Drama: Sunset Boulevard
Comedy: The Circus
Even after having seen it many times, there’s nothing that makes me laugh like seeing Chaplin struggle on the high wire while being tormented by monkeys, or being chased by a mean donkey, or trying to learn how to be funny in “clown class”.
The OP took mine. The Philadelphia Story was just so funny and remains so for me even now. And Casablanca is an iconic movie, setting its own place in history.
So many to choose from.
Comedy is either * Bringing Up Baby* or His Girl Friday
Drama would be *Casablanca * or Citizen Kane
Witness for the Prosecution and too many good comedies with Cary Grant
The Bank Dick, and Treasure of the Sierra Madre.
My criteria amounts to what films I could pop in the machine and watch any time, and enjoy, no matter how many times I’d seen them before. And those would be “Dr. Strangelove” and “Casablanca.”
Comedy: Stalag 17 (according to IMDB, it’s a comedy/drama)
Drama: Casablanca
Stalag 17 has more drama than comedy, but I refuse to choose between it and Casablanca (which also has comedic elements).
Duck Soup
Them!
Comedy: Definitely His Girl Friday
Drama: Raging Bull
A couple of alternatives to what’s been posted already:
Comedy: It’s a Gift
Drama: The Hustler
And, apparently it is possible to make a joke so subtle that nobody on the SDMB catches it.
Comedy: The Apartment*
Drama: Twelve Angry Men
mmm
*Acknowledging that some might consider it primarily a drama
Comedy: Dr. Strangelove.
Drama: Rashomon.
Lots of great choices, obviously. Thank you for the list of your favorites, Wendell. There’s some I haven’t seen yet, and I probably should.
I recently watched ‘A Soldier in the Rain’, with Jackie Gleason at his funniest and a young Steve McQueen. It was great. I love the ‘Thinman’ movies, too.
A drama I like is ‘The Children’s Hour’.
I love all vintage movies. All that have been mentioned are good ones.
You’re right. I’m changing my vote. Comedy and/or drama: The Apartment.
This is my answer as well.
Comedy: ‘Clerks’
Drama: ‘Anatomy of a Murder’
Young Frankenstein and Double Indemnity.
**Treasure of the Sierra Madre
**
Young Fronkensteen
Lots of Billy Wilder films making it into people’s choices…Double Indemnity, Sunset Boulevard, Some Like It Hot, The Apartment. You guys definitely have excellent taste.