My 100 Favorite Movies

1.) Becket (1964) This is an unusual choice by many standards. It star Richard Burton as the title character, Thomas Becket, a trusted friend and advisor of young King Henry II of England. Peter O'Toole enthusiastically plays the young king.It deals with friendhip,loyalty and the conflict when individual principles come between them.Beautifully realized, with John Gielguld in support as the King of France. Anyone with a political mind will greatly appreciate this wonderful Medieval period piece.
2.) The Quiet Man (1952) This John Ford/John Wayne/Maureen O'Hara film classic just gets better with age. It is a warm,loving tribute to Ireland,filled with a memorable supporting cast. Of course there's Barry Fitzgerald,Ward Bond,Mildred Natwick and of course Victor Maclaglen in that memorable fight at the end.
3.) The Godfather (1972) If I have to tell you why this is on the list, then you know nothing about movies. Francis Ford Coppolla's masterpiece with Marlon Brando,Al Pacino, James Caan,John Cazale, Robert Duvall,Diane Keaton & Talia Shire.Brilliantly realizes Mario Puzo's novel.
4.) The Return of the King (2003) The third and best of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. This film brings to a climax Tolkien's masterpiece.It evokes the full range of human,elven and dwarf emotions.
5.) The Adventures of Robin Hood (1939) This one also gets so much better with age.No one has ever matched Errol Flynn as Robin Hood. A technicolor masterpiece, brought vividly to life by Korngold's breathtaking musical score. Supported brilliantly by Olivia De Havilland,Claude Rains,Alan Hale,Basil Rathbone and many more.
6.) How Green Was My Valley (1941) This John Ford classic about Welsh coal miner's and their family. This one is all about family and easily relates to all whether you've been Wales or ever been in a coal mine. A timeless tale of family and how its relationships alter and change and grow. It introduced Roddy McDowell, but is best remembered for Donald Crisp's performance as the father of the household. It also includes Maureen O'Hara,Walter Pidgeon,Sara Allgood and many more. Don't miss it.
7.) Star Wars (1977) Once again, if I have to explain this, you don't know squat about movies.
8.) Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) The greatest modern day action adventure picture that introduced Indiana Jones to the world. First rate all around.
9.) Jason and the Argonauts (1963) In short, this is what going to the movies is all about. Short on good acting is made up with great Ray Harryhauussen effects. Included are the Argonauts fights with harpies and skeleton warriors.
10.) Casablanca (1942) The Bogart & Bergman classic.Nuff said.
11.) Field of Dreams (1989) Ostensibly this movie is about baseball, but as we all know it a story of forgiveness and redemption.Kevin Costner,James Earl Jones,Burt Lancaster,Ray Liotta and many more. "If You Build It He Will Come", says it all
12.) The Magnificent Seven (1960) The Western version of Akira Kurasawa's "The Seven Samurai" is another example of why people go to the movies. Yul Brynner,Steve McQueen,James Coburn, Charles Bronson,Brad Dexter,Robert Vaughn and Horst Buccholz try to save a Mexican village from the ravages of Eli Wallach's bandidos. A timeless classic.
13.) Saving Private Ryan (1998) Steven Spielberg's instant classic that was robbed of the Academy Award. Tom Hanks leads six other men to find a private who three brothers were killed.Their job? Get him home safely. Most pay attention to the first 20 minutes, but the emotional intensity actually wratchets up all the way to the end.
14.) Airplane (1980) The first modern day screwball comedy where anything goes.It pokes fun at all those disaster movies from the 70's and continues to entertain.
15.) Braveheart (1995) It bombed at the box office, but the Academy saved it from oblivion and audiences found it on cable and at Blockbuster. Mel Gibson as William Wallace in a timely tale on the quest for freedom is artistic and short on historic fact, but nonetheless gets its point across.
16.) The Lion In Winter (1968) Peter O'Toole returns as King Henry II of England, but this time older. He's also brilliantly matched against his imprisoned Queen,Eleanor of Aquitaine, played by the indomitable Katherine Hepburn. This is all family drama in a Medieval setting and the dialogue is as biting as any ever performed on screen.An acting tour de force.
17.) The Producers (1968) Mel Brooks's original film earned him an Oscar for Original Screenplay, even though it bombed at the box office. Gene Wilder and Zero Mostel conspire to commit fraud with the worst play in Broadway history,"Springtime for Hitler".
18.) The Searchers (1956) John Ford's classic tale of revenge, starring John Wayne and Jeffrey Hunter in search of Wayne's niece, captured by Indians. This has been often copied and the ending is perhaps the greatest and most poignant of all time. Coppolla borrowed heavily for the end of "The Godfather".
19.) Spartacus (1960) Before "Braveheart", there was Kirk Douglas as Spartacus.A cinematic achievement that gets better with age as Roman slaves and gladiators seek to escape their lives under the Romans.
20.) They Were Expendable (1945) John Ford does it again.This time with John Wayne and Robert Montgomery and of course many more.The two stars are PT Boat commanders at the outset of World War II in the Phillippines.A poignant reminder that things were bleaker than we remember and outcomes were never guaranteed.
21.) Monty Python & the Holy Grail (1978) Another great screwball comedy spoofing Arthurian legends and the Middle Ages in general.It scores at all levels from bathroom humor to high brow puns.
22.) 12 Monkeys (1995) A cult classic as Bruce Willis is sent back in time to try and prevent the release of a deadly toxin that nearly wipes out humanity. Brad Pitt stands out.
23.) The Guns of Navarone (1960) Classic tale of a handful of commandos trying to blow up big German guns in Greece.Stars Gregory Peck,David Niven,Anthony Quinn and many more
24.) The Court Jester (1954) Danny Kaye was never better as a man impersonating a jester at court, in this spoof of Medieval swashbucklers.
25.) Hangover Square (1945) This hidden gem starring Laird Cregar (in his last film) with George Sanders & Linda Darnell is just brilliant, with the Guy Fawkes bonfire scene being one for the ages.
26.) Apollo 13 (1995) Ron Howard's masterpiece about the endangered crew could've gotten out of hand, but was just so brilliantly managed.
27.) The Terminator (1984) This film is often underrated, but it is first rate film making in its own rate.Action packed from the beginning
28.) Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan: What is there to say? Simply stands alone as an action picture, and Ricardo Montalban is just great.
29.) The Sixth Sense (1999) Another modern cinematic classic as Bruce Willis & Haley Joel Ozment try to discover why the youngster can "see dead people". Toni Collette's performance is outstanding as well.
30.) The Dirty Dozen (1966) The first modern action film takes no prisoners as Lee Marvin leads cons to destroy a castle behind enemy lines.
31.) Batman (1989) The latest movie, Batman Begins is the best in the series, but this is just so much more fun, especially as it set Hollywood on a course to bring more heroes to the screen.
32.) The Thing From Another World (1951) Produced by Howard Hawks, this original film about a violent alien terorizing a post of soldiers in the Arctic.Highly imaginative and scary.
33.) Them! (1955) The original big bug movie!!! This time giant ants terrorize the desert ans Los Angeles. Great fun all around starring Matt Dillon,James Whitmore & Edmund Gwenn.
34.) A Night At The Opera (1937) The Marx Brothers first film at MGM and for Irving Thalberg. Just watch it.It gets funnier with age.
35.) Galaxy Quest (2001) Tim Allen,Sigourney Weaver,Tony Shalhoub,Alan Richtman and more spoof everything that is Star Trek.A genuine classic.
36.) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) The last Indiana Jones entry has Indiana looking for the Holy Grail.
37.) A Man For All Seasons (1966) Paul Schofield is Thomas More, Chancellor of England executed for refusing to acknowledge King Henry VIII as head of the Church of England.Effectively performed by a great cast.
38.) Patton (1970) George C. Scott's performance as General Patton is arguably the greatest ever given by an actor in the history of film.
39.) Henry V (1989) Kenneth Brannagh brings Shakespeare's King Henry V to screen brilliantly.His performance is stirring and passionate.
40.) The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) The first installment of Tolkien's masterpiece sets the stage for the rest.
41.) Spider Man II (2004) This may be the best of the comic book super hero movies.Spider Man battles Dr. Octopus and deals with the responsibilities of his powers.
42.) The Silence of the Lambs (1991) Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster as Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling offer a stark contrast in personalities.Brilliany and fraught with terror.
43.) Harvey (1950) Jimmy Stewart as Elwood P. Dowd who can see the title character "Harvey", an 8 foot white rabbit or "pooka". Based on the play.Simply a joy to watch.
44.) Excalibur (1982) John Boorman directs this tale of King Arthur.Beautifully filmed even if the acting is a little stilted,
45.) Tora!Tora!Tora! (1967) The original and best version of the attack on Pearl Harbor from both sides.
46.) The Usual Suspects (1995) Who is Kaiser Soze? THat question is the movie all by itself.Brilliantly acted,written and realized.
47.) The Third Man (1949) Joseph Cotten is American dime noveslist in search of Harry Lime, played bt Orson Welles.A tale of crime and punishment and great dialogue in between.
48.) Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein (1949) The comedy duo come into contact with Dracula,Frankenstein and the Wolf Man, portrayed by Lugosi,Strange & Chaney Jr. Very funny movie.
49.) Aliens (1984) Better than the original, this is a band of marines taking on a horde of aliens, led by Sigourney Weaver.Genuinely scary movie.
50.) The Empire Strikes Back (1980) The second installment in Lucas's Star Wars trilogy is probably the best, but not as much fun as the rebels get their butts kicked by Darth Vader and the Empire.
51.) The Bridge On the River Kwai (1957) THis classic motion picture about duty and obsession to order is one of the all time greats.Alec Guinness,William Holden,Sessue Hayakawa & Jack Hawkins star.
52.) Battleground (1949) This classic film about the 101st Airborne surrounded at Bastogne was shot on a backlot at MGM studios. That being said, it's about the men and their struggle to survive. Van Johnson,James Whitmore & many others star.
53.) The Godfather, Part II (1974) This time Al Pacino's in complete control as he tries to keep his father's empire going.
54.) Batman Returns (1992) Michelle Pfeiffer as CAtwoman!
55.) Lillies of the Field (1963) Sidney Poitier helps nuns from Germany build a chapel in a small desert town in New Mexico.He won and Oscar and this movie is just a joy to weatch.
56.) The Longest Day (1962) Darryl F Zanuck's classic tale od the Normandy invasions is sanitized but well realized with an All Star ensemble cast.
57.) The Ox Bow Incident (1942) Classic tale starring Henry Fonda as a lynch mob accuses three travelers of murder and dispenses frontier justice.
58.) The Great Escape (1963) This movie gets better with age.New generations appreciate Steve McQueen's work in this great telling of dozens of Allied prisoners trying to escape a German POW camp.
59.) King Kong (1933) This RKO film classic without the benefit of modern special effects is just fantastic. No versions are better than this.
60.) It's A Wonderful Life (1946) The classic Frank Capra/Jimmy Stewart film demonstrating how well we all have it, despite the troubles in our life.
61.) Odd Man Out (1947) James Mason is an IRA man, wounded in a bank robbery that tries to elude police.Brilliant ensemble cast.
62.) Young Frankenstein (1974) Mel Brooks spoofs those classic horror films of the 30's with Gene Wilder,Teri Garr,Madeleine Kahn,Cloris Leachman,Marty Feldman and Peter Boyle as the monster!
63.) The Shoes of the Fisherman (1969) Anthony Quinn portrays a Russian priest and political prisoner that is elected Pope.Brilliantly and effectively realized.Deals with complex issues honestly.Highly recommended.
64.) The Time Machine (1960) Rod Taylor stars in this adaptation of the HG Wells classic.THe best version.
65.) Spider Man (2001) Tobey Maguire is brilliantly cast as Spider Man and Kirsten Dunst compliments him with enthusiasm as Mary Jane.Well conceived and executed.
66.) The Naked Gun (1988) Leslie Nielsen star as Lt. FRank Drebbin in this comedic send up to cop shows.Absolutely hysterical.
67.) The Incredible Shrinking Man (1956) This film lacks great special effects but is a stunning story of a man coming to grips with his new reality as he continues to shrink.As dumb as it sounds it is poignant and at times, terifying.THe monologue at the end is revealing.
68.) A Christmas Story (1984) Peter Billingsley retells his chaotic childhood at Christmas.
69.) The Time of Their Lives (1949) Lou Costello is a ghost from the Revolutionary War and Bud Abbott tries to set him free.Unusual entry for them, but perhaps their best.
70.) Silverado (1984) This modern western at the time brought fun back to the medium without losing its modern sense of the era.Scott Glenn,Kevin Kline,Kevin Costner,Danny Glover,Jeff Goldblum,Brian Dennehy and Linda Hunt star.
71.) The Man Who Would Be King (1975) Sean Connery and Michael CAine star in John Huston's adaptation of the Kipling story.As British soldiers they go off to far off Kafiristan to seek fame,fortune & glory.A classic.
72.) Hail, the Conquering Hero (1944) Preston Sturges classic as Eddie Bracken returns home, with everyone believing he was a war hero at Guadalcanal.It's a funny,funny movie.
73.) Open Range (2003) This Kevin Costner western classic flopped at the box office, but boy is this a great movie.
74.) Glory (1989) Matthew Broderick leads black soldiers into combat in the Civil War in this historically accurate depiction.It also stars Cary Elwes,Denzel Washington & Morgan Freeman.
75.) To Be Or Not To Be (1942) Carole Lombard's last film co starring Jack Benny & a young Robert Stack.A great satire of Hitler and the Nazis.
76.) The Wolf Man (1940) Lon Chaney Jr. is the original Wolf Man in this horror classic with, believe it or not, a stellar all star cast.
77.) Batman Begins: (2005) Starring Christian Bale, with an all star supporting cast, this is actually the best of the genre.
78.) Where Eagles Dare (1970) Richard Burton & Clint Eastwood kill the entire German Army in Norway as they try to root out a mole in British Intelligence.
79.) Star Trek: First Contact (1995) The best Star Trek film for the Next GEneration of fans. THey take on their arch enemy, The Borg.
80.) Ben-Hur (1959) The cinematic film classic starring Charlton Heston speaks for itself.
81.) El Cid (1961) The lesser known Charlton Heston epic, co starring Sophia Loren.Heston is Medieval Spanish hero, Rodrigo Diaz, nicknamed "El Cid".
82.) The Four Feathers: (1939) A visually striking film about four friends adventures in the Sudan as part of a British expedition.
83.) Forbidden PLanet (1956) Leslie Nielsen leads an expedition to a far off planet where only Walter Pidgeon and his daughter have survived.This movied featured Robbie the Robot.
84.) How the West Was Won (1962) THis episodic journey of two sisters and their families experiences as they move west.Wonderful film.
85.) The Planet of the Apes (1968) THis speaks for itself.
86.) The DEvil and Daniel Webster (1940) Walter Huston as Nick Scratch (aka, the devil) and Edward Arnold as Daniel Webster as they try to convince "the jury of the damned" as they fight for a young man's soul.
87.) Paths of Glory (1958) KIrk Douglas stars in this film as a French Colonel trying to save three soldiers from a firing squad.
88.) The Devil's Disciple (1960) Kirk Douglas,Burt Lancaster & Laurence Olivier star in this story of the American REvolution and what it takes to rebel.
89.) Rocky (1976) Another moving film that speaks for itself.The classic underdog story continues to inspire.
90.) Marty (1955) A simple telling of a simple love story starring Ernest Borgnine in an Oscar winning role.Betsy Blair is the plain Jane that wins his heart.Great story based on a Paddy Chayefsky story.
91.) The Hunt For Red October (1989) Alec Baldwin's performance is the best of his career, and the rest of this cast,especially Sean Connery beautifully realize Tom Clancy's novel.
92.) Hold THat Ghost (1942) Abbott & Costello are at it again in this great comedy.
93.) Frankenstein (1932) The original, starring Boris Karloff & Colin Clive is still the best and fully restored.
94.) Jurassic Park (1993) The classic Spielberg adaptation of the Michael CRighton novel needs no explanation.
95.) A Tree Grows In Brooklyn (1945) This film beautifully adapted from the novel features many fine performances but none more than James Dunn who won the Best Supporting Oscar.
96.) Miracle On 34th Street (1949) Adults tend to discard this as a kids movie, but that's because they haven't seen it as an adult.WAtch it again and enjoy its complete dimensions.
97.) 1776 (1972) The music in this movie about the Continental Congress is unimpressive, but the movie is a lot of fun.
98.) The Naked Gun 2 1/2 (1990) This sequal is almost as funny as the original with Leslie Nielsen reprising his role as Lt. Frank Drebbin.
99.) REturn of the Jedi (1983) The third in the trilogy is more fun than good.
100.) Cinderella Man (2005) This underappreciated Ron Howard/Russell Crowe movie is just great and adequately portrays the hopelessness of the Great DEpession as Crowe re emerges as a heavyweight champion.