Airplane!
"Airplane!" also titled "Flying High!" is a 1980 parody film starring Robert Hays (Ted Striker) and Julie Hagerty (Elaine Dickinson). Helmed by Jim Abrahams and Jerry and David Zucker, both in their directorial debuts, the movie does a great job parodying the disaster film genre. In particular, the Golden Globe-nominated film satirizes Paramount's 1947 drama "Zero Hour!."
The movie also features elements from "Airport 1975" and other films from the "Airplane" series. On the merits, it excels at its use of fast-paced slapstick, surreal humor, and visual puns. It racked $171M against its $3.5M budget. The creators earned the Best Adopted Comedy nod from the Writers Guild of America Award.
Pan's Labyrinth
Guillermo del Toro has solidified a name for himself for delivering award-winning films, including the 2006 dark fantasy "Pan's Labyrinth." Starring Ivanna Baquero (Ofelia), Maribel Verdú (Mercedes), Ariadna Gil (Carmen), Doug Jones (mystical faun), and Sergi López (Captain Vidal), the story unfolds in 1994 Spain. Following the Spanish Civil War, the narrative crisscrosses between the real and mythical worlds.
The focal point is an abandoned, overgrown labyrinth that houses a mystical faun creature. Ofelia interacts with various magical creatures and faces several trials over the tale. Widely praised for the CGI effects, animatronics, and stellar performances, the movie received numerous awards, including three Oscars.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Steven Spielberg directed the 1977 sci-fi film "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." Richard Dreyfuss (Roy Neary), Cary Guffey (Barry Guiler), Melinda Dillon (Jilian Guiler), François Truffaut (Claude Lacombe), and Bob Balaban (David Laughlin) star in the movie. The premise revolves around Neary, an Indiana-based blue-collar worker whose life changes after he encounters an Unidentified Flying Object (UFO).
The film's financial success is evidenced by the $300M grossed worldwide against the $19.4M production budget. Also a critical success, the sci-fi film received numerous accolades at the 50th Oscars and 35th Golden Globe Awards. For its 40th anniversary, a remastered 4K version hit the theatres in 2017.
Memento
Released in 2000, Christopher Nolan's "Memento" retains its cult-favorite status more than two decades later. The movie centers on Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce), who suffers from bouts of short-term memory loss caused by anterograde amnesia. Unable to create new memories, he relies on tattoos etched out on his skin and polaroid photos to track down his wife's killers.
Praised for having few plot holes, the neo-noir film received lists of accolades, including awards in the Best Film Editing and Best Original Screenplay categories. Even the National Institute of Mental Health experts gave the film their stamp of approval for its realistic portrayal of memory loss.
Slumdog Millionaire
Loosely based on Vikas Swarup's 2005 novel "Q&A," "Slumdog Millionaire" is a must-watch film. The story focuses on Jamal Malik, Dev Patel, who is an 18-year-old navigating life in Mumbai's Juhu slums. He is accused of cheating after winning the Hindi version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" by answering all questions correctly.
Malik recounts details about his life to the police to prove how he got all the questions correct. Danny Boyle directed the 2008 drama, which critics widely lauded for its plot, editing, soundtrack, and direction. The film grossed 378.1M at the box office against a production budget of $15M.
Almost Famous
"Almost Famous" is the story of William Miller, a teenage journalist who goes on the road with the fictional Stillwater band to pen a story for Rolling Stone. Penny Lane (Kate Hudson), the band's veteran groupie, takes him under her wing. Ultimately, the article earns him a cover feature.
The 2000 comedy-drama received widespread acclaim with accolades, including four Oscar nominations and a win in the Original Screenplay category. Cameron Crowe directed the film and has described it as a semi-autobiographical movie loosely based on the "Jerry Maguire" director's own experiences as a teen journalist writing for Rolling Stone magazine.
Braveheart
Mel Gibson starred in and directed the 1995 historical war drama "Braveheart." In the film, he portrays an 18th-century Scottish warrior, Sir William Wallace, who historically played an integral role in leading the Scots to Independence. The premise is inspired by "The Wallace," a 15th-century poem penned by Blind Harry.
Catherine McCormack (Murron MacClannough), Sophia Marceau (Princess Isabella), and Patrick McGoohan (King Edward) also delivered some standout performances in the epic film. Even with criticism for its deviations from factual historical events, at home and abroad, ''Braveheart'' was both a commercial and critical success. It racked $75.6M in the U.S. and $210.4M worldwide.
Vertigo
With every film he directed, Alfred Hitchcock delivered screen gold, and it's the same case with the 1958 psychological thriller "Vertigo!" Based on Boileau Narcejac's 1954 publication "D'entre les morts," John Stewart stars in the film as John Ferguson, a former detective who retired after developing acrophobia.
Ferguson developed vertigo and extreme fear of heights after an incident experienced in the line of duty. Gavin Elster (Tom Helmore) hires him to track his wife Madeleine (Kim Novak) covertly. The production was the first to use the dolly zoom effect as a cinematic device to convey Ferguson's disorientation when struck by a bout of vertigo.
Gladiator
Russell Crowe took the lead in Ridley Scott's 2000 epic drama "Gladiator." Joaquin Phoenix (Commodus), the late Oliver Reed (Antonius Proximo), and Connie Nielsen (Lucilla) also star in the historical film. Crowe portrays Maximus Demicus Meridius, who is reduced to slavery after Commodus murders his father to claim the throne.
Maximus then rises through the ranks as a gladiator and sets out to avenge his death. "Those About to Die," Daniel P. Mannix's 1958 publication, inspired the film. Critics praised the film's stunning visual effects, direction, and performances. It became the second-highest box office earner in 2000 and won five awards at the 73rd Oscars.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Gillam, Terry Jones, and Eric Idle formed the surreal British comedy troupe Monty Python. The comedic act was behind hit productions like "Monty Python's Flying Circus" and "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." In their directorial debut, Gillam and Jones helmed the comedy film.
The movie parodies the legendary tale of King Arthur's hunt for the Holy Grail. Idle used the film as the premise of his 2005 musical "Spamalot." Led Zeppelin, Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull), and Pink Floyd financed the film, according to a Tweet posted by Idle in 2021. The movie grossed $5M against a production budget of $410K.
Blazing Saddles
Starring the incomparable Cleavon Little, Slim Pickens, and Gene Wilder, "Blazing Saddles" is an authentic Western Spoof. It's the story of a politically connected evildoer (Hedley Lemar) who wants to grab land from a local town. In his nefarious bid, he sends henchmen to drive away the townsfolk. When the sheriff dies, Lemar convinces the town's residents to elect him for the position.
The film, initially titled "Tex X: An Homage to Malcolm X," premiered in 1974. In 2000, the movie ranked sixth on the American Film Institute's list of the "100 Funniest Movies of All Time." Six years later, it was picked for preservation by the National Film Registry.
All The President's Men
"All the President's Men" recounts the Watergate Scandal that ended Richard Nixon's presidency. Alan J. Pakula directed the biographical film, and it is based on Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein's same-titled publication Woodward and Bernstein, who are investigative journalists, blew the lid off by publishing an article about the scandal for The Washington Post.
Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford portray Bernstein and Woodward, respectively. Since its release in 1976, the movie remains captivating and is frequently screened for journalism students across the globe. The film won four Oscars under the Art Direction, Sound, Screenplay, and Support Actor categories. In 2010, the Library of Congress selected the political film for preservation.
Avatar
Great things happen when James Cameron takes the director's chair, and "Avatar" is one of the productions that best exemplifies this statement. The 2009 sci-fi film is set in an imagined 22nd century when humans traverse the lush habitable moon, Pandora, in a quest to colonize the fictional universe.
The film introduces us to the Navi species, whose existence is threatened by the invading mining colony. Sam Worthington, Michelle Rodriguez, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana, and Stephen Lang star in the movie. With its box office earnings at $2.8B against a production budget of $237M, it's fair to say that Cameron hit the jackpot with this epic tale.
Mary Poppins
''Mary Poppins," released in 1964, is considered one of the finest productions by Walt Disney. It was adapted from the book P.L. Travers of the same title. Combining animation and live-action, it centers around a magical nanny who takes charge of raising children in a troubled household.
Cast members include Julie Andrews, Dicj Van Dyke, and David Tomlinson. The Sherman brothers wrote and composed the songs for the motion picture. Shot using painted London background scenes, it attracted commercial success, becoming the highest-grossing film in its launch year. The Library of Congress selected the creative works for preservation as being historically, culturally, and aesthetically significant.
Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
A 2003 fantasy adventure flick, "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," was based on the third volume of "The Lord of the Rings" novel by J.R.R Tolkien. The final installment in the trilogy featured an ensemble cast including Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood, and Liv Tyler.
The movie, acclaimed by both audiences and critics, was regarded as a landmark in its genre and overall filmmaking. Its visual effects, action sequences, performances, screenplay, direction, costume design, musical score, and emotional depth are constantly praised. Grossing over $1.1B globally, it won all 11 awards for which it was nominated at the 76th Academy Awards.
Inception
Christopher Nolan has helmed critically-acclaimed films like "Memento," "The Dark Knight" trilogy, and "Inception." The latter is a 2010 sci-fi action produced by Nolan's wife, Emma Thomas. Leonardo DiCaprio stars in the film as a career thief who infiltrates his victims' subconscious and steals information.
He is offered the lucrative opportunity to have his criminal history expunged only if he successfully implants one person's thoughts in another's subconscious. Ken Watanabe (Mr.Saito), Elliot Page (Ariadne), Tom Hardy(Eames), and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Arthur Cobbs) are part of the film's ensemble cast. The sci-fi movie won four Oscars in the Sound Editing, Cinematography, Visual Effects, and Sound Mixing categories.
The Wild Bunch
A classic hit in 1969, "The Wild Bunch," is about a notorious gang of outlaws headed by Willian Holden ( Pike Bishop). They escape a violent bank robbery where many innocent bystanders lose their lives. When it hit theatres, the motion picture was controversial because of its graphic violence and portrayal of crude men who would do anything to survive.
The American Film Institute ranked the movie 69th most thrilling of all time. Filming involved an anamorphic process, a cinematography technique for shooting widescreen pictures. Only two minor injuries were reported during filming where Ben Johnson broke a finger, and William Holden burned his arm by an exploding blood packet.
The Searchers
A civil war veteran Ethan Edwards shows up in a remote Texan homestead in "The Searchers" looking for peace but embarks on a treacherous journey of retribution. Officially released in 1956, it was considered a masterpiece and one of the most influential and greatest movies ever made.
The production was ranked the seventh best film of all time per an international survey of film critics. Cahiers du Cinema, a French magazine, ranked it tenth on its list of 100 best movies. John Ford directed the motion picture, and Warner Bros was responsible for distribution. Dell Comics published an adaptation of the flick in "Dell Four Color."
Die Hard
In 1998, the world was introduced to "Die Hard," an action film series that originated from "Nothing Lasts Forever," a novel by Roderick Thorp. There are five films revolving around Bruce Willis, who plays John McClane, a Los Angeles/ New York City police detective who always finds himself in a crisis and is the only hope against disaster.
Willis, the main character, lost some of his hearing during filming because he was too close to a gun. It happened in the scene where he shoots a bad guy from beneath a boardroom table. The director ordered extra loud blanks to deliver a better sense of realism.
Amadeus
A period biographical drama film, ''Amadeus'' first hit the screens in 1984. It was adapted from a 1979 stage play with the same name. Set in Vienna during the 18th century, viewers watch a fictionalized rivalry between Italian composer Antonis Salieri and master composer Wolfgang Mozart.
Mozart's music is heard extensively in the movie's soundtracks. The production was shot without light bulbs or other modern lighting devices. Choreographer Twyla Tharp recalled fire everywhere during recording, including a live fire in the chandelier. Everyone was scared that the all-wooden opera house would burn down. Nonetheless, it was a huge success, almost tripling its $18M box office budget.
Ghostbusters
Dan Aykroyd delivered screen magic in the form of the cult-favorite classic "Ghostbusters." Released in 1984, Aykroyd (Ray Stantz) shares the screen with Bill Murray (Peter Venkman), Harold Ramis (Egon Spengler), Rick Moranis (Louis Tully), and Sigourney Weaver (Dana Barrett). Venkman, Stantz, and Spenger establish a ghost-catching business after getting the boot from their former tenured positions as parapsychologists.
They land their biggest job when Barrett contacts them to help defeat an entity that has invaded her apartment building. Grossing $282M on its initial box office run, the movie was the second-highest earning production in 1984. Besides lists of accolades, it spawned haunted attractions, video games, comics, clothing, and sequels.
Notorious
"Notorious" is a biographical film that recounts the life of the late rapper Christopher Wallace. George Tillman Jr. directed the movie, which stars Jamal Woolard (Christopher Wallace/ The Notorious B.I.G), Derek Luke (Sean Combs), Anthony Mackie (Tupac Shakur), and Angela Bassett (Voletta Wallace).
Even after receiving mixed reviews, the film earned the ultimate stamp of approval from the late Roger Ebert, who scored it three and a half out of four. The movie opens with Wallace's murder and dives back to his childhood in the '80s. It also explores his rise in the music industry as a rapper and rivalry with celebrated artist Tupac Shakur.
Black Narcissus
A psychological drama film, "Black Narcissus," was written, directed, and produced by the collaborative effort of Michael Powel and Emeric Pressburger. The title refers to Narcisse Noir, a Caron perfume, and the production was based on Rumer Godden's 1939 novel of the same name.
Starring Deborah Kerr, Sabu, and Kathleen Byron, it revolves around the ever-growing tensions within a convent of Anglican nuns who are trying to establish a hospital and school at an isolated mountain in the Himalayas. The 1947 movie received acclaim for its technical mastery, especially with the fantastic cinematography. It also received plenty of accolades, including two Academy Awards and Golden Globe Awards.
Strangers on a Train
It isn't surprising that another Alfred Hitchcock film earns a spot on the list of the greatest movies of all time. Released in 1951, "Strangers on a Train" tells the story of two people who meet on transit and enter into a "murder exchange" agreement. Bruno Antony (Robert Walker), a smooth-talking psychopath, talks Guy Haines (Farley Granger) into the murder swap.
Bruno follows through with his end of the deal and does away with Guy's cheating wife, Miriam (Kasey Rogers). However, Guy has a change of heart and can't come around to murdering Bruno's father. Hitchcock made a cameo in it as a transit extra.
Badlands
In 1972, ex-MIT philosophy instructor Terrence Malick began filming "Badlands" in Colorado. He was the creative genius behind writing, producing, and directing the flick that premiered a year later. Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek took up the leading roles in a story that follows a 15-year-old lady who, together with her lover, goes on a killing spree.
The neo-noir period moving picture was based on the true story of Caril Anne and Charles Starkweather. It got positive reviews from critics who were particularly impressed with its soundtrack and the technology and art of photography. Warner Bros purchased the movie for under $1M and was responsible for distribution.
Unforgiven
Clint Eastwood put his best foot forward producing, directing, and starring in "Unforgiven." It remains one of the most outstanding Western motion pictures of all time, released in 1992. It is a tale of William Munny, a reformed killer who takes the last job to help his hog farm. He sets out to Kansas with Schofield Kid and Ned Logan, but Dagget, a lawman who hates assassins, stands in the way.
The production turns inside-out notions about heroism, authority, nobility, and violence. ''Unforgiven'' bagged four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and was also remade into a 2013 Japanese film with Ken Watanabe as the star under the same title.
In a Lonely Place
Humphrey Bogart and Gloria Grahame take the leading roles in the 1950 film noir "In a Lonely Place." It is constantly praised as a gripping Hollywood crime drama of uncommon maturity and depth. Bogart played the role of Dixon, a violence-prone and troubled screenwriter who is a murder suspect. Grahame co-stars as Laurel Gray, a neighbor who falls under his spell.
The film was based on Dorothy B. Hughes's 1947 book of the same name. It performed pretty well, evidenced by its inclusion in Slat Magazine's 100 Essential Films and All-Time 100 Movies list. BBC also ranked it 89th in their list of 100 greatest American films.
Laura
Otto Preminger was the brains behind producing and directing "Laura" a 1944 movie. Dana Andrews, Gene Tierney, and Clifton Webb star in the production adapted from Vera Caspary's novel of the same name. The American Film Institute named the motion picture one of the ten best mystery films, and it also appears in the Great Movies series by Roger Ebert.
David Raskin composed the haunting music theme that eventually became a jazz standard recorded by more than 400 artists like Woody Herman and Stan Kenton. Thomas Pryor from The New York Times observed that the murder mystery story possessed good acting, suspense, and caustically brittle dialogue.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
A 2002 epic fantasy adventure motion picture, "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers," features an ensemble cast, including Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood, and Liv Tyler. Part two of a trilogy, the movie picks up from the previous film's plot and intercuts three storylines. New Line Cinema financed and distributed the film.
Orlando Bloom fell off a horse, cracking three of his ribs during filming. Audiences and critics praised the production as an achievement in the fantasy genre and a landmark in filmmaking. The movie grossed over 900M globally, making it the highest-grossing film in its release year that won high honors, including an Academy Award and Grammy Award.
The Apartment
Jack Lemmon stars in "The Apartment" as Calvin Clifford, an insurance clerk who allows his coworkers to use his Upper West Side abode for their romantic trysts. He is motivated by the hopes of winning his colleagues' favor and climbing up the ladder. Things get complicated when Clifford sets his eyes on Fran Kubelik (MacLaine), an elevator operator at his office building.
Unknown to him, Kubelik is involved in an illustrious affair with his immediate boss (Fred MacMurray). The 1968 Broadway musical, "Promises, Promises," borrows its premise from the 1960 comedy film. "The Apartment" won three Oscars, three Golden Globe Awards, and a Grammy nomination for its soundtrack.
Wall-E
"Wall-E" is a Pixar Studios production released in 2008. Andrew Stanton directed the computer-animated film, with vocals offered by Ben Burtt, Sigourney Weaver, Elissa Knight, Fred Willard, and John Ratzenberger. The movie tells the story of a solitary robot traversing an uninhabitable, deserted future Earth.
Supposedly set in 2805, Wall-E (Burt) is tasked with cleaning up garbage, and things change with the starship Axiom sends a probe. He falls in love with the robot called Eve (Elissa Knight), and he follows her across the galaxy in his pursuit of happiness. The film won the 2008 Best Animated Feature Golden Globe Award and an Oscar in the same category.
Coco
The Pixar Animation Studios has a reputation for producing beloved computer-animated films, and in 2017 they added to their list with the release of "Coco." Lee Unkrich conceived the idea, and he took the director's chair in collaboration with Adrian Molina. The voice cast includes Anthony Gonzalez, Benjamin Bratt, Gael Garcia, Renée Victor, and Alanna Ubach.
The premise centers on Miguel, a 12-year-old who accidentally ends up in the Land of the Dead. He reunites with his deceased great-grandfather, a musician, and they embark on a mission to get him back to his family. "Coco” grossed an estimated $807M, and at the 90th Oscars, the film received two awards.
The Philadelphia Story
Cary Grant (C.K. Dexter), James Stewart (Macaulay Connor), Katherine Hepburn (Tracy Samantha), and Ruth Hussey (Elizabeth Imbire) shared the screen in "The Philadelphia Story." Directed by George Cukor, the 1940 romcom drew inspiration from Philip Barry's same-titled Broadway play. The film tells the story of a socialite (Hepburn) caught up in a scandal.
Her ex-husband surfaces when she's busy planning her next wedding. Helen Hope Montgomery Scott, a real-life Philadelphia socialite, inspired Tracy's character. Scott tied the knot with a friend of Barry's, influencing the story in part. Out of six Oscar nominations, ''The Philadelphia Story'' won in two categories.
Cool Hand Luke
The late Paul Newman starred in "Cool Hand Luke," Stuart Rosenberg's 1967 prison drama. Stuart Rosenberg, of "The Amityville Horror" fame directed. Newman played Luke, a Florida prisoner refusing to bow to the system; the story was based on Don Pearce's same-titled novel.
The filming occurred in the San Joaquin River Delta region, with a set constructed to mirror a Deep South prison camp. It's also the film that earned Newman his stripes as the era's A-lister. George Kenny, who appears in the movie as Clarence Sidell, won a Best Supporting Oscar. The American Film Institute ranked the drama 11th on their list of "100 Years…100 Movie Quotes."
Rebecca
Rebecca" was released theatrically in 1940 to commercial and critical success. The romantic psychological thriller was Alfred Hitchcock's first project in America. He directed the film under contract with producer David O. Selznick. The production stars Laurence Olivier, who plays an aristocratic brooding widower, and Joan Fontaine, a young lady who becomes a second wife.
The motion picture can be described as a gothic tale shot in black and white. It won two Academy Awards for Best Cinematography and Best Picture when it premiered. It also earned $3M in theater rentals from Canada and USA. Kinematograph Weekly reported that it was the most popular movie of 1940 in Britain.
L.A. Confidential
"L.A. Confidential" is one of the screen masterpieces of the late '90s, directed by the late Curtis Hanson and based on the same-titled novel. The movie recounts the tale of a group of Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers embroiled in the corruption surrounding the '50s Hollywood stars.
The Confidential in the title references the scandal magazine from "Hush-Hush" and other films. Russell Crowe (Wendelle White) and Guy Pearce (Edmund Exley) were relatively unknown then. They share the screen with Kim Basinger (Lynn Bracken), Kevin Spacey (Jack Vincenness), and Danny Devito (Sid Hudgens). Out of nine Oscar awards, the film won the Best Adapted Screenplay and Supporting Actress Awards.
The Kid
"The Kid" hails from the silent era of Hollywood, and it stars Charlie Chaplin, who also served as the producer and director. Chaplin portrays The Tramp, while Jackie Coogan (Kid 'John') features in the film as his adopted son, who also doubles as his sidekick. It marked Chaplin's first full-length feature directorial debut.
The silent comedy earned critical acclaim and was the second-highest-grossing movie released in 1921. It also launched Coogan, then a vaudevillian performer, into stardom as the first child star to grace big screen productions. Nine decades after its release, the film earned its place on the Film Registry's list of preserved works of art.
His Girl Friday
Starring Rosalind Russell and Cary Grant, "His Girl Friday" is a screwball comedy helmed by Howard Hawks. The plot follows Walter Burns (Grant), a newspaper editor, about to lose his star reporter Hildy Johnson (Russell). She is also his ex-wife, who is now getting ready to walk down the aisle with another man.
The screenplay borrows its premise from Charles MacArthur and Ben Hecht's 1928 play "The Front Page." The comedy film was also the second production to adapt the play to screen, with "The Front Page" released in 1931initially doing the honors. In 1940, "His Girl Friday" received an hour-long radio dramatization.
Shadow of a Doubt
Alfred Hitchcock's 1943 psychological delight "Shadow of a Doubt" is yet another production that exemplifies his legendary skills as a screen maestro. With six Oscar wins across his films, the "Psycho" directed often cited the noir thriller as his favorite. The story follows Charley Oakley (Joseph Cotton), the subject of a murder mystery.
The film also stars Teresa Wright (Charlotte "Charlie" Netwon), Macdonald Carey (Detective Jack Graham), and Henry Travers (Joseph Newton). The film received a Best Story Oscar nomination following favorable reviews upon its release. In 1991, it earned its stripes as a culturally or aesthetically significant work of art selected for preservation by the National Film Registry.
Aliens
James Cameron's ''Aliens" is widely credited for setting the pace when it came to seeing more strong female leads headlining action and sci-fi flicks. Sigourney Weaver stars in the 1986 film as Ellen Ripley, the sole survivor in her ship following an alien attack. Michael Biehn (Dwayne Hicks), Lance Henriksen (Bishop), and Paul Reiser (Carter J. Burke) also feature in supporting roles.
Beyond receiving numerous awards, "Aliens" spawned various merchandise, including video games, toys, and comic books. Two sequels followed; David Fincher's "Alien 3" released in 1992, and Jean-Pierre Jeunet's "Alien Resurrection, unveiled in 1997. "Prometheus" and "Alien: Covenant" are prequels of the two-time Oscar-winning film.
Holiday
Telling a story of a man who rises from humble beginnings only to be torn by the traditions of his wealthy fiance's family and his free-thinking lifestyle, "Holiday" is a must-watch for anyone who enjoys romantic comedies. Adapted from a 1928 play with the same name, it stars Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn.
Critics received the movie well despite not enjoying substantial financial success. Time Out London described it as one of Cuckor's best films. It also earned 100% ratings on Rotten Tomatoes based on more than 20 expert reviews. In 1994, "Holiday: was presented on Screen Guild Theatre on the radio.
All Quiet on the Western Front
"All Quiet on the Western Front" is the acclaimed anti-war film released in 1930. The pre=Code movie is a screen adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque's same-titled novel published in 1929. Led by Lewis Milestone, Louis Wolheim, Ben Alexander, Lew Ayres, John Wray, and Arnold Lucy star in the movie.
The premise centers on the 2nd Company entrenched amid the First World War. Variety praised the film's treatment of the harrowing and gruesome tale of what war can be like. It won the Best Director and Outstanding Production Oscar Awards. "The Road Back" is the film's 1936 sequel focusing on the 2nd Company's return home following the war.
Playtime
Jacques Tati's 1967 comedy film, "Playtime," remains a cinematic masterpiece decades later. From the enormous set and 70mm film recording to Tati's signature use of visual comedy, there are plenty of great things about the movie that earned it a spot on the British Film Institute's "Top 100 Greatest Films."
Tati takes the lead as Monsieur Hulot, a character who also features in the Oscar winner’s earlier films like “Mon Oncle” and “Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot.” While the film earned critical success with its original French release and 35mm format U.S. version, it wasn't the same case commercially. The overrunning costs forced Tati to declare bankruptcy.
Touch of Evil
Orson Welles directed and starred in the 1958 film noir "Touch of Evil." It's a loose adaptation of Whit Masterson's 1956 mystery novel "Badge of Evil." The premise focuses on corrupt officers against the backdrop of Mexico, where crime intertwines with passion. Critics initially dismissed the film, but its reputation soared after it gained widespread acclaim amongst European audiences.
Deemed as culturally or aesthetically significant, the Library of Congress selected the film for preservation in 1993. Walter Murch teamed up with Rick Schmidlin and Bob O'Neil to re-edit the movie while respecting Welles's memo. The re-edited version received numerous awards from various bodies, including the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.
The Grapes of Wrath
"The Grapes of Wrath" is a screen adaptation of John Steinbeck's Pulitzer-winning novel. The movie tells the story of an Oklahoma family. After losing their farm, the Joads become migrant workers during the Great Depression. Following an arduous journey, they eventually end up in California and go about rebuilding their lives.
The film stars Henry Fonda, Shirley Mills, Jane Darwell, John Qualen, John Carradine, and Eddie Quillan. Widely cited as the greatest film ever produced, the Library of Congress selected the drama film for preservation in 1989. Two Oscars and a Blue Ribbon Award are among the list of accolades the movie received.