Get ready to go back in time and watch some of your favorite MGM classics and celebrate with them as they celebrate their 90th anniversary! Growing up and even now as a grown up, some of my favorite movies start with that roaring lion from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Legally Blonde and All Dogs go to Heaven are two I own and we watch as a family all the time. Luckily, I will be adding three more MGM classics to my shelves: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Secret of Nimh, and The Princess Bride.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968). Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls — start your engines. You’re about to take an incredible ride with one of the most wonderful family films of all time! With its clever tunes, marvelous cast and enchanting storyline, this delightful romp is lots of fun and simply “toot sweet” to pass up! Dick Van Dyke stars as eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts, who creates an extraordinary car called Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. It not only drives — but also flies and floats — as it leads him, his two children and his beautiful lady friend, Truly Scrumptious (Sally Ann Howes), into a magical world of pirates, castles and endless adventure.
Take a moment and watch this fun movie and then take time to talk about what really happened in the story and what was make believe. Ask your kids what they would do with a car like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Let them share their ideas for inventions. If you have older ones, like me, ask them why the people of Vulgaria were considered fools, or how real-life politics can affect movies!
The Secret of Nimh (1982). Get ready to meet some runaway rodents with an earth-shattering secret! Suspenseful and heartwarming, this beautifully animated odyssey stars Mrs. Brisby, a mild-mannered mother mouse with a plan to move Heaven and Earth (or at least her house and home) to save her family from Farmer Fitzgibbon’s plow! Along the way she gets some help from a lovelorn Crow, a busybody neighbor mouse and a fearsome Great Owl. Unfortunately, Mrs. Brisby will need an engineering miracle to hoist her home, and for that she must face a mysterious rat, fend off a ferocious cat and claim a magic amulet! But when Mrs. Brisby discovers the astounding secret of NIMH…it could change her life forever! This timeless tale of love, courage and determination will transport the whole family into an enchanting world where the bravest hearts live in the meekest of mice.
After enjoying The Secret of Nimh together, why not talk about the scariness of the movie. Ask your kids which parts were the scariest and what made those parts scary. Find out who they thought the heroes were in the movie, let them share their thoughts with you.
The Princess Bride (1987) is one of my favorite movies of all time! We get to see the beautiful maiden Buttercup fall in love with Westley, only to find out he is dead. Because she thinks he is gone, she agree to marry the loathsome Prince Humperdink. Westley returns to rescue Buttercup and the two begin an epic adventure filled with true love, giants, monsters, fighting, fencing, miracles, and hilarious moments. The Princess Bride features an all-star cast, including Mandy Patinkin, Billy Crystal and Christopher Guest, The Princess Bride is an almost inconceivable delight from Oscar® Nominee Rob Reiner and Oscar®-Winning screenwriter William Goldman.
After watching The Princess Bride, families can talk about what makes for a really good adventure/love story. Is it sword fights? Swamp creatures? Handsome leading men and beautiful ladies? Ask them how this movie pokes fun at some of the standard fairy tale elements?
In the end, why didn’t the little boy mind the kissing scene in the story as much as he thought he would?
While you are enjoying the holidays, together, as a family, why not enjoy some movie nights or days with these MGM Classics. They make for great family nights and open a whole world of dialogue! In fact, why not play a little trivia and see who can match the lines to the movies:
WIN IT:
One reader will win a copy of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Secret of Nimh, and The Princess Bride to enjoy together as a family. To enter, use the Giveaway Tools form below! Good luck!
Toni Patton
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the princess bride, Thank you for the opportunity to win!
If I won, we would first watch Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
The Princess Bride, my son saw it once and loved it and he would love to see it again!
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang of course will be the first
All Dogs Go To Heaven!
I love the Secret of Nimh so that would be the one I would watch first.
I would definitely watch Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! Believe it or not,it is the one I have never seen!
Would watch Chitty Chitty Bang Bang first!
I would love to watch Chitty Chitty Bang Bang first. I don’t think my daughters ever saw it.
Thank you!
I would watch Chitty Chitty Bang Bang first. I love that movie!
I believe we would watch Chitty Chitty Bang Bang first. My little nephew is really into cars, so I think he will get a kick out of that one.
My family would watch Chitty Chitty Bang Bang first.
We would watch The Princess Bride first, what a classic!