What are some of your favorite (classic) movies from the 1930's,40s,50s, and 60s

[Jed Cooper]

I recently watched All About Eve for the first time.... and thoroughly enjoyed it....

Yeah, that is a very good film.  I watched that again myself, not too long ago. 

[LCat]

I recently watched All About Eve for the first time.... and thoroughly enjoyed it....

^ Nice list, LCat!

Thanks, KC. Sorry I didn't see this sooner.

[Rawhide7]

Awhile back I watched a movie called Thoroughbreds never cry on TCM channel.  It starred Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland who both had really good chemistry together.  I liked the movie very much.  And the other night I watched another movie on TCM channel with both of them starring called Girl Crazy which was also pretty good as well.  I feel like Mickey Rooney was a very good actor and very charismatic.  He was small and full of energy.  Very entertaining to watch him and Judy together.  I've been really hooked on this channel!

[KC]

^ I've merged the above post by Rawhide7, which was in a thread by itself, with this "classic movies" thread. I hope that's OK with Rawhide7.

[Jed Cooper]

I haven't been able to post more often recently because I'm so swamped at work.  We're down a person that left a couple of weeks ago and on top of that, correcting a lot of mistakes left behind.  Argh!  Plus, I'm trying to get as much accomplished before quitting time Friday as I begin another vaction then!  Can't wait!

Anyway, I've been catching It's A Wonderful Life on television lately.  I love it.  It's one of my all time favorites.

[Rawhide7]

I know how you feel Jed.  I really wish I had more time to spend here on this site.  I'm also very busy at work and when I do have private free time I usually spend it doing things that I have to take care of.  Then add in holidays and trying to excercise at least 5 times a day.  That leaves very little free time for movies and spending time here on this site.  Things should slow down for me in January so I will be spending more time here on this great site.  Right now I try and spend quality time on the days that I can come on here.  Anyways would like to know what some of your favorite Mickey Rooney movies are?  Anybody have some of your personal favs of his?

[Jed Cooper]

I know how you feel Jed.  I really wish I had more time to spend here on this site.  I'm also very busy at work and when I do have private free time I usually spend it doing things that I have to take care of.  Then add in holidays and trying to excercise at least 5 times a day.  That leaves very little free time for movies and spending time here on this site.  Things should slow down for me in January so I will be spending more time here on this great site.  Right now I try and spend quality time on the days that I can come on here.  Anyways would like to know what some of your favorite Mickey Rooney movies are?  Anybody have some of your personal favs of his?

Yeah, right now it’s tough because we’re swamped.  It’s end of quarter which tends to be very busy and with one of our co-workers having been gone since just after Thanksgiving week, that’s making things tough, too.  I’m so looking forward to my departure Friday for my Christmas week vacation! 

I’ve also been trying to make time to update my Elvis database.  It’s something that I started years ago and has gone through multiple changes but now I’m content with what’s coming to be the final draft.  It’s an excel spreadsheet that houses all of The King’s recording, cross-referenced with original release information (singles, ep’s & lp’s) and my personal collection.  It’s been a labor of love for quite some time and I’m finally nearing completion.  What makes it convenient for me is when I have an idea for my own personal compilation, I can move all of the song title information onto a separate spreadsheet to see how many cd’s it will encompass because the database also records the length of time for each song title.     

Wow, Mickey Rooney.  Sad to say none come to mind.     Over the years I've come across various movie and television performances on tv and always came away with the impression that Mr. Rooney was a great actor.  I just perused the list of films he’s credited with appearing in and I don’t think I’ve seen any from beginning to end.  If I have, I’ve forgotten.  I know that contradicts my statement of his being a great actor but I mean it.  I remember seeing him in an episode of The Twilight Zone when I was a kid and it’s still one of my favorite episodes.  I’ll have to see what’s coming up on our dvr.  Any suggestions?  What are his top films?  I can always check the library databases, too.  I'll go with what you suggest, first, Rawhide7 because I'd like to know your opinion of what his best work was.   

[Rawhide7]

Thanks Jed,

Wow!  Your a fan Of Eastwoods and Elvis doesnt get any better than those two superstars!  For most people alot of Mickey Rooneys movies were before there time.  I actually havent seen too many of his movies.  Just a few that have come on TCM channel.  I am hooked on watching the TCM channel with all the great classic movies.  I've never even heard of most of them.  But I usually watch whatevers showing on TCM and I always tell myself Ill watch maybe 20 or 30 mins before going to bed.  And I end up getting hooked on what Im watching and end up staying up really late and watching the rest of it and sometimes even the next movie they show.  And this is like 1 or 2 in the morning.  But I have found Mickey Rooney to be very entertaining to watch.  Espicially with Judy Garland.

[Gant]

I still love all the original Universal horror films..

[Jed Cooper]

Thanks Jed,

Wow!  Your a fan Of Eastwoods and Elvis doesnt get any better than those two superstars!  For most people alot of Mickey Rooneys movies were before there time.  I actually havent seen too many of his movies.  Just a few that have come on TCM channel.  I am hooked on watching the TCM channel with all the great classic movies.  I've never even heard of most of them.  But I usually watch whatevers showing on TCM and I always tell myself Ill watch maybe 20 or 30 mins before going to bed.  And I end up getting hooked on what Im watching and end up staying up really late and watching the rest of it and sometimes even the next movie they show.  And this is like 1 or 2 in the morning.  But I have found Mickey Rooney to be very entertaining to watch.  Espicially with Judy Garland.

I miss when the American Movie Classics channel played 'silver screen' era movies commercial free and without interruption.  I guess TCM is the next best thing but we don't have that channel.  I keep meaning to look into it, though.

[Jed Cooper]

I still love all the original Universal horror films..

Those are great!  I'm fairly certain I've seen them reissued on dvd and Blu ray recently, too.

[Hemlock]

Here`s a few of mine:

1930`s :The Roaring Twenties,Captain Blood,The Adventures of Robin Hood,Duck Soup,City Lights,Modern Times,Ninotchka,Bringing Up Baby .So pretty much anything that included Bogart,Gagney,Flynn,Marx Bros,Cary Grant and Chaplin.

1940`s: My Darling Clementine,Fort Apache,She Wore a Yellow Ribbon,White Heat,High Sierra,Double Indemnity,Out of the Past,The Big Sleep,Red River,Notorius etc.Damn 40`s was awesome time for films.so many great films from that era.

1950`s: Rio Bravo,North by Northwest,Rebel Without a Cause,Gunfight at the O.K. Corral,Winchester '73,From Here to Eternity,The Man with the Golden Arm,On the Waterfront,The Young Lions,Some Like It Hot,The African Queen,The Searchers,High Noon,The Vertigo... to name a few 

1960`s: Bullitt,The Great Escape,The Magnificent Seven,The Manchurian Candidate,The Guns of Navarone,The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance,Once Upon A Time In The West,Dirty Dozen,Point Blank,The Train,Cool Hand Luke,Psycho,The Wild Bunch,The Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid.

[KC]

Nice list, Hemlock!

[Hemlock]

^ Thank you 

[Gant]

Theres just so many...

Heres a few of my all time favourites I've viewed again recently..

[Matt]

Great thread. I have so many favorites, but I usually can't think of them when I try to post lists. These are the ones I own on DVD so I guess they are my favorites --

You didn't ask for the 1920s, but I'm a big fan of some silent films, and I think a handful should be listed here....

1920s:

Safety Last (1923) Directed by Fred C. Newmeyer & Sam Taylor) starring Harold Lloyd


The Gold Rush (1925) Directed by Charlie Chaplin


I fell so in love with Chaplin films, I wanted to get a film poster (a repro of course) and although my favorite of his was City Lights (coming up next decade), I opted for this one -- image above, as I liked the poster art more a lot more. This is great fun, and if you haven't watched a Chaplin movie, you definitely should, whether it's this one or one of the ones coming up in the 1930's section.


1930's

City Lights (1931) Directed by Charlie Chaplin

In my top 10 films of all time. A true masterpiece and essential viewing by anyone who considers themselves a true cinema fan.

Modern Times (1936) Directed by Charlie Chaplin

This was considered Modern Times back in 1936. Sadly enough, the relevance to the U.S. working conditions right now have often reminded me of this film.

It Happened One Night (1934) Directed by Frank Capra

I sought this one out after reading that Bronco Billy was more-or-less a modern retelling of the movie (or if my memory isn't good, at least it was compared to It Happened One Night) and it is a great comedy, so much fun.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) Directed by Frank Capra

Also in my Top 10 films of all time -- maybe in the Top 3.

M (1931) Directed by Fritz Lang

Another film that is a must-see for cinephiles.

The next two star James Cagney.

Angels with Dirty Faces (1938) Directed by Michael Curtiz

Another that might break into my Top 10 of all time. My favorite Cagney film.

The Public Enemy (1931) directed by William A. Wellman

The grapefruit scene -- hilarious. But this movie is inherently rewatchable.

The 1940's
So many great films in this decade, I'm sure I'll leave out a lot of them.

Casablanca (1942) Directed by Michael Curtiz

Perhaps the most beloved classic film of all time... and one of my favorites, as well.

Citizen Kane (1941) Directed by Orson Welles

This is one of those films that you can take almost any screencap from it and you'd have a piece of art, worth of framing and hanging on your wall. Give it a shot if you don't believe me. Plus, the story and acting are perfect.

The Great Dictator (1940) Directed by Charlie Chaplin

Strong message and amazing this was released in 1940 and not 15 or more years later.

White Heat (1949) Directed by Raoul Walsh

Another great Cagney movie, and here's one more for good measure....

Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) Directed by Michael Curtiz

Anyone who loves Cagney's gangster films needs to watch this one to get a true appreciation of his wide range of talent.

The Third Man (1949) Directed by Carol Reed

Fabulous film-noir starring Orson Welles.

The Philadelphia Story (1940) Directed by George Cukor

The penultimate comedy romance with Katharine Hepburn at her most stunning.

It's a Wonderful Life (1946) Directed by Frank Capra

Great at Christmas, but equally enjoyable all year round. This is probably the film that made me a James Stewart fan, he's fantastic here.

Rebecca (1940) Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

One of my Top 5 Hitchcock films, and looking over his filmography, this is the first one he made that I truly loved.

And since we're in my favorite decade of Hitchcock films, here's two more which he released back-to-back
Spellbound (1945) Directed by Alfred Hitchcock


Notorious (1946) Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

There's something so creepy about that staircase with the black/white tile floor that it's the image that is cast in my mind whenever I think of this film, similar to Kubrick's shot of the twins in the hotel hallway in The Shining. Anyway, this is a great film, and one of my favorite Hitch films.

The Big Sleep (1946) Directed by Howard Hawks

Lauren Bacall is transfixing - try peeling your eyes off the screen when she's on it.

The Maltese Falcon (1941) Directed by John Huston

Another great Bogart film of many this decade.

Double Indemnity (1944) Directed by Billy Wilder

Barbara Stanwyck's best, in my opinion. One of the greatest in the film-noir genre.

That's already a lot for the 1940's, and while I'm sure I'll kick myself for missing something spectacular, I'll move on now to ...

The 1950's.

Sunset Blvd. (1950) Directed by Billy Wilder

Another from my Top 10. About 5 years ago, I had my entire nuclear family staying with me for a week. Trying to keep everyone entertained, I put on some great movies with broad appeal, starting with City Lights, and then the next night, this one. In my mind, no one could possibly dislike this movie. More than an hour into it, my brother asks "Don't you have any current movies we can watch?" I was shocked "You're not enjoying this?" My father responds "Not at all." And it was that moment that I was reminded that I, for whatever reason, had little to nothing in common with any person in my family. I made them finish it, thinking by the end scene, it would win them over. My brother asked "Were you really expecting us to like this piece of crap?" So, at this point, I wonder how I'm going to get through the rest of the week. Maybe time to put on Titanic. Anyway, Sunset Blvd. is a classic that EVERYONE will love unless they're a member of my family.

Strangers on a Train (1951) Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

Another great must-see Hitchcock film.

Touch of Evil (1958) Directed by Orson Welles

Another classic film-noir that stars one of my favorite actors (and directors) Orson Welles.

And here's five from one of the best directors of all time:

The Wrong Man (1956) Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

Another of the best Hitch films, starring Henry Fonda.

Rear Window (1954) Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

I can't imagine there's anyone here who hasn't seen this movie, but if you haven't, put it on your watchlist asap.

Dial M For Murder (1954) Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

Another directed by Hitch starring Grace Kelly. Need I say more?

Vertigo (1958) Directed by Alfred Hitchcock


North by Northwest (1959) Directed by Alfred Hitchcock


Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) Directed by Howard Hawks

Marilyn was the ultimate screen goddess, and in my opinion, was never more stunning than in this film.


And again, I'm sure I'm missing a lot, but moving on to....

The 1960's

A Hard Day's Night (1964) directed by Richard Lester

So real, it's almost nonfiction. The dawn of Beatlemania in America captured on film, and a witty screenplay as well. The four individual personalities of The Beatles are created, and will hold for the rest of their lives.

(Won't add the spaghetti westerns here, everyone knows they belong on this list, and we've all seen them).

Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) Directed by Sergio Leone

A Leone masterpiece.

Rosemary's Baby (1968) Directed by Roman Polanski

One of the finest horror films of all time. Creepy as hell.

Three more from Hitchcock:

Psycho (1960) Directed by Alfred Hitchcock


The Birds (1963) Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

I absolutely love the scene where the birds start out with just one or two on the wire, and then a few more fly in, and then when the camera comes back, a few more, and then... my blood ran cold the first time I saw all those birds lined up. It still has a strong effect, though after multiple viewings, a little less.
 
Marnie (1964) Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

Sean Connery directed by Hitchcock! For a while, this was my favorite Hitch film.

The Apartment (1960) Directed by Billy Wilder

Sensitive and sweet comedy that has a sad undertone. Great acting by Lemmon and MacLaine.

Enough for now.

[Rawhide7]

Thanks a lot Matt. Those are some great looking Classic movies. A few yrs ago I started watch turner Classic movie channel late at night right before I went to bed. Needless to say I got hooked on this channel. I watched some great classic movies that I had never even heard of before. Like rear window, and thoroughbreds don't cry starring Mickey Rooney and Judy garland. I enjoyed both rear window and thoroughbreds don't cry so much that I now own both in DVD. And there were a few others that I enjoyed also like the Lou Gehrig biography movie with Gary Cooper and there was a baseball movie with jimmy Stewart in it. Yeah I really enjoyed watching these movies I've never heard of before and probably would never had seen before if it weren't for the TCM channel. Sadly my cable company has dropped this channel. Very unfortunate for me because I really enjoyed watching those movies late at night. And I like seeing how movies were made and how actors acted in them back then. Movie making has come a long way. I am at some point wanting to add a few of the silent movies with Charlie Chaplin. And also adding a few Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movies. Like top hat maybe. I really miss the TCM channel.

[Doug]

Another from my Top 10. About 5 years ago, I had my entire nuclear family staying with me for a week. Trying to keep everyone entertained, I put on some great movies with broad appeal, starting with City Lights, and then the next night, this one. In my mind, no one could possibly dislike this movie. More than an hour into it, my brother asks "Don't you have any current movies we can watch?" I was shocked "You're not enjoying this?" My father responds "Not at all." And it was that moment that I was reminded that I, for whatever reason, had little to nothing in common with any person in my family. I made them finish it, thinking by the end scene, it would win them over. My brother asked "Were you really expecting us to like this piece of crap?" So, at this point, I wonder how I'm going to get through the rest of the week. Maybe time to put on Titanic. Anyway, Sunset Blvd. is a classic that EVERYONE will love unless they're a member of my family.

This is why I sometimes feel like I'm from another planet...though to be fair my family would be a lot more open to watching something like that, and in fact may very well have already seen Sunset Blvd. I'm just talking in general. I took my wife to see North By Northwest at the theatre...she was bored. (Sigh.) I hope some day to turn my daughter into a little cinephile, at least enough for her not to go "yuck!" when I recommend seeing a black & white movie.

I liked all your choices there, Matt.

[Doug]

On another forum during the summer, they did a top 100 films of the 60s countdown as determined by the members of the forum. We each submitted our 25 favorite films of the 60s, so I might as well share my list here. It was actually easier for me not to have more than one film per director, a rule I didn't hold myself to for the 70s countdown. And when it's time for the 50s countdown, I definitely won't be holding myself it then either. For the record all three spaghetti westerns made the final list, as did Once Upon a Time in the West (at #5). GBU came in at #3.

1. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
2. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
3. A Hard Day’s Night
4. Persona
5. Playtime
6. Lawrence of Arabia
7. High and Low
8. The Apartment
9. Bonnie and Clyde
10. The Wild Bunch
11. Branded to Kill
12. The Americanization of Emily
13. Midnight Cowboy
14. Cool Hand Luke
15. Rosemary’s Baby
16. The Hustler
17. X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes
18. Peeping Tom
19. Woman in the Dunes
20. Night of the Living Dead
21. Andrei Rublev
22. Saturday Night and Sunday Morning
23 Eyes Without a Face
24. Psycho
25. Father Goose

[Rawhide7]

Question about the Movie Bullitt starring Steve Mcqueen

I have never seen this movie before.  Just the trailer only.  It looks good based on the trailer.  Is this movie pretty good?  Im always wanting to buy great older classic movies.  And Im wanting to own at least one movie of the major movie stars from several yrs ago.  Actors like Mcqueen paul Newmann, etc.

thanks