[BobHarris]

Figured I'd do a simple thing for my 1k, whether it be films that never get old from repeated viewings or films that just seem to stick with me after a single sitting. I went back as far as possible having seen atleast one film from each year. So my selections...

[Rumpled 4 Skin]

I look forward to ridiculing your list immensely

[BobHarris]

Sunset Blvd. (1950)

dir. Billy Wilder

Sunset Blvd stars William Holden as Joe Gillis, an unsuccessful screenwriter, Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond, a faded silent moviestar who draws him into her fantasy world where she dreams of making a triumphant return to the screen with Erich vonStroheim as Max Von Mayerling, her butler and ex-husband. Director CecilB.DeMille and gossip columnist Hedda Hopper play themselves, and the film includes cameo appearances by leading silent film actors Buster Keaton, H. B. Warner and Anna Q.Nilsson.

Billy Wilder is undeniably one of my favorite filmmakers of all-time. Sunset Blvd isjust one of the many gems in his cannon of film, shot in beautiful b& w, great classic performances and cameos; we will see more from him as this thread evolves.

[BobHarris]

Originally Posted by Rumpled 4 Skin

I look forward to ridiculing your list immensely

nice.

[BobHarris]

Strangers on a Train (1951)

dir. Alfred Hitchcock

Amateur tennis star Guy Haines (Farley Granger) wants to divorce his vulgar and unfaithful wife Miriam (Laura Elliott), so he can marry the elegant and beautiful Anne Morton (Ruth Roman), daughter of a senator (Leo G. Carroll). While on a train to meet Miriam, Haines meets Bruno Anthony (Robert Walker), a forward stranger who recognizes Guy from gossip items in the newspapers that detail his marital problems. During lunch in Bruno's compartment, Bruno tells Guy about his idea for the perfect"Criss-cross" murder(s): he will kill Miriam and in exchange, Guy will kill Bruno's father. Since both are strangers, unconnected, there is no identifiable motive for the crimes, Bruno contends, hence no suspicion.

With atmosphere and all the classic twists and turns, it’s classic Hitchcock. Bruno Anthony is easily one of my favorite characters from Hitchcock cinema, safe to say this may be the most interesting film involving murder plots and tennis.

[Morphy]

Good start.

[Rumpled 4 Skin]

Whoa.. i agree my 3rd favourite hitchcock

[Rumpled 4 Skin]

Hey, wheres 1950?

[BobHarris]

Originally Posted by Rumpled 4 Skin

Hey, wheres 1950?

mod? it said to wait.

[BobHarris]

Singin' in the Rain (1952)

dir. Gene Kelly & Stanley Donen

Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly)is a popular silent film star with humble roots as a singer, dancer and stuntman.Don barely tolerates his vapid, shallow leading lady, Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen), though their studio, Monumental Pictures, links them romantically to increase their popularity. Lina herself is convinced they are in love, despite Don's protestations otherwise. One day, to escape from fans, Don jumps into a passing car driven by Kathy Selden (DebbieReynolds).She drops him off, but not before claiming to be a stage actress and sneering at his undignified accomplishments. Later, after weeks of searching, Don meets up with Kathy after he finds her working in another Monumental Pictures production, and they begin to fall in love.

Probably my favorite musical, Gene Kelly is just fantastic in this, great musical numbers, funny, just great classic cinema from yester-years.

[Man on a Mission]

Subscribed.

I probably haven't seen 5 movies in some of the earlier years, so this will be great to introduce me to some films.

[Captain Dills]

Well you probably couldn't have started any better with Strangers on a Train. My second favorite Hitchcock.

Okay just saw Sunset Blvd up there too. You are officially batting .667 now.

[BobHarris]

Originally Posted by Rumpled 4 Skin

Hey, wheres 1950?

there we go.

[Matt the Hat]

Great start. I'm going to predict a favourite film from a random year.

1955 - The Night of the Hunter

[BobHarris]

Originally Posted by Matt the Hat

Great start. I'm going to predict a favourite film from a random year.

1955 - The Night of the Hunter

somehow haven't gotten around to this one yet. Out of the Past is the last and maybe only Robert Mitchum film i've seen.

[Thief12]

I still haven't seen Sunset Blvd. or Singin' in the Rain.

Strangers on a Train was good, but I wasn't overly impressed by it.

[Matt the Hat]

Originally Posted by Meesa BobHarris

somehow haven't gotten around to this one yet. Out of the Past is the last and maybe only Robert Mitchum film i've seen.

There is quite a sharp contrast from his performances between the two films. Both 5/5. Other Mitchum movies I'd recommend are Caper Fear, Crossfire, His Kind of Woman and Pursued.

[doughboy]

Love Singing' in the Rain. Probably in my top 10.

[dreiser]

I give you high marks for all three choices thus far. Keep up the good work.

[BobHarris]

Shane (1953)

dir. George Stevens

A stranger, wearing buckskin and a six shooter, calling himself Shane (AlanLadd), rides into an isolated valley in the sparsely settled territory of Wyoming. Whatever his past, he's obviously skilled as a gunslinger, and soon finds himself drawn into a conflict between homesteader Joe Starrett (VanHeflin) and ruthless cattle baron Rufus Ryker (Emile Meyer), who wants to force Starrett and the others off the land.

Classic from the western genre is one of my favorites, George Stevens beautifully shot film possesses a classic turn by Ladd as the mysterious loner who lends a steady hand to a family in need.

[BobHarris]

Dial "M" for Murder (1954)

dir. Alfred Hitchcock

Tony Wendice is an ex-professional tennis player who lives in a London flat with his wealthy wife Margot. Tony retired after Margot complained about his busy schedule, and she began an affair with American crime-fiction writer Mark Halliday, which Tony secretly discovered. Motivated by resentment, jealousy,and greed, Tony devises a plan to have Margot murdered.

A film that essentially takes place in a single room and still manages to be suspenseful, mostly with 2 people just conversing with one another. A mystery where you know the culprits involved but are curious to see if they will get caught. I love 50's films with these types of sets which blend nicely with Hitchcock's touch.

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by Meesa BobHarris

Dial "M" for Murder (1954)

I love thinking about what's going through Wendice's head during the final scene. "So, this key doesn't work...which must mean..." I also love the blackmail scene. What a great interaction between the two characters.

[BobHarris]

Originally Posted by doughboy

I love thinking about what's going through Wendice's head during the final scene. "So, this key doesn't work...which must mean..." I also love the blackmail scene. What a great interaction between the two characters.

it is, Hitchcock I believe owned 50's cinema, so many classics, including "m".

[Robert Gall]

Loving the choices thus far!

[Zippy]

You had me at Sunset Blvd.

[mikeytee]

Good choices. Particularly Singing in the Rain. One of my favorites.

[Thief12]

Never seen Shane, but I liked Dial M for Murder a lot. I didn't like the Halliday character a lot, but Ray Milland was excellent.

[BobHarris]

Originally Posted by Thief12

Ray Milland was excellent.

Check out The Lost Weekend if you havent seen it already. He is excellent in that as well.

[BobHarris]

Rebel without A Cause (1955)

dir. Elia Kazan

Shortly after moving to Los Angeles with his parents, 17-year-old Jim Stark (JamesDean) enrolls at Dawson High School. Jim is brought into the police station for public drunkenness. When his mother, father and grandmother arrive at the police station to retrieve him, conflicts in Jim's family situation are introduced. His parents are often fighting; his father (Jim Backus) often tries to defend Jim, but Jim's mother always wins the arguments. Jim feels betrayed both by this fighting and his father's lack of moral strength, causing feelings of unrest and displacement.

Something about the 50's set pieces that just stand out for me, and this film like East of Eden, is no different. James Dean, full of angst, is terrific for me. The supporting cast, Natalie Wood as his girlfriend and Sal Mineo as the outcast friend are welcomed additions. Elia Kazan's direction is just wonderful.

[BobHarris]

The Searchers (1956)

dir. John Ford

In1868, Ethan Edwards (Wayne) returns from the American Civil War, which hefought for the Confederacy, to the home of his brother Aaron in the wilderness of west Texas. Wrong-doing or legal trouble in Ethan's past is suggested by his three-year absence, a large quantity of gold coins in his possession, a Mexican revolutionary war medal that he gives to his young niece Debbie and his refusal to take an oath of allegiance to the Texas Rangers. Shortly after Ethan's arrival, cattle belonging to his neighbor Lars Jorgensen (John Qualen) are stolen, and when Captain Samuel Clayton (Ward Bond) leads Ethan and a group of Rangers to follow the trail, they discover that the theft was a ploy by Comanche to draw the men away from their families. When they return home, they find the Edwards homestead in flames; Aaron, his wife Martha (Dorothy Jordan),and their son Ben (Robert Lyden) dead; and Debbie and her older sister Lucy(Pippa Scott) abducted.

Not my favorite John Wayne western, but its still a classic. Great direction from John Ford, cinematography, I cant really say if it was a first, but its nice to see the Duke playing a sort of anti-hero role. The relationship with the nephew who he refuses to accept as his family and the finale with his lost niece aresome of my favorites elements.