450-426 Great Films
450. A PASSAGE TO INDIA (1984) U.K.
Director: David Lean
A magnificent epic of mystery, intrigue, and uncertainty with cultural changes and colonialism in India, with stellar performances.
449. ARSENIC AND OLD LACE (1944) U.S.
Director: Frank Capra
Classic madcap comedy in which no one is normal and everyone is dysfunctional.
448. THE GREAT ZIEGFELD (1936) (Bio) U.S.
Director: Robert Z. Leonard
It’s worth it just to see the musical numbers and the performances of countless stars.
447. THE CIRCUS (1928) (Silent) U.S.
Director: Charles Chaplin
Can Chaplin’s Tramp find true love among the shenanigans of the big top?
446. DODSWORTH (1936) U.S.
Director: William Wyler
One of the best movies analyzing the reasons why marriages sometimes fail.
445. CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF (1958) U.S.
Director: Richard Brooks
This Tennessee Williams white family distress drama was a sensation in 1958, even now it holds ups with great acting and life lessons learned.
444. GALLIPOLI (1981) (BST) Austra.
Director: Peter Weir
In this WWI drama the perils of war far outweigh the glory of victory.
443. THE BAD AND THE BEAUTIFUL (1952) U.S.
Director: Vincent Minnelli
A great Hollywood story about dishonesty vs. honesty in the movie business.
442. NINOCHKA (1939) U.S.
Director: Ernst Lubitsch
Can a stern Soviet woman keep herself from falling in love instead of clinging to her politics? A classic comedy. Garbo laughs!
441. SEVEN CHANCES (1925) (Silent) U.S.
Director: Buster Keaton
Would you marry someone you don’t know if you knew you would inherit 7 million dollars? A classic dilemma for Buster Keaton.
440. TIME BANDITS (1981) U.K.
Director: Terry Gilliam
A fantasy proving time traveling has never been this fun or frightening for a young boy.
439. LA VIE EN ROSE (2007) (BST) (Bio) (Ed.) Fra./U.K./Cz Rep.
Director: Olivier Dahan
Extraordinary biographical film about the life of French singer Edith Piaf.
438. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (1991) (Ani.) U.S.
Director: Gary Trousdale / Kirk Wise
Amazing and touching Disney animated feature film about forbidden romance.
437. The ADVENTURES of SHERLOCK HOLMES (1939) U.S.
Director: Alfred Werker
One of the best versions of England’s super sleuth is hard to beat in this classic tale.
436. LOVE AMONG THE RUINS (1975) (TV) U.S.
Director: George Cukor
One of the best stories of love among older people ever made. Beautiful!
435. ABSENCE OF MALICE (1981) U.S.
Director: Sidney Pollock
Absorbing drama about the hazards of a false story leaking to the press. Wilford Brimley’s interrogation is a wonder to behold.
434. THE CHORUS (2004) (BST) France
Director: Christophe Barratier
A great French film how a music teacher’s positive influence among the young can transform their life through music.
433. LETTER FROM AN UNKNOWN WOMAN (1948) U.S.
Director: Max Ophuls
Mystery romance occurs when a man’s life is changed by the letter.
432. THE VANISHING (1988) Neth. / France
Director: George Sluizer
What would you do if your love was abducted while on vacation in France?
431. HOOSIERS (!986) (BST) U.S.
Director: David Anspaugh
One of the best sports movies ever made, a TRUE David against Goliath story.
430. Z (1969) Algeria / Fra.
Director: C. Costa-Gavras
Filmed like a documentary, what can happen when public officials are assassinated.
429. OUT OF THE PAST (1947) U.S.
Director: Jacques Tourneur
One of the very best film-noir greed and betrayal mystery classics of the 1940s.
428. THE NAVIGATOR (1924) (Silent) U.S.
Director: Donald Crisp / Buster Keaton
Rejected in marriage, Keaton boards the wrong ship inheriting a host of problems.
427. ELMER GANTRY (1960) U.S.
Director: Richard Brooks
Great character study of a conman who poses as a charismatic preacher, to his own end.
426. COOL HAND LUKE (1967) (Ed.) U.S.
Director: Stuart Rosenberg
Every time he escapes from prison, he gains more inmate support to do it again.
