Tuesday, December 13, 2011

For anyone interested in classic films

Robert Avrech - Hollywood writer and unapologetic conservative – is putting together a list of his 20 favorite films of the 1940s (first ten here, the next five here, the rest to come next week).

I have seen most of the movies highlighted, and Avrech opines with a sure eye and ear for quality. I was particularly glad to see Barbara Stanwyck so well represented; from screwball comedy to film noir, she could do it all.

8 comments:

Yojimbo said...

Wonder if Command Decision(1948) will make his last five?

Wuthering Heights just missed by a year. My Man Godfrey was also in the thirties.

Yojimbo said...

The Postman Always Rings Twice should be in there.

Since he simply ran right over Casablanca I don't expect Key Largo to be in there.

A great movie that probably doesn't meet his dramatic sensitivities would be The Bishop's Wife. I'm sure that's not in there either.

Paco said...

YoJ: Those are also outstanding picks.

Paco said...

I'll be looking for Out of the Past, White Heat and Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House.

Yojimbo said...

I'd ceertainly vote for Blandings!:)

He blew by two Fonda favorites as well. Those being The Grapes of Wrath and The Ox-Bow Incident.

Stagecoach and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington were both 1939

bruce said...

Glad he didn't have Citizen Kane, but I'm partial to Magnificent Ambersons.

'Black Narcissus' - Yes, really anything by Powell/Pressburger, and I'm grateful to Kathy Shaidle for reminding me why I like 'Colonel Blimp' so much.

Kathy here.

Paco said...

Bruce: I agree that Colonel Blimp is a masterpiece. I greatly admire Roger Livesey - in fact, all of the performances in that film were outstanding. Also loved him, and Wendy Hiller, in I Know Where I'm Going.

Thanks for that link to Kathy's article.

Yojimbo said...

The Third Man is coming up(1949). That may make it.