# Flawless Films **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 16, 2004, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flawless-films/240424 "2004-04-16T20:56:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![SamIAm336](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SamIAm336](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamIAm336)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flawless-films/240424/41 "2004-04-17T15:17:34Z")
**To Kill a Mockingbird** is the best. others that come close… Oscar Die Hard Murphy’s Romance Phillidelphia Story ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flawless-films/240424/42 "2004-04-17T16:59:41Z")
I agree with a number of films mentioned (disagree markedly with a couple) but would add: \*\*The Maltese Falcon The Longest Day The Philadelphia Story\*\* and its musical remake **High Society**. For my honorable mention I would suggest **We’re No Angels** (the one with Bogart, Ustinov and Rey) **The Pink Panther, Day of the Jackel** and **Topkapi**. TV ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flawless-films/240424/43 "2004-04-17T17:10:34Z")
> [@TV time](#): > > For my honorable mention I would suggest **We’re No Angels** (the one with Bogart, Ustinov and Rey) **The Pink Panther, Day of the Jackel** and **Topkapi**.TV **Day of the Jackel** (the original of course) is a great choice. When you find out what the story is about, you know he doesn’t succeed because it’s in the past. So how the hell can it be exciting? But it is, time and time again. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flawless-films/240424/44 "2004-04-17T20:21:38Z")
Another vote for **Amadeus**. Simply one of the finest movies ever made. I’d also like to nominate Branagh’s **Henry V**. The only movie I’ve ever gone to see four times in the theater. And nobody has yet added **Young Frankenstein** to the list? Shocking. ---
**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flawless-films/240424/45 "2004-04-17T20:27:46Z")
Jaws ---
**Author:** ![bookbuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9bd4f/32.png) [@bookbuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bookbuster)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flawless-films/240424/46 "2004-04-17T20:32:47Z")
**Annie Hall** Could this movie get better? I don’t dig the genre but this is a really enjoyable film, the characters are deeply developed and the humor is outstanding. Possibly flawless?? Joeski said **Pulp Fiction** , yeah to that. ---
**Author:** ![bookbuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9bd4f/32.png) [@bookbuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bookbuster)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flawless-films/240424/47 "2004-04-17T20:35:28Z")
**The Producers**? ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flawless-films/240424/48 "2004-04-17T20:46:03Z")
**Little Big Man** - perfect cast, perfect story **Richard III** (the Ian McKellen “1930s fascist alterniverse” version) **Schindler’s List** (although sometimes I wonder if it would have been better in color since the BW gives it a documentary look that distances us) **Roger & Me** I’ve come to loathe Michael Moore, but that movie was brilliant ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flawless-films/240424/49 "2004-04-17T20:47:47Z")
**1776** (now that _Cool Considerate Men_ has been restored) ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flawless-films/240424/50 "2004-04-17T20:48:17Z")
**Badlands** may not be my favourite movie of all time, but it fit together so perfetly. Except for some of the music (not the Carl Orff bits, those were great. That other, really grating organ- or something, electric flute?- music that plagues most 70s movies, playing while they’re driving). Damn. Still seeking perfection… ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flawless-films/240424/51 "2004-04-17T20:55:05Z")
Does **Girls Gone Wild: VII** count as a film? Or **Dorf on Weightlifting**? ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flawless-films/240424/52 "2004-04-17T21:16:25Z")
Adding my voice to the mentions of **To Kill a Mockingbird, 1776** and **Casablanca**. But a few other movies I consider flawless aren’t mentioned here yet: **All About Eve** **All the President’s Men** **A Christmas Carol** (1951 version w/Alistair Sim) **Rebecca** (1939) **Tootsie** **A Tree Grows in Brooklyn** (original w/Peggy Ann Garner & James Dunn) I can’t think of anything to improve in the above films, except perhaps that in every case I want them to last longer than they do. (Anyone else think it’d be interesting to see a list of “Films that would be flawless if it weren’t for one thing…”?) ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flawless-films/240424/53 "2004-04-17T22:13:55Z")
Another vote for **Casablanca**. And **Death on the Nile** with the late Sir Peter Ustinov. I’ll also offer **Kind Hearts and Coronets**. Of more modern films, how about **The Mummy** or **Raiders of the Lost Ark**? ---
**Author:** ![HumptysHamhole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f0a364/32.png) [@HumptysHamhole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HumptysHamhole)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2004, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flawless-films/240424/54 "2004-04-18T00:30:04Z")
**O Brother, Where Art Thou Rushmore That Touch of Mink Panic Room Ghostbusters Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Amadeus Die Hard** Not necessarily the greatest films ever but they were all perfect for what they purported to be. ---
**Author:** ![Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9dc877/32.png) [@Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightwatch_Trailer)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2004, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flawless-films/240424/55 "2004-04-18T00:44:00Z")
I can’t believe I didn’t think of this earlier… **This Is Spinal Tap**. Utterly hilarious and convincing. Somehow _everything_ in that movie makes me laugh, from the token “these go up to eleven” and “none more black” lines to more minute things…like Ian’s expression when Fran Drescher’s character tells him that “money talks and [expletive] walks.” Priceless. Also, **The Emperor’s New Groove**. Probably my favorite animated movie behind **Toy Story** …I think it’s the one movie I’ve seen that’s mastered sarcastic humor. Offhand I can’t think of a single line or joke that goes awry. I mean, even David Spade is great! ---
**Author:** ![Niggle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Niggle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Niggle)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2004, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flawless-films/240424/56 "2004-04-18T00:53:20Z")
More recent: Hero (it’s being released in north america very soon, too.) That is truly a flawless movie. Brother The Blade Ichi the Killer ok, I have a thing for asian productions… but these are all amazing movies. Brotherhood of the Wolf was excellent La Femme Nikita was brilliant. I hear they make some good movies in hollywood, too. 🙂 -n ---
**Author:** ![The\_Punkyova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@The\_Punkyova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Punkyova)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2004, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flawless-films/240424/57 "2004-04-18T01:05:25Z")
The Lion in Winter Animal Crackers Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears ---
**Author:** ![Treviathan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/838e76/32.png) [@Treviathan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treviathan)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2004, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flawless-films/240424/58 "2004-04-18T01:11:44Z")
**High Fidelity**. Not one forced moment, a perfect soundtrack, and the casting choices were all dead-on. ---
**Author:** ![Kaotic\_Newtral](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@Kaotic\_Newtral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaotic_Newtral)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2004, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flawless-films/240424/59 "2004-04-18T02:21:59Z")
I’m ready for the flames!! ' **Gangs of New York** ’ is one of the best acted movies I’ve ever seen. I used to be a HUGE un-fan of DiCapprio also. GONY changed things a bit for me though. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2004, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flawless-films/240424/60 "2004-04-18T02:41:56Z")
I’ve got a fairly eclectic list: _Amelie The Maltese Falcon Ruthless People Emma_ (1996) \*Miracle on 34th Street \*(1947, of course) _The Day of the Jackal_ And we can’t forget Lubitsch: _Trouble in Paradise The Shop Around the Corner Ninotchka_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flawless-films/240424.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flawless-films/240424.md?page=4)