As others have said, so many great films, but my top one in that era is the 1951 version of "Scrooge/Christmas Carol". Wonderful film that I watch every Christmas. What a cast, and Alistair Sim made for the part. Merry Christmas everyone
I don’t think Giant has been mentioned yet. Ben Hur is a good one Seth.
Mrs Minniver was a favourite of my mother in law. So too Woman in a Dressing Gown.
Mrs Minniver is a favourite of my MIL too. Despite being an Oscar winner, it should never ever be mentioned in a list of good films though. An appallingly boring piece of war propaganda that once taken from the context of the need to encourage thrift, silence and unquestioning allegiance amongst the population has absolutely nothing going for it. Sadly those wartime conditions were a formative part of many people's upbringings and they have been doomed to spending the rest of their lives thinking that utter dross like this is not just passable, but actually good. Pity the generation that saved us from nazism, because they are still paying the price.
The closest thing Greer Garson made to a good film was Random Harvest, which was actually made in the same year as Mrs Minniver. I'm not convinced that's a coincidence. It looks like all the effort went into the vastly superior story. It is schmalz on legs though, so get the sick bags out.
Another film I loved from the 50s was Forbidden Planet. I think Sci Fi films were shown on Wednesday night's in the 70s, and I remember watching the scene where the "invisible" Monster was lit up in the Army's beams. I was terrified!
The Big Sleep Key Largo Mildred Pierce Sunset Boulevard The Bad & The Beautiful
Damn! I can't believe I forgot:
Rear Window
The first "old movie" I fell in love with.
Also, another, less heard of film:
Dead Of Night (1945)
For those unfamiliar, it is a British, anthology horror film, made by Ealing Studios (a rare foray from their comedy fare), starring Michael Redgrave, amongst others.
A precursor for the likes of Dr Terrors House Of Horror, & Creepshow.
Well worth hunting down if you like that sort of film.
Is 'Dead of Night' the one which includes a film about a man trapped within an art gallery painting? I saw it as a teenager and would love to see it again.
No, but there is a story where a man is bought an antique mirror by his wife. He is not trapped in it per-say, but when he looks at himself in the mirror, he sees himself in a different room, & era, & slowly but surely, becomes possessed by the mirror.
The man trapped in the painting sounds interesting though!
1. The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943) 2. Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) 3. Some Like it Hot (1959) 4. The Revolt of Job (1943) 5. Night of the Hunter (1955)
4 of these would be in or around my top 5. I will definitely be seeking out The Revolt of Job.
Another one I forgot about was The Edge of The World by Michael Powell before he teamed up with Emeric Pressburger. Made in 1937, fantastic story about a fictional island off mainland Scotland and its evacuation, based on the true story of the evacuation of St Kilda in 1930.
Duck Soup A Night at the Opera 12 Angry Men Casablanca The Third Man
First mention of the Marx Brothers! I agree - can't separate Duck Soup from A Night at the Opera. Casablanca and The Third Man are two of the best films in any decade. I would add any film by Laurel and Hardy although I think The Music Box is too familiar. I prefer Busy Bodies. Great shout for White Heat ('Made it Ma! Top of the World!')
The Big Sleep Key Largo Mildred Pierce Sunset Boulevard The Bad & The Beautiful
Damn! I can't believe I forgot:
Rear Window
The first "old movie" I fell in love with.
Also, another, less heard of film:
Dead Of Night (1945)
For those unfamiliar, it is a British, anthology horror film, made by Ealing Studios (a rare foray from their comedy fare), starring Michael Redgrave, amongst others.
A precursor for the likes of Dr Terrors House Of Horror, & Creepshow.
Well worth hunting down if you like that sort of film.
Is 'Dead of Night' the one which includes a film about a man trapped within an art gallery painting? I saw it as a teenager and would love to see it again.
No, but there is a story where a man is bought an antique mirror by his wife. He is not trapped in it per-say, but when he looks at himself in the mirror, he sees himself in a different room, & era, & slowly but surely, becomes possessed by the mirror.
The man trapped in the painting sounds interesting though!
I spent half an hour on Google trying to find the film but without success. It was a portmanteau film like 'Dead of Night' (1945). In the art gallery one, a well-spoken, debonair stranger approaches the only man left in the art gallery and persuades him to step closer to the painting of a spooky house on a hill up a misty path. The man is invited to stare closely at the painting and after a dreamlike series of shots, he finds himself on that path, unable to return to the art gallery because of the thick glass. He has no option but to walk up to the house and seek help there...
Anyone know the title of this film? It's almost certainly 1940s or 1950s.
The Big Sleep Key Largo Mildred Pierce Sunset Boulevard The Bad & The Beautiful
Damn! I can't believe I forgot:
Rear Window
The first "old movie" I fell in love with.
Also, another, less heard of film:
Dead Of Night (1945)
For those unfamiliar, it is a British, anthology horror film, made by Ealing Studios (a rare foray from their comedy fare), starring Michael Redgrave, amongst others.
A precursor for the likes of Dr Terrors House Of Horror, & Creepshow.
Well worth hunting down if you like that sort of film.
Is 'Dead of Night' the one which includes a film about a man trapped within an art gallery painting? I saw it as a teenager and would love to see it again.
No, but there is a story where a man is bought an antique mirror by his wife. He is not trapped in it per-say, but when he looks at himself in the mirror, he sees himself in a different room, & era, & slowly but surely, becomes possessed by the mirror.
The man trapped in the painting sounds interesting though!
I spent half an hour on Google trying to find the film but without success. It was a portmanteau film like 'Dead of Night' (1945). In the art gallery one, a well-spoken, debonair stranger approaches the only man left in the art gallery and persuades him to step closer to the painting of a spooky house on a hill up a misty path. The man is invited to stare closely at the painting and after a dreamlike series of shots, he finds himself on that path, unable to return to the art gallery because of the thick glass. He has no option but to walk up to the house and seek help there...
Anyone know the title of this film? It's almost certainly 1940s or 1950s.
Yes! That's it. I'm impressed that you found it. And it's available to watch on YouTube. Thank you for finding it and thanks to Blackheathen for his help.
It's worth checking out the three films that portray the home town of my childhood - London of the late 1940s and 1950s.
This Happy Breed - nostalgic for any Londoner. Has the advantage of being shot in colour.
Hue & Cry - hard to forget all those bomb sites of the post war era, where we sometimes played as kids.
Pool of London - early 1950s, when the Thames was a major artery of trade. Many evocative street scenes, including trams. One of the first British films to feature a black actor in a leading role.
The Love Match - had to have this one as it contains scenes filmed at The Valley. Just don't try throwing a meat pie at the referee, especially when John Hewie is taking a penalty!!
As far as I know, all these films are available on DVD - Studio Canal or 'Long lost Comedy Classics'.
I'm a bit surprised that no Danny Kaye films have been mentioned (I am a really big fan of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty), White Christmas and The Court Jester are pretty decent (the latter filled to the gunwhales with top British mid-century talent).
That said, I adore the Ealing comedies, George Cole in the St. Trinain's films, Alistair Sim (shout out for the Green Man), and any comedy involving Lionel Jeffries (albeit he was more successful as an actor in the 1960s).
In fairness, I'd also have included David Niven in A Matter of Life and Death or Around the World in 80 Days (though I also have a soft spot for My Man Godfrey).
I might throw The African Queen into the mix as well.
I'm a bit surprised that no Danny Kaye films have been mentioned (I am a really big fan of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty), White Christmas and The Court Jester are pretty decent (the latter filled to the gunwhales with top British mid-century talent).
That said, I adore the Ealing comedies, George Cole in the St. Trinain's films, Alistair Sim (shout out for the Green Man), and any comedy involving Lionel Jeffries (albeit he was more successful as an actor in the 1960s).
In fairness, I'd also have included David Niven in A Matter of Life and Death or Around the World in 80 Days (though I also have a soft spot for My Man Godfrey).
I might throw The African Queen into the mix as well.
A real favourite, excellent choice, who could forget "The pellet with the poison's in the vessel with the pestle; the chalice from the palace has the brew that is true"!...
Night of the Iguana Cape Fear Albert RN In which we serve Oh Mr Porter Goodbye Mr Chips
In which we serve is part of my five great movies made during WW2
In Which We Serve for the navy The Way Ahead for the army The Way to the Stars for the RAF Went the Day Well for the home front Colonel Blimp for why we fight
Matter of Life and Death and Captive Heart don't quite make it as made just after the war had ended but as also brilliant as the war time romance and the POW film.
Henry V is also a pure propaganda movie made during the war.
Captive Heart also the first film of the legendary Sam Kydd. He was hired as an advisor having been a POW himself and had a small talking part.
Passport to Pimlico and Best Years of our Lives are two fantastic films on post war Britain and post war USA, although very different approaches.
Bad day at Black Rock is also another brilliant film dealing with the post-war events in the US and also one of my favourite westerns. Some would argue it's not a real western but a stranger arrives in a small, desolate desert town and shakes things up is a classic western scene even if it is set in 1946. And the bar fight is one of the best ever.
Comments
So if I’m allowed a replacement it would be
Way out West -Such a wonderful double act
The closest thing Greer Garson made to a good film was Random Harvest, which was actually made in the same year as Mrs Minniver. I'm not convinced that's a coincidence. It looks like all the effort went into the vastly superior story. It is schmalz on legs though, so get the sick bags out.
The Lavender Hill mob.
Kind Hearts and Coronets.
Pimpernel Smith
Shane
The man trapped in the painting sounds interesting though!
Looking it up, this seems close:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Gallery_(film)
The 3rd segment, called: 'The Escape Route'
I will definitely be seeking out The Revolt of Job.
Love cameo from Victor Mclaglen
Great film
Anyone know the title of this film? It's almost certainly 1940s or 1950s.
Stagecoach (the original)
Casablanca
The Lavender Hill mob
The Searchers
Some like it hot.
King Creole
That said, I adore the Ealing comedies, George Cole in the St. Trinain's films, Alistair Sim (shout out for the Green Man), and any comedy involving Lionel Jeffries (albeit he was more successful as an actor in the 1960s).
In fairness, I'd also have included David Niven in A Matter of Life and Death or Around the World in 80 Days (though I also have a soft spot for My Man Godfrey).
I might throw The African Queen into the mix as well.
James Mason.
Night of the Iguana
Cape Fear
Albert RN
In which we serve
Oh Mr Porter
Goodbye Mr Chips
A real favourite, excellent choice, who could forget "The pellet with the poison's in the vessel with the pestle; the chalice from the palace has the brew that is true"!...
In Which We Serve for the navy
The Way Ahead for the army
The Way to the Stars for the RAF
Went the Day Well for the home front
Colonel Blimp for why we fight
Matter of Life and Death and Captive Heart don't quite make it as made just after the war had ended but as also brilliant as the war time romance and the POW film.
Henry V is also a pure propaganda movie made during the war.
Captive Heart also the first film of the legendary Sam Kydd. He was hired as an advisor having been a POW himself and had a small talking part.
Passport to Pimlico and Best Years of our Lives are two fantastic films on post war Britain and post war USA, although very different approaches.
Bad day at Black Rock is also another brilliant film dealing with the post-war events in the US and also one of my favourite westerns. Some would argue it's not a real western but a stranger arrives in a small, desolate desert town and shakes things up is a classic western scene even if it is set in 1946. And the bar fight is one of the best ever.
https://letterboxd.com/filmfan1971/list/scorseses-list-of-favourite-british-films/