We're gonna need a bigger boat
I have much planned for my summer in DeKalb, including a great deal of reading catch-up. (More on that later.) But I have also made it my goal to watch a lot of classic movies. A few years ago, the American Film Institute released its list of the 100 best films. They surveyed all kinds of movie experts, from producers to critics to actors to historians and came up with the list. (Read more about it here.) Anyway, I have decided that I am going to try to make an even bigger dent in that list than I already have. I do not necessarily agree 100% with this list, but it is a good place to start.
So here is the list, with a line through the films which I have already seen.
AFI 100 Years, 100 Films
1. CITIZEN KANE (1941)
2.
3. THE GODFATHER (1972)
4. GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)
5.
6. THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)
7. THE GRADUATE (1967)
8. ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)
9. SCHINDLER'S LIST (1993)
10. SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952)
11. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)
12. SUNSET BOULEVARD (1950)
13. THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI (1957)
14. SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959)
15. STAR WARS (1977)
16. ALL ABOUT EVE (1950)
17. THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1951)
18. PSYCHO (1960)
19.
20. ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975)
21. THE GRAPES OF WRATH (1940)
22. 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)
23. THE MALTESE FALCON (1941)
24. RAGING BULL (1980)
25. E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982)
26. DR. STRANGELOVE (1964)
27. BONNIE AND
28. APOCALYPSE NOW (1979)
29. MR. SMITH GOES TO
30. THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE (1948)
31. ANNIE HALL (1977)
32. THE GODFATHER PART II (1974)
33. HIGH NOON (1952)
34. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962)
35. IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934)
36. MIDNIGHT COWBOY (1969)
37. THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946)
38. DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944)
39. DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (1965)
40. NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)
41.
42. REAR WINDOW (1954)
43. KING KONG (1933)
44. THE BIRTH OF A NATION (1915) (I have not seen the whole movie, anyway.)
45. A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (1951)
46. A CLOCKWORK
47. TAXI DRIVER (1976)
48. JAWS (1975)
49. SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (1937)
50. BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969)
51. THE
52. FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953)
53. AMADEUS (1984)
54. ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (1930)
55. THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965)
56. M*A*S*H (1970)
57. THE THIRD MAN (1949)
58. FANTASIA (1940)
59. REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (1955)
60. RAIDERS OF THE LOST
61. VERTIGO (1958)
62. TOOTSIE (1982)
63. STAGECOACH (1939)
64. CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977)
65. THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991)
66. NETWORK (1976)
67. THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (1962)
68. AN AMERICAN IN
69. SHANE (1953)
70. THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971)
71. FORREST GUMP (1994)
72. BEN-HUR (1959)
73.
74. THE GOLD RUSH (1925)
75. DANCES WITH WOLVES (1990)
76. LIGHTS (1931)
77. AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973)
78. ROCKY (1976)
79. THE DEER HUNTER (1978)
80. THE WILD BUNCH (1969)
81. MODERN TIMES (1936)
82. GIANT (1956)
83. PLATOON (1986)
84.
85. DUCK SOUP (1933)
86. MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (1935)
87. FRANKENSTEIN (1931)
88. EASY RIDER (1969)
89. PATTON (1970)
90. THE JAZZ SINGER (1927)
91. MY FAIR LADY (1964)
93. THE
94. GOODFELLAS (1990)
95. PULP FICTION (1994)
96. THE SEARCHERS (1956)
97. BRINGING UP BABY (1938)
98. UNFORGIVEN (1992)
99. GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER (1967)
100. YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942)
I suppose it is rather shocking/embarrassing that I have never seen The Sound of Music or It's a Wonderful Life, since they are on TV all the time, but oh well. The films that are near the top of my Netflix queue are Raging Bull, The Deer Hunter, The Wild Bunch, and The French Connection. I have no excuse for not having seen these films.
So I have seen 61 of them. Not bad I guess. Let the viewing begin.
offered up to the world by CoachDub @ 11:09 AM
13 comments
13 Comments:
I detect a distinct lack of exposure to musicals...are you biased or something?
I saw French Connection at Grinnell on accident...I went to a movie thinking it was something else, but I went to the wrong place (South Lounge vs Harris, I think), and was too grumpy about the goof to go to the other place.
Yeah, I never really got into musicals when I was younger. I'm not sure why. I do like My Fair Lady and West Side Story, and of course Chicago and Moulin Rouge. I'm told that Singin' in the Rain is a must-see, though.
I would maybe suggest reading "The Maltese Falcon" before seeing the movie, if possible (or if you haven't already). Those Dashiell Hammett novels are great. Either way it is a good one.
Also, "It Happened One Night" is quite timeless. It has always been one of my favorites.
Stagecoach, Network, Duck Soup... Your list looks like a lot of fun. Good luck.
A+ if you finish by Labor Day.
Singing in the Rain is one of my FAVORITES! I actually crave it from time to time (usually after I flip through the cable guide and realize it's showing on FMC....which I don't get).
The next time I find it in a store the day after I get paid, it's MINE!
Are you going to do the same with a "top 100" list of books? I'd be interested to see a good list.
i cant imagine anyone being capable of compiling such a list, jason.
isnt "the birth of a nation" the first motion picture ever made or something? and isnt it super offensive to african americans too?
btw, i like the jaws quote title. huzzah, two points for me.
It's not the first picture ever made. Movies started in the late 1890s, and Birth of a Nation came out in 1915. Yes, it is super-offensive. The original title was The Clansmen, and it basically involves the KKK saving a southern town from the animal-like savage blacks. After the film came out, the membership of the KKK skyrocketed.
It is included on almost every "Best" list because it was the first big blockbuster, and it was the absolute pinnacle of film technology of the time.
But its racism makes it very hard to watch.
But yes, Tom, two points for you.
You havent seen LoA? Wow, its pretty much awesome. you need to see it the first chance you get.
I know. I have seen parts of it, but it's one of those that I'm embarrassed about not having seen. It's my film prof's favorite, too. It's high on my Netflix queue as well!
I own Birth of a Nation. It's not very good.
I bought it at Best Buy for 5 dollars one day because, hey, it was 5 dollars.
Whatever, John. You love that movie.
Hey John!! I finally saw your Myspace site and followed your directions here (See, that Master's degree is working!)Remember me?? I'm going to miss our back row in Sam Donaldson's exciting course.
Anyway, I thought it was funny that you were tackling this list because I am doing the same thing!! I actually printed out five different AFI lists and am trying to see all the movies on them. So far this week I watched North by Northwest, All About Eve, and The Apartment.
I am a bit surprised you have never seen The Sound of Music. Obviously your mother was not like mine. The woman made me watch it at least once a year during my childhood. I do like it though, so I'm not complaining too much.
Hope to see you sometime soon!
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