate board. It probably wasn't me if it's still an issue. The look on Marty's face when he runs into his dad, in the past, is priceless. Then he finds out his dad is a Peeping Tom. One bit of trivia: Time travel, in the movie,  occurs on Oct. 26, 1985, but the film actually premiered on July 5, 1985, so that audiences were actually seeing the "Future".
Have fun watching this and just to be safe, keep it at 87mph or less.