# Movies Required to be a film buff **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 6, 2000, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-required-to-be-a-film-buff/15751 "2000-04-06T14:01:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2000, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-required-to-be-a-film-buff/15751/21 "2000-04-07T18:08:00Z")
I second Arnold Winkelreid’s recommendation to see a variety of foreign films if you want to be well versed on the topic. Some of my favorites off the top of my head: **French** Les 400 coups A bout de souffle Tirez sur le pianiste Les enfants du paradis Trois Couleurs **Italian** 8-1/2 La Dolce Vita Swept Away, Sotto Sotto, and others by Lina Vertmuller Two Women Rome: Open City Night of the Shooting Stars **German** Wings of Desire The Nasty Girl **Indian** The Apu trilogy I could go on and on but must … do … some … work … ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingRiddles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SwimmingRiddles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingRiddles)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2000, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-required-to-be-a-film-buff/15751/22 "2000-04-07T18:25:00Z")
My film professor mentioned an Indian film that sounded like “panther something-with-a-P.” Ring any bells, anyone? ---
**Author:** ![the\_Scarlet\_Pimpernel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f1d935/32.png) [@the\_Scarlet\_Pimpernel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_Scarlet_Pimpernel)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2000, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-required-to-be-a-film-buff/15751/23 "2000-04-07T18:35:00Z")
Wendell’s and Eve’s lists are fantastic - but I cant believe that nobody’s mentioned _Harvey_! And a few other foreign films to look out for… From France, _Bleu-Blanc-Rouge_ from Belgium, _Ma Vie En Rose_ * * * Hey, sweetie! You want a Danish with that coffee? – _another custom design by the mind of Wally_ ---
**Author:** ![rackensack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@rackensack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rackensack)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2000, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-required-to-be-a-film-buff/15751/24 "2000-04-07T18:48:00Z")
SR: > [@](#): > > My film professor mentioned an Indian film that sounded like “panther something-with-a-P.” Ring any bells, anyone? [Pather Panchali,](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0048473) by the great Indian director Satyajit Ray. The first in the Apu trilogy mentioned by missbunny. ---
**Author:** ![kellibelli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e480ec/32.png) [@kellibelli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kellibelli)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2000, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-required-to-be-a-film-buff/15751/25 "2000-04-07T19:19:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Lexicon: > \*\* > Reservoir Dogs > > The Shining > > One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest > > Salem’s Lot > > Carrie > Christine > > Trainspotting > First Blood > \*\* excellent picks Lexi! And I wanted to add to my list: the Spanish film Like Water For Chocolate, and all the Almodover(sp) films. * * * **Sesquipedalophobia** --fear of long words ---
**Author:** ![mrblue92](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@mrblue92](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrblue92)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2000, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-required-to-be-a-film-buff/15751/26 "2000-04-07T20:14:00Z")
> [@](#): > > I’ve seen 51, I’m 20, so that makes me a mere 40.5. Nope, you need to stay in that math class 😉 Your total would be: 51 + (50-20)/2 51 + 30/2 51 + 15 = 66. First parenthesis, then multiplication/division, then addition/subtraction. ---
**Author:** ![dwtno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@dwtno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwtno)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2000, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-required-to-be-a-film-buff/15751/27 "2000-04-07T21:27:00Z")
Did the numbers… 97 films, 34 y.o., so that rates me a Mrblue score of 105. Not bad, but I’m shocked at the enourmous number of certified classics listed that I’ve never seen. Know all about them, yes. Actually seen them, no. _sigh_ So much celluloid, so little time. ---
**Author:** ![Guy\_Propski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5e9695/32.png) [@Guy\_Propski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Propski)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2000, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-required-to-be-a-film-buff/15751/28 "2000-04-07T21:32:00Z")
So you see, SwimmingRiddles, what you have to do is see every movie ever made. That should bring you up to speed. Oh, you can probably skip anything from American International or Golan/Gloubus. ---
**Author:** ![Torgo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2000, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-required-to-be-a-film-buff/15751/29 "2000-04-07T21:51:00Z")
Ditto on the Indian film recommendations, specifically the work of Satyajit Ray. Many interesting things are coming out of Iran as well (I believe an Iranian film won the grand prize at Cannes last year). Don’t neglect Ozu of Japan. * * * “My hovercraft is full of eels.” ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2000, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-required-to-be-a-film-buff/15751/30 "2000-04-07T21:56:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Guy Propski: > \*\*So you see, SwimmingRiddles, what you have to do is see every movie ever made. That should bring you up to speed. > > Oh, you can probably skip anything from American International or Golan/Gloubus.\*\* Skip Golan/Globus? But where can a person find quality Ninja movies without them? 🙂 On a more serious side, even though just about every movie ever made has been listed, nobody has mentioned _Potemkin_. Yes, it may be commie propaganda, but it is a movie that has its influence felt even today. * * * Gee, I don’t think any of us expected him to say that. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2000, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-required-to-be-a-film-buff/15751/31 "2000-04-07T23:20:00Z")
um ok, i’m too lazy to go through the lists of movies everyone has already posted, so forgive if i’m repeating some. a clockwork orange clerks mallrats chasing amy dogma doom generation heat goodfellas true romance run lola run navy seals breakfast club full metal jacket casino fast times at ridgemont high reality bites first blood braveheart kids psycho (hitchcock) platoon now i know some of these movies aren’t exactly oscar matarial… but just based on character development and analytical value, they are fun to watch. ---
**Author:** ![lvick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d07c76/32.png) [@lvick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lvick)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2000, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-required-to-be-a-film-buff/15751/32 "2000-04-08T05:44:00Z")
Whatever happened to Baby Jane? ---
**Author:** ![crackwise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/22d042/32.png) [@crackwise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crackwise)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2000, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-required-to-be-a-film-buff/15751/33 "2000-04-08T06:17:00Z")
Yikes. Only a 62. Much renting must I do. - I think I’ll start with “Touch of Evil” ---
**Author:** ![billehunt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c37758/32.png) [@billehunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billehunt)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2000, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-required-to-be-a-film-buff/15751/34 "2000-04-08T06:18:00Z")
Lawrence of Arabia The Godfather I & II (forget about III) Pulp Fiction Dr. Strangelove Animal House Oh, and don’t waste your time on Manchurian Candidate or El Mariachi. ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2000, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-required-to-be-a-film-buff/15751/35 "2000-04-10T18:15:00Z")
I am appalled at the way I spelled Lina **W** ertmüller’s name - I must correct it or I won’t be able to sleep. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Occam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Occam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Occam)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2000, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-required-to-be-a-film-buff/15751/36 "2000-04-10T20:46:00Z")
## Brazil…gotta see Brazil. “Clatu, Verrata…nector?..neck-tie?” ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-required-to-be-a-film-buff/15751/37 "2000-12-06T13:10:56Z")
> [@](#): > > And that takes us up to the talkies! Eve, what did I miss? Jumping into this thread late, but here are some other essential silent era films UkeIke (no doubt accidentally) overlooked: \*The Italian Straw Hat Pandora’s Box The Wind I Was Born, but… He Who Gets Slapped The Lighthouse Keepers The Freshman Seven Chances Nosferatu Steamboat Bill, Jr. The Passion of Joan of Arc Variety Napoleon Our Hospitality Les Vampires \* and he inexplicably left out the Russians, so…_Potemkin, The Man with a Movie Camera_, and _Earth_ for starters. Too late and too many other titles… As for who needs to get a life, I count only 12 specific titles listed I _haven’t_ seen (and I am frankly losing no sleep over missing _Navy Seals_ or _Highlander_) ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-required-to-be-a-film-buff/15751/38 "2000-12-06T14:03:13Z")
as another late addition, my personal picks to the list would be Vanishing Point and La Haine. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-required-to-be-a-film-buff/15751/39 "2000-12-06T14:26:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ArchiveGuy \* > \*\*he inexplicably left out the Russians > \*\* …'cause I _hate_ Eisenstein. (Well, I kinda like _Aleksandr Nevsky._) But you’re right, you really do have to see _The Battleship Potemkin._ It’s really, really famous, and you are forbidden to use the word “montage” until you’ve watched it. And it yields a damn fine sig line, which can be interpreted in a myriad of ways: **"The rotten meat is in the soup!" – a Russian sailor** ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-required-to-be-a-film-buff/15751/40 "2000-12-06T14:47:10Z")
When I posted the list above, I was still working on it. There were supposed to be 200 films on the list, but I miscounted, so there were only 196. I’ve now added the extra four movies. For the full and official list, go to [http://www.dcfilmsociety.org](http://www.dcfilmsociety.org) Click on Reviews and then on 200 Great Films. As I say in the introduction to the list, I’ve probably seen about 160 of those films. That wasn’t intended as list of personal favorites but of general critical and popular favorites. You can find my 100 favorite films listed on that site under Wendell Wagner’s Revised Thoughts on the AFI 100. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-required-to-be-a-film-buff/15751.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-required-to-be-a-film-buff/15751.md?page=3)