# What is the best British movie? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 12, 2003, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-british-movie/168197 "2003-04-12T03:49:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Peyote_Coyote)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-british-movie/168197/21 "2003-04-13T00:26:58Z")
Damn, I also forgot **The Wicker Man**. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-british-movie/168197/22 "2003-04-13T01:04:01Z")
I don’t like oldies. The Parole officer was a good film. What makes a good British film? Well, a film where talent is the abundant content, rather than money. Usually it’s a comedy. If it is not a comedy it has comedic moments. Contrary to popular belief Hugh Grant in the cast list does not make a good UK film. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-british-movie/168197/23 "2003-04-13T04:16:56Z")
There’s a huge movie being left out – **Bridge on the River Kwai**. Also, wasn’t **Tess** a British production? ---
**Author:** ![kawliga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ea666f/32.png) [@kawliga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kawliga)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-british-movie/168197/24 "2003-04-13T08:08:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Peyote Coyote \* > \*\*You guys left off “It’s All Right, Jack.” \*\* They also left off “I’m All Right, Jack.” A few more: The Fallen Idol The History of Mr. Polly Whisky Galore The October Man Doctor in the House ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-british-movie/168197/25 "2003-04-13T08:30:34Z")
Let’s not forget **Educating Rita**. One of the most under rated films of all time. Wasn’t **Tom Jones** done across the pond as well? It was a classic in many ways. Nice to see Nick Park mentioned so many times. Timeless stuff, it is. However, my money is on **Lawrence of Arabia**. ---
**Author:** ![Rodd\_Hill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@Rodd\_Hill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodd_Hill)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-british-movie/168197/26 "2003-04-13T11:24:31Z")
You bet, Torgo; although I’ve always liked **Comfort and Joy** more. Oh–and **Gregory’s Girl** was filmed (partly) at the school where my mother’s cousin was headmistress (very minor brush with fame). And I had a very big crush on Claire Grogan. **Restless Natives** isn’t bad either. ---
**Author:** ![Rodd\_Hill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@Rodd\_Hill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodd_Hill)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-british-movie/168197/27 "2003-04-13T11:43:27Z")
Looking back over the list, there’s a few personal faves that haven’t come up yet: - Blythe Spirit - This Happy Breed - Pygmalion - Hobson’s Choice - The Horse’s Mouth - The Hill ---
**Author:** ![big\_yellow\_kingswood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@big\_yellow\_kingswood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/big_yellow_kingswood)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-british-movie/168197/28 "2003-04-13T13:08:15Z")
I can’t believe that no-one’s mentioned any of the Carry On series. classics, every one. But seriously, I think that Reuben’s got it with A Fish Called Wanda. ---
**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:** [April 13, 2003, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-british-movie/168197/29 "2003-04-13T13:39:02Z")
Most have been mentioned but: A Matter of Life and Death A Man for All Seasons Both these movies have a special place in my heart. ---
**Author:** ![Foolonthehill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Foolonthehill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foolonthehill)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-british-movie/168197/30 "2003-04-13T13:44:02Z")
First; “Ladykillers” Along with “The Sporting Life”, “The Wicker Man”, “The Thirty-Nine Steps”, “The Mark” ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-british-movie/168197/31 "2003-04-13T14:31:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by big\_yellow\_kingswood \* > \*\*I can’t believe that no-one’s mentioned any of the Carry On series. > > classics, every one. > \*\* As long as [Barbara Windsor’s](http://www.carryonline.com/carry/babs.html) starring, it’s a guarantee of quality entertainmetnt. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-british-movie/168197/32 "2003-04-13T15:06:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CyberPundit \* > \*\*IIRC there was poll of the 100 best British movies and the no. 1 film was the Carol Reed classic: **Third Man**. \*\* The list is [here](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/455170.stm). You are correct that **Third Man** came first. In tenth position is my nominee amongst movies not yet suggested: **Trainspotting**. The poll was done in 1999, so more recent candidates are excluded. ---
**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 13, 2003, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-british-movie/168197/33 "2003-04-13T15:27:27Z")
_Chariots of Fire_ and _Gandhi_ were both decent films. ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-british-movie/168197/34 "2003-04-13T15:42:12Z")
I’m surprised no one has mentioned **The Ruling Class** yet. Not only is it a completely _English_ film, it has quite a lot to say about the English class system. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-british-movie/168197/35 "2003-04-13T16:02:25Z")
Oh, I avoided mentioning **The Ruling Class.** Its heavyhandedness just seemed so… un-British! The things that make a British movie great are their understatedness, and in the case of the comedies, their “blink and you’ll miss it” subtle humo(u)r. The great epics leave me cold, but the Ealing comedies and their stylistic heirs drag me in every time! ---
**Author:** ![CyberPundit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@CyberPundit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CyberPundit)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-british-movie/168197/36 "2003-04-13T16:39:45Z")
“A Man for All Seasons” I forgot about this film perhaps because I think of the director, Zinneman, as an American but this is a masterpiece without question. Among bio-pics it’s notable for its restraint and subtlety. Another film I overlooked because of the director is Altman’s **Gosford Park**. It’s certainly a British film though. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-british-movie/168197/37 "2003-04-13T17:16:24Z")
How about some of the wartime dramas? _The Cruel Sea_ and _The Dam Busters_ both deserve a mention, in their way. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-british-movie/168197/38 "2003-04-13T17:28:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Krokodil \* > \*\*The things that make a British movie great are their understatedness, and in the case of the comedies, their “blink and you’ll miss it” subtle humo(u)r. \*\* This is further proof of the greatness of _Carry On_ films 😉 Since we’ve had great English and Scottish films, anyone got a great Welsh film? And [How Green Was My Valley?](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0033729) doesn’t count. ---
**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:** [April 13, 2003, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-british-movie/168197/39 "2003-04-13T19:59:25Z")
Lots of good ones in here, many of which came to mind when I saw the thread title…the Ealing comedies, _The Third Man, Black Narcissus, The Wicker Man, A Fish Called Wanda_… I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for the 1936 H.G. Wells/Alex Korda production **Things to Come** , though. Amazing cast, strong anti-war message, a script simply exploding with quotable quotes, and the suggestion that, in the far future, women and men alike will all be wearing miniskirts. ---
**Author:** ![plastic\_conspiracy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ab097/32.png) [@plastic\_conspiracy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plastic_conspiracy)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-british-movie/168197/40 "2003-04-13T21:19:27Z")
What about _Remains Of The Day_? Sure, it’s based on a novel written by a Japanese man, but the film seems entirely British to me. It’s one of my all-time favorite films, British or otherwise. Also, _Truly, Madly, Deeply_ is a wonderfully romantic movie. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-british-movie/168197.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-british-movie/168197.md?page=3)