All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) (the original with Lew Ayres and yes, I am well aware how old
this one is!
It's the best anti-war movie ever made and the end scenes always make me sob.
Some like it Hot (1959) (which, coincidentally, was on one of the Sky movie channels last night. I have a copy on DVD now - it was one of the first movies I taped on video when video recorders were new, too!). Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis were fabulous (as was Masrilyn Monroe). It also has the best last line from a movie
ever (in response to 'Dorothy (Jack Lemmon)'s' 'I'm a man (as he rips his wig off), Joe E Brown's line was 'Well, nobody;s perfect!' Fantastic!
Singing in the Rain (1952) (well, duh! Seeing as this all began on the Cyd Charisse thread and this was the movie clip that was shown most by news channels yesterday - besides, I adore this film!). Everyone in it was amazing!
On The Town (1949) (I love its joy, its gaiety, its energy and the fact that it was actually shot on the streets New York - something practically unheard of at the time! Films were strictly studio bound). Its stars aren't bad, either
(and the supporting cast!).
The Great Escape (1963) (well, I did say I liked war movies too!). I know it seems to be on every Christmas (which isn't entirely true but hey ...). It really is a fabulous film and all the more tragic because it actually reflects real life events. It's an uplifting movie too, though, as some of the escapees did manage to get free completely. And it shows the fighting spirit which enabled the allies to win against the Naxi war machine.
The Bridge at Remagen (1969) - ok, I know this may not be the best film out there but I love it for George Segal (who has always been a hero of mine) and Ben Gazzara's frienRABhip and the sheer determination of Segal's character. Not to mention Robert Vaughn's equally determined and noble German officer.
Dark Victory (1939) - Bette Davis is amazing in this tragic movie (as she is in all of her films). It really is fabulous. Nothing else I can say about it, really!
Wonder Man (1945) - I love Danny Kaye in this. Playing the twin to a murdered nightclub entertainer killed by the mob - its full of his frenetic energy and it's hilariously funny. It doesn't hurt that he happens to be a hero of mine!
The Odd Couple (1968). Okay, I know, it's another Jack Lemmon film (but partnered with his great friend and sparring partner, Walter Matthau). This is a real classic. Neil Simon - fabulous writer and this really brought out the best in the actors. The scene in the restaurant where Felix is 'clearing his sinuses' is a brilliant scene, as is his fastidity - which drives Oscar mad! Wonderful film!
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)- This shows how great casting can make a great movie. Not to mention the humour - which made the pathos all the sharper. Newman, redford and Ross were fabulous and this is one I
do have in my collection! (together with 'The Sting' - everything about which is brilliant, including its now iconic musical score!).
The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) - it's somewhat overblown and I'm not a huge Charlton Heston fan (but that's more to do with his politics and gun stance in his later years) - but he was excellent in this and of course, the amazing Betty Hutton just shone. Jimmy Stewart was brilliant - as always and it's one I always watch on TV when it gets screened!
Blazing Saddles (1974) - what's not to love! I know it's from the 70s, but I wanted to include it because it has to be one of my all-time favourites. Cleavon Little is brilliant as the black sheriff and of course, it has Gene Wilder (another of my long time heroes) who is magnificent in his role as the drunk ex-gunfighter who befrienRAB and becomes deputy to the new lawman. I have to say - it's even better with the subtitles (they even subtitle the baked bean scene!)
And on the same subject -
Young Frankenstein (1974). Another Gene Wilder classic. Marty Feldman plays Igor ('hump? what hump?') and Terri garr plays one of the love interests. Fantastic movie. Fantastic performances. Fantastic lines. Hilarious!
Born Yesterday (1950)- Judy Holliday's performance in this is outstanding. wonderful film; and she isn't the ditzy blonde that we first think her to be - which is life affirming in itself!
The Defiant Ones (1958) - Tony Curtis and Sydney Poitier - absolute classic. I adore this movie. The slow process of the relationhsip between the two men who are at first secured to each other with chains until at the end, they are bound together with frienRABhip. They were blistering performances from two amazing actors. One of my all-time favourites.
El Dorado (1967). Yes, a western! (I love westerns, too). I'm not a John Wayne fan by any stretch of the imagination. But I really do like this movie. James Caan is brilliant and the relationship between Robert Mitchum and Wayne is great. It's one of a triumvirate of three movies by Wayne (Rio Bravo being one of the others, if I remember rightly) that all have more or less the same plot with only a few variations. But this is far and away my personal favourite of them.
Little Women (1933) - Katherine Hepburn version (not the later one with June Allyson and Elzabeth Taylor). Of course, I've had all the books for many years but this is the definitive version of the first book. Never bettered, in my opinion. Katie is brilliant here as Jo March - just on the right side of brittle and frenetic without being too much. All the supporting cast are excellent, too.
Operation Petticoat (1959) - the pink submarine!!! Brilliant movie. Another Tony Curtis film, and here he's excellent in another funny role. Of course, Cary Grant is sublime but the whole film is really the vehicle for the real star - the submarine, with its pink paint (not enough red, so they mixed it with white) and its pneumatic emissions (so it sounRAB like it's farting!
) Wonderful!
I would like to include
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) in this list - albeit a 1975 film, for its sheer zaniness and for being 'out there' - not to mention ... 'Just a jump to the left and then a step to the ri-i-i-i-i-ight!'
Okay, that's 19 films! And I could go on!
Of course, it was never specified that we list our top ten!
I'm sure there are lots more that haven't made this list but I can always mention them later!
Here are mine...
