re: What are some of your favorite classic movies?

“Paths Of Glory” by Stanley Kubrick

I love a lot of old movies, but I'll try to pick one to promote. I'm a huge fan of Capra who it was said always gave you a happy ending, if you worked for it. And while It's a Wonderful Life is a holiday staple, I'd argue MEET JOHN DOE is the better movie, and it goes to a far darker place before the fundamental decency of ordinary Americans come through.

I mean, is there a better summation of the average American than this:

"I'm gonna talk about us - the average guys, the John Does. If anybody should ask you what the average John Doe is like, you couldn't tell him because he's a million and one things. He's Mr. Big and Mr. Small, he's simple and he's wise, he's inherently honest but he's got a streak of larceny in his heart. He seldom walks up to a public telephone without shovin' his finger into the slot to see if somebody left a nickel there. He's the man the ads are written for. He's the fella everybody sells things to. He's Joe Doakes, the world's greatest stooge and the world's greatest strength.

Yes sir, yes sir, we're a great family, the John Does. We are the meek who are supposed to inherit the earth. You'll find us everywhere. We raise the crops, we dig the mines, work the factories, keep the books, fly the planes and drive the buses, and when the cop yells, 'Stand back there you,' he means us - the John Does.

We've existed since time began. We built the pyramids. We saw Christ crucified, pulled the oars for Roman emperors, sailed the boats for Columbus, retreated from Moscow with Napoleon, and froze with Washington at Valley Forge. Yes sir, we've been in there dodging left hooks since before History began to walk. In our struggle for freedom, we've hit the canvas many a time, but we always bounced back because we're the people - and we're tough."

As far as knowledge and sheer amount of classic movies seen, i'd imagine you take both of those titles. So is that your top 6 all-time?

1. Casablanca
2. It's A Wonderful Life
3. Wizard Of Oz

Others: The Big Sleep, African Queen, High Noon, Rebel Without A Cause, Any Hitchcock movie.

Great Question with too wide of a field. Needs to be genre specific or I could list dozens.

I'll try to keep it brief:

Drama:
Gone With The Wind

Suspense:
Vertigo

Western:
Stagecoach

War:
Sgt York

Comedy:
Dr. Strangelove

Campy:
it's a Mad Mad Mad Mad Mad World

Sci Fi:

The Forbidden Planet

Horrow:

Bela Lugosi Dracula


I could go on for a while because in each of these I have several I could list. These are just the first that come to mind

I heartily second this recommendation - GREAT film noir. There's never been a more appropriately named actress in a role than Ann Savage as Vera - the woman who perfectly personified the phrase, "If looks could kill"

Detour was directed by Edgar Ulmer, who also directed the Karloff/Lugosi 1934 horror classic The Black Cat, which should definitely make your must-see list.



Here's a few other relatively unknown films that you should seek out:


(also known as Q Planes, this one's free on Amazon Prime)

It's a Wonderful Life



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quote:

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All Quiet on the Western Front

The Best Years of Our Lives

The Grapes of Wrath

The Hustler

Mr. Roberts

The Caine Mutiny

Some Like it Hot

The Apartment

On the Waterfront

The Longest Day

12 O'clock High

Lawrence of Arabia

The Thin Man

His Girl Friday

It Happened One Night

Bringing up Baby

The Philadelphia Story

It's a Wonderful Life

Double Indemnity

The Maltese Falcon

Ben Hur

Sunset Boulevard

Citizen Kane

King Kong

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Very impressive list.

Double Indemnity gets better every time I watch it, and I just can't have an All-Time Top Ten list without King Kong on it. The film's pushing 90 and it's still impresses and entertains.

I like to go with the unmentioned so far.


Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?