I generally have my "classic" cut-off at 1975, as that really started the blockbuster era thanks to
Jaws, so all my choices are before that date. I also didn't include any movies you reviewed on Filmstrip Memories. Also, the 1960s only has one entry mainly because my other recommendations were movies you already watched (
The Sound of Music,
The Graduate, etc.). I've also included if the DVD (or Blu-Ray, when applicable) is available in R1 or not, and by which studio.
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) - an illusory movie that blurs the line between reality and fantasy, based around a carnival and a dangerous hypnotist. It's a mindwarp that I still don't quite understand. On DVD by Kino Video & Image Entertainment, Kino's is a better transfer.
Sunrise, A Song of Two Humans (1927) - an excellent silent film by F.W. Murnau (also check out
The Last Laugh) about a man (George O'Brien) and his wife (Janet Gaynor), and the woman from the city (Margaret Livingston) who comes between them. On DVD by 20th Century Fox, but limited to the box sets "Studio Classics Best Picture collection" and "Murnau, Borzage, and Fox".
Morocco (1930) - one of Marlene Dietrich and director Joseph von Sternberg's best collaborations. She plays singer Amy Jolly who comes to Morocco and falls in love with soldier Tom Brown (Gary Cooper). On DVD by Universal in "Marlene Dietrich: The Glamour Collection".
Footlight Parade (1933) - an early musical with the standard "let's put on a show!" storyline featuring James Cagney, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell, and Joan Blondell. On DVD by Warner Bros., as a single and in "The Busby Berkeley Collection".
Swing Time (1936) - my favorite of the Astaire/Rogers movies, especially for the finale number that combines a few of the songs in the movie together. On DVD by Warner Bros., as a single and in "The Astaire Rogers Collection" (Volume 1, Ultimate Collector's Edition, or 10-Film Collection)
Make Way for Tomorrow (1937) - as Errol Morris famously said, "the most depressing movie ever made, providing reassurance that everything will definitely end badly". Victor Moore and Beulah Bondi co-star as Pa & Ma Cooper, an elderly couple whose children seem to do their best to avoid keeping them in their own homes long-term. On DVD by Criterion Collection.
Golden Boy (1939) - William Holden plays violinist Joe Bonaparte, who takes up boxing (a dangerous decision for a violinist) in order to earn money. He keeps promising his father (Lee J. Cobb) that he'll give up boxing and return to the violin, but gets swept into the boxing culture and lifestyle, falling in love with Lorna Moon (Barbara Stanwyck) in the process. On DVD by Sony.
Now, Voyager (1942) - my favorite Bette Davis movie, which tells a great contemporary Cinderella story for its time (dowdly Charlotte Vale becomes beautiful Camille Beauchamps). Very much part of the "women's picture" genre before it got the horrid new name "chick flick", with high melodrama and strong female lead. On DVD by Warner Bros., as a single, in "The Bette Davis Collection, Volume One", and in "TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection - Romance"
Random Harvest (1942) - another in the "women's picture", although it can be classified as a war movie as well (the end of WWI is the backdrop). Ronald Colman stars as Smithy, an amnesiac who meets falls in love with Paula Ridgeway (Greer Garson), but completely forgets about her when he regains his memory as Charles Rainier. On DVD by Warner Bros.
Laura (1944) - my favorite Gene Tierney film, she stars as Laura Hunt, who is found dead in the beginning of the film. Detective Mark MacPherson (Dana Andrews) is investigating her murder and the suspects include her mentor Waldo Lydecker (Clifton Webb), fiancee Shelby Carpenter (Vincent Price), and her aunt Ann Treadwell (Judith Anderson). In the process of investigating Laura's life, MacPherson also falls in love with the woman...who may not be dead after all. On DVD by 20th Century Fox, as a single and in "Classic Quad Set 08".
Brief Encounter (1945) - an early David Lean film, with a closely-intimate portrayal of an affair between a wife/mother (Celia Johnson) and a doctor (Trevor Howard) who meet one day at the refreshment room of a train station. They have a very strained relationship, one they're never sure they will consummate, before it ultimately ends. On DVD by Criterion Collection.
Gilda (1946) - my favorite Rita Hayworth movie, and probably the movie I've watched the most times in 2010.
Read my review of the 5-film "Films of Rita Hayworth" DVD set to read about
Gilda and the four movies in the set:
Cover Girl,
Tonight and Every Night,
Salome, and
Miss Sadie Thompson. Of those four, the latter two could be skipped if you don't have time. On DVD by Columbia (2000 DVD) and Sony (2010 DVD box set).
A Matter of Life and Death (1946) - a Powell & Pressburger war drama regarding British man Peter Carter (David Niven), who falls in love with American woman June (Kim Hunter), based simply on the sound of her voice. I won't say more, it's best to watch the movie just knowing that much. On DVD by Sony.
The Red Shoes (1948) - the most well-known of the Powell & Pressburger films, it is a behind-the-curtain story about a prestigious ballet company and its new prima ballerina, Victoria Page (Moira Shearer). On DVD & Blu-Ray by Criterion Collection.
The Heiress (1949) - Montgomery Clift is a strangely-likeable Morris Townsend, who woos the plain Catherine Sloper (Olivia de Havilland), but bails upon the prospect of her not inheriting the wealth of her father (Ralph Richardson). When he eventually returns to her life, has she learned from the past? On DVD by Universal.
A Place in the Sun (1951) - another Monty Clift, and my favorite from his filmography. Based on a true story and the earlier 1931 film
An American Tragedy, Clift plays George Eastman, a young man who has a dalliance with Alice (Shelley Winters) before rising in status and dating Angela (Elizabeth Taylor). But a pregnant Alice then threatens to reveal their relationship. On DVD by Paramount, but it is out of print.
From Here to Eternity (1953) - the third Monty Clift movie listed here, mainly because the guy is an AMAZING actor (even on a bad day, like in
The Misfits). I would have included this under Romance, but it's more of a Drama. It's an ensemble picture (in addition to Clift, we've got Burt Lancaster, Donna Reed, Deborah Kerr, Frank Sinatra, etc.) about the lives of soldiers stationed in Pearl Harbor before and during the attack. I've always loved the Clift/Reed scenes, especially when she's telling him why she could never marry him. On DVD by Columbia (single) and Sony (box set "Columbia Best Pictures Collection").
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) - a fun romp in western Oregon, as Adam Pontipee (Howard Keel) marries Milly (Jane Powell). She then teaches his six brothers (Jeff Richards, Matt Mattox, Marc Platt, Tommy Rall, Jacques d'Amboise, and Russ Tamblyn) how to court the other girls in the town. On DVD by Warner Bros., as a two-disc set and in "TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection - Broadway Musicals".
The Ten Commandments (1956) - my favorite film of all time. 'nuff said. On DVD & Blu-Ray by Paramount.
Witness for the Prosecution (1957) - excellent courtroom drama with Charles Laughton as Wilfred Robarts, a lawyer who takes on Leonard Vole's (Tyrone Power, his last completed film) case. He's accused of murder, and Vole's wife (Marlene Dietrich) is rather uncooperative, as well as a witness for the prosecution. But the extent of her devotion to him is amazing. On DVD by MGM, but it is out of print.
I Want to Live! (1958) - highly fictionalized tale about Barbara Graham (Susan Hayward), a woman who keeps trying to avoid the crime life but ultimately ends up in prison for a murder that she continually claims she didn't do. On DVD by MGM.
Splendor in the Grass (1961) - a heartbreaking story about young love. Warren Beatty and Natalie Wood star as Bud and Deanie, high school sweethearts who eventually drift apart as a result of their sexual restraint. Set also against the crash of 1929, we see how their respective families also struggle in the aftermath of the end of their relationship and the economic situation. On DVD by Warner Bros., as a single and in "The Natalie Wood Collection", "TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection - Romance", and "The Elia Kazan Collection".
Ryan's Daughter (1970) - an epic romance set in Ireland, with Rosy Ryan (Sarah Miles) who marries the older Charles Shaughnessy (Robert Mitchum) but then finds herself in love with British soldier Randolph Doryan (Christopher Jones). Their affair continues and she ends up ostracized by the townspeople because of it. On DVD by Warner Bros.
The Exorcist (1972) - if you can handle it. I made the mistake of watching it by myself and late one October night in 2005. Gave me nightmares and I've never watched it in its entirely after that, I always have to watch it in portions so that I don't get too freaked out. On DVD & Blu-Ray by Warner Bros.
What's Up, Doc? (1972) - an excellent homage to the screwball comedies of yore, with Ryan O'Neal as the helpless Howard Bannister, who falls into the eyeline of Judy Maxwell (Barbra Streisand, in perhaps her only role that I've 100% enjoyed), despite his engagement to uptight Eunice Burns (Madeline Kahn). Thrown into the mix are several overnight bags and people trying to steal them for various reasons. On DVD & Blu-Ray by Warner Bros.
Somewhere in Time (1980) - I know it's after 1975, but I just have to include it. Richard Collier (Christopher Reeve) receives a pocket watch from an elderly woman (Susan French), who simply tells him "Come back to me." He then heads to Mackinac Island, where he sees a portrait of 1912 actress Elise McKenna (Jane Seymour) and falls in love with her. He then learns how to travel back in time in order to be with her. On DVD by Universal.
In addition, if you ever want lists of Hollywood movies worth watching (though YMMV), there's always the
AFI 100 Years, 100... series. For a look at the history of cinema on a more critical scale, you can check out
"Sight and Sound" Critics Top Ten Poll, which is voted every ten years.
albert
Rosebud...