# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/21 "2007-12-31T15:15:11Z")
For a 15-year-old? Hmmm. Let’s see. Must… not… list… fifty… movies. I agree with much of what’s already been posted. I’d also add these: \* Breaker Morant\* - A gripping courtroom drama and wartime adventure. _Casablanca_ - As always, funny, uplifting, great dialogue, wonderful characters and atmosphere. Deservedly a classic. _Dark City_ - Creepily effective sci-fi thriller. _The Iron Giant_ - A wonderful adventure with a good message. _The Incredibles_ - Ditto (same director, Brad Bird, not-so-coincidentally). _Trading Places_ - One of my favorite comedies. _True Lies_ - The perfect mix of comedy and action. ---
**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 31, 2007, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/22 "2007-12-31T16:39:56Z")
So, ok, a 15 year old can deal with more sophisticated films. Here you go. Alien LA Confidential Clueless My Man Godfrey The Thin Man The Maltese Falcon The Caine Mutiny Mutiny on the Bounty High Noon Once Upon a Time in America Apocalypse Now I will admit some of these will be more appealing to a teenage boy than a teenage girl. Butwhattryagonnado? ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/23 "2007-12-31T17:04:58Z")
In no particular order, and without any promise of their suitability: Hitchcock is a must, and most of the scares aren’t terribly graphic. _Rear Window_, _North by Northwest_, and obviously if you’re looking for cultural touchstones, _Psycho_ and _The Birds_. Just because I like them: _The French Connection The Big Lebowski_ _M_A_S_H The Magnificent Seven \* and Kurosawa’s _Seven Samurai_ If hyper violence isn’t a problem: _A Clockwork Orange_ Any Tarantino/ Robert Rodrigues film Musicals (including some of the less child-friendly ones): \* Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Gypsy Kiss Me Kate Rent Chicago The Producers Guys and Dolls The Sound of Music The King and I A Chorus Line Gentlemen Prefer Blondes South Pacific Singin’ in the Rain Sweet Charity \* When in doubt, go for Hollywood Royalty. Personally, I like: _Funny face Daddy Long Legs The Odd Couple Auntie Mame The Apartment All About Eve Breakfast at Tiffany’s Sunset Boulevard A Streetcar Named Desire The African Queen In the Heat of the Night_ At 25 I still love most of the films I loved at 15, and most of the ones I loved most were old black and white films on in the afternoons or in the early hours of the morning that I just happened to discover for myself. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/24 "2007-12-31T17:19:21Z")
Let’s see here… The Women, 1939. All female cast and claimed that all the animals shown were female as well. Great movie. The Ten Commandments, 1956. Yes, religious in nature (obviously) but still a great film of its day. White Christmas, 1954. Another classic. Danny Kaye is one of the greatest comedians ever IMO and you can’t beat Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney singing together. Lots more, but a bunch of my picks have already been mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/25 "2007-12-31T18:42:03Z")
Girls like animals–at least mine do. Here’s a sample conversation: > [@](#): > > Mom: Here’s a movie I think you would like. (Sound of Music) > Daughter: Does it have horses in it? > Mom: No. > Daughter: Dogs? > Mom: No. > Daughter: Any animals at all? > Mom: No. > Daughter: I won’t like it. These are approved at our house: Black Beauty National Velvet Old Yeller Lassie Come Home ---
**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, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/26 "2007-12-31T19:06:32Z")
> [@](#): > > Mom: Here’s a movie I think you would like. (Sound of Music) > Daughter: Does it have horses in it? > Mom: No. > Daughter: Dogs? > Mom: No. > Daughter: Any animals at all? > Mom: No. > Daughter: I won’t like it. Duh. It has deer. Female deer. And whiskered kittens. And cream-colored ponies. And wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings. And biting dogs. And stinging bees. (Although not dogs with bees in their mouths so when they bark they shoot bees at you.) ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/27 "2007-12-31T20:06:53Z")
Forget Oklahoma–see _The Pajama Game_ or \*Guys and Dolls. \* Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Wakinyan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wakinyan/32/352_2.png) [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/28 "2007-12-31T20:08:04Z")
Also, there’s a world outside the US, where lots of good pictures has been made. - Don’t forget to mention. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/29 "2007-12-31T21:18:12Z")
[QUOTE=Wakinyan] Also, there’s a world outside the US, where lots of good pictures has been made. - Don’t forget to mention. [/QUOTE] FWIW, _Breaker Morant_ is an Australian movie. So there. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/30 "2007-12-31T22:56:50Z")
My daughter will never forgive me for talking her into watching Old Yeller. ☹ She says it was the meanest thing I’ve ever done. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/31 "2008-01-01T09:25:10Z")
**Charlie and the Chocolate Factory** –the original with Gene Wilder (though the newer one is good too). One of the defining moments of my childhood. I still love that film. Every kid should see it–uncut freakout scene and all. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/32 "2008-01-01T10:29:47Z")
A 15 year old girl, right? Newer “classics” for kids: Akeelah And The Bee Bend It Like Beckham A Little Romance Mean Girls Election Legally Blonde Rabbit Proof Fence Flashdance The Man In The Moon Older classics: The Bad Seed Black Beauty Meet Me In St. Louis The Secret Garden Pollyanna (with Haley Mills) Born Free Diary Of Anne Frank The Miracle Worker ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/33 "2008-01-01T13:58:47Z")
I’m glad to say she has seen some of these. Funny, she started a list on her own of books she must read…she asked me, a lot of her teachers, and her librarian at school (Ivygirl is a bookworm, like me, and helps out at the library whenever she can.) Last I heard her list of books to read was 400+! I’m just thinking with all the craptastic movies out there, a good foundation in classic movies is just as important as a well-rounded library. Thanks for the suggestions…I know _Old Yeller_ is a tough one, but it is a classic, and heck, we all need a good cry once in a while. 🙂 ---
**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:** [January 1, 2008, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/34 "2008-01-01T14:11:18Z")
[A Matter of Life and Death](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038733/) (Stairway to Heaven, in the US) One of the most magical movies ever made. Once saw as a child it is never forgotten. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/35 "2008-01-01T19:18:56Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] FWIW, _Breaker Morant_ is an Australian movie. So there. 😃 [/QUOTE] And if I can sneak another of those in: _Picnic at Hanging Rock_. I think an intelligent fifteen year-old girl would be completely spun out by this movie. It’s beautiful, very beautiful. And chilling. It might not stand up to your definition of classic in that it’s a bit light on lines to be knowledgeable about when heard at dinner parties, but do your daughter a favour. And yourself - watch it with her. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/36 "2008-01-01T22:44:36Z")
_A Man For All Seasons_ (with Scofield, not Heston) _The Seventh Seal_ ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/37 "2008-01-01T23:51:51Z")
I also think some of the biblical epic movies, like _Ben-Hur_ or _The 10 Commandments_, would be good. I think I need to sign up for Netflix. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/38 "2008-01-01T23:57:51Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] I also think some of the biblical epic movies, like _Ben-Hur_ or _The 10 Commandments_, would be good. I think I need to sign up for Netflix. 😃 [/QUOTE] Just out of curiousity: Just how many of these do you plan to enjoy with her? I really love showing my favorite films to people who haven’t seen them before - you can watch their reactions to your favorite scenes, and it’s almost like seeing it again for the first time. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2008, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/39 "2008-01-02T00:09:44Z")
So many possibilities but I’ll stick to movies that are referanced else where in pop culture: The Adventures of Robin Hood - the original is still the best and as a bonus you get to explain in like Flynn Jail House Rock - really any Elvis movie will do Chisim - John Wayne at his most cowboy. Leathal Weapon - one of the best buddy cop movies with the added benefit of under standing the bank robbing scene in Mavrick. Last one is my all time favorite movie and the sum of what a western should be - Silverado ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2008, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701/40 "2008-01-02T00:24:33Z")
[QUOTE=OtakuLoki] Just out of curiousity: Just how many of these do you plan to enjoy with her? I really love showing my favorite films to people who haven’t seen them before - you can watch their reactions to your favorite scenes, and it’s almost like seeing it again for the first time. [/QUOTE] Oh, I plan to watch them with her. I got such a kick out of watching \*Mary Poppins \*and _It’s a Wonderful Life_ with her…it really is like watching them again for the first time. Although I think I’ll let her daddy screen the Clint Eastwood and John Wayne movies with her…not my cup of tea. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-movies-your-children-must-see/431701.md?page=3)