Time and time again I've heard the above words said to me after I offered to watch a film that is at least fifty-years old. Films, similar to other art forms, have transformed throughout the decades and the movies that were at one time considered entertaining no longer appeal to modern audiences. I'm a movie buff, but even I'll admit that I don't get as excited about watching an older film as I do when going to the theater to see a newly released movie. As expected the action sequences in older films do not hold up to the CGI and superior stunt work present in most modern movies. In a similar sense the majority of romantic comedies do not hold up as well. This is primarily because the writing that once appealed to viewers now appears fake and austere. However, over the past century there have been a few handfuls of older films that remain entertaining to this day. These films are able to stand the test of time through great writing, characters, and stories. The messages, characters, and lines within the films will continue to remain strong as long as the human race prospers, because what is considered entertaining may change but the life lessons and statements within these films will always remain. These are ten classic films (pre-1968) every American should see.
10) City Lights (1931)Most of the Charlie Chaplin movies have held up fairly well over time. My personal favorite is City Lights, in which Chaplin's character (identified as the tramp) falls in love with a blind girl and goes through a personal journey through the streets of New York in order to get her eye surgery. Audiences love an underdog. I believe this is the reason why Chaplin movies have held up over time. Chaplin plays a similar character in all his films, which is a clumsy, kind, yet courageous individual who is able to overcome difficult obstacles through his strong benevolence. Watching a Chaplin film is like watching the race between the rabbit and the tortoise, you can't help but cheer for the tortoise (underdog) and are entertained to see how he wins.
9) On the Waterfront (1954)
It's hard to stand up to people with power, especially when those in power are willing to kill in order to have things their way. In Elia Kazan's On the Waterfront (1954), an ex-boxer named Terry Malloy is forced to make a decision to either take the side of the dock workers or the corrupt dock boss. Superior performances last forever and the five lead characters played by Marlon Brando, Eva Marie Saint, Rob Steiger, Lee J. Cobb, and Karl Malden were all Oscar worthy. What makes these performances hold up to this day is that the characters were given such fantastic lines throughout the film. There have been instances where I have told people about how great this film is and they have said they have never heard of it. Then I would quote a line from the movie and they'll say, "Oh, so that's were that comes from."8) Spartacus (1960)
Three of the films on this list were directed by Stanley Kubrick. This is because Kubrick was known of being ahead of his time and pushing the envelope in story and censorship (he also directed A Clockwork Orange, Full Metal Jacket, and Eyes Wide Shut). Spartacus follows a slave who ends up leading a revolt against the Roman empire. The story within this film shows acts of tremendous courage. The citizens following Spartacus believe so much in his cause that every one of them are willing to give their lives to defend him. This is also one of the few films in which the action has held up over the past few decades, primarily because the cinematography is top notch.
7) The General (1927)Most people associate Charlie Chaplin as the best silent-era movie star of all time, but I believe the best silent film is Buster Keaton's The General. This is because Keaton combines an amiable character, similar to "the tramp" in the Chaplin films, with impressive stuntwork. Throughout the film Keaton's character attempts to chase down a train stolen by the Union forces during the Civil War in order to save the woman he loves. The cat and mouse chase is why the film holds up so well over time. Both sides eventually play the part of either the cat or the mouse and the deciding factor in who catches who is the side that knows the railway system the best. This film is amazingly clever and funny despite being over 80 years old.
6) Double Indemnity (1944)Known as one of the best film noir movies of all-time, Double Indemnity holds up primarily because of its interesting story, which unlike most of the other films at the time period is completely unpredictable. Also, another positive difference between this movie and other film noir's is that it remains complex to the audience without being overwhelming and frustrating. The plot revolves around Walter Neff, an insurance agent who is convinced to commit murder in order to collect the insurance money for the victim's wife and for himself. However, things do not go as simply as planned and eventually Neff becomes a suspect. This film is guaranteed to keep viewers guessing and remains suspenseful though it is was released in 1944.
5) Casablanca (1942)Though the film prides itself on being a film about a never dying romance, Casablanca also succeeds in making an everlasting political and historical statement. The film mainly takes place in an American Cafe, in which the bar owner named Rick (Humphrey Bogart) runs into the former love of his life, who left him after the Nazis invaded Paris. She is now married to her former husband (who she believed had been dead), now a leader of the Jewish resistance. The film primarily follows the relationship between Rick and his former lover named Llsa (Ingrid Bergman), yet the movie also explores the desperation that people had to get out of Europe during the war. The classic one-liners as well as the superb storyline make this a film that will last for decades to come.
4) Paths of Glory (1957)Paths of Glory is one of the best anti-war film ever made and it powerfully demonstrates some of the absurd acts that high-ranking military personnel may undergo in order to be victorious. When a general sends his squad on a suicide mission to overtake German defenses, the American commander ignores the order and tells his soldiers to save themselves instead. As punishment the general orders three random men from the squad to be assassinated as a demonstration of how disobedience will be dealt with. Once again Kubrick was ahead of his time in both cinematography and narrative, which is part of the reason why Paths of Glory appeals to modern audiences.
3) Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)Known as one of the best satires of all time, Dr. Strangelove was meant to show the stupidity of the Cold War. Why do we build so many bombs that we could blow the world up 100 times over? This film still applies to modern audiences because we still have nuclear bombs all over the world. Isn't there some other way to settle disputes than to build devastating weapons of mass destruction? Dr. Strangelove attempts to demonstrate through dark humor how easily our government could destroy the human race. It set the standard for black comedy and still remains entertaining to this day.
2) Rear Window (1954)Hitchcock made a lot of great films, but in my opinion Rear Window was easily his best. The film follows L.B. Jefferies, who after a leg injury is forced to spend every hour of every day in a small apartment in New York. Jefferies is bored out of his mind until he begins gaining evidence that a murder has taken place in the apartment across the courtyard. Hitchcock was born to direct this film and it contains one of my favorite shots of all time, in which Hitchcock introduces all the neighbors in a continuous long shot. Though it was released over half a century ago, it remains suspenseful and should be required viewing for all people interested in movies.
1) 12 Angry Men (1957)I believe this is the third time I've mentioned 12 Angry Men since I started the blog. I truly can't say enough about this movie. Whenever I think about how films possess the ability to influence people, 12 Angry Men comes to mind. Though the film is about a jury, the courage demonstrated by juror #8 can be applied to all aspects of life. Its hard to stand up to a group of people when you are all alone. The pressures from other people can often lead us to do injustices we never thought we were capable of. However, those who possess the ability to stand up and do the right thing will most likely succeed in the long run. This message presented in 12 Angry Men will always apply to people everywhere. It is a must see film.
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