My Top 50 Revealed (Well, 31-50, actually...)

Well, it’s hard to believe; there are only 4 weeks left of 2012, and that means it is time for me to reveal my favorite Top 50 Films of All Time.  Hopefully, you’ve been following my blog all year long, and these films may reveal a little bit more about me, if you hadn’t picked up anything else for the last 48 weeks.

I have been working on this list for the last couple of years now, never actually have it reach full completion, and as a result of knowing I would be heading to this post eventually, I still have not truly made this list a finite list.  I do, however, believe that favorites come and go, and as new movies enter the realm of the permanent, they, too, may become part of the tapestry know as the Top 50.  I will say that the Top 5 have been in place for at least a decade now, and until ‘that amazing movie’ comes along, these five will continue to hold their places at the top.

So what criteria have I considered when creating this list of films for myself?

Can I watch this film over and over & never tire of it?

Do I know most / or just some of the dialog?

And does the dialog or the subject of this movie creep into everyday conversation?

How do I relate to the film?

Does it have an impact on my life in some way?

Does the direction, art direction, or them affect my life?

It is timeless?

Does the screenplay have laughability? cryability?

Is the cast a cast that I can see none others in the roles?

Are these actors I enjoy watching & consider of other great reputation for other films?

Is the action worthy of the storyline?

Does the score or soundtrack become one for my own life?

These are the questions that rattle around in this dusty corner of which I not only consider my desk’s nickname, but also that hallows of my brain space.

I hope that many of the films I love are films you enjoy, too.  And as I have said throughout the year, I hope that any of these films you are not too familiar will become films you check out on Netflix©, Turner Classic Movies Channel, or some other means.

Here are the films which were considered to be part of the Top 50, but they did not make the cut. 

Honorable Mentions go to (in alphabetical order):

Back to the Future

Being There

The Big Store

Cousins

Dirty Dancing

For Your Eyes Only

The Illusionist

The Jazz Singer (1980)

Oscar

The Pink Panther Strikes Again

Roxanne

The Shawshank Redemption

Some Like It Hot

Splash

Thoroughly Modern Millie

Walt Disney’s The North Avenue Irregulars

#31- 50

#50  - Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

Richard Dreyfuss appears on the list 4 times. This showing in Steven Spielberg’s story of extraterrestrial life coming to meet us here.

The Competition

#49 –The Competition (1980)

Richard Dreyfuss’s 2^nd showing.  This time paired with Amy Irving as an ‘over the hill” prodigy preparing for one last piano competition.

48 - The Daydreamer (1966)

Based on the stories of Hans Christian Andersen, this live-action / Rankin-Bass Claymation film was made with poor quality effects by today’s standards.

#47 – Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)

Yes! You are reading that correctly.  This tackily humored film is here.  Although I enjoy Ace’s second outing as well, this detective farce makes me laugh and feel so much better if life is bringing me down.  And this is not the only time you will see Jim Carrey on the list, either.

#46 – Somewhere in Time (1980)

I don’t always enjoy the ‘space-time continuum’ mind-boggler, but in this case, any loopholes in that plotline do not matter.  The romance of the late Christopher Reeve & his ‘out of date’ object of affection truly is a sappy, but heart-warming tale of love. The late John Barry’s score is gorgeous to boot!

Table for 5

#45 – Table for Five (1980)

The “father of all tearjerkers” (as I have posted in my earlier blog, “A Good Cry,” November 2) – it had to be on the list.

#44 – On the Town (1949)

Surprisingly, I don’t have many musicals on the list. But you will find Gene Kelly here twice.  Teamed with Jules Munshin and Frank Sinatra, these as three sailors on 24-hour leave start the fun with one of the best songs ever written to get stuck in your head!

#43 – Walt Disney’s Robin Hood (1973)

Although I have touted that Beauty & the Beast is my favorite Disney film, I believe when all things are considered, this classically animated film is my favorite.  Never a dull moment, this laugh-a-minute retelling of the tale of Robin Hood even bests Errol Flynn!

#42 – Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995)

I’m sorry, Nicholas Cage, but I think you’ve got Richard’s Academy Award on your mantle! This should have been Mr. Dreyfuss’s second Oscar win, but alas, no. Dreyfuss portrays Glenn Holland, a musician whose life takes a strange turn as an educator.  Covering a several-decade span, Mr. Holland sees his ‘want to be career’ and career of reality become one in the same.  Tears all around. Once again, please pass the tissue!

#41 – National Treasure (2004)

Speaking of Nicholas Cage, as a lover of history, this is an action-adventure I can handle! This is the first of two far-fetched scavenger hunts that make my Top 50.

Chocolat

 #40 – Chocolat (2000)

Although this movie co-stars Johnny Depp, the reason that it makes the list is not only due to Rachel Portman’s amazing score, but also for the story behind the allure of the chocolate.

#39 – The Godfather (1972)

Even though I own the trilogy of films on DVD, I cannot help myself from getting hooked into watching whenever it is on television!  Why do I/we love the Corleone family?  This is mafia for goodness sake!  The characters are so perfectly created that we want to know about every – single – one of the characters on that screen. Plain and simple. Pure perfection.

#38 – The Spanish Prisoner (1997)

My favorite David Mamet story. State and Main is a close second; however, it did not make the list. Campbell Scott works so well in this twist-ending film.  And with a co-starring role, Steve Martin is cast in a role you won’t long forget.

Who's Minding the Mint?

 #37 – Who’s Minding the Mint? (1966)

During a film era where caper movies were coming out of Hollywood a dime-a-dozen, this little gem comes along.  Granted, it has some hokey acting, silly dialog, and of course, the most absurd plot possible. But Jim Hutton and this rag-tag group of goofballs (with an early appearance from Jamie Farr) make for an adorable, clean and funny home night at on couch with a big bucket of popcorn!

#36 – A Shot in the Dark (1966)

After the success of The Pink Panther, this follow-up film puts Inspector Clouseau into the starring role spotlight.  Of all the ‘pink’ capers, this one is my favorite with my second favorite in an honorable mention spot.

#35 – The Right Stuff (1983)

Bill Conti’s spectacular score sends us in flight with the heroes of the American space program. It is a long haul feature (3 hours, 13 minutes), but tells the story of the Mercury 7 astronauts in entertaining fashion.  With early performances from Dennis Quaid, Sam Shepard, Ed Harris, and Scott Glenn, you cheer, laugh, and cry. You’ll also want to check out a history book or two when the lights come back up!

#34 – The Untouchables (1987)

Brian DePalma broke away from his standard film fare, and puts together the story of Eliot Ness’s team united to bring down Al Capone in the time of prohibition.  Another amazing score by one of my all-time favorites, Ennio Morriconne, brings additional suspense to a movie with great action performed by young Kevin Costner, Andy Garcia, and veteran Sean Connery.

#33 – The Quick & the Dead (1995)

This is not the Louis L’Amour story you read in paperback! This film, written by Simon Moore and directed by Sam Raimi brings a different kind of western hero to the forefront.  With his ‘push/pull’ camera technique, Raimi brings us a new breed of spaghetti western.  Another film I cannot resist anytime it airs on television.

#32 – The Good-bye Girl (1977)

Richard Dreyfuss became the youngest male Oscar winner (he no longer holds the title) with his characterization of Elliot Garfield.  The story of two people who are thrust together by inconvenience find themselves strangely attracted to one another.  With Neil Simon’s quick-witted dialog, albeit dated just a bit, and Dave Grusin’s charming score, this is a love story not to be missed. This is Richard's final appearance on the list.

Murder by Death

#31 – Murder By Death (1976)

Deju vu, Neil Simon, here you are again.  For a second time, Neil makes the list with another film written for the screen. This time, he parodies the greatest crime solvers in literature, placing them in a sharp-tongued farce where all dialog leads to laughter! With a terrific ensemble cast of (mostly) established Hollywood actors, even turn to the very end is pure Simon.

Next week:  The Top #16-29 are revealed.

The Nice List

The leftover turkey has either been eaten or thrown-out, and hopefully, all the Halloween candy has been consumed by either you or your kids.  The decorations have been up in the stores since October, and I know some of you have already got your Christmas shopping completed.  So now it’s time to start getting in the holiday mood unless you’re already there – right?  What gets me in the holiday mood?  Well, I guess it could be listening to the music (which has already been playing since before Thanksgiving), or maybe some shopping, putting up the tree and getting out the decoration boxes from wherever their stored.  But for me, it’s the movies! 

Just after Thanksgiving, I got out all the DVDs and videos from the Christmas drawer and got excited about watching the old favorites once again.  Many of my favorites are television specials, and thankfully, quite a number of them have been released in home-viewing format.  But I won’t talk about those, just the movies that capture the Christmas season.  Hopefully, some of your favorites are here, too!

One silent night

#10 -  Joyeux Noël (2005)

Based on real-life events of World War I, this is the only foreign film that makes the cut.  I do love history, and this film nicely tells the story (with its inaccuracies, included) of the Christmas Eve truce of 1914, as men from both sides stop to sing carols and exchange gifts, such as they could.  This film stars Diane Kruger (National Treasure, Troy).  The rest of the cast is less recognizable, but for me it works, as this film the captures the humanness of countless unrecognizable faces who served in war.

"It's the cookies!"

#9 – Santa Claus: the Movie (1985)

This movie is quite dated, and the story unravels into complete nonsense, but the initial concept of the origins of Santa Claus & his wife are well-played by David Huddleston and Judy Cornwell.  There is magic in the characters they bring to the screen, and Dudley Moore plays a fairly convincing elf.

  

Yes, that's Bob Hope in drag!

#8 – The Lemon Drop Kid (1951)

This movie was not intended to be a Christmas movie, per se, but has become a holiday classic.  With it’s popular  song, “Silver Bells,” sung by Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell, this zany story of a horse bet gone wrong and the capers that ensue to make sure the ‘sweet little old ladies’   are safe from crooks is a smile a minute!

Ann Jillian & Kevin Corcoran

#7 – Babes in Toyland (1961)

The only Disney production to land on the list stars Annette Funicello, Tommy Sands, Ed Wynn, Tommy Kirk, and Ray Bolger.  In classic Disney style, it weaves childhood stories from Mother Goose into a classic tale of good versus evil.  Enter the weary toymaker of Toyland to help battle Barnaby and his sinister plans.

"I can't hear it."

#6 – The Polar Express (2004)

I didn’t love that Tom Hanks did all the main character voices, nor did I love Robert Zemeckis’s vision of what Santa Claus should look like, but I love the story.  It brings back the memories of childhood lost and the hope of Christmas. The first time I saw this film was in IMAX 3-D, and it just brought warm and happiness and I felt I could reach up and grab thrown caps from the elves. It warms my heart and renews my spirit in the holiday. Do you believe?

#5 – Miracle on 34^th Street (1947)

How to be a monkey

Love.  Seeing Natalie Wood as a beautiful child, unbelieving as her character may be, the stunningly gorgeous Maureen O’Hara as a single working mother, who in 1947 was not the ‘norm’ for movie subjects, the strikingly handsome John Payne, and the irrepressible Edmund Gwenn as Kris Kringle is a sure-fire hit.  No wonder it is a classic.  I love it in the black and white and seeing the vintage New York cityscape always charms me.  And, as usual, even though I know it’s coming, every time Susan yells, “Stop!” I start my sob fest!

"Bah, Humbug!"

#4 - A Christmas Carol (1999)

A Christmas Carol is not only one of my favorite Christmas stories, but one of my all-time favorites on any list.  I have seen all but a couple of obscure film adaptations of this classic tale of life misspent and repentance, and I have to say that this go-round starring Patrick Stewart is my favorite.  It blends the best of all the other attempts and best fits the books descriptions.  The use of CGI is done extremely well, and I should not forget to mention Sir Patrick’s amazing characterization of Ebenezer Scrooge is one, if not, the best.

"Someone needs a hug!"

#3 – Elf (2003)

I cannot believe this movie is already nine years old.  I loved it in the theatre and saw is subsequent times that year.  I remember telling myself that when it came to home release it would become the first movie of the season to watch.  It has been ever since.  The pure unadulterated joy of Buddy the Elf and the happiness he spreads by being so innocent makes me happy, too!  The dialog is already classic with my family, as so many of the lines are the ‘repeat them anytime’ kind. With jokes about the size of toilets, the four basic food groups, free candy, whispering, the world’s best coffee, and a host of others, they can fill an afternoon with enough laughter and Christmas spirit to get the ol’ Claus-o-meter up and running! And don’t forget, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”

"Snow, snow, snow, snow - Snow!"

#2 – White Christmas (1954)

What was to be a second pairing of Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire (for the first, see #1), became the delightful first pairing of Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. Add the lovely warm vocal stylings of Rosemary Clooney, the dancing talents of Vera-Ellen, great actors Mary Wickes and Dean Jagger as support, and you have a cast worthy of the music of Irving Berlin in this best-loved Christmas classic.  Terrific musical numbers woven through the story of two post war-time vets gone Broadway producers, lifts the spirits with the use their talents to brighten the retirement days of their former Army major general. And of course, there’s the classic title number to close out the show.

"...but what an Inn!"

#1 –Holiday Inn (1942)

The subject of two prior A Dusty Corner blogs (June 29 & November 22), this gem has been my favorite Christmas classic since junior high, and it remains to this day.  Although the film covers many of the holidays celebrated throughout the year (the premise of the film itself), the film focuses on the Christmas & New Year’s days.  This first of the two films (White Christmas being the second) chronologically is filled with Irving Berlin’s music (these two films are also tied through a converted & modified set) and again stars Bing Crosby; the great dancing is now performed by Fred Astaire & Marjorie Reynolds, and there is a fantastic supporting cast as well.  This one doesn’t make me cry, as many of the others on my list do, but provides a sense of the traditions of the holiday seasons, and although those traditions are not as easy to keep or the times have changed to prevent them, those feelings are still in my heart and can be brought to mind, as any ‘auld acquaintance.”

Happy Holiday Movie-Watching!

A Real Turkey

It is Thanksgiving Day, so I will make this quick and savory! Over the summer, I shared with you a favorite moment from one of my favorite films, Holiday Inn.  On this festive day, I offer up another tasty morsel from the same.  Perhaps you will keep it in mind as you celebrate throughout the coming days.

For those of you not understanding the unsettled turkey in the initial moments, this is a tongue-in-cheek jest to the changing of the Thanksgiving Day established by President Lincoln.  Mainly due to Great Depression fall-out, and with (no) thanks to President Roosevelt, Thanksgiving was resettled to the next-to-last Thursday of the month.

In this sequence, here is another great song featuring the inimitable Bing Crosby, “I’ve Got Plenty to Be Thankful For,” and features the adorable Louise Beavers as ‘Mamie.’  Although in the movie, this song not only covers the holiday of Thanksgiving (which is a turning point of the film), but it moves the plot along, as any great film will do.

As you look back on this past 12 months, may you truly have much to be thankful for!

Happy Thanksgiving!

"I've Got Plenty to Be Thankful For" (Holiday Inn, 1942) 

Bing Crosby - "I've Got Plenty to Be Thankful For"