MY TOP TEN CLASSIC MOVIES

I’ve been watching a lot of old classic movies lately. I have enjoyed watching the classics for years, ever since I took a film appreciation class while in college at Vincennes University. The class opened my eyes to films like Citizen Kane, The Seventh Seal, and The Great Dictator.

To me, most classics are black and white, not only entertaining, but inspire and emotion, a change in thought, or ideas learned. Saying that some are just fun!

I will list my Top Ten (Or more) movies at the bottom of this blog, but first I am going to go into some of the other movies I love and why.

You will notice that all of the movies in my Top Ten are from the 60’s and older. I just think there was more care taken in the story and not the celebrity of special effects back then. That is not to say I don’t like some newer movies.

I love the StarWars Movies, especially 4, 5, and 6, but the last 2 were pretty good. I know it’s a few years old, but I thought Dances with Wolves and Tombstone were great.

I like other movies for special reasons, not because they are classic, some are, or that they are even that good, But I just like them.

I will watch the whole movie The Naughty Nineties – with Bud Abbot and Lou Costello, because It has their best

version of the classic routine “Who’s on First.”

I watch The Quiet Man, every year around St. Patricks Day, Yankee Doodle Dandy near the 4th of July, and It’s a Wonderful Life close to Christmas. Oh and A Christmas Story, can’t see it enough.

A few films I tend to watch over and over just because I don’t get tired of them are, Singing in the Rain, On the Town, Brigadoon and 7 Brides for 7 Brothers, I enjoy a good musical I guess.

Also in that must watch every year or so at least category is The Longest Day, Patton, Billy Jack, Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein. I can’t forget Ninotchka, Garbo Laughs, enough said!

MY TOP TEN + MOVIES

1. Citizen Kane (1941) – Just a great movie over all, and Orson Wells was so innovative in lighting, camera angles and the use of images, not just dialogue to tell the story.

2. McClintock (1963)– It’s just fun, fun, fun. John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara have such chemistry. I think I like it more and more over time because it is so politically incorrect!

3. Casablanca (1942) – Great story, intrigue, acting is great, the lines are better. This movie even gets more interesting when you learn how it was made.

4. Stagecoach (1939) – Just what a good western should have, plenty of action, but tell a human story.

5. Grapes of Wrath (1940) – Telling a story of the plight of people during the depression, while it was still affecting so many. Has a raw grittiness, and superb acting.

6. Bringing up Baby (1938) – Could not have found a better pair than Cary Grant and Kathrine Hepburn for this slap stick comedy. A constant laugh.

7. The Great Escape (1963) – I could not tell you how many times I have watched this movie. Based on a true story, Great cast, action, and a story that shows the lengths men will go to be free!

8. African Queen (1951) – Putting two of Hollywoods greats, Katherine Hepburn and Humphery Bogart in an adventure film with only them for about 90% of the time was sheer genius.

9. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) – Jimmy Stewart learns the hard way how corruption can win over in the Nations Capital. Maybe even more important today than when it was made.

10. The Maltese Falcon (1941) – Great crime drama, Bogart is great, and so are Greenstreet and Lorre.

11. The Searchers (1956) – Had to add this one to my Top Ten List. Great sprawling western, one of the Dukes best roles.

12. Wizard of Oz (1939) – Just had to add it, it was a childhood favorite, my mother would watch it with us every year when it came on. (Back before DVD or Video tape.) Fun, Scary, Entertaining.

If you will notice that if I were alive from 1938 to 1942, I would have gone broke going to the movies, there were so many great films made during that era, many, many more than I have mentioned here.

Well, That’s my list. I am sure many will not agree with some or all of my choices, but that is why it is “My” list.

Do you have a list of your Top Ten Movies, E-mail me below, let me know what you like. If I get enough responses, I will make “Scott’s Thoughts Friends Top Ten Movies” and post it here.

Here are some great movie sites:

http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-movies-of-all-time

http://www.imdb.com/list/ls055592025/

http://www.amc.com/movie-guide/tim-dirks-top-100

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/top/bestofrt/top_100_classics_movies/

Also if you like this Blog Post, check out my previous ones, especially the first. There you will find the first few chapters of my first book, "Maybe The Horse Did It!" that is now available at amazon.com