I Watched 100 Classic Movies. You Should Watch 50 Of Them.

It was incredibly satisfying when “The End” flashed across the screen at the end of Casablanca. I did it. I watched all 100 films on the AFI Top 100 list. It was a two-year-long journey on the heels of 2017 which was a banner year for me in my appreciation for films and filmmaking. 2017 was the year I meticulously tracked every award season win, poured over critic reviews, and waited in line to get into as many screenings as possible at the Austin Film Festival. I wrote a screenplay (which is in desperate need of a re-write) and tried to get my hands on every book and download every podcast I could find on films and filmmaking.

The inaugural episode of the Unspooled podcast coincided nicely with my newfound love for film and commitment to watching classic films to earn my cinephile status.

I’m still discovering my own taste and how to reconcile that with films that have been touted as classics. Going through the American Film Institute’s Top 100 list was a helpful leap forward in that journey. The list is comprised of filmmaker’s and film critics’ consensus of the films that have defined America’s film history.

But is it a consensus? As Amy and Paul discuss on the Unspooled podcast, maybe the films we’ve held up as the most defining films for our country’s history and culture aren’t as representative as it should be. Part of the beauty of filmmaking is its subjectivity. And so in that spirit, I’m going to share what films are worth watching and which ones you can skip. I’m going to break down these lists into smaller chunks because, well, it was a two year process and I’ll spare you the novella.

Definitely Watch - Part 1

All About Eve

I’ll be forever grateful to the AFI Top 100 List for introducing me to All About Eve. The story is about fame - its lure and downfall. Who better to embody that tension than the queen of melodrama: Betty Davis? The plot follows an aging theater actress (Davis) and her seemingly innocent protégee, Eve, (Anne Baxter) who cleverly edges her way into her life and circle of friends.

The 1950s classic hovers at the top of my list for favorite film of all time, mostly because I’m writer and it’s my personal pick for best screenplay of all time. It encapsulates the beauty and chaos of excellent artists.

Casablanca

Casablanca is one of the best films of all time- and it’s certainly one of the best films on this list. Yes, it’s famous for its sweeping romance, but the film holds up for more reasons than its catchy one-liners. The plot centers around a disillusioned expatriate who has to decide whether to help his ex-lover and her husband escape Morocco during World War II.

There’s no better way to see a film’s cultural significance on display than this film as it portrays (and in fact stars) people surviving one of darkest moments in global history.

Ben Hur

Let’s take a moment to appreciate the scale of this film. It has all of the ingredients of a classic 1950s epic, but what sets this film apart from something like Lawrence of Arabia, for example, (also on this list) is the hope that pulses through it. Ben Hur is meant to stir our sympathy as a character. He’s a down-and-out rich boy turned slave during a time when war and an “eye for an eye” justice system prevailed, but instead of ending in savagery, the film ends in hope.

In some ways a message of hope is what’s slipping away from modern American films in the name of anti-heroes and an overcorrection from the “picture perfect “ Americana vision of the 1950s. Toss in life-threatening chariot race stunts, and you get an all together entertaining and affecting film.

West Side Story

West Side Story is a musical masterpiece, sure, but it also has a whole lot to say about the power of love in the face of hate. The dance numbers are choreographed to perfection - setting a standard for musicals that few movies have been able to reach. Inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the story follows Maria and Tony - star-crossed lovers from rival gangs on New York City’s west side.

Directors Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise are tied to so many Hollywood classics including Fiddler on the Roof and The Sound of Music. With beautiful cinematography set on 1960s New York streets flooded with dancing and music, the film has a romantic quality to it that draws me to it again and again.

It’s a Wonderful Life

Compared to the other films on this list that follow one man’s meandering journey through life, (Taxi Driver’s Travis Bickle comes to mind) George Bailey doesn’t bend in on himself and follow his basest desires to eventually destroy the people around him. He has the angst of a man whose dreams are unfulfilled, but then he’s given a chance to see what life would have looked like if he never existed. The triumph of this movie is owed to a pitch perfect Jimmy Stewart finding a sense of purpose and gratitude by means of a community that loves him.

George Bailey doesn’t need to find “himself” - he needs help remembering the unconditional love of people who values him. I get George Bailey. Life is disappointing and dark at times, but this is the kind of hope that’s needed in those moments.

Singin’ In The Rain

A list honoring American Films wouldn’t be complete without a film that traces the evolution of filmmaking. What better way to look at the transition from silent films to “talkies” than a musical. Gene Kelly might just be the embodiment of a dying breed: the quadruple threat. A singing, dancing, acting, directing jack of all trades and his talent is on full display in this movie along with his shining co-stars.

Kelly rounds out an incredible cast including Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’ Connor who dance and sing their way through a story about a silent film production company that is making the transition to sound. Whenever I need to smile, I turn on Singing In The Rain.

The Lord of the Ring: The Fellowship of the Ring

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring painted a grand vision that wowed long-time fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s work and introduced a whole generation to his epic stories. In lesser hands, the movie might not have appealed to such a broad audience, but Peter Jackson brought Tolkien’s vision to life in a powerful way.

The movie is a sweeping epic that follows a humble Hobbit and his eight companions on a journey to destroy the all-powerful ring that embodies evil itself. Themes of courage, perseverance, and the triumph of good over evil are held together by lovable characters that help this film earn its place on this list.

Toy Story

There are certain movies that define your childhood, and this is one of them for me. It might seem like a weird pick to have an animated movie about toys coming to life make an appearance on the list of so-called greatest American films of all time, but it’s earned its place for a number of reasons.

Toy Story was the first full-length Pixar film and ushered in a new era of life-like animation and superior storytelling with characters you could really identify with. It’s a tentpole film for the genre, but it’s also a ton of fun.

To Kill A Mockingbird

Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird transcends the junior high English class syllabi and the movie is no different.

Atticus Finch, the title character, is one of the best fictional characters of all time - a man of integrity committed to fighting racial inequality. This story is a glimmer of hope in the context in which it was released, and it’s a story we could use in these times too.

Told through the eyes of a young girl - it’s an important look at growing up, facing your fears, and standing up for what’s right and good.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Paul Newman and Robert Redford had an undeniable chemistry and there’s no better example of it than their work in Butch Cassidy. Based on a true story, they play outlaws on the run.

With a fantastic screenplay from William Goldman, this buddy movie pulls you in right away with its gun slinging, fast-talking characters and sharp-witted humor.