# Classic Movies You Couldn't Live Without **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 17, 2001, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-you-couldnt-live-without/87918 "2001-10-17T05:28:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-you-couldnt-live-without/87918/1 "2001-10-17T05:28:49Z")
While not all-inclusive, here is my list of must-see movies to have an appreciation of cinema. Please submit your own favorites. Add new categories (like Musicals) or flesh out the existing ones. (PS: I’m sure this has been done before.) **Drama** : Citizen Kane Lawrence of Arabia Ben Hur The Misfits Of Human Bondage Educating Rita Cool Hand Luke Easy Rider Born Free Casablanca To Have and Have Not Gone With the Wind The Grapes of Wrath On the Waterfront A Hatfull of Rain Inherit the Wind One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest The African Queen Marty To Kill a Mockingbird Cat On A Hot Tin Roof A Streetcar Named Desire Lolita Steppenwolf **Comedy** : Some Like It Hot The Road To Rio The Road To Bali Airplane! Tom Jones Monty Python and the Holy Grail The Pink Panther Duck Soup Dark Star Young Frankenstein Blazing Saddles Father Goose Out West You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man The Bank Dick My Little Chickadee **Adventure** : King Kong Raiders of the Lost Ark Dr. No Thunderball Diamonds Are Forever Goldfinger 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea **Science Fiction** : 2001 Alien Aliens Solaris The Illustrated Man The Fifth Element Star Wars (IV, V & VI) From the Earth to the Moon The Day the Earth Stood Still Terminator Bladerunner Things to Come Metropolis 1984 **Farce** : The Producers Cat Ballou Dr. Strangelove **Western** : Treasure of the Sierra Madre Giant The Magnificent Seven Hang 'em High **Thriller / Suspense** : Psycho Sabotuer The 39 Steps The Man Who Knew Too Much North by Northwest Rear Window Notorious Vertigo Shadow of a Doubt Dial M for Murder Gaslight The Nightstalker The Manchurian Candidate The Conversation **Mystery** : The Big Sleep The Maltese Falcon **Fantasy** : The Wizard of Oz **Animation** : Snow White Sleeping Beauty Fantasia (Original) The Last Unicorn Yellow Submarine The Wrong Trousers A Close Shave Pinocchio What’s Opera Doc Porky In Wackyland **War** : Apocalypse Now The Deerhunter The Bridge On the River Kwai King Rat The Great Escape Night and Fog From Here To Eternity Where Eagles Dare **Crime** : The Usual Suspects House of Games Godfather I, II & III Bullit Dirty Harry **Horror / Occult** : Dracula (Bela Lugosi) Dracula (Frank Langella) Frankenstein Rosemary’s Baby The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari Nosferatu **Silent** : The Little Tramp City Lights The General **Foreign** : Doctor Redbeard Throne of Blood Satyricon ---
**Author:** ![octothorpe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b77776/32.png) [@octothorpe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octothorpe)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-you-couldnt-live-without/87918/2 "2001-10-17T06:43:56Z")
The Natural The Cowboys The Quiet Man Les Miserables (Charles Laughton) Shawshank Redemption A Shot in the Dark Sabrina (Bogart & A. Hepburn) Saving Private Ryan Full Metal Jacket The Shootist The Hustler Moby Dick Seven Samarai Harold & Maude 8 1/2 Unforgiven Rebel Without a Cause West Side Story Of Mice and Men Johnny Got His Gun The Dirty Dozen Hello Dolly The Odd Couple Un Chien Andalou The Longest Day The Great Escape The Three Little Bops (animated short) Hillbilly Bugs (animated short) Dark Mondays (animated short) A River Runs Through It Tombstone Brazil Support Your Local Sheriff It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World The Searchers Pat & Mike Desk Set Woman of the Year Gallipoli Spellbound Excalibur Wr. Smith Goes to Washington The Great Race Horse Feathers Time Bandits In the Heat of the Night Day of the Jackel Schindler’s List Angela’s Ashes i could go on… * * * Don’t force it, get a bigger hammer! # ---
**Author:** ![octothorpe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b77776/32.png) [@octothorpe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octothorpe)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-you-couldnt-live-without/87918/3 "2001-10-17T06:47:12Z")
Sorry, **Mr.** Smith Goes to Washington ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-you-couldnt-live-without/87918/4 "2001-10-17T06:58:46Z")
How could I forget “Cyrano de Begerac” with Jose Ferrer? ---
**Author:** ![lucie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed8c4c/32.png) [@lucie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lucie)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-you-couldnt-live-without/87918/5 "2001-10-17T14:04:24Z")
To “Foreign” I’d like to add: The Seven Samurai Yojimbo All Fritz Lang, Sergei Eisenstein, and Ingmar Bergman you can find to Comedy: Bringing up Baby What’s Up, Tiger Lily? And add a category for Essential “B” movies: One Million Years, BC The Vampire Lovers Texas Chainsaw Massacre The Good, The Bad & The Ugly Our Man Flint ---
**Author:** ![annalamerino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@annalamerino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/annalamerino)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-you-couldnt-live-without/87918/6 "2001-10-17T14:07:47Z")
We’ve worn out Snow White, so that’s the family favorite. ---
**Author:** ![Pashnish\_Ewing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8797f3/32.png) [@Pashnish\_Ewing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pashnish_Ewing)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-you-couldnt-live-without/87918/7 "2001-10-17T14:20:30Z")
Great list so far. **Comedy** The Philadelphia Story **Fantasy** Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory **Thriller / Suspense** The Silence of the Lambs **Musical** West Side Story The Music Man Pash ---
**Author:** ![Sweet\_Sota\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@Sweet\_Sota\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sweet_Sota_Girl)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-you-couldnt-live-without/87918/8 "2001-10-17T15:06:23Z")
**Animated** Beauty and the Beast **Drama** Double Indemnity (1940s version) Adding the new category of **Indy films** Trust Flirt Party Girl (favorite Parker flick) Many many Parker Posey flicks. Love her! ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-you-couldnt-live-without/87918/9 "2001-10-17T16:20:50Z")
I’m not sure if the following belong on a “must-see [list of] movies to have an appreciation of cinema” as Zenster says, but I know my life wouldn’t be as good without them: **Drama** The Stunt Man Ran Chinatown **Comedy** My Favorite Year Love and Death Broadway Danny Rose **Documentary** The Thin Blue Line Crumb ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-you-couldnt-live-without/87918/10 "2001-10-17T16:27:30Z")
I’m pleased to say that I’ve seen at least 90% of the films on your list, **Zenster,** and agree with almost all of them. Leaving out what has already been added by other posters, I would add: **Drama** : An excellent but little know film; _No Way to Treat a Lady. Schindler’s List._ **Comedy** : _A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. A Night at the Opera. The Seven Year Itch._ **Adventure** : I think there may be too much James Bond here, but I have nothing to add at this time. **Science Fiction** : _The Thing_ (the later version with Kurt Russell, which is much closer to the book.) **Western** : _She Wore A Yellow Ribbon. And possibly Stagecoach._ **War** : _A Bridge Too Far._ **Crime** : _The Sting_ (?) _Charlie Varrick_ (Not sure if this belongs here.) **Horror / Occult** : How about _The Invisible Man_ (the original B&W) And one of the Wolfman movies, although they were pretty cheesey **Silent** : You need something with the Keystone Cops in it, but I can’t think of any titles, and IMDB never heard of 'em. I’ll think of more later, of course. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-you-couldnt-live-without/87918/11 "2001-10-17T16:53:30Z")
And, of course, **Battlefield Earth.** _ducks and runs_ ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-you-couldnt-live-without/87918/12 "2001-10-17T17:30:47Z")
**Science Fiction** : _Destination Moon_ **Western** : _Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid_ What were _Solaris_ and _The Illustrated Man_ about? I’ve never heard of either. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-you-couldnt-live-without/87918/13 "2001-10-17T17:39:51Z")
How did this list get so long without **The Third Man**?? Have I missed it somewhere? ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-you-couldnt-live-without/87918/14 "2001-10-17T18:14:51Z")
[Cinema Paridiso](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0095765) [Once Upon a Time in America](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0087843) [A Matter of Life and Death (“Stairway to Heaven” in the States)](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0038733) ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-you-couldnt-live-without/87918/15 "2001-10-17T20:19:37Z")
A few more: **Adventure** The Man Who Would be King **Comedy** Les Vacances de M. Hulot (Mr. Hulot’s Holiday) Raising Arizona The Lavender Hill Mob The Man in the White Suit **Crime** Blood Simple Get Carter Miller’s Crossing The Anderson Tapes The Friends of Eddie Coyle The Long Goodbye The Long Good Friday The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3 **Science Fiction** The Road Warrior **War** Paths of Glory The Train Zulu **Western** McCabe and Mrs. Miller Winchester '73 **Budget less than the cost of a new car** 😉 Clerks El Mariachi Night of the Living Dead The Killing of a Chinese Bookie Stranger Than Paradise ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-you-couldnt-live-without/87918/16 "2001-10-18T04:46:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chronos \* > \*\ ***Science Fiction** : > _Destination Moon_ > > \ > > What were _Solaris_ and _The Illustrated Man_ about? I’ve never heard of either. \*\* Excellent call on _Destination Moon_, **Chronos** , I’d also submit some of George Mellier’s work in the **Silent** category. As to _Solaris_ and _The Illustrated Man_, _Solaris_ is a fairly impenatrable Soviet 2001 wannabe. I’ll need to read the book to figure out what happened in the movie. As to _The Illustrated Man_, it stars Ray Milland and Claire Bloom and is a superior rendering of Ray Bradbury’s classic short story collection of the same title. For the late sixties it was difficult to beat. A must see for anyone who has read the book. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Labdad \* > \*\*How did this list get so long without **The Third Man**?? Have I missed it somewhere? \*\* This is a d@mn good question. Thank you for asking it. Excellent additions with _The Man Who Would Be King_, _What’s Up Tiger Lily_ and _Road Warrior_. I’d like to say that so far, anyone who watched all of the movies listed in this thread would gain an almost instantaneous appreciation of cinema. The general quality of flick being suggested here is usually in the 90% appropriate level. Good work team! Oh yeah, in **Suspense** , _Rebecca_ and **Drama** , _Doctor Zhivago_. ---
**Author:** ![DarkWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee59a6/32.png) [@DarkWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarkWriter)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-you-couldnt-live-without/87918/17 "2001-10-18T04:50:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bumbazine \* > \*\*An excellent but little know film; _No Way to Treat a Lady._ > \*\* Was that about a charming serial killer starring Rod Steiger? Or am I completely off the mark? Sheri ---
**Author:** ![DarkWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee59a6/32.png) [@DarkWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarkWriter)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-you-couldnt-live-without/87918/18 "2001-10-18T04:59:54Z")
**Drama:** Days of Wine and Roses with Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick Whatever Happened to Baby Jane with Bette David and Joan Crawford Angels with Dirty Faces with James Cagney **Musicals** An American in Paris with Gene Kelly (my FAVORITE) Seven Brides for Seven Brothers with Howard Keel (my second favorite!) Showboat with Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson Royal Wedding with Fred Astaire Sheri ---
**Author:** ![DarkWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee59a6/32.png) [@DarkWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarkWriter)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-you-couldnt-live-without/87918/19 "2001-10-18T05:02:39Z")
That would be Bette DAVIS, of course. :rolleyes: The ONE time I don’t preview. Sheri ---
**Author:** ![octothorpe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b77776/32.png) [@octothorpe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octothorpe)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-you-couldnt-live-without/87918/20 "2001-10-18T06:28:45Z")
The Cagney reference reminded me… (thanks **DarkWriter** ) Public Enemy Also: Paint Your Wagon The Wild One Rooster Cogburn Mutiny on the Bounty Koyaanisqatsi Robin Hood (1938) I can’t help it, at least one Rathbone/Bruce Sherlock Holmes **Zenster** , are you referring to the Director’s Cut of _Bladerunner_? If so, thanks, one of my top 5 Thanks also to **Bumbazine** for _A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum_ and to **Quickdraw McGraw’s alter ego** for _The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3_ * * * Don’t force it, get a bigger hammer # [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-you-couldnt-live-without/87918.md?page=2)