My Top Ten Classic Movies

I love classic film. Here are some of my personal favorites.

10. Love in the Afternoon (1957)

Via imdb.com

This movie stars Audrey Hepburn and Gary Cooper. Hepburn usually starred opposite men who were much older than her and in this case it was no different. However, this was a part of the movie, as Hepburn's character, Arianne, a young girl who lives in Pairs with her father, tricks a famous playboy into thinking she is just as "worldly" as he is. Cooper's character falls for it, and becomes infatuated with Hepburn. It creates for some really engaging dialogue and entertainment for the audience as Hepburn goes to great lengths to keep up her secret.

9. Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

Via en.wikipedia.org

This is a Judy Garland classic. Garland stars as a young girl in love with her new neighbor and spends the first half of the movie getting his attention. She mourns that he is oblivious to him in the first song "The Boy Next Door." They spend the remainder of the movie falling in love, and maintaining that through small social disasters like forgetting to pick up a tux so that Garland has no date for the Christmas party. This movie gives us the holiday favorite "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" which Garland sings to her upset sister in the film. Garland's iconic voice and the adorable plot make this movie musical one of my all time favorite films.

8. An Affair to Remember (1957)

Via en.wikipedia.org

Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr star is this remake of the 1939 film, Love Affair. Grant and Kerr play two people who are engaged to other people, but are traveling on the same boat to New York City. They begin to fall in love while on this trip, unbeknownst to their respective partners, but arrange to make a life together when they land. Things go wrong when Kerr is unable to make their meeting. You find this movie reference in the Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks classic Sleepless in Seattle. I think that this is on of the most romantic movies I've watched, as the characters are truly willing to sacrifice everything to be together, with Grant giving up the money he would have from marrying his original betrothed, and Kerr giving up a comfortable life as the wife of a successful business man. They also give stellar performances as dedicated lovers. Also, Vic Damone singing "Our Love Affair" at the beginning really makes me melt!

7. The Heiress (1949)

Via en.wikipedia.org

Olivia de Havilland and Montgomery Clift star in this film as almost star-cross lovers. De Havilland plays an awkward girl with a fortune and Clift plays a charming young man with no money, and whose love her father seriously doubts. In my opinion, this is one of de Havilland's best performances. Between scenes opposite Clift that show a young yet fragile passion, and scenes where she confronts her father on the realities of her situation, de Havilland shows a real depth of talent. Also, the ending of this film makes it for me, as de Havilland's character disregards the needs of her father and Clift, becoming a hardened woman. It makes the movie so real and you also really respect de Havilland's character for it.

6. Singin' in the Rain (1952)

Via en.wikipedia.org

This is honestly the greatest musical probably ever. Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and Donald O'Connor star in this film about a trio trying to save a movie in the era where "talkies" were replacing silent films. The best part of this movie is the musical numbers. Kelly apparently did the famous "Singin' in the Rain" scene while he had a fever of over 100 degrees. "Make 'Em Laugh" had O'Connor bruised and tired, but he did it perfectly. Debbie Reynolds could already sing before the film, but she had to train hard in dance to measure up to Kelly's perfectionist standards. It all came together to make one iconic musical.

5. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)

Via en.wikipedia.org

Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman are an unhappily married couple in this movie, based on the Tennessee Williams play. It shows a family feuding over what will happen to the patriarch, Big Daddy. Taylor and Newman's marriage has a cloud over it due to the death of Newman's best friend. Taylor tries desperately to get her husband back and to be a couple again, but his pain is too deep. The movie is brilliant to me because a lot of people struggle to watch a movie that basically takes place in one room, but that was because it was based on a play. However, the actors made this work. Every interaction between the characters was strong and meaningful. It was also pretty risque for the screen at the time because of sexual references. This movie is up here for me because I love the depth of the plot and how powerful each scene was.

4. The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

Via en.wikipedia.org

This movie was the original You've Got Mail. Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullivan star as the unknowing lovers, who don't like each other in real life. Through anonymous letters, they actually fall in love, they just don't know it is with each other. This version is actually a holiday film (which adds to the appeal for me because I love the holidays), but I just think it's so sweet. It's a perfect little heartwarming story.

3. Sabrina (1954)

Via en.wikipedia.org

I love, love, love Audrey Hepburn! She has a bit of a coming-of-age/Cinderella story in this film, where she stars with William Holden and Humphrey Bogart. She starts off in love with Holden, who is brothers with Bogart. Bogart's character interferes with the love because Holden is supposed to marry another girl who will help further their family business. However, Bogart finds himself charmed by Hepburn as well. I think this is such an underrated film for Hepburn. She plays a very sad, hopelessly in love girl in the beginning, and grows into a smart and elegant woman by the end. Bogart was apparently not great to work with for the film, as he thought he was too old for the role and was therefore not very patient with Hepburn since she had trouble remembering lines and required several takes. But by the time it was over, they had only kind things to say about one another. I love this film because of the charm of Hepburn's character and that we get to hear her sing La Vie en Rose.

2. Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)

Via en.wikipedia.org

My Audrey Hepburn love is really showing in this list, huh? I know this is her most iconic role, and I see why. This film is a classic. Hepburn stars opposite George Peppard in this film, and they both play prostitutes. It was very subtle though, as such matters had to be in those days. I love that about this film. I also love the non-traditional love story it tells. These two people are so alike, yet so different, but they make such a complicated and wonderful pair. The performances of both Hepburn and Peppard make it great as well. It ends with what is considered one of the most romantic kisses of all time, Hepburn and Peppard in the rain. Not to mention, it also gave us a beautiful song (and one of my personal favorites) "Moon River" by Henry Mancini.

1. Gone With the Wind (1939)

Via en.wikipedia.org

I know this movie is super famous, but it is still my favorite classic film. It was one of the first classic films I ever saw. The tale of Scarlett O'Hara doing literally whatever it takes to save herself and the things she loves is really inspiring, especially when the backdrop is the Civil War. The stars, Vivien Leigh, Olivia de Havilland, Clark Gable, and Leslie Howard all deliver perfect performances in their roles. I love the soundtrack, the stars, the script, everything about this movie I love. It was the first film to be totally in color, it got the first Oscar to go to an African American. Everything about this movie is iconic. It's been one of my favorites since I was kid, and it will definitely stay there.

Honorable Mentions

More movies that aren't going to get detail but that everyone should at least watch: It's a Wonderful Life (1946), The Philadelphia Story (1940), High Society (1956), To Each His Own (1946), The Strawberry Blonde (1941), Anna Karenina (1948), Roman Holiday (1953), Casablanca (1942), Rebel Without a Cause (1955), An American in Paris (1951). All of these are also classics.