The Fabulous Fifties
Pairing wine with movies! See the trailers and hear the fascinating commentary for these movies, and many more, at Trailers From Hell. This week we pair wines with some vintage classics from the era of Eisenhower, ducktails and fender fins, the fabulous 1950s.
Okay, so Far from Heaven isn’t from the fabulous ‘50s, but the 2002 film is about that decade. Julianne Moore is the suburban housewife, Dennis Quaid is the closeted Mad Man husband, and Dennis Haysbert and Patricia Clarkson hold down explosive performances in supporting roles. The movie deals with gender, sex and race in a way that makes the 1950s seem downright hip.
The film is actually a hands down masterpiece. The writing, the acting, the directing, even the unbelievably lush color simply boggles the mind. Far From Heaven is a gushing homage to the melodramas of the 1950s, while setting new standards for how its themes are employed in modern films.Back in that decade, the wines that were popular were probably led by Champagne.
Any bubbly would do, and you could go ahead and call it Champagne, too. Pinot Noir was Burgundy. Chardonnay was also Burgundy. And if you knew enough to want a Bordeaux, you probably asked for a Claret. You’d take a bottle of sherry along when visiting your older aunt or grandma.
The Mercer Bros. Edge of Heaven $25 red blend is made from Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec grapes grown in Washington’s Horse Heaven Hills AVA. The edge of heaven sounds about right. You know what they say. The farther away from heaven, the closer to Fresno.
https://shop.mercerwine.com/product/Mercer-Bros-Edge-of-Heaven-Red-Blend
Bigger than Life is from 1956. The subject is cortisone addiction and the mental problems brought on by it. That doesn’t sound like it could draw a crowd, and it didn’t. The movie was a flop in the fifties but it has accumulated enough high praise over the years to be considered a cult classic.
James Mason plays a teacher who gets cortisone treatment for a disease. He abuses the drug and quickly becomes the most unpopular guy at the PTA meeting. Pretty soon, he’s the most unpopular guy in his own home.
I always feel bad when I have to flippantly pair a wine with a film about substance abuse. I feel bad, but I don’t let it stop me. Upchurch Vineyards has a Grenache Rosé they bill as Larger Than Life, so we’ll go with that. Larger is just another version of bigger, right? $26.
https://upchurchvineyard.com/collections/wines
In 1953, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes set the box office ablaze, along with the libidos of many of the nation’s movie-goers. This film stars Marilyn Monroe (blonde) and Jane Russell (not blonde). Who do gentlemen prefer? Let’s call it a draw.
The musical comedy was directed by Howard Hawks, at least the comedy part. He said he had no interest in the dance numbers, and didn’t even show up on the days they were to be shot. I get it. I feel the same way about most musicals. Give me the jokes and save the score for those who can carry a tune.
Russell was the major star in ‘53, with Monroe just getting her pretty little feet wet in movies. Their paychecks showed the disparity. Russell pulled down 200k while Monroe basically worked for cab fare to and from the set.
How can you not love Marilyn Wine for Gentlemen? That’s Marilyn, not Maryland. The Marilyn Merlot sells for $50, but if you really prefer blonde, the Sauvignon Blonde is only $26. But it’s a 2016 vintage, so beware. It may be past its prime.
Far from Heaven got released the same day as the second Harry Potter movie. I saw both in the theater. Knowing what we now know about J.K. Rowling, I wish that I’d only seen Far from Heaven.