1. Citizen Kane
2. Casablanca
3. Godfather, The - An extremely cool movie that is the first true gangster movie. Brando gives the much-imitated performance as Don Corleone, Al Pacino plays his son Michael, and James Caan plays his other son Sonny. All give great performances in this wonderful movie that kicks off the trilogy of films based on Mario Puzo's books.
4. Gone with the Wind
5. Lawrence of Arabia
6. Wizard of Oz, The - This is truly a great movie, a wonderfully memorable fairy tale that was probably the first movie I ever saw. A great tale of good over evil that shows the inherent imperfection of every creature, this classic has found new life after the secret was revealed to pair it with Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" CD.
7. Graduate, The-A wonderful movie that is very funny and also very human. It tells the tale of a college grad (played marvelously my Dustin Hoffman) that begins an affair with Mrs. Robinson, an older woman who's a longtime friend of the family (played by the tempting Anne Bancroft). Hoffman comes to realize the error of his ways and cuts off the affair after falling for her daughter (played by the ever so beautiful Katherine Ross). This is truly a great flick.
8. On the Waterfront-Another wonderful performance by the unbeatable Marlon Brando. He plays a worker on the docks who helps get a man killed, meets that man's sister (played by Eva Marie Saint), slowly falls in love with her, and struggles to change his ways. This is a good movie that has Brando giving his "I coulda been a contenda!" speech.
9. Schindler's List - A great story, powerful images, somewhat on the depressing side, though. Also a little long since it clocks in around 3 hours long. It's camera angles and use of black-and-white adds to the visual power. This is a surprise to be up this high, in my opinion. It's a strong film, but I don't think it deserves to be this high.
10. Singin' in the Rain - I didn't know what to expect from this movie, but boy was I ever pleased. This is a wonderful movie that well went beyond my little expectations. It has great songs, great dance numbers, and I found myself smiling throughout the movie. I was taken aback at how cool and suave Gene Kelly was in the lead. Debbie Reynolds played his tempting aspiring actress love. This truly deserves to be seen.
11. It's a Wonderful Life - A super movie, probably the best Christmas movie you can watch (maybe that's why it's played fifty times a year around that season, huh?). It's a great tale about the spirit of man and the power of friends, family, and life itself. A great uplifting movie that makes you feel good every time you watch it. I still get a kick out of hearing "every time a bell rings..."
12. Sunset Boulevard
13. Bridge on the River Kwai, The - Another really good WWII movie, this time showing us the lives of British prisoners of war under Japanese control. They're to build a bridge for the enemy and are torn between doing a job that reflects well on them and aiding the enemy. Alec Guinness and William Holden give great performances in this movie that mixes humor and tension and a dynamite ending into a three-hour span.
14. Some Like it Hot - A genuinely cute and funny movie, this stars Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon as band members who are forced to impersonate women to escape from pursuing gangsters. It also stars the alluring Marilyn Monroe in this comedy from the '50's. Lemmon is funny, Curtis is hilarious when he does his dead-on Cary Grant impersonation, and Monroe is extremely easy to watch. I'm a little surprised it's this high on the list, but maybe its transvestite tendencies were extremely controversial way back when. Either way, it's worth a look.
15. Star Wars - One of my all-time favorites, this is the movie that changed science fiction and movie effects forever. Its cult following is no fluke, this is a great movie whose effects still look good twenty years later. It is probably the ultimate tale of good versus evil and the need to believe in yourself. "Use the force, Luke..."
16. All about Eve
17. African Queen-A fun little movie that stars a surprisingly scraggly Humphrey Bogart as the captain of the dingy sea vessel, the African Queen. He helps out the oh-so-prim and proper Katherine Hepburn by agreeing to take her out of Africa and back to England. They decide to stick it to the Germans first before they go home, but they're lead on many an entertaining adventure before this. A fun flick.
18. Psycho - One of Hitchcock's best, this movie has the infamous shower scene and the creepy Norman Bates. This is the one that spurred several forgettable sequels (something like four or five others), but this one is a masterpiece in true Hitchcockian style. It's sure to make you reevaluate your definition of a mama's boy.
19. Chinatown
20. One flew over the Cuckoo's Nest
21. Grapes of Wrath, The
22. 2001: A Space Odyssey - A really cool movie that has spectacular visuals set to great classical music. This movie's effects in space are as good as anything you'll see today, and this was made in 1968! Stanley Kubrick directs and his odd touches are evident, especially in the perplexing ending. The voice of HAL is extremely eerie and effective. A groundbreaking film that forever changed movie effects and presentation.
23. Maltese Falcon, The-A really cool movie that tells the tale of the elusive and oh-so-expensive Maltese Falcon. Humphrey Bogart plays Sam Spade, a private investigator whose partner is killed while tailing a suspect. We are then left to figure out who killed him, who's lying about what they know, and who has that bloody statue? Bogart is great in this murder mystery where it's very difficult to tell fact from fiction.
24. Raging Bull
25. E.T. the Extra-Terrestria l- How can anyone not like this movie? It stars the adorable Reese's Pieces munching, bike riding little alien that just wants to go home. It's a wonderful tale of friendship and loss between Eliot and E.T. This movie made me bawl like a little girl when I saw this as a kid. It's a true tearjerker.
26. Dr. Strangelove
27. Bonnie & Clyde
28. Apocalypse Now - A hauntingly disturbing movie by Francis Ford Coppola. It's a tad long at times, but the characters seen within are wonderful. Robert Duvall as the surfing Sgt. is great, Marlon Brando is superb as the local lunatic, as is Martin Sheen in the lead role. This movie has some extremely powerful scenes and very vividly shows us the horrors of Vietnam.
29. Mr. Smith goes to Washington
30. Treasure of the Sierra Madre
31. Annie Hall
32. Godfather- Part II, The
33. High Noon
34. To Kill a Mockingbird
35. It Happened One Night
36. Midnight Cowboy - A truly tragic tale of a Texan who comes to New York City to fulfill his dreams and make a living. It's a tale of friendship and the struggle to survive in a city where no one knows your name or cares about whether you live or die. Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman give marvelous performances in this modern day tragedy. The things this pair endures is truly remarkable and their companionship will touch you.
37. Best Years of our Lives, The
38. Double Indemnity
39. Doctor Zhivago
40. North by Northwest-Another Hitchcock classic, this time starring the humorous and suave Cary Grant as an ad man who gets confused for an undercover agent. He has to prove his true identity while getting away with his life. This also stars Eva Marie Saint as the romantic interest that's more than you could ever imagine (seriously). Has the classic Mt. Rushmore chase scene and the plane-buzzing encounter for Grant.
41. West Side Story
42. Rear Window - One of my all-time faves, another of Hitchcock's masterpieces. It has a great plot about the curiosity of man, the prices that sometimes accompany it, and the power of imagination. It also has a great performance by the late, great Jimmy Stewart. Definitely my favorite Hitchcock flick.
43. King Kong
44. Birth of a Nation, The
45. Streetcar Named Desire, A - MAN what a great movie! This movie tells the tale of a mysterious sister, Blanch, (played brilliantly by Vivien Leigh) who comes down to New Orleans to stay with her sister, Stella, and her brother-in-law, Stanley (played by the ever captivating Marlon Brando). We're shown the conflicts between Stanley and Stella, between Stanley and Blanch, and between Blanch and herself. Leigh is great as the conflicted sister with the checkered past, as is Brando as the tough, no-nonsense Stanley. A marvelous film based on Tennessee William's classic play.
46. Clockwork Orange, A - An extremely odd movie directed by the equally odd Stanley Kubrick. It tells the tale of a band of English hoodlums that terrorize people and its leader who eventually is captured and rehabilitated. His treatment is extremely interesting and this movie has wonderfully unique and disturbing sets. A tad long, but definitely a memorable movie viewing experience.
47. Taxi Driver - An cool movie directed by Martin Scorcese. It stars Robert DeNiro as the taxi driver who sees too much and slowly decides to get even. This also stars Cybill Sheperd who looks absolutely enchanting and Jodie Foster who looks all of 12 (that's probably because she is). DeNiro is great as the tragic hero and you slowly see his mental stability deteriorate in this film. All of this leads up to a great ending that is extremely gruesome, even by today's ultra-liberal criteria. Definitely worth a look.
48. Jaws - A great, tense movie that makes you genuinely afraid to go in the water. It has the classically eerie music and has spurned multiple horrible sequels, but his one is the real deal. It's Spielberg's first big hit- the one that put him on the map. Roy Schieder and Richard Dreyfuss give good performances. This movie made everyone in the world frightfully aware of the great white shark.
49. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - A classic Disney movie that should be required viewing for everyone growing up as a kid. It's another tale of good versus evil, the pure Snow White versus the evil, wicked witch. It introduces us to the lovable dwarfs and the classic phrase of "mirror, mirror on the wall..." An animated marvel that brings back fond childhood memories. Don't eat that apple!
50. Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid
51. Philadelphia Story, The
52. From Here to Eternity
53. Amadeus
54. All Quiet on the Western Front
55. Sound of Music, The - A great musical that has multitudes of great songs that never seem to get old. There's a reason that this is played millions of times every year on TV- it's great. There's great singing, dancing, and lush scenery, plus a good story to boot. Julie Andrews is wonderful and you can't help but sing along to this movie's classic tunes. "So long, farewell..."
56. M*A*S*H
57. Third Man, The
58. Fantasia - Another classic Disney animation film, this time set appropriately to classical music. We get to see such classic scenes as Mickey as the sorcerer's apprentice and the dancing mushrooms. The animation is wonderful, the songs are divine, and those dancing hippos in tutus? To die for. Give this one a look.
59. Rebel without a Cause - This movie stars the unbelievably cool James Dean as the conflicted rebel. This movie tells the tale of several teens in the '50's who have trouble adjusting to the life of the times. Most of the problems they experience are similar to those kids face today, but the kid who plays Dean's shadow (Sal Mineo) gets a bit annoying. "Don't leave me..." Blah. However, Dean's performance is pure gold. It's a shame his career was cut so short.
60. Raiders of the Lost Ark
61. Vertigo - Another of Hitchcock's masterpieces, this is probably my second favorite of his, but only by an eyelash. This movie tells the tale of a man whose true love dies and he is unable to get over her death. He sees her around town (he thinks) and everything comes to a head in the climactic ending. Jimmy Stewart stars and gives another great performance, but would we expect anything else? Kim Novak also stars as the unforgettable flame.
62. Tootsie
63. Stagecoach
64. Close Encounters of the Third Kind
65. Silence of the Lambs - This is bar none the creepiest, most blood-chilling movie I have ever seen. This movie tells of a hotshot new FBI agent who must earn the trust of a serial killer in order to catch another one (sounds like a winning proposition, huh?). Jodie Foster gives a great performance that is only overshadowed by Anthony Hopkins' bravura portrayal as the sinister Hannibal the Cannibal. A truly great movie that's not for the faint of heart.
66. Network
67. Manchurian Candidate, The-An awesome movie that tells the tale of a man who is hypnotized and told to do things. The stone-faced, unknowing assassin is played by Lawrence Harvey, and the man that tries to stop him before it's too late is played well by the tougher than tuna Frank Sinatra. This movie leads well into a great ending where you'll be asking yourself whether or not Harvey is still programmed. "Why don't you play some solitaire to pass the time?" Yes maam…
68. American in Paris, An
69. Shane
70. French Connection, The
71. Forrest Gump - A stupendous movie that spans the life of the unforgettable Forrest Gump. We are taken through his life and are shown his various hardships and triumphs. Tom Hanks gives a great performance as the "special" Forrest, a character so lovable it hurts. This one won Best Picture in '94, beating out such other greats as "Pulp Fiction" (#95 on this list) and "Shawshank Redemption" (my all-time favorite movie which SHOULD be on this list), so you know this is good.
72. Ben-Hur - A film of true epic performances (clocking in just under 4 hours long), this stars Charlton Heston as the lead character, Judah Ben-Hur. This movie tells the tale of two friends, Hur (a Jew) and Messala (a Roman) who start out as the closest of friends only to become the bitterest of enemies. Hur is wrongfully imprisoned and then taken on grand adventures towards his freedom. This movie intermingles certain religious aspects effectively to enhance this monster of a film. Great acting, great scenery, great battles, especially the water battle and the chariot race.
73. Wuthering Heights
74. Gold Rush, The
75. Dances with Wolves
76. City Lights
77. American Graffiti
78. Rocky
79. Deer Hunter, The
80. Wild Bunch, The
81. Modern Times
82. Giant
83. Platoon - A wonderful movie that tells the tale of an army grunt in Vietnam, played brilliantly by Charlie Sheen. We are shown the horrors that he must confront and we see his struggle to find himself in that land of terror. He must decide whether to be like the approachable, sensible man played by Willam DaFoe, or like the hard-nosed nut played by Tom Berenger. Best Picture winner for 1986.
84. Fargo - A really cool movie by the Coen brothers that won them a best picture nomination. This is supposed to be based on a true story of some Minnesotans and their plot to earn some kidnapping ransom. Their well laid (?) plan goes awry and the plot takes some darkly comic twists. Francis McDormand won Best Actress for her role in this as the heavily accented police woman.
85. Duck Soup
86. Mutiny on the Bounty
87. Frankenstein
88. Easy Rider - A pretty cool movie from the seventies that shows the prejudice and hatred that "long-hairs" or hippies got in the '70s. This movie would have been much more powerful if being like a hippie wasn't so accepted these days. It's difficult to imagine what they felt, but if you can, this movie is very good. It has great performances by Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, and Jack Nicholson, a wonderful soundtrack, spectacular scenery of the West, and a shocking ending.
89. Patton
90. Jazz Singer, The
91. My Fair Lady
92. Place in the Sun, A
93. Apartment, The
94. Goodfellas - A really good gangster flick that follows in the very large footsteps of The Godfather. This movie is extremely violent and gory, but that makes it much more memorable. We experience the Mafia lifestyle through the eyes of an insider, played by Ray Liotta. Robert DeNiro and Joe Pesci also give great performances in this Mafia masterpiece.
95. Pulp Fiction - One of my all-time faves, this movie is spectacularly directed and written by Quentin Tarantino. Its form of presentation, where we constantly jump back and forth to different times in the plot is extremely effective. This movie has great performances by Bruce Willis, Samuel Jackson, and John Travolta. The lives of several characters are complexly interwoven, yet it's never confusing. A tad graphic and violent, but it has a killer plot. Don't miss this one.
96. Searchers, The
97. Bringing up Baby
98. Unforgiven - One of the best Westerns I have ever seen, it stars my favorite actor, Clint Eastwood. This movie shows he's still at the top of his game and he won a Best Director Oscar for his work here. This movie has a cool story, great scenery, and superb performances by Eastwood, Gene Hackman, and Morgan Freeman. There are scenes in this movie where Eastwood is so cool and tough it's like he's still in his 20's doing the "spaghetti westerns" that made him a household name.
99. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
100. Yankee Doodle Dandy