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If not, do yourself a favor and rent it. A wonderful commedy with very good acting and witty script. What more would one want from a $1 rental?Makes you quite sad realizing that back then Hollywood was capable of producing many movies that are, simply put, worth watching (a shocker!). Things that were riveting without dumb $100M ship mock-ups and funny without 120dB farts.
What are your favorite old ones? Although I like a lot about the 12 angry men, I still find it a bit forced and artificial.
Things certainly used to be different before Cleopatra, Spielberg and Lucas moved in. Seems like from that point on it was mostly downhill. I am wrong?
Victor.
My wife and I watch it about twice a year. I have a cat with an attitude very similar to the Grand Duchess Swana.My top ten (in no particular order)
1. Le Grande Illusion
2. Rashomon
3. Casblanca
4. Pandora's Box
5. Citizen Kane
6. The Philadlephia Story
7. Ninotchka
8. Top Hat
9. The Maltese Falcon
10.The Letter.could go on, and in six months the list might be different.
Well, here goes. My Top Ten with some close contenders.1. Breaker Morant - Terrific acting, story line, and cinematography. Everything fit.
2. A Man For All Seasons - Best Actor for Paul Scofield, probably best ever!
3. The Third Man - A total masterpiece.
4. North By Northwest - Hitchock at his best, Cary Grant WAS Roger Thornhill.
5. The Maltese Falcon - The Continental Op was a natural for Bogie.
6. The Pope Of Greenwich Village - The almost lighter side of the mob.
7. Taxi Driver (tie) - Still Scorcese’s best work.
The Ninth Configuration (tie) - Dark humor and irony.
8. Macaroni - A delightful little slice of life with 2 of the best - Lemmon & Mastroianni.
9. Casablanca (tie) - An all time favorite full of cliches.
The Ipcress File (tie) - The epitomy of spy flicks.
10. Notorious (tie) - Grant & Bergman, what else is there!
DOA (the original with Edmond O'Brien) (tie) - Skillfully done thriller with a twist.Contenders:
Hammett (Dark bio of the great author)
Paths of Glory (Mans inhumanity to man)
Beat The Devil (Great cast, great Bogie)
Arsenic and Old Lace (Unforced adaptation of a stage play)
Tunes of Glory (Aye Jock, Guiness' best)
Also... Saboteur, Zulu, Gallipoli, Mean Streets, Mirage, Diner, Becket.
And... most of the Marx Bros and James Bond.
Film noir thrillers include: Murder My Sweet (Dick Powell), This Gun For Hire (Alan Ladd), Cry Danger (Dick Powell), Crossfire (Mitchum, Bendix, Young, Ryan, et al), The Big Sleep (Bogie, Bacall), Lady In The Lake (Robert Montgomery), The Big Heat (Glenn Ford).
Victor! Victor! Victor! You've pulled out the heavy artillary old boy...
Lubitsch, Brackett, Wilder, Garbo, Douglas... Lugosi?!? Even with Bela this is a great film, no doubt about it. Good reminder, I'll have to pull it out and watch it again.(when I have a chance!)MGM was a fireball that year, generating more outstanding films in a single year than it (*and* other studios) has been able to muster in entire decades since. I can't blame Spielberg and Lucas entirely for the glut of quality films today. I'll take "American Graffiti" over "American Pie" any day. There are good filmmakers out there, one just has to make a larger effort to see their work than one did in 1939 (just as *great* audio components are not found in all those Circuit Cities next to all those Cineplexes showing "Fart Wars: May The Merchandise Be With Us").
As for the forced style of "12 Angry Men," it was based on the stage play, and that comes across in the writing and acting. Many "filmed plays" come off this way.
There are many terrific classic films that deserve your time. If you rented all the films on the following list @ $1.00 ea. you'd be out $20, but you'd get more bang for your buck than if you'd used the noney to see "I Know Who You Did Last Summer Part IX ˝". In no particular order:
Magnificent Ambersons
To Be Or Not To Be
Stalag 17
Some Like It Hot
Love In The Afternoon
Anna Karenina
Queen Christina
Bridge On The River Kwai
The Third Man
The Lady From Shanghai
The Postman Always Rings Twice
The Philadelphia Story
Sullivan's Travels
Bringing Up Baby
White Heat
The Grapes of WrathGreat films not in the "studio" pipeline:
The Seventh Seal
Smiles Of A Summer Night
Roshoman
The Hidden FortressA terrific movie about cinematographers that's *not* boring and will give you some great ideas for film rentals is "Visions of Light." Okay, we're at $21! I'll shut up! My list is beginning to read like Film 101...
I've been dying to reply to this post for two days, but haven't had the time I wanted to spend. The post is still *short,* but you're probably grateful that I'm so busy. Wonderful post, Victor!
Robert
P.S.
Did you know Charles Brackett (co-screenwriter of Ninotchka and partner of Billy Wilder) wrote the 1953 "Titanic"? As an aside, on the ASC (American Screen Cameramen) site, Russell Carpenter, who photographed 1997's Titanic was asked to recommend a great unseen gem. His choice-- Solaris.
***There are many terrific classic films that deserve your time. If you rented all the films on the following list @ $1.00 ea. you'd be out $20, but you'd get more bang for your buck than if you'd used the noney to see "I Know Who You Did Last Summer Part IX ˝". In no particular order:Magnificent Ambersons
To Be Or Not To Be
Stalag 17
Some Like It Hot
Love In The Afternoon
Anna Karenina
Queen Christina
Bridge On The River Kwai
The Third Man
The Lady From Shanghai
The Postman Always Rings Twice
The Philadelphia Story
Sullivan's Travels
Bringing Up Baby
White Heat
The Grapes of WrathGreat films not in the "studio" pipeline:
The Seventh Seal
Smiles Of A Summer Night
Roshoman
The Hidden FortressGood list, Robert, with posssible exception of the Stalag (please don't jusm all over me for not being in love with most American war movies). I don't recall the Hidden Fortress, although the title sounds familiar. I need to investigate couple of others too. Thanks a lot and hope you will find more time to give more suggestions.
Have you seen the Closely Watched Trains?
***Did you know Charles Brackett (co-screenwriter of Ninotchka and partner of Billy Wilder) wrote the 1953 "Titanic"? As an aside, on the ASC (American Screen Cameramen) site, Russell Carpenter, who photographed 1997's Titanic was asked to recommend a great unseen gem. His choice-- Solaris.No, I did't know that. An "unseen gem", indeed. What bothers me, however, is the fact that many of the current volume junk producers DO know about good movies, have seen them and love many. So how come they do what they do? How come it has to be an outcast Allen to be just about the only brave one out there?
Are you just a movie lover or are you associated with the industry in some way?
Victor.
Hi Victor,Regarding Stalag 17, I listed it foremost because it's a Billy Wilder film. I'd rather watch a "bad" Billy Wilder film than a "good" Barry Sonnenfield film (though in my humble opinion, Wilder hasn't made a bad one, and Sonnenfield...). On the Czech film "Closely Watched Trains" I've heard of it, but not seen it. I'll have to see it now, so I've made myself a note... and I'll always make sure to read your posts for new suggestions!
Not everyone in the film industry loves film, in fact, there are more studio execs who despise film than you could possibly imagine. But, I think this dislike is projected onto every movie screen.
I'm again short on time, but I'll be back!
Robert
Personally I like all eras of cinema, from silent to the latest megabuck blockbuster. Yeah, there's a lot of crap being made today, but there are some gems too. Besides, Hollywood produced a lot of junk way back when as well. Some of those "B" pictures from the thirties and forties were pretty lame, but still a lot of fun. Hey, my wife and I even like those "Full Moon" and "Sterling" direct-to-video releases!Some of my favorite comedies are classics, like those made by Chaplin, Keaton, Lloyd, the Marx Brothers, Fields, and Laurel & Hardy. I also like the old movie serials made before TV stole kids fascination away. The artistry of "Citizen Kane" and "Casablaca" and all those film noir classics from the forties and fifties has never been equaled either, IMHO.
All that aside, I crave effects laden action films which are bold and daring, but can still keep tongue in cheek without losing that delicate balance between comedy and drama. "Starship Trooper" and "The Mummy" come to mind.
Gee, I guess I just LOVE movies! :-)
AuPh
PS: I'll try to catch "Ninotchka"!
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