You Won’t Believe What You Are Missing!
| Published 10/01/04

 


Graphic by: Joseph Curulla
Ever since I was a young boy, I have loved watching movies. I think this passion came from watching films with my father. On nights when I had nothing to do my dad would say, “Hey Aaron, here’s a film that I think you might like.” Nine times out of ten I really enjoyed the film. The best part of it was that he was showing me films from the 1940s, 50s and 60s and educating me on films from an era that pre-dated my own time. When I talk with my friends about films they always talk about how they grew up with "Dirty Dancing," "Top Gun" and "The Princess Bride." I grew up with these films too, but I also grew up with "Ben-Hur," "The Pink Panther" and "Spartacus." Too often I hear complaints about older films being dull, uneventful and boring.

I especially hate when I hear criticisms about black-and-white films Many of the films from that era are classics and should be treated as such. Most people who say they don’t like black-and-white films have seen maybe one or two in their lifetimes, but there is so much more out there that they are missing. I have taken five films from different eras that include several different genres. I strongly recommend all five of these films to people whom like watching movies or just like being entertained.

(1938) The Adventures of Robin Hood

Starring: Errol Flynn, Olivia deHavilland, Basil Rathbone and Claude Rains

Directed by: Michael Curtiz and William Keighley

This film is the model for every single Robin Hood movie you have ever seen. Virtually every Robin Hood models himself off the look of Errol Flynn in this wonderful picture, which was one of the original films to use the Technicolor film process. The colors are so bright and flamboyant that your eyes can’t resist looking at the magnificent costumes and backgrounds this picture possess. The film is loaded with adventure, romance and some pretty superb fighting sequences for its day. As you watch you will see where all the other Robin Hood directors stole their ideas. For anyone who loves a good classic adventure story, this film is highly recommended.

(1948) The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Walter Huston, Tim Holt and Bruce Bennett

Directed by: John Huston

This film, considered a flop when it was released, has become one of the great films from director John Huston. It was also unique because Bogart’s character was never received well by initial audiences, yet it has been considered one of the best performances of his career. Bogart is the poster child for the anti-hero, and this role is no exception. The film deals with the issues of greed, trust and loyalty. It shows the transformation of people when gold and wealth are thrown into the equation. With all these emotions put together this film has well stood the test of time. It was also triumphant, because both John Houston and his father Walter (who was a supporting actor) won Oscars that year for their work on this film. This father/son Oscar combo is a feat that has never been matched any other time in history.

(1959) Some Like It Hot

Starring: Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon

Directed by: Billy Wilder

This is a classic comedy that everyone should see. Curtis and Lemmon are two musicians who witness a gangland shooting in New York. To help protect them from being caught, they dress up as women in an all-girl jazz band. Their cover seems perfect until they meet the lead singer (Monroe), and they both fall in love with her. This is a comedy with never ending laughs and a good example of the acting abilities of Marilyn Monroe. For anyone who likes cross-dressing males and romantic comedies, this is the film for you.

(1963) The Great Escape

Starring: Steve McQueen, James Gardner and Richard Attenborough

Directed by: John Sturges

For all you lovers of adventure and war dramas, this film is for you. The Great Escape is the story of a group of Allied prisoners in World War II, who are considered the greatest escape artists in captivity. The Germans thought it would be best to “put all their eggs in one basket.” In doing this they designed an “escape proof” prison to put all these eggs in; too bad these eggs were ready to hatch. The story tells of the miraculous escape from this fool-proof prison. Some of the characters might be altered, but the way the actually escape is performed is how it was documented by the men who survived it. This film keeps your attention from beginning to end, and it shows what teamwork and cooperation can do in a pressure situation.

(1969) Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Starring: Paul Newman, Robert Redford and Katharine Ross

Directed by: George Roy Hill

My final selection takes place in the old west. Based on the life of two train robbers, this film takes you through the lives of Butch and Sundance. This is not your typical western, but one that truly illustrates the power of friendship and how far two people are willing to go to get what they want. Filled with action and humor, it is one western that should not be overlooked.

I encourage anyone reading this article to check out these films. There are hours and hours of entertainment that I am continually being introduced to all the time. I hope that now I can do the same to you. Don’t look at older films as outdated, but as inspiration for many of the more recent films we have come to love over the past couple decades.

 

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