Shots of Silver™      G.A.M.    cc

          Hits to the Heart and Mind from the Land of Dreams

                                                            The Addams Family Movie

It was 99 years ago in January that Charles Samuel Addams was born - the man who would create The Addams Family, a clan so rich in macabre charm they're almost the very definition of it. Who isn't second? They're also contenders for some of the best movie lines ever. While there may not be anything of the scope of "Frankly, my dear..." in the lexicon of the delightfully bizarre  Gomez, Morticia and crew, they have delivered a fairly large number of truly funny moments.

                     Morticia: Margaret, about the séance tonight, I wish you'd come. It's Gomez, I'm terribly 
                                 worried about him. He won't eat, he can't sleep, he keeps coughing up blood...
                Margaret: He coughs up blood?
                Morticia: Well, not like he used to.

Perhaps their most resounding signature is not so much merely funny but weighty,
ominous. The outrageous, often mentioned—"Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc."

                      Morticia: And our credo, "Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc"..."We gladly feast on 
                                  those who would subdue us." Not just pretty words.

Not only one of the best movie lines but one of the most striking lines ever. What does
this speak to in us? A sense of independence so ferocious that it not only repels any
attempt at subjugation, but consumes in celebration anyone or anything that even tries.
Now there's a spirit that soars with a vengeance.

It doesn't take much to realize that it is the pure empowerment of embracing the
shocking, the opposite of everything considered normal, that is so appealing. Maybe
deep down it's the individualist prime in us. The more outlandish, the better. The more
disruptive to the sensibilities that seem to rule all too much, that we would love to
challenge and assert freedom from—the better.

                  Wednesday: Please pass the salt.

                  Morticia: And what do we say?

                  Wednesday: NOW.

There is also something mysteriously appealing about casting horrible things and ideas
into the light of casual acceptance.
　
                 Morticia: Don't torture yourself, Gomez- that's my job.


                 Dr. Pinderschloss: Love/hate, hate/love. Like for mama, no?
                 Gomez: But I didn't hate my mother- it was an accident!

　
Perhaps it's informing us on some level that nothing, even the outrageously terrible, is
beyond some shift in perspective. After all, what free souls they were! Joyful, rich and
oblivious. Though, oblivious only to their own incredibly odd station in reality.
Otherwise, they were definite sophisticates.

               　Gomez:(to Tully) Dirty pool, old man!


                   Morticia:They say she danced naked in the town square and enslaved a minister! 
                                     But don't  worry, we told Wednesday, "College first."


And passion between Lovers that didn't only heat up the room but burned down the walls.

                       　
                    Gomez: (helping Morticia out of a torture device) Leather straps...red-hot 
                                    pokers...
                     Morticia: Later, my dearest.

In the everyday rush of blood to the head, what a delight to have a dose of the weird and
wonderful.  And The Addams Family, both the original tv show and the movies, are
certainly that. Like a secret smile to yourself.

　
                       Wednesday: (when asked about her Halloween costume) I'm a homicidal maniac-
                                                they look  just  everyone else.
　

And sometimes, when the challenges are particularly hard, there are still things that can
lighten the moment—a reminder.
　
                        Dr. Pinderschloss: The human spirit, it is a very difficult thing to kill.
                        Grandma: Even with a chainsaw!

I've certainly had my share of days completely forgetting to laugh, at least a little.
But I'm feeling MUCH better, now.

　
　
  Quotes.
   ©ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY PARAMOUNT PICTURES AND ALL RESPECTIVE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS
    Written Content             G.A.M.