Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Older movies that shouldn't be missed...

This is topic Older movies that shouldn't be missed... in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://ft-forum.com/ft/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=000917

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 04-29-2000, 04:31 AM:

I was training a new projectionist the other day (he's 18 years old) and we were chatting about movies and such. I got on to some older titles and asked if he'd seen them to which he answered "No."

This got me thinking about how many movies there were that I really liked, even loved from the seventies and eighties that these guys wouldn't ever know about unless someone like you or I told them about them. This way, maybe they'll take the time to rent them from the video store, or if they turn up on the rep circuit...

It may be a blockbuster of its time or an obscure title that came and went in the blink of an eye, but would be worth a look to prove to these guys that good movies were made in those days which didn't necessarily have the words 'Star' or 'Wars' in the title and were not linked to Steven Spielberg.

So, here's my list...

Top Secret, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, The Deerhunter, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, The Right Stuff, The Conversation, The Taking Of Pelham 1-2-3, Three Days Of The Condor, Deliverence, Airplane, The Little Girl Who Lives Down The Lane, The Goodbye Girl, American Graffiti, Smokey and the Bandit, The Towering Inferno, Airport, The Spy Who Loved Me, For Your Eyes Only, Trading Places, The Killing Fields, Rocky, Romancing The Stone, Breaking Away, Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

OK, so I was kidding with the last one. Which others would you recommend?

------------------
"It's not the years honey, it's the mileage".
Indiana Jones.

Posted by Dwayne Caldwell (Member # 417) on 04-29-2000, 05:17 AM:

From the seventies, I'd recommend Godfathers I and II, Rocky, The Marathon Man, Jaws, Apocalyse Now, and Mad Max. I still haven't seen the classics Chinatown and All the President's Men, and I need to rent them when I can actually remember to do so.

As far as the eighties go, I enjoyed First Blood, Dogs of War, Superman II, Life of Brian (though I wouldn't recommend it to any religious buffs out there), Real Genius, Fright Night (both mid eighties), and of course The Terminator. And those are just movies off the top of my head as far as those decades go.

------------------
The man with the magic hands.

Posted by Martin Frandsen (Member # 74) on 04-29-2000, 05:34 AM:

Here's mine:

Kelly's Heros, The Poseidon Adventure, Oliver, Earthquake, A Bridge To Far, The Blue Lagoon, Flashdance, Blue Thunder, Octopussy, The Bear, Ghostbusters, Gremlins, The Killing Fields, The Last Starfighter, The Goonies, Dirty Dancing, Pale Rider, Silverado, The Fly, The Breakfast Club, Top Gun, Good Morning Vietnam, Robocop, Stakeout, Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

What great films!

I'm happy that i am not a teenager today, geez in 20 years they will be talking about great movies from the nineties, they will say 'Do you remember The Mummy, wow it was cool!'

------------------
It's the new small talk. You do it so awfully well! - My Fair Lady

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 04-29-2000, 11:18 AM:

Hey John! "Sgt. Peppers" was the first movie I ever heard in Dolby Stereo optical. Since disco was still big in those days, my circle of friends enjoyed seeing the Bee Gees in that picture, too. It will always hold a special meaning for me. But I agree, though, the movie was a real stinker.

(Yes, I had a couple of polyester suits back then, too!)

------------------
Better Projection Pays!

Posted by Jeff Stricker (Member # 224) on 04-29-2000, 03:45 PM:

Some great Films with Dustin Hoffman need to be on the list:

The Graduate
Papillon
Tootsie
Rain Man (One of my all time favs. - "I'm
excellent driver ---- Dad lets me drive
slow and on the driveway, only on
Saturdays")

Posted by Ky Boyd (Member # 23) on 04-29-2000, 08:11 PM:

Ok, here's my list:

Bringing Up Baby, The Philadelphia Story, To Have and Have Not, The Big Sleep (not the "restoration with added footage"), Breakfast at Tiffany's, Cabaret, What's Up Doc?, Diva, Cinema Paradiso, The Man in the Moon (not the recent Jim Carrey pic), Like Water For Chocolate, Strictly Ballroom, A Room With A View, Belle Epoque, To Catch A Thief, Rear Window, The Trouble With Harry, Notorious, Suspicion, Dial M For Murder (in 3-D), Vertigo, Psycho, Frenzy, Family Plot, Still of the Night, After Life, Lone Star, The Celluloid Closet, Victor Victoria, Bob Roberts

Yes its a very eclectic list and written totally stream of conscious with no particular order.

Posted by George Roher (Member # 91) on 04-29-2000, 10:51 PM:

I'd recommend anything with Peter Sellers. The Party, Being There, The Pink Panther films, and The Smallest Show on Earth. You gotta love a film that makes fun of the idea of a theatre running without a projectionist.

I'd also recommend most of Woody Allen's stuff from the 70's. And I must mention the best film of the 80's, Blade Runner. A lot of other good films have already been mentioned.

Posted by Scott Magie (Member # 368) on 04-30-2000, 12:10 AM:

I'd just like to give a heartfelt "Amen!" to the aforementioned films, (except for Like Water for Chocolate).
A special even more heartfelt "Amen!" to the following:
The Conversation
Apocalypse Now
The Godfather
The Holy Grail
Good Morning Vietnam
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Rain Man
Cabaret

To add a few of my own...
The Princess Bride
Honey, I shrunk the Kids (I'm not joking)
On the Waterfront (a bit older, but...)
Raging Bull
Field of Dreams
Hoosiers
The Sting
Chariots of Fire
Annie Hall
Rear Window
Scent of a Woman

and I'm sorry, but I must list a few 90's movies that I think alot of people missed...

The Hudsucker Proxy
Dead Man Walking
The Rocketeer (the most overlooked film ever!
October Sky
Crimson Tide
Red Rock West
Rounders
Everyone says I Love You
The Player
Fargo (everyone saw it, but I gotta list it)
Braveheart (ditto)

Okay, I better stop before the sun comes up.

------------------
Scott A. Magie

scoooot@hotmail.com
"Anybody wanna peanut?"

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 04-30-2000, 03:44 AM:

quote:
Originally posted by Tim Reed:
(Yes, I had a couple of polyester suits back then, too!)

Tim, this may interest you then.

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=316262853

PS. How's the drive-in site going?

------------------
"It's not the years honey, it's the mileage".
Indiana Jones.

Posted by Chris Wootten (Member # 283) on 04-30-2000, 06:48 AM:

What about the classics.....???

Like Ghengis Khan, Lawrence of Arabia, Dr. Zhivago etc.......to mention only a few..

------------------
"I luv the smell of napalm in tha mornin !" :D

Keep Smiling......Chris

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 04-30-2000, 10:50 AM:

I still think all trainees should have to run Sound of Music in 70mm on reels so they learn about timing the famous changeover from reel one-two in the middle of a song

Posted by Sara Serine Orton (Member # 208) on 04-30-2000, 02:09 PM:

Peter Sellers.... ummmm....! I've always wondered if anyone else in the world has either A. Seen What's New Pussycat and B. Thinks it's one of the funniest movies ever?

Posted by Ari Nordström (Member # 288) on 04-30-2000, 03:22 PM:

"Ben Hur", in 70mm.
"2001", in 70mm.
"Spartacus", in 70mm.
"West Side Story", in 70mm.

You'll get the idea.

Posted by Ari Nordström (Member # 288) on 04-30-2000, 03:29 PM:

I always end up recommending two 80's films that I love but nobody else seems to: "Tin Men" and "Milagro". And oh yes, "Amadeus", if I have to pick a third title from that decade.

Among older titles, "Citizen Kane", always "Citizen Kane". It's gotta be one of the most amazing films ever made.

Posted by Dwayne Caldwell (Member # 417) on 04-30-2000, 08:39 PM:

I completely forgot about Aliens! That movie is to me what Raiders is to John Wilson. And I was thinking about FX (87) with Bryan Brown and Brian Dennehy earlier today. I'd definitely recommend that one as well.

"Get away from her you BITCH!"

------------------
The man with the magic hands.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 05-01-2000, 10:55 AM:

Wow...I see that this is going to be a long thread...

I'm listing mostly "big" movies here and am leaving out a lot of foreign and independent titles that are worthwhile viewing, but aren't as "essential" for cultural references as these. I'm also only listing titles that I've personally seen in 35mm or 70mm in the last few years (to give reasonable assurance that prints are available, or at least were available recently).

Off the top of my head--silents: "Trip to the Moon" (short), "Birth of a Nation", "Napoleon", bunch of others. pre-widescreen-sound-films: "It Happened One Night," "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," "Casablanca", "Citizen Kane" (of course), "M", "Robin Hood," and a bunch of others.

'50s and '60s widescreen titles: "Rebel w/o a Cause," "Lawrence," "Dr. Zhivago," "Ben Hur," "2001," "The Graduate," "Bonnie & Clyde," "Contempt," "Alphaville," and a bunch of others.

'70s/'80s: "Godfather I & II," "Dog Day Afternoon," "Blade Runner," "Star Wars" (all three), "Brazil," "Last Emperor," too many others to list.

'90s: "Schindler's List," "32 Short Films About Glenn Gould" (a personal favorite), big list of others that I don't have time to type right now.

Posted by Jason R. Weinsteiger (Member # 456) on 05-01-2000, 11:14 AM:

don't forget my favorite - Highlander!

jasoN

p.s. i'm new here, everyone welcome me!

------------------
"That's what life is - a series of down endings. All Jedi had was a bunch of muppets." -Dante Hicks

Posted by John Walsh (Member # 168) on 05-01-2000, 02:31 PM:

Scott's right: It would be pretty hard to list every film you like. Even within a catagory, (say action films) you might like several different films for different reasons. 25 years ago, there were only a few catagories, (action, drama, "love-story," etc.) and films that we would treat seperate now, got lumped together. I remember when, "Star Wars" and "Close Encounter" were both out, and even reviewers were saying, "They are much the same; they're both sci-fi.." Today, people have no problem defining their favorite film in sub-catagories, (sci-fi-horror (Alien) etc.) Some of my own fav's:

Silents: Anything Keaton, esp. General, Steamboat Bill, The Playhouse (a short.) Of course, every projectionist must see Sherlock Jr.

1930's: Gone WTW; Rebecca, Scarface, Fugitive from a Chain Gang, Invisible Man, Grand Illusion, Great Expectations, most of those Warner gangster films.

1940's: White Heat, Casablanca (..."broading your horizons, Louie?"), Citizen Kane (In a first-year film class, the teacher passed out a questionire to us. At the top it said, "Please list your favorite films besides Citizen Kane.") Dambusters, The Maltese Falcon, Sahara (the one with Bogart)

1950's: North by NW, Caine Mutiny, We're No Angels, African Queen, Rainmaker. (I hate musicals, especially MGM musicals!)

1960's: Birdman of Alcatraz, Dr.Strangelove, 2001, The Secret of Santa Vittoria, MMMM World, A Funny Thing Happened.., The Russians Are Coming...

1970's: Sleuth, The Man Who Would Be King, The Wind and the Lion, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, Apocalypse Now, Manhattan, The Godfather (the edited TV version,) CE3K (first film I saw in 70mm.)

1980's: Being There, The Verdict, "Raging Bull" (The 80's Citizen Kane) The Last Emperor, The Mission, Places in the Heart (sappy, but I liked it..) Raising Arizona, Miller's Crossing, GoodFellas, Field of Dreams, Broadway Danny Rose.

1990's: Fargo, True Romance, (the best 90's "B" movie) Crimson Tide, Forest Gump, Apollo 13, more..more..!

A slightly funny story: We ran Apollo 13. A guy who is local acted in it. So, for a little local advertising, we asked him to come and give a little speech at the opening, which he does. During his speech, a patron asks him what role he plays. He says; "I'm on the ship, when they get back." The patron and several people groan, and complain to him; 'You've given away the plot ending.' He looks at the patron and says; "But...it's a true story...didn't you know?" The patron stammers: "Oh,.. ah,.. yes.. I knew, but I didn't want it spoiled for other people..."

Posted by Ari Nordström (Member # 288) on 05-01-2000, 03:16 PM:

Just thought of another great eighties title: "Bull Durham". Wonderful film, even for those of us that never watch baseball.

Posted by Dwayne Caldwell (Member # 417) on 05-02-2000, 02:09 AM:

Welcome Jason! Sounds like someone's a Clerks fan. I can think of another good baseball movie, late eighties, that I enjoy very much. Major League. That was before Wesley Snipes developed the attitude. But the sequels suck. I didn't even watch the third one.

------------------
The man with the magic hands.

Posted by Bryan Redemske (Member # 354) on 05-02-2000, 07:37 AM:

everybody else is naming shows, why not me?

The best EVER* - Saving Private Ryan (not old, but awesome)
-Apollo 13 - i wish i could have seen it in a stadium auditorim with digital sound
- Tombstone - ditto above
- Field of Dreams, Bull Durham, the Natural
- Rain Man
- Monty Python and the Holy Grrrrrail.
- Rebel Without a Cause (ever notice how the end of that sounds A LOT like the end of 'Nights in White Satin' by the Moody Blues?
- Shawshank Redemption
- Green Mile (not old, i know)
- Back to the Future
- oh, the Karate Kid - just because i was young and it was pretty sweet

*views expressed here do not express the views of anyone in Iowa except me. except for the heaven and iowa thing in Field of Dreams.

Posted by Jason R. Weinsteiger (Member # 456) on 05-02-2000, 10:42 AM:

quote:
Originally posted by Dwayne Caldwell:
Welcome Jason! Sounds like someone's a Clerks fan. I can think of another good baseball movie, late eighties, that I enjoy very much. Major League. That was before Wesley Snipes developed the attitude. But the sequels suck. I didn't even watch the third one.

thanks! Yes, i'm a Kevin Smith fan, and Clerks is definitely my favorite. Major League was a great film..i'd love to get a print of that. Shame the sequels were so terrible.

------------------
"That's what life is - a series of down endings. All Jedi had was a bunch of muppets." -Dante Hicks

Posted by Bryan Redemske (Member # 354) on 05-02-2000, 12:30 PM:

ugh...major league...i'm a big baseball guy, and i thought that movie was funny. once. maybe twice. it was so damn predictable, and no way the baseball looks anything like it's supposed to. i'm not saying the action is perfect in the other movies i picked, but it's better than here. for instance, Serrano - the big Jobu guy - never would have made it to the bigs. not even for Cleveland in the late 1980's. if you can't hit a curve, that's all they'll throw. Snipes looked good. Berenger looked okay. sort of. Bernsen looked okay. just..not good. ugh. it's nowhere in the league of Bull Durham, but that's not the point. i'm done now. what was the quesiton again?

Posted by Dwayne Caldwell (Member # 417) on 05-06-2000, 09:28 PM:

Funny. I must have liked the movie because I'm not a big baseball guy. Thought of another title. 1978. The Boys from Brazil. Gregory Peck, Sir Laurence Olivier. The movie might have been Steve Guttenberg's first to appear in, but he has a bit part. And it has the main Nazi commander from Raiders playing a Nazi henchman. Very good film. Also has one of Jerry Goldsmith's best scores. The main title theme is this really cool waltz. And there's this death scene (the victim is falling a couple of hundred feet) that has one of the most chilling screams I've ever heard on screen.

------------------
The man with the magic hands.

Posted by John Walsh (Member # 168) on 05-06-2000, 10:20 PM:

Only problem with "The Boys from Brazil" was the lousy acting by the kid.

Posted by Dwayne Caldwell (Member # 417) on 05-07-2000, 01:52 AM:

Well I guess with two actors like Olivier and Peck in a film together, something's gotta give.

------------------
The man with the magic hands.

Posted by Mitchell Cope (Member # 32) on 05-07-2000, 05:55 AM:

I haven't seen anyone list "To Kill A Mockingbird". This is a real classic from the 60s.

Posted by Dwayne Caldwell (Member # 417) on 05-08-2000, 07:24 AM:

Oh yeah! Evel Knievel with George Hamilton (1972). Really liked that one. Two of my favorite lines from that were:

"We better double our guard. We got Evel Knievel and Awful Knofful." And

"Every man makes his mark. YOURS will be on the north wall."

Okay. I'm sorry. I'll let this thing go. Wouldn't want anyone to think I'm posting freebies like our old friend Alan Brandt.

------------------
The man with the magic hands.

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 05-09-2000, 05:47 PM:

Another one's just come up... "Moonstruck".

I've got a 16mm of this and every couple of years it gets the full treatment... Living room full of friends...Pasta...Red wine...and Moonstruck...Fantastic!

If you haven't seen it lately, re-visit it soon.

"YOU'VE GOT A LOVE BITE ON YOUR NECK! YOUR LIFE'S GOING DOWN THE TOILET!"

------------------
"It's not the years honey, it's the mileage".
Indiana Jones.