AFI's 100 Greatest Movies

[mrdreamjeans]

As I was answering a comment from althrman this morning, I was embarrassed to have to admit that I had never seen the film "It's a Wonderful Life". Since it's now a stage musical that I hope to be doing this Christmas season, it would have been nice to have seen it and to get Lance's reference to the film:) In another comment to the same post,scottokc and I had a brief dialog about famous films that we've not seen. Per Scott's suggestion, I checked out the AFI's list.

This is the American Film Institute's list of the 100 Greatest Movies, selected by AFI's blue-ribbon panel of more than 1,500 leaders of the American movie community. Asterisks indicate the movies I've seen. Shamefully, that's only 28 out of the Top 100, six of the Top 20. I'm sure there are folks on my friends' list who have seen most of the movies on the list. (I can't believe that "Follow Me Boys" starring Fred MacMurray isn't on the list. I saw that twice when I was 10:)

1. CITIZEN KANE (1941)
2. CASABLANCA (1942)
3. GODFATHER, THE (1972)
4. GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)
5. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)
6. WIZARD OF OZ, THE (1939)*
7. GRADUATE, THE (1967)
8. ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)
9. SCHINDLER'S LIST (1993)
10. SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952)*
11. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)
12. SUNSET BOULEVARD (1950)
13. BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI, THE (1957)*
14. SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959)*
15. STAR WARS (1977)*
16. ALL ABOUT EVE (1950)
17. AFRICAN QUEEN, THE (1951)*
18. PSYCHO (1960)
19. CHINATOWN (1974)
20. ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975)
21. GRAPES OF WRATH, THE (1940)*
22. 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)
23. MALTESE FALCON, THE (1941)
24. RAGING BULL (1980)
25. E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982)*
26. DR. STRANGELOVE (1964)
27. BONNIE & CLYDE (1967)*
28. APOCALYPSE NOW (1979)
29. MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939)
30. TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE (1948)
31. ANNIE HALL (1977)
32. GODFATHER PART II, THE (1974)
33. HIGH NOON (1952)
34. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962)
35. IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934)*
36. MIDNIGHT COWBOY (1969)
37. BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES, THE (1946)
38. DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944)
39. DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (1965)
40. NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)
41. WEST SIDE STORY (1961)*
42. REAR WINDOW (1954)
43. KING KONG (1933)
44. BIRTH OF A NATION, THE (1915)
45. STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, A (1951)
46. CLOCKWORK ORANGE, A (1971)
47. TAXI DRIVER (1976)
48. JAWS (1975)
49. SNOW WHITE & THE SEVEN DWARFS (1937)*
50. BUTCH CASSIDY & THE SUNDANCE KID (1969)*
51. PHILADELPHIA STORY, THE(1940)
52. FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953)*
53. AMADEUS (1984)*
54. ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (1930)
55. SOUND OF MUSIC, THE (1965)*
56. M*A*S*H(1970)
57. THIRD MAN, THE (1949)
58. FANTASIA (1940)*
59. REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (1955)
60. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)*
61. VERTIGO (1958)
62. TOOTSIE (1982)*
63. STAGECOACH (1939)
64. CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977)*
65. SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, THE (1991)
66. NETWORK (1976)*
67. MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, THE (1962)*
68. AMERICAN IN PARIS, AN (1951)*
69. SHANE (1953)
70. FRENCH CONNECTION, THE (1971)
71. FORREST GUMP (1994)*
72. BEN-HUR (1959)
73. WUTHERING HEIGHTS (1939)
74. GOLD RUSH, THE (1925)
75. DANCES WITH WOLVES (1990)
76. CITY LIGHTS (1931)
77. AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973)*
78. ROCKY (1976)*
79. DEER HUNTER, THE (1978)
80. WILD BUNCH, THE (1969)
81. MODERN TIMES (1936)
82. GIANT (1956)
83. PLATOON (1986)
84. FARGO (1996)
85. DUCK SOUP (1933)
86. MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (1935)
87. FRANKENSTEIN (1931)
88. EASY RIDER (1969)
89. PATTON (1970)*
90. JAZZ SINGER, THE (1927)
91. MY FAIR LADY (1964)*
92. PLACE IN THE SUN, A(1951)
93. APARTMENT, THE (1960)
94. GOODFELLAS (1990)
95. PULP FICTION (1994)
96. SEARCHERS, THE (1956)
97. BRINGING UP BABY (1938)*
98. UNFORGIVEN (1992)
99. GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER (1967)
100. YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942)*

Comments

[althrman.livejournal.com]

Wow…but to rebut this oversight in your education, you probably have the book and lyrics of countless shows, notched into your belt, with as many opening and closing and in-between memories……

There are so many on that list that are truly iconic in film noir, when you do retire and get cable….you will appreciate the art form. Some of these films should be seen without commercial interruption, comfortable clothes and popcorn.

IF…..I had to chose one…from the list as a must see….I would choose

To Kill a Mockingbird

Great adaptation from Harper Lee’s book, with Gregory Peck and a surprise at the end with a very famous actors, first role, although, non-speaking.

You should as part of your transition into these next months….consider the Ye ol Rental Shoppe, and start on parts of this list. Some of these films on the list best experienced in a theater, like Lawrence of Arabia, or Dr. Zhivago, the expanse of the film is lost on the small screen.

I challenge the other LJ’ers to post their pick for you……

[apparentparadox]

I'd have to vote for Citizen Kane. It's such a classic, so well done. There are also a lot of allusions to it in modern culture, which you'll probably "get" better after having seen the movie.

But for me, the best part is the whole idea of how much are you willing to give up to get what you think you want.

Note that I don't own Citizen Kane, and have probably only seen it two or three times. But, I do think it is a "must-see"

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

"To Kill a Mockingbird" is one of my all-time favorite books and I've seen clips of this movie. For that matter, I have seen parts of several others, but I didn't mark them unless I clearly had watched the entire film. I'll have to check, but I may have the DVD of "To Kill a Mockingbird". I have about 150 DVDs and only watched seven or so:)

Looks like I'm going to have set up a film night for myself!

[designerotter.livejournal.com]

You are so right about seeing certain movies on the big screen ... some of them really neeed to be seen that way. Certainly the grand, expansive David Lean epics like "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Zhivago" require the large screen for which they were made. Even comparatively smaller, but spectacular films benefit hugely from the big screen experience. I recall once seeing a brand new technicolor print of "Meet Me in St. Louis" in a big-screen theatre ....sublime! And the first time I saw "The Wizard of Oz" was in a theatre - and I feel sorry for my students who have only seen it on television.

[scottokc.livejournal.com]

That looks like the original list from 10 years ago. They did a new list in July. I remember that "Titanic" and one of the "Lord of the Rings" movies made the new list. Thanks for mentioning me in your post. I didn't know what I was starting!

[mytruepassion.livejournal.com]

If Titanic and Lord of the Rings have made the "new" list, I think I'll take the old.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Please .. it's an interesting topic and you got me started. I can learn a lot from this and be entertained at the same time. Perhaps, it's time you start on the 50 you haven't seen! Thanks!

[rifesterich.livejournal.com]

I strongly object to the AFI's ratings: How could "Unforgiven" be considered a lesser movie than "Chinatown"? How could "Chinatown" be considered a lesser movie than "Unforgiven"?

In any event, I've made a pact with myself to own all of these 100 movies, and the others listed on Roger Ebert's list of "Great Movies".

Ebert does not rank his Great Movies. They are, rather, according to Ebert, just "Great Movies", each of which is defined as "a movie I couldn't bear not to see again".

2001: A Space Odyssey
The 400 Blows
8 1/2
Aguirre, The Wrath of God
Ali: Fear Eats The Soul
All About Eve
The Apartment
Apocalypse Now
The Apu Trilogy
Battleship Potemkin
Beauty and the Beast
Belle de Jour
The Bicycle Theif
The Big Sleep
Blowup
Body Heat
Bonnie and Clyde
Bride of Frankenstein
Broken Blossoms
Casablanca
Chinatown
Citizen Kane
City Lights
Days of heaven
The Decalogue
Detour
Do the Right Thing
Double Indemnity
Dracula
Dr. Strangelove
Duck Soup
E.T.
The Exterminating Angel
Fargo
Floating Weeds
Gates of Heaven
The General
The Godfather
Gone with the Wind
Grand Illusion
Greed
A Hard Day's Night
Hoop Dreams
Ikiru
It's a Wonderful Life
JFK
La Dolce Vita
The Lady Eve
Last Year at Marienbad
L'Atalante
L'Aveentura
Lawrence of Arabia
Le Samourai
M
The Maltese Falcon
Manhattan
McCabe & Mrs. Miller
Metropolis
Mr. Hulot's Holiday
My Darling Clementine
My Life to Live
Nashville
Network
The Night of the Hunter
Nosferatu
Notorious
On the Waterfront
Pandora's Box
The Passion of Joan of Arc
Peeping Tom
Persona
Pickpocekt
Pinocchio
Psycho
Pulp Fiction
Raging Bull
Red River
Schindler's List
The Seven Samurai
The Seventh Seal
The Shawshank Redemption
The Silence of the Lambs
Singin' in the Rain
Some Like It Hot
Star Wars
Sunset Boulevard
Sweet Smell of Success
Swing Time
Taxi Driver
The Third Man
Trouble in Paradise
Un Chien Andalou
The "Up"Documentaries
Vertigo
The Wild Bunch
Wings of Desire
The Wizard of Oz
Woman in the Dunes
A Woman Under the Influence
Written on the Wind

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

There is some overlap, but not much. Of course, what we each enjoy and consider "best" is so subjective. I've only seen 11 movies on Ebert's list. What's interesting to me is that I've seen a lot of movies in my time ... my taste is evidently quite a bit more pedestrian:) For instance, I saw "Victor/Victoria" 16 times when I was working on Holland America Cruises and I've probably seen "Soapdish" a dozen times. The gauntlet has been thrown down. I must learn more about film:)

Thanks for answering! Do you have an all-time favorite?

[furrytxcub.livejournal.com]

I say you should start with Vertigo...as far as the films listed here, it's my personal fave. Hitchcock never made anything quite like it before or after. I still get chills during some of the scenes.

As far as a movie not on the list that should be is The Umbrellas of Cherbourg...music by Michel Legrand. I remember first seeing it as a young boy and falling in love with it. The music is beautiful and the use of color is stupefying. Even then I cried at the end. :0)

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I remember the music in "Umbrellas of Cherbourg" ... Lovely ...

I remember first seeing it as a young boy and falling in love with it. So, basically five to seven years ago:) *wink*

I used to watch Hitchcock's television series when I was a kid. I hadn't thought of him much recently ... last time was at the MGM Studios at Disneyworld.

Thanks for the recommendation!

what a fun subject!...

[designerotter.livejournal.com]

Turns out I've seen 65 out of the 100, though I've heard of every one of the 100 and in some cases I've seen extensive clips from the ones I haven't seen (yet). While lists are an inevitable part of a competitive culture like ours, my brain tends to feel cramped when I have to come up with 'best' or 'greatest'. I think some of the films are indisputably tops - like The Wizard of Oz, which I make reference to in my classes every semester, sooner or later. There are others on the list I might dispute ... and some, like Psycho, which I'll never see (I love peaceful, paranoia-free showers much too much -LOL !)

Rather than 'greatest', I prefer to think in terms of 'favorites.' This makes room for delightful bubblegum & cotton candy features like "Follow the Fleet" (Fred & Ginger doing 'Let's Face the Music and Dance'- celestial), "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (that opening song sequence ...wow), "Camille", "Ninotchka", "Gigi",
"Ever After", to name a few.
...and how do you classify Dietrich's films? - perhaps none of which are truly great, yet I'd consider myself horribly deprived if I hadn't seen her on screen.

I suppose the '100' list is only American films, though I've got a number of foreign films on my personal list. Among the top (for me): Cocteau's "La Belle et La Bete" (Beauty & the Beast), "Babette's Feast", "Seven Samurai", "Rashomon".

Re: what a fun subject!...

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

The list I downloaded was the American Film Institute's 100 Greatest Films of all time. A couple of people tell the list was updated in July, but this was what I googled and found. There are several types of lists. For instance, in the list of 100 Most Inspirational films, the top movie is "It's A Wonderful Life" having not seen it generated this post in the first place:)

I don't want your brain to cramp! ... Of your partial list of "favorites", I've seen all of them, but "Camille". Could it be because they are movie musicals or comic fantasies? The period of my life where I saw the most movies was childhood and for better or worse, that meant Disney.

Roger Ebert's 100 favorite movies of all time includes several foreign films ... So, it's really a matter of taste.

HUGS!

They have updated the list

[bismrkbear.livejournal.com]

Somewhere online you can find a newer list. I noticed this was the older list because since this was done ten years ago, Vertigo has gotten much love from AFI, moving up into the Top 15 or so. As it turns out, of the 100 listed, I have seen 97. When I wake up tomorrow I will search out the new list and post my own observations.

I can owe a large percentage of my knowledge of films to George. He is well versed specially in older movies. He can be on the computer in the other room and I will flip to whatever is on TCM and he will tell me within ten seconds the movie, director, studio, character actors, and often the composer. All of this just by hearing a snippet of dialog or a few seconds of score.

'Tis bedtime and the dog is telling me it is time to head upstairs. I leave you with my suggestion to watch Rear Window. It is Hitchcock at his voyeuristic best.

Re: They have updated the list

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I am humbled by your collective knowledge ...As is George with older films, I'm that way about some stage musicals or recordings. WOW ... Course, now I want to know which three movies on the list you haven't seen! LOL!

It's interesting that more than one person has recommended an Alfred Hitchcock movie.

It would be so much fun to live near George and you. I could learn so much. Inquisitive minds and prodigious memories are such a pleasure. I mean that sincerely. HUGS!

[scottokc.livejournal.com]

I noticed that you were asking which one movie that people would recommend. It's a toss-up between "Citizen Kane" and "Casablanca", but I'd give the nod to "Casablanca".

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I plan to see both. Thanks! :)

[tonethbone.livejournal.com]

we have seen (and have most of these...About 15 of them we have yet to see. I copied this list ..Pete does all the "movie procurring"

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Evidently, there's an updated list from the AFI as of July and some of the listings are very different. Have you or Pete seen "Follow Me Boys", a Disney movie from the early 60s? I was joking when I wrote my aside, but now I wonder if anyone else has seen it:) LOL!

[sparkle-n-fur.livejournal.com]

Sigh. As a movie buff, and theater actor/buff, I find these lists both informative and tiresome.

Obviously to each his own and most of the movies listed are fantastic. However, to me...

Citizen Kane was just not all that.

Sorry guys. I have viewed it several times, read about it, dissected it and still, it is a wormy apple in my opinion. :-(

I tried.

[designerotter.livejournal.com]

I wonder to what extent the viewer's circumstances affect the response to a film. It may have to do with one's specific age at the time, your mood, what you may or may not know about the film, the zeitgeist even.

Being a virgin experience, the first time I saw Citizen Kane (at NY's Thalia theatre)it had this magical aura; it cast a spell. Seeing it more recently (at a theatre in Madison)my attitude was rather dispassionate and the film seemed less impressive.
Same thing happened with GWTW. I saw it first (again in a theatre)in my early teens. Seeing it during my grad school years, it no longer had the same effect.

Movies and Mom!

[redbearmark.livejournal.com]

I hope that your Mother is home and resting well after her surgical procedure!

Now to the movies - Half the fun is discovering something you enjoy lots - whether it is on the list or not.

It is like mentioning Leontyne Price. It doesn't diminish her stellar career and magnificent voice if you haven't heard of here or don't like her.

I do own the DVD's of a few of the movies on the list. I do like my epics and costume dramas. Citizen Kane should be seen to at least comprehend what all the fuss is about. Orson Wells has some other amazing films but this is the one they always harp on about! (Robert Wise worked with him on this film - the man that helped make The Sound of Music such a good film) (The Third Man with Orson as an actor too)

All About Eve is a wonderful tour de Force film all around. Whether or not you like Marilyn Monroe, she did have the good presence of mind to be in some great films.

A good list of Hitchcock thrillers too.

Enjoy as you can! It only matters if it is on your list of favorite films.

Re: Movies and Mom!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Absolutely ... This post started out as a bit of embarrassment on my part since I've never seen "It's a Wonderful Life" and I am up for the stage version. It evolved into a really nice discussion of films that people like and appreciate. Some of my faves ... "Soapdish", "Victor/Victoria", the original "La Cage Aux Follies", "Shakespeare in Love", "Elizabeth". "Tea with Mussolini", The Importance of Being Ernest" will not make many of my friends' faves lists, but so be it. I'm learning quite a bit just by reading the comments here:)

Mom is doing quite well and catching up on her rest. YAY! It's been a busy day. I had a 4.5 hour vocal rehearsal this morning in Houston for the Christmas show. I'll continue to stay with this project either all the way through or until I hear whether I've been offered a contract for "It's A Wonderful Life".

HUGS!

[cincy-dave.livejournal.com]

I've seen 54 of the 100.
But of the top 20,I've seen 17!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I bow to your taste, my friend:) I would expect no less. Now, we must give me the raspberry for having just seen 28 of the top 100 and 2 of the top ten:) Since you've seen most of AFI's top 20 favorites, what's your favorite of the 17? Is there a clear choice?

HUGS!

[labeartorycub.livejournal.com]

I've seen 28 out the 100, but sadly only 2 of the Top 10. These two would be "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Wizard of Oz."

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I'm keeping you company then; those are my exact numbers too. We share "Wizard of Oz", but it's interesting that you haven't seen "Singing' in the Rain". I may have only seen two in the top 10, but I've seen Wizard of Oz about 40 times and Singing in the Rain at least a dozen:)

Thank you so much for the phone call yesterday! It came during a 4.5 hour vocal rehearsal; right after, I drove to College Station for a college football game, getting home late last night. It was a most welcome surprise and pleasure!

Big HUGS!

[designerotter.livejournal.com]

Touche, Pussycat ...
it was sweet of you to offer, though I know the limits of my ability to resist temptation - miniscule ! - LOL

[bearnight.livejournal.com]

59, but I don't remember most of them

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

This whole conversation has made me want to see several of these films and see what I think of them myself. I'm not a big fan of film noire, flicks which violence such as war films, so I'll choose carefully.

You brought up a good point. I'm only clear on the details of the handful of movies on the list that I've seen more than once. I also didn't mention it; but there about 20 other films on the list where I've seen bits and pieces (more than clips), but haven't seen the whole film. (Guess that's what DVDs are for:) I'm familiar with the details of most of the movies, because I'm a voracious reader.

Hope you're doing well!

HUGS!

[bigreddee.livejournal.com]

Whoo hoo! 51 out of 100! I just saw Taxi Driver on Saturday as a matter of fact. There are a few of these that I will probably never see until they're available on DVD, but I'll make it a point to put many of these on my Netflix list to see if I can increase my seen to must-see ratio.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I knew you'd double my score:) One of my LJ friends (and someone I've met in person), bismrkbear has seen 97 out of 100! Now, that's a fan of film! LOL! Thanks for checking it out!

HUGS!