# Classic movies your children must see **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 30, 2007, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701 "2007-12-30T16:12:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/1 "2007-12-30T16:12:23Z")
In an earlier [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=448752) I mentioned how Ivygirl watched _Mary Poppins_ for the first time. She also recently watched _It’s a Wonderful Life_, and is now able to appreciate when its references pop up in other films. She’s seen _The Sound of Music_, but not _The Wizard of Oz_ in its entirety. What classic movies do you think your children must see? She’s seen \*Schindler’s List \*and _Saving Private Ryan._ That was actually a school assignment, and she thought she’d knock them out in one sitting. However, after seeing _Saving Private Ryan_, she very quietly said she needed a break. I didn’t think she should watch them back to back, but hey, I’m her mom. Why would she listen to me? 😛 I think _Citizen Kane and Casablanca_ should be on her list, but she’s a bit impatient with black and white movies, and unless they grab her right away (like \*It’s a Wonderful Life \*did) I don’t think she’d sit through them. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/2 "2007-12-30T16:22:39Z")
My six year-old _loves_ [Yankee Doodle Dandy](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035575/). How old is Ivygirl? (ETA: in the other thread, you mention she is 15). And what do you mean by “classic”? Older than 20 years? 40? Oscar winners? Depending upon her maturity, she needs to see [Chinatown](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071315/) and the first two [Godfather](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068646/) movies, as well as the first three [Star Wars](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076759/) films: SW, ESB, and RoTJ. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/3 "2007-12-30T16:25:51Z")
Oh, and she should see [E.T.](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083866/) if she hasn’t already. **Don’t tell her a thing, even when she’s crying her eyes out!** ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/4 "2007-12-30T17:17:18Z")
I’d recommend _Paths of Glory_ for any child. Great performance by Kirk Douglas, and a good reminder that adult leaders are often morally corrupt and/or idiots. If she seems to take to musicals, try _Cabaret_. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/5 "2007-12-30T17:31:29Z")
_Princess Bride_ _Monty Python and the Holy Grail_ _Roman Holiday_-the Audrey Hepburn version any Alfred Hitchcock, _Psycho_ might be a bit much (I’m a wuss) but _The Birds_ or _Rear Window_ might be good. _The Muppet Movie_ _History of the World_ (Mel Brooks) _2001_ _Planet of the Apes_ _Airport_, followed by _Airplane_ _Animal House_ _The Music Man_ or \*Oklahoma \* _Singin’ in the Rain_ _The Three Faces of Eve_ that’s all I can think of at present. ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/6 "2007-12-30T17:40:46Z")
**Bringing Up Baby** is funny and engaging black-and-white movie. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/7 "2007-12-30T17:43:19Z")
Six silent films- NOSFERATU METROPOLIS THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI Lon Chaney Sr’s PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME Cecil B. DeMille’s KING OF KINGS The Universal Horror series- Karloff’s FRANKENSTEINs, Lugosi’s DRACULA, Chaney Jr’s WOLFMANs, Karloff’s MUMMY, and maybe CREATURE IN THE BLACK LAGOON Chaney Jr & Burgess Meredith’s OF MICE AND MEN Robert Mitchum in NIGHT OF THE HUNTER 1950s BEN HUR THE TEN COMMANDMENTS THE ROBE and DEMETRIUS AND THE GLADIATORS And anything with Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing & Vincent Price ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/8 "2007-12-30T17:45:19Z")
Hope and Glory The original Star Wars – the sequels and prequels can all be skipped. Close Encounters of the Third Kind Empire of the Sun ---
**Author:** ![Pixilated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aeb1de/32.png) [@Pixilated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixilated)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/9 "2007-12-30T18:01:32Z")
The Dark Crystal, Labrynth, Harvey, Grease, and The War of the Buttons. Sense & Sensibility. The Sixth Sense. My list could go on forever. ---
**Author:** ![Pixilated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aeb1de/32.png) [@Pixilated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixilated)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/10 "2007-12-30T18:04:54Z")
omgosh! I forgot - Young Frankenstein, Clue, Little Shop of Horrors, and Rocky Horror Picture Show.Life With Father, and Little Women. ---
**Author:** ![octothorpe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b77776/32.png) [@octothorpe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octothorpe)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/11 "2007-12-30T18:57:45Z")
**Les Miserables** (1935 w/March and Laughton) **Blade Runner** **To Kill a Mockingbird** **The Quiet Man** When i was a kid, my father would let me stay up to watch these no matter what the time. Well, not _Blade Runner_, i was a bit beyond the age where i needed my fathers permission to stay up late by that time. # ---
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/12 "2007-12-30T19:05:01Z")
**Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory** ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/13 "2007-12-30T21:00:12Z")
I’d throw in a couple of Miyazaki films, myself - just to illustrate how animation can tell stories that I still don’t think can be done justice to by even CGI techniques. _Spirited Away_ and less animation dependant (i.e. it could be reshot, now, with CGI, but…) _Castle in the Sky_ ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/14 "2007-12-30T21:19:13Z")
My favorite “old-timey” movies in childhood (except for the “Wizard of Oz”) were _The Bad Seed_ and _The Day the World Stood Still_. Partly because my father watched them with me and was able to provide commentary. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/15 "2007-12-30T21:21:47Z")
The Court Jester! Ghostbusters! For older kids, The Towering Inferno and The Poseidon Adventure ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/16 "2007-12-31T02:08:25Z")
She’s seen _The Sixth Sense_. I’m also thinking _Old Yeller_, _Pride of the Yankees_, and _Roots_. (Although it’s not a movie, it might as well be.) Oh, and she has to watch _Gone With the Wind_, because, well, I had that book read about 50 times by the time I got through junior high. Classics…I don’t necessarily mean AFI’s Top 100. I mean those classics where you say one line from the movie and people know what you’re talking about. Where they insert references from the films into popular culture. Movies which will stand the test of time. I’m afraid I’ve soured her on _Shawshank Redemption_…every time that’s on, I try to catch it. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/17 "2007-12-31T02:47:39Z")
_Jason and the Argonauts_ _The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad_ _The Crimson Pirate_ ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/18 "2007-12-31T02:58:30Z")
_Some Like It Hot_ - There’s no better way to blow away all of the foofaraw (both hagiographic and negative) that’s accumulated around Marilyn Monroe than to watch this movie. Also, it helps to erase the image of Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis as wrinkled old men that most of the people of my generation and after have. Besides, it’s a great movie! And funny as hell! ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/19 "2007-12-31T03:08:31Z")
Also, _Imitation of Life_, the Lana Turner version. Douglas Sirk deliberately had the African-American storyline overshadow the white one, which gives this version much more depth than the original Claudette Colbert version. ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/20 "2007-12-31T03:14:48Z")
**Anne of Green Gables** I saw it when I was about 14 years old on CBC (or was it PBS?) and loved it. Unfortunately, I bought it on VHS about 10 years ago. I’ll have to find a DVD copy, but I’ve got some time. My daughter isn’t even 2 years old. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701.md?page=2)