Introduction
This part of the site is very
much a labour of love for me. It is my attempt to present the top 200
greatest films ever made. I must emphasise the word attempt as everyone
knows there is no such thing as a definitive list. I hope at least this
will be an aid to those of you new to classic film. Part of the
idea is to point you in the right direction.
Those of you who take issue with my choices or the order before putting your foot through the computer screen might like to take a few minutes to read how I arrived at this list and its order. First of all I must admit to an extent it is an arbitrary process, what titles you choose can change from day to day. It may well be that in a few years time I'll revise this list quite a lot, I may add more films, alter the order. So much is dictated not just by the films you've seen but by the films you haven't. I try to keep my mind open to variety but we all have prejudices. My favourite genres are comedies and musicals, I'm weakest I would say on horror films and weepies. All that will be reflected here.
There are a few rules I've tried to follow as far as possible. Although this site is primarily about classic cinema I do believe there have been some great films made in the last forty years. Roughly a third of the list is post 1960 that ratio is right, classics are still dominant particularly from the era of classic Hollywood. I've tried to be international too though my experience of foreign language films has been limited I've enjoyed many I've seen. Basically I believe in variety, yes some names appear a few times on this list but hopefully I've not went overboard. You could for instance argue for a top 10 which contains all Hitchcock films but it wouldn't be very balanced.
A few points about my criteria for the choices. Most importantly a film must function on some level as entertainment but there are so many ways to be entertained. Some great films are tough to watch but a tell tale sign of an all time classic is that it improves with repeated viewing. Hopefully you'll be surprised by some of the films I've included and some I've missed out though in the main I agree with the critics. The critical reputation of a film is usually quite a good guide to its worth, except for titles withheld from public view.
I love classic films and don't find the best of them dated. The very best might maintain a surface for example Thirties mentality but they encapsulate a feeling that transcends time. There is something to be said for viewing a film from the perspective of its intended audience. I've taken into account the context of the times and there is merit in innovation but that alone isn't enough. You can't say a film is great if it became outdated a year after it was made even if it was revolutionary, context can also be misleading, there are a few sleepers in this list, films neglected at the time but classics now. I consider one standard across time, you are viewing the film in 2005 and can't forget that fact. To make allowances for the quaintness of old films or the flashiness of new is unfair and insulting to them both.
Enjoy the countdown, come over to the messageboard and tell me what films I've missed or underrated.
Those of you who take issue with my choices or the order before putting your foot through the computer screen might like to take a few minutes to read how I arrived at this list and its order. First of all I must admit to an extent it is an arbitrary process, what titles you choose can change from day to day. It may well be that in a few years time I'll revise this list quite a lot, I may add more films, alter the order. So much is dictated not just by the films you've seen but by the films you haven't. I try to keep my mind open to variety but we all have prejudices. My favourite genres are comedies and musicals, I'm weakest I would say on horror films and weepies. All that will be reflected here.
There are a few rules I've tried to follow as far as possible. Although this site is primarily about classic cinema I do believe there have been some great films made in the last forty years. Roughly a third of the list is post 1960 that ratio is right, classics are still dominant particularly from the era of classic Hollywood. I've tried to be international too though my experience of foreign language films has been limited I've enjoyed many I've seen. Basically I believe in variety, yes some names appear a few times on this list but hopefully I've not went overboard. You could for instance argue for a top 10 which contains all Hitchcock films but it wouldn't be very balanced.
A few points about my criteria for the choices. Most importantly a film must function on some level as entertainment but there are so many ways to be entertained. Some great films are tough to watch but a tell tale sign of an all time classic is that it improves with repeated viewing. Hopefully you'll be surprised by some of the films I've included and some I've missed out though in the main I agree with the critics. The critical reputation of a film is usually quite a good guide to its worth, except for titles withheld from public view.
I love classic films and don't find the best of them dated. The very best might maintain a surface for example Thirties mentality but they encapsulate a feeling that transcends time. There is something to be said for viewing a film from the perspective of its intended audience. I've taken into account the context of the times and there is merit in innovation but that alone isn't enough. You can't say a film is great if it became outdated a year after it was made even if it was revolutionary, context can also be misleading, there are a few sleepers in this list, films neglected at the time but classics now. I consider one standard across time, you are viewing the film in 2005 and can't forget that fact. To make allowances for the quaintness of old films or the flashiness of new is unfair and insulting to them both.
Enjoy the countdown, come over to the messageboard and tell me what films I've missed or underrated.
The Countdown
Begins Here !
200
200
Written content copyright Derek McLellan,2005.
Copyright © The Fedora Chronicles
Casablanca poster from
http://www.filmsite.org/