by Michael Lyons
Let's face it, many begin to yearn for fall as soon as the last firework explodes on July Fourth. Well, great news - fall is here!
This week marked the first official day of fall, which fell on September 22nd. So, if you've had that hankerin' for something or anything that tastes remotely like pumpkin spice, now's the time...well, let's face it, pumpkin everything has appeared on store shelves before back-to-school supplies.
As leaves turn their fiery colors and the chill in the air forces you to utter the phrase "sweata weatha," you can also enjoy a number of movies set during autumn that are not only entertaining, but they may even add some additional bit of crispness to the air.
Here are just some of them:
The Trouble With Harry (1955)
One of master director Alfred Hitchcock's decidedly different films is this black comedy about the title character, a corpse who keeps showing up at inconvenient moments, to the horror of small town residents played by John Forsyth, Edmund Gwenn, Mildred Natwick, Jerry (Leave it to Beaver) Mathers, and Shirley MacLaine, in her film debut.
All of the merry macabre shenanigans unfold against the backdrop of autumn in Vermont, with fall foliage that's not only perfect for a painting, but also evokes classic movie autumnal vibes.
Those Calloways (1965)
This live-action Disney film serves as a slice-of-life about a family living in Vermont in the 1920s, as they attempt to establish a sanctuary for Canadian geese. With a solid cast, including Brian Keith, Vera Miles, Walter Brennan, Ed Wynn, Brandon De Wilde, and Linda Evans, coupled with compelling direction by Norman Tokar, who filmed on location in New England, this film brings to life not just the fall season, but also a period in history.
Love Story (1970)
Ali McGraw and Ryan O'Neal star in this iconic romance, which tells the story of two people from different backgrounds who fall deeply in love. Directed by Arthur Hiller, it's become one of the most heartbreaking movies of all time, but those scenes of Harvard in the fall may just help cool the emotional blow.
Baby Boom (1987)
Diane Keaton plays J.C. Wyatt, an '80s yuppie and career-driven woman who inherits the care of a baby after a relative passes away. The adorable little girl teaches J.C. that there is more to life than climbing the corporate ladder.
Director Charles Shyer, working with his then-wife Nancy Meyers, both had a knack for making modern-day films that had a classic Hollywood feel, and Baby Boom is no different. Plus, there is wonderful scenery of New York City in the fall and, yes, once again, Vermont, after J.C. relocates.
When Harry Met Sally... (1989)
Director Rob Reiner and screenwriter Nora Ephron's film is a beloved, often quoted, and one of the best romantic comedies of all time. But, as the lead characters, played, of course, by Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, try to figure out if men and women can be friends, there are some lovely autumnal backdrops, including some picturesque scenes in Central Park.
Pocahontas (1995)
Disney's hit animated feature, which turns thirty this year, tells the tale (based very loosely on history) of the title character (Irene Bedard, with the singing voice of Judy Kuhn) who falls in love with Captain John Smith (Mel Gibson), who has come to the New World.
Directed by Mike Gabriel and Eric Goldberg, the animation, artistry, and songs (by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz) are all beautiful, and the Oscar-winning "Colors of the Wind" and those swirling, cascading leaves can't help but provide some magical fall vibes.
The Girl on the Train (2016)
Emily Blunt is excellent in this twisty thriller, adapted from the novel by Erin Cressida Wilson, as she plays a woman, plagued by alcoholism, who may or may not have been involved in a murder when she blacked out. Director Tate Taylor sets an appropriate tone for the film, set against the backdrop of fall in the suburbs of New York, where bare trees against a dark sky and leaves covering lawns are as bleak as the subject matter itself.
There are plenty of other choices available as well. So, if you can't get outside, grab a donut, some apple cider, throw on your favorite flannel, and press Play.
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