If I had to give my favorite five movies at this very moment: “Rio Bravo,” “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance,” “Captain Blood,” “Goodbye Mr. Chips” (1939) and a toss-up between the Nic Cage version of “Gone in 60 Seconds” or “The Searchers.” Try to wrap your minds around that.
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I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve watched Rio Bravo which is just damn near perfect as far as cinema goes. The duet between Dino and Ricky Nelson is incredible and probably my favorite part of the movie. The Future Mrs. V in her immense awesomeness tracked down a copy of the soundtrack from England and My Rifle, My Pony, and Me is on there complete with an introduction from the Duke. Great stuff.
My fives favs for the record (ever evolving depending on mood):
Shawshank Redemption
Rio Bravo
Godfather 2
Up
The Cowboys
Sort of all over the place there I know.
AMC had “Rio Bravo” on this afternoon followed by “The Cowboys.”
I don’t know about five favorites films, but it is surely in the five most watchable – meaning a film just so comfortable, like well-broken in slippers, that anytime I tune across it I can settle back and watch it from whatever point I’ve arrived until the end. And I NEVER keep on surfing with a muttered “great film, but not today.”
Five Most Watchable Films:
Rio Bravo
The Great Escape
True Grit
Mr. Deeds Goes To Town
Bringing Up Baby
My Favorite Year
The Trouble With Harry
Quigley Down Under
Silverado
Red River
North by Northwest
About a dozen more that aren’t coming to mind just now.
Quigley. An underappreciated masterpiece.
Agreed – might make for an interesting list (if y’all haven’t already done it around here)
Films (You Assume) No One Else Has Seen That You Love to Recommend
1) Silverado
2) Quigley Down Under
3) Tears of the Sun
4) The Iron Giant
Can’t come up with others off the top of my head, but you get the gist.
As a big fan of “Quigley,” it’s fair to say it’s not one of the greats of the genre, but the dinner scene between Selleck and Rickman is absolutely fantastic. If there is one reason to watch the movie, it’s that scene.
In college Jake… I often recommend these to students who I know haven’t seen them…
Dark City
Unforgiven
Once
Silverado
Dirty Harry
Josey Wales
If they’re more sophisticated students then I’ll throw in a Black and white:
Casablanca (I know)
Last year I finagled an empty classroom and I was watching The Searchers on the PPT projector screen in stereo sound and was working on a class while it played. A couple of students came in the back to study I guess and I caught them watching pretty intently. After it was over they asked what that was — “The Searchers” and they liked what they saw.
I’ve had some good luck with students and movies. Some I’ve shown that they liked (in class or in social gatherings):
Dirty Harry
Die Hard
Fritz Lang’s M
The Battle of Algiers (in my terrorism course)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Arlington Road
“Never had much use for a pistol.”
“No man knocks me out of my own house!”
GoodFellas
Empire Strikes Back
Blue Velvet
Animal House
Raiders of the Lost Ark
“Purple light in the canyon…”
I just finished reading “John Wayne’s America” by Gary Willis. The author had some interesting commentary and analysis of the Duke’s films though I didn’t agree with him entirely.
The author didn’t think much of “Rio Bravo” which is one of my favorites. Perhaps it’s because I’m not much of a feminist but the author makes the assertion that Angie Dickinson’s character was just one of many women in Howard Hawks’ movies who were ‘humiliated’. I don’t agree! Hawks’ female characters are among the best.
I never, ever get tired of this movie or “The Searchers” for that matter.
Feathers “humiliated”??????? I guess he thinks Rosalind Russell’s character in His Girl Friday was “humiliated”, too. I mean, in the title Hawks openly mocks her as a “girl”.
Ha! Probably so, RES but no mention of “His Girl Friday” in this book. I don’t get where Feathers (thanks for the reminder of her name) was humiliated in the movie at all.
He also suggested that John Ford’s cavalry trilogy had a cold war theme running through them. Huh?
Honestly the book had some great analysis of John Wayne’s movies, his evolution as an icon but some of the author’s assertions were far fetched.
I guess the author would much prefer the modern film realization of a strong woman. Not a girl giving every inch back to John Wayne, but one in the Katherine Heigl mode, sniveling after men-boys atop some lofty white-collar perch, incessantly miserable and self-loathing, with all her secrets on Facebook. The girl with the perfect life but not the perfect wimped-up guy.
It took me years to understand what in the hell was going on in the conversations between Dickinson and Wayne in “Rio Bravo.” I didn’t get it, until it hit me why she was so happy when Wayne threatened to arrest her for wearing her stage-act get-up. It was an epiphany. It made me fall in love with classic movies, and another reason I laugh at the black-and-white assertions about Wayne. I guess no one has figured out why “Scar” in “The Searchers” is supposed to look like Wayne, or the first 15 minutes of dialogue in “North to Alaska” are all about sex.
Is there any 50 actresses in Hollywood that could survive a bar brawl with Dickinson, Katharine Hepburn, Maureen O’Hara, Bette Davis and Olivia de Haviland?
You’re so right about the subtleties in classic films not often seen these days. The book was an odd read but I stuck with it because I liked Willis’ analysis even when it clashed with mine. One thing for certain is that Wayne was a better actor than most thought but as the saying goes (or sort of): when the myth becomes fact print the myth…or whatever that quote is! Don’t have time to look it up.
Keeping more in line with the Westerns theme, I just saw Open Range for the first time last week. Very glad to say there’re now more than five movies starring Kevin Costner I can watch any time without any reservations. New Top Five…
Perfect World
No Way Out
Bull Durham
Untouchables
JFK
Open Range
JFK is like the crystal meth of movies. You know what you’re watching is bad, but you can’t keep from turning it on.
I know — ahhhh! It shouldn’t be on a best list without some kind of caveat like what you mention. Just too many great performances to not mention it, though. A lot like Malcolm X like that.
It’s a fabulous movie, which in the end, is all that counts. Which is why I love “Do The Right Thing.”
I disagree. If a movie is about a historical event, unless it’s openly historical fiction, it matters if it gets the facts right. Part of why I hated “Titanic” so much. Imagine a wonderfully filmed, directed, staged, acted movie about 9/11 that shows New York Firemen in on the deal, and engineering the response to ensure as many innocents as possible get killed. No matter how well done it is, would you say, “It’s a fabulous movie, which in the end, is all that counts?”
“JFK” is an atrocity. I don’t care how great the cinematography is or how many cameos are in it. It’s a blasphemous history engineered to paint an insane, President killing douchebag, Lee Harvey Oswald, as a sympathetic character.
I’m sorry, but motives and meaning matter.
I can’t remember a movie pissing me off more, unless it was “Private Idaho.”
High Noon…. I know Wayne hated it, and I know red scare analogies aside, still quintessential western viewing. An engrossing story.
Excalibur…..The King and the land are one, a message for the ages.
The Quiet Man…. Wayne enough said!
Ben Hurr (1956)…Heston at his height.
Spartacus….Insert gladiator, Turkish prison joke here.
Although Rio Bravo is a fine film, Dean and Ricky Nelson are too distracting for me, I can’t divorce the man from the character. (Maybe I just said they couldn’t act, oooppss!) But Rio Lobo, Jennifer O’Niell and Duke, nothing better.
Honorable mention: Open Range, good stuff. Adding Quigley to netflix que, thanks for the input.
“High Noon” was my favorite Western for years, but once I delved better into other classics, it seemed too simplistic and a bit over-wrought. Still a great movie, in my opinion, but I much prefer Hawkes or Ford.
I can see that, simplistic sure…….but Grace Kelley is 23 years old here, Damn!
I know, and it also has the future Mrs. Borgnine. And though everything tells me Gary Cooper can’t act, I love every movie he’s in.
Gary Cooper can act, but he can only play one character though. But He does it so well.
I honestly don’t think of movies in the order of which are my favorite, but rather what I like and what I am in the mood for.
If I had to recommend movies that I enjoyed that people may not have seen I would recommend;
Pork Chop Hill…Gregory Peck stars as an LT in a desperate battle against the Chinese Army during the Korean war.
High Road to China…Tom Selick flying a biplane in the far east, it’s pretty damn cool and if someone can find it on DVD please let me know.
Swingers…just go ahead and put it in your netflix, especially if you are a guy.
Kung Fu Hustle…this movie is all kinds of awesome, Chop socky comedy, and a great ending.
Tommy Boy…as goofy and silly as it is, it actually has a really big heart. I enjoy it every time I watch it.
Pork Chop hill a good choice, Peck & Strode, and Bobbie Blake too. A movie about the stalemate at the end of the war and the infernal peace talks. A last man to die in the war study, and futility of war undercurrent, its well done. However, a more positive Korean war movie comes to mind. Retreat Hell! From the perimeter to Inchon to the Chosin. Surrounded by Chinese ( a whole new war) fighting their way back to the sea. Compelling story, maybe its just because my Dad was there for that part. Check it out, but, alas, not on DVD.
I don’t know if you are aware but Pork Chop Hill is a true story, the movie is based on the account of the battle by the famous Army historian, S.L.A. Marshall.
Another Korean war flick I’ve enjoyed but is goofy as hell is, “The Hunters” where Robert Mitchum and Robert Wagner play F-86 pilots…awesome air to air shots, kind of silly when it comes down to earth though.
Oh yeah, I know, true story. I remember “The Hunters” too. I liked the Mig’s (F-84′s). The Bridges at Toko-Ri will have to be mentioned here for the flight sequences and of course we can’t not mention, once again, Grace Kelly at 25 years of age. Yes I keep going there.
“Bridges” is a good movie. Mickey Rooney in the top hat was a bit much, even when I watched it as a kid I had a problem with that…but overall a pretty good flick.
Put Swingers in your Netflix? What man between 35 and 45 (maybe 50) doesn’t own it?
Spoken by someone who has made Wayne Gretzky’s head bleed a few sometimes, I would guess.
I saw Swingers when it first hit cable and can’t remember a thing about it, other than it became a Vegas cult-film earlier in the decade akin to “Rounders.” Though “Swingers” had Favereau and Vaughan, so that’s a no contest.
Swingers is a vague memory. I did add it to the queue though E.
I always took the Blackhawks, with Chelios, Roenick, Murphy, Ruutu and Eagle Eddie Balfour in goal, so you know it!
Admittedly, Swingers’ release was the same year I moved to LA, so a movie which’ll always have a special place on my DVD shelf.
Never seen it.
Sixteen Candles takes precedence, but Swingers well worth your time, too.
How is “High Road to China” not on DVD, except in Australia?
It was a bit of Selleck’s redemption for being blocked from Indiana Jones. I thought Magnum with the whip was blasphemy in my teams, but seeing Harrison Ford’s rather stalwart fall from his mojo makes me wish Selleck got it instead.
How is “High Road to China” not on DVD, except in Australia?
Two words: Bess Armstrong….. I remember the movie, fondly. A more attractive actress would have helped. Also don’t forget the movies with an “H” title curse, just ask “Hudson Hawk”.
Insulting Heathers on the day Glenn “Eskimo!” Shadix passes? Oh, the humanity!
The Hangover
Highlander
Hoosiers
Hollywood Shuffle
The Hustler
C’mon, Goatherd — no knives at a gun fight.
Highlander 2-5 might offset all those E.
I’m sorry, I’m not familiar with any of those numbers of which you speak. Like the man says in the ONLY Highlander: there can be only one.
My recommendation of 5 films you may not have seen that are worth a watch:
“Pygmalion” the 1938 version
“Tapeheads”
“Failsafe”
“Waking Ned Devine”
“Allegro non Troppo”
I tried to like Allegro Non Troppo… but it was too slow.
I haven’t seen it for decades. It’s not a great film, but it’s different, has a fun little love story, and spurrs the imagination. I mostly want movies to make me forget my mundane life for 90 – 120 minutes. “Allegro non Troppo” did that for me.
Any comments on the other 4? I assume you’ve seen all or most of them.
I was making a joke on the name. Come on music man!
Never seen it actually.
I have seen the other 4 and liked them a lot. I didn’t think I’d like Failsafe but that was a tense movie.
“Failsafe” is a very suspenseful film. Very well done, even without Barry Corbin pissing on a spark plug.
Sorry I missed your joke!
Isn’t that version of “Pygmalion” wonderful? I know this is blasphemous, but I think I like it better than the musical with Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn. Even though the guy was a raving lunatic, Shaw was a master of dialogue. Have you ever seen his play, “Man, Superman?” Absolutely brilliant!
I had to IMDb it to make sure you were referring to the Leslie Howard/Wendy Hiller version; I agree that it is superb. To my surprise, they list Howard (any relation to Moe, I wonder?) as co-director; interesting.
Pretty much any film based upon Shaw’s work is worth watching at least once. I’ve been awaiting release on DVD of the Lancaster/Douglas/Olivier version of The Devil’s Disciple for years.
You’re reading my mind on one of those, Rufus, and while it’s not Waking Ned Devine, loooooove that one.
I know you and I are the only “Tapeheads” lovers on this site.
We better be careful then, don’t want to bore anyone.
“I’ll put my slab on the yardstick against Gorby any day.”
Hah!!! I been looking for that High Road DVD for YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!! One of the five best Wilford Brimley performances evah! Amazon is set to notify me when (if) it becomes available, but I may yet breakdown and buy the VHS while I still have a working WCR player for to dub to disk.
And a not at all bad performance from Robert Morley.
Selleck & Armstrong are good, too.
The only one on that list I’ve seen is “Tommy Boy” and I absolutely agree. I did not want to see it, when I was forced to see it I fully expected to hate it. Came away loving it. Very well done. Akroyd’s accent is awesome.
Okay the H movie curse was over the line. It’s bed time on the right coast, so i’ll through out one more movie. In the “Films (You Assume) No One Else Has Seen That You Love to Recommend” thread, “Deterence” 1999 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158583/ It’s dated now, but before the invasion of Iraq, it was a quite entertaining, what if, one stage play. Kevin Pollak plays a great reluctant warrior, president. It’s on DVD and well worth a watch, if one can recapture the pre 9/11 mindframe. Good night/morning
Sorry changed browsers and forgot to re-enter my user name………it’s all firefoxes’ fault.
Here’s one you can safely assume nobody’s seen: The Dunera Boys
Joe Spano (Goldblume on Hill Street Blues) and Bob Hoskins.
“At the start of WWII the British Government decided to arrest all Germans in the UK no matter how long they had been here.”
Well, bollocks to Netflix re. Deterrence: “Availability date unknown.” F’in’ buggars!
Sorry, little caught up on the Harry Brown language and not at all happy this can’t be rented via Netflix. Looks pretty good.
E. I own “Deterrence” might be able to arrange a back up copy loan, if you’re interested.
1)”The Long Good Friday”…2)”The Music Lovers”…3)”Will Penny”…4)”The Onion Field”…5)”The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith”…6)”Seconds”.
Ever see any of those?
I saw “The Onion Field” but it was a while ago.
The Long Good Friday is what convinced me Pierce Brosnan could play Bond. (Fans of the Sharpe’s films will want to see it for Daragh O’Malley in a minor role.) One of the best gangster films evah!!!
As far as The Music Lovers goes I sort of maxxed out on Ken Russell long ago, but that one predates his descent into gross self-indulgence so I will keep an open mind and try it should opportunity arise.
Will Penny is a Charlton Heston I recall but don’t think I ever sat through. Another one to watch for.
Onion Field in a genre of not over much interest for me, but as I recall it pretty much established Joseph Wambaugh as a major presence.
Wasn’t Seconds (assume you’re referring to the Frankenheimer flick) a Threedonia CPotD a while back, or was that at Dirty Harry’s Place?
When we would have sing alongs and jams with a family I know, this was always a favorite to sing. We’d have guitars, piano, mandolins, fiddles, a banjo, all kinds of stuff and you’d just sing and play whatever.
Nigh Riders Lament was also a huge favorite. Great song.
This seems as good a place as any to talk about westerns. Any other Deadwood fans in here?
I think I’m officially a groupie for that show at this point.