Fifty Movies

[valarltd]

I want my children to have a working cinematic vocabulary, one not limited to the latest animated release.

So, my challenge to you, faithful readers, is name 5 movies you consider essential, and are appropriate for ages 8 and up.

Star Wars, Star Trek and Indiana Jones are covered.

On our planned viewing list:
Frankenstein (Karloff)
Dracula (Lugosi)
Young Frankenstein
Robin Hood (Flynn)
Captain Blood
Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
Metropolis
Singing in the Rain

Comments

[brithistorian.livejournal.com]

Phantom of the Opera (Chaney)
The Wizard of Oz
The Sound of Music
The Music Man
The King and I
The Last Starfigher
Tron

At least one movie each by Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, The Mark Brothers, Laurel and Hardy, Abbot and Costello.

Not necessarily at age 8, you should be sure they see at least one Alfred Hitchcock movie other than Psycho (I'd probably choose Rear Window, but North by Northwest or The Man Who Knew Too Much would also be good).

I'd also make sure they've seen at least one John Wayne movie. Better still would be two: One Western and one non-Western. Off the top of my head I'd recommend El Dorado and Hatari!; Rio Bravo and Donovan's Reef would also be good choices.

If they've seen the recent remakes of The Italian Job or Ocean's Eleven, they should also see the originals.

I'm sure as soon as I shut this I'll think of something else, but that should keep you busy for a while.

[amberleewriter.livejournal.com]

Rear Window would be good as a choice because you can also slide it into a "film noir" theme. My other choice of his would be Vertigo because he did some innovative camera and editing work in that one.

The John Wayne movie I love and is never on lists is The Quiet Man. Totally age 8 appropriate and one of the best boxing/fight scenes ever. ^_^

[brithistorian.livejournal.com]

I've never seen Vertigo, even though I suppose I really should have. *edits Netflix queue*

The Quiet Man totally slipped my mind, but that would be a good one to see. (And not just because I think any excuse to watch Maureen O'Hara is a good one.) Which reminds me: They need to see the original The Parent Trap!!!!