lzcutter Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 Of all the films, in all the years, which one do you consider to be the most Essential? The least Essential? Not your favorite necessarily but the film that impacted you the most. Not the worst movie ever made but the film that just left you puzzling over what all the raves are about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cagney69 Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 12 Angry Men is a movie that makes me wonder about our judicial system. These twelve people took an open aand shut case and turned it completely around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pktrekgirl Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 Well, certainly for me, there is one film that impacted me most in that I wouldn't be a classic film fan now if I hadn't been fascinated by it for years - and that film is "Casablanca". Until about 2 - 2 1/2 years ago, I didn't know much of anything about classic film. I had three classic films 'on my list' of films I'd seen numerous times and enjoyed: "Casablanca", "Doctor Zhivago", and "The Nun's Story". Sure, I'd seen the odd showing of "Gone With the Wind", "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Top Hat", but the ones I kept coming back to were those first three. But it was "Casablanca" in particular that drew me in and turned me into a film-lover. And that was really because of one reason: Humphrey Bogart. I was fascinated by him. Eventually, I decided that I wanted to watch one or two others of his films. And those led to the idea that I would try to see ALL of Bogart's films. Nobody elses - just his. *lol* But once I started doing that, I got interested in some of his co-stars, and ended up watching more of THEIR films. And I've been at it ever since. I don't know that Casablanca is my 'favorite' film anymore - certainly it's in the top 5 still, and will always be number 1 for sentimental reasons. But influential in my own personal life? No doubt about it - that film is The One. As for least essential? Definitely, "Lawrence of Arabia". As we discussed last week, there is some spectacular cinematography in that movie, absolutely. And the acting is very good. But that is one story that did NOT need 4 hours to tell. And so, to put it in the top 5 films of all time, which is where you usually see it listed? No way. For me, it's not even *close* to the top 5 films of all time. I will grant that it is probably in the top 5 for cinematography - for me, along with films such as "Out of Africa", "The English Patient", and "Dances With Wolves". But for the storyline itself? Zzzzzzzzzz is about all I have to say to that. And so yeah...I have no idea what the raves are all about there. Because for me, a film that is in the top 5 of all time really needs to be pretty doggone close to perfect. And that one isn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cagney69 Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 The movie Citizen Kane is one that does nothing for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHaft Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 ever seen the third man? you might like it even more than casablanca.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bansi4 Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 Either, "The Best Years of Our Lives", "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" or "Sunset Blvd.". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nsallieharding Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 Our Town with William Holden and Martha Scott impacted me more than any film that I can remember. When she couldn't take it anymore and pleaded to leave I had a few tears in my eyes. I always thought that I would want to go back to 1963 and visit my grandmother but this film made me think twice about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shearerchic04 Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 i agree. i couldn't get into citizen kane. i remember they showed it in my high school film class and i fell asleep. i loved the third man, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shearerchic04 Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 The Top 10 Essential 1. All About Eve 2. Casablanca 3. Sunset Boulevard 4. Gone With the Wind 5. Some Like It Hot 6. Double Idemnity 7. On the Waterfront 8. Citizen Kane 9. The Philadelphia Story 10. The Wizard of Oz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katyscar11ett Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 Ok - basically we only get ONE choice, of the dozens that we love. Only given one, I'd have to say Casablanca is the MOST essential of them all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shearerchic04 Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 with one choice, i'd go with the wizard of oz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
movieman1957 Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 The first one I saw that had a great impact on me was "How Green Was My Valley." I was struck not only by the beauty of the film but the closeness of the family. The mannerly way people dealt with each other. The respect one was shone. The one that got the most buzz that I didn't get was "2001: A Space Odyssey. My thought was how could something that boring be that good to the critics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deeanddaisy666 Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 Most: King Kong Least: Gone With The Wind Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
filmlover Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 It's Casablanca for me, too. It is perfect in so many ways. The casting, right down to the smallest roles. The humor and timing of the different story angles coming bam-bam-bam together in each scene. Rick telling Strasser that there are certain parts of New York the Nazis shouldn't try to invade. The singing of the French anthem to the point it brings tears to Yvonne. Renault: "I'm shocked, shocked to find there's gambling going on in here." "Here's looking at you, kid." Rick, doing what's right and sending Ilsa away with Laszlo. Then getting to kill a Nazi. Then walking off with your buddy to fight the good fight. And so many more great moments. Casablanca is the Essential film to see of American movies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jarhfive Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 lzcutter, Busby Berkeley--a bona fide genius. "Lullaby of Broadway"--Berkeley's most astounding creation. Considering my last two sentences--"Gold Diggers Of 1935". Runner up, most essential: John Ford--Hollywood's other bona fide genius. The best of John Ford? "How Green Was My Valley". Least essential? "The Bicycle Thief". Boring. Rusty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayresorchids Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 The one I just don't get is The Graduate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katyscar11ett Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 Filmlover, so very well put. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted April 5, 2006 Share Posted April 5, 2006 The most essential to me is "To Kill a Mockingbird." I saw this at as a twelve year old and felt even then it was one of the best movies I had ever seen or would ever see. It was part scary movie, part comedy, part social commentary, part nostalgia and part a coming of age movie. It dealt with racism, single parent family life and raising of handicapped children (Boo, of course) at a time when there were few social agencies to assist. It dealt with the poverty brought on by the Great Depression. And it showed the fragility of the simple joys of childhood. Add to that the performances of Gregory Peck, Paul Fix, William Windom, an up and coming Brock Peters and several unknowns including Mary Badham and Phillip Alford. And of course, Robert Duvall (God, I hope I spelled that right or CineSage Jr. AKA CineSage will be all over my illiterate butt.) I would not pick a least essential. No matter which I would choose, someone else might feel it is one of the great cinematic wonders of all time. Just look at the debates on "Citizen Kane" and you see what I mean. One of the fillers I saw on TCM had young people talking about some of the symbolism in one of the scenes in "To Kill a Mockingbird" as it was shown to them in class and I only saw this for the first time when they pointed it out. I know this is good, possibly great cinematic artistry, but all I need to know is if the film touches me in any way without looking for hidden meanings in juxtaposing of characters and inanimate objects. All I ask is to just be entertained. CharlieT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jarhfive Posted April 5, 2006 Share Posted April 5, 2006 Charlie T, You picked a good one (essential). The past few months, I have considered writing a little bit about the last couple of minutes of "To Kill A Mockingbird". Readers may relax, I will spare you some long-winded thing. Several times, I have tuned in "To Kill A Mockingbird" (simply) to watch the last couple of minutes and re-charge my "oh, people really aren't so bad" battery. Charlie T...excellent post. Rusty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
filmlover Posted April 5, 2006 Share Posted April 5, 2006 re To Kill a Mockingbird...I ALWAYS get affected by the end of the courtroom scene where Gregory Peck is leaving and the entire balcony rises with the man saying to the girl, "Stand up...your father's passing." That is one of the greatest moments in movie history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
movieman1957 Posted April 5, 2006 Share Posted April 5, 2006 I agree about that moment in the film. It is so powerful in its simplicity. The simple act of standing thereby showing their respect is quite compelling. A beautiful moment, indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted April 5, 2006 Share Posted April 5, 2006 Thanks, Rusty. But explaining what makes a beautiful woman beautiful is easy. Explaining what makes a plain woman beautiful is difficult. The final courtroom scene is definitely a goose-bump moment. The only thing I didn't get to say about the movie is how much I enjoyed the score. Just hearing it makes me nostalgic for an era I never experienced except through the magic of the silver screen and this - my all-time favorite - film. CharlieT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lzcutter Posted April 5, 2006 Author Share Posted April 5, 2006 Rusty, I wish you would post your thoughts on the last few minutes of Mockingbird as I would be very interested in reading it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jarhfive Posted April 6, 2006 Share Posted April 6, 2006 lzcutter, Thank you for your interest. I will post some "To Kill A Mockingbird" thoughts tomorrow. Why not right now? I have an excuse. Long 'road trip' this morning. Not to mention--detoured and stuck in 'tiny town' for more than a hour. Rusty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deeanddaisy666 Posted April 6, 2006 Share Posted April 6, 2006 But explaining what makes a beautiful woman beautiful is easy. Explaining what makes a plain woman beautiful is difficult. Wow. How lovely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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