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CBHagman

(16,968 posts)
Sun May 20, 2012, 11:09 AM May 2012

Your Must-See List

All right, this is completely open. What's on your must-see list of movies? I'm thinking of things you'll recommend to almost anyone, films you'd make any excuse to watch.

For example, I've lost track of the number of times I've watched Casablanca, the 1940 version of Pride and Prejudice, Ang Lee's Sense and Sensibility, Branagh's Henry V, and the 1968 version of The Lion in Winter. That last is a movie beloved (and quoted) by a great many DUers.



Have at it, movie lovers.

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Your Must-See List (Original Post) CBHagman May 2012 OP
I wouldn't have thought of this one, but it's on one of the movie channels as I type... wakemewhenitsover May 2012 #1
That's one I have never seen... CBHagman May 2012 #2
Here are mine longship May 2012 #3
Films worth discussing! CBHagman May 2012 #4

wakemewhenitsover

(1,595 posts)
1. I wouldn't have thought of this one, but it's on one of the movie channels as I type...
Sun May 20, 2012, 11:19 AM
May 2012
The Great McGinty -- screenwriter/director Preston Sturges' sharp, cynical, funny, sophisticated look at political corruption and human nature. Its use of flashbacks was purportedly a source of inspiration for Herman Mankiewicz's screenplay for Citizen Kane (another must-see).

CBHagman

(16,968 posts)
2. That's one I have never seen...
Sun May 20, 2012, 12:06 PM
May 2012

...though I've always heard good things about it. It's going on my to-see list.

Thanks!

longship

(40,416 posts)
3. Here are mine
Sun May 20, 2012, 12:48 PM
May 2012

In no specific order:

Dr. Strangelove -- Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, Slim Pickens, Sterling Hayden. A near flawless flick.

Hitchcock 50's trilogy. These are Hitch's finest art.

Rear Window -- James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Thelma Ritter, Raymond Burr. wonderfully claustrophobic, with Ritter chewing up the scenery.

Vertigo -- James Stewart, Kim Novak. Slow paced, but the definitive psychological drama.

North by Northwest -- Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, Martin Landau. A wild romp about nothing with the definitive Hitch climax. McGuffin anybody?

The Third Man -- Joseph Cotton, Orson Wells, Alida Valli. High art noir-like.

The Day the Earth Stood Still -- a cast of little knowns makes this far better than it should be thanks to wonderful direction by Robert Wise. Other Wise gems: The Haunting, a psychological drama disguised as a horror flick (the 1963 B&W, not the stupid remake). Andromeda Strain, innovative in many respects, with another cast of little knowns.

Almost anything by Kubrick. Topping my list are 2001 and The Shining

A Man for all Seasons -- a stunningly beautiful film. Robert Shaw as Henry VIII

How about James Bond? Only one.

From Russia, With Love -- a real gem amongst the fluff and cartoonery. Filmed in Istanbul, which makes it even better.

These, just off the top of my head.

on edit: oh, one more.

Z -- Directed by Costa Gavras. One little known French language gem about the Greek counter-revolution. Brilliant cast.

CBHagman

(16,968 posts)
4. Films worth discussing!
Tue May 22, 2012, 11:00 PM
May 2012

Quite a list you got there, and I particularly like the inclusion of The Third Man and Dr. Strangelove.

But I love that you mention Robert Shaw and Thelma Ritter. Gone but never forgotten.

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