I know that a lot of people have an unreal bias against old movies with reasons ranging from black and white is dull to they don't have giant robots banging their heads against each other. Well, some reasons which I can lend some neurons to are the apparent temporal shift in the folkways and morays of their cultural and social setting of the content which does not connect with the audience of our present epoch or 'no S**T is F***ING going on in the movie'.
Here are six movies which I have chosen to get you acquainted with the golden age of hollywood. The only thing which I had in mind while compiling this list is a) the easiness with which the viewer could connect with the story and it's characters b) entertainment value as dictated in our present form of mainstream movies (which ironically are the rules handed over by the very movies i am evaluating) c) timeless factor of the movie. The movies are chronologically arranged and is not representative of their relative merit.
1. City Lights (1931)
Starring: Charlie Chaplin, Virginia cherrill ; Directed by: Charlie Chaplin ; Genre: Comedy, Romance
Charlie Chaplin, the genius, the true artist, the laughter pill and I could go on and on. The story is simple, the tramp(immortalized by Chaplin) falls in love with a blind girl who sells flowers and helps her with her troubles. This is a silent movie with music, so sit back back and feast your eyes on the tramp. The ending scene where the tramp and the blind girl meet is one of the best scenes of all time.
You can continue watching the tramp in Modern Times, The Kid, The Gold Rush and chaplin as dictator in The Great Dictator.
2. Rebecca (1940)
Starring: Laurence Oliver, Joan Fontaine, George Sanders; Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock; Genre: Drama, Mystery, Romance
It is ironic that I should select Rebecca which is not a good representation to Hitchcock's body of work. Adapted from the novel of the same name by Daphne Du Maurier, this movie is one of my favourite psychological thriller. Anyone who has any misapprehensions over character depth driven by psychology in old movies will have mouth shut by this movie. For me, the twist - good, ending - even better.
Following the footsteps of Rebecca are big foots such as Rear Window, Vertigo, North By Northwest, Notorious, Strangers On A Train, Dial M For Murder etc.
3. The Maltese Falcon (1941)
Starring: HUMPHREY BOGART, Mary Astor; Directed by: John Huston; Mystery, Crime, Hard Boiled, Noir
Humphrey Bogart, the guy who represents all the machoness in the world, the hardboiled cynic who doesn't fall for femme fatale, the guy who everyone who looks up to for finding their manliness. This movie also marks the directorial debut of John Huston who will go on to make some of the best movies cinema has known. Add to this potent combination, the novel written by Dashiell Hammett upon which the movie is made. This film serves as the best example of film noir genre and one of the greatest movies ever.
Other film noir include The Big Sleep, Sunset Boulevard, Double Indemnity, Ace In The Hole, The Third Man and more.
4. Casablanca (1942)
Starring: HUMPHREY BOGART, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid; Directed By: Michael Curtiz; Genre: Romance, Drama
Casablanca is the name of place in unoccupied Africa during the early days of Second World War which acts as a gateway for immigrants from Europe to the gates of America. In this setting is our hero Rick Blaine who owns a club and is one day visited by his former lover with an another man and requiring help which can only be provided by the hero.
You will also love The Apartment, The Philadelphia Story, Notorious, A Streetcar Named Desire etc.
5. Stalag 17 (1953)
Starring: William Holden, Don Taylor; Directed By: BILLY WILDER; Genre: Comedy, Drama, War
From one of my favourite directors, Billy Wilder presents Stalag 17 which is about a group of American airmen held in a Nazi prison camp who suspect one of their own(i.e the hero) to be an informer. William Holden plays a cynic who cares only for his own skin and the unknown traitor in the background who keeps us guessing until the end. Becoming a fan of Billy Wilder is a natural thing after watching this movie and William Holden got an Oscar for this film(which was already due in Sunset Boulevard).
Other movies include Some Like It Hot, Its a Wonderful Life, All About Eve etc
6. 12 Angry Men (1957)
Starring: Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb; Directed By: SIDNEY LUMET; Genre: Courtroom drama, suspense
Passing my respects to Sidney Lumet who passed away earlier this year, 12 Angry Men was his first work for the film audience and who goes on to make Network, Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon among others(watch them). This is only black and white movie in the top 10 of imdb's top 250 list. The entire movie takes place in single room with 12 guys just saying words. This is the best courtroom drama ever made and will stay there.
Other movies include Paths Of Glory, Witness For The Prosecution, Anatomy Of A Murder, To Kill A Mockingbird.
sorry to see mocking bird not making it.
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