60's Top 10 Films

[Woo]

Okay I have been putting this list off for far too long. Mainly because my lack of knowledge about 60's films is shameful.


10. Bullitt

I am not sure how good this film really is- if it weren't for the car chase it would be very forgettable.... but that's like saying if Jurassic Park didn't have dinosaurs it wouldn't be as good. It's irrelevant- the car chase IS there and what a chase it is! Steve McQueen was born for this part and did his own stunts legend has it.

9. My Fair Lady

Yes I can see you laughing at me for this, but screw it, I love this film. Rex Harrison was great and of course Audrey Hepburn was perfect... even if she didn't do her own singing. She wanted to do it, but they didn't let her. This would easily be my favourite musical ever, full of brilliant scenes, quotes and songs.

8. Night of the Living Dead

I am sure Metal will explain why this film is so great in his own top 10 assuming he does one... (it will surely make your list Metal?), but I'll just say that it gave birth to zombie and that's reason enough.

7. Thunderball

There may have been better Bond films and ones without horribly long water battles, but I love this one, in fact it edges out Dr. No for a place in my top 10. Not sure why though...



In all seriousness the best thing about this film isn't the lovely Bond girl Domino pictured above (she couldn't even speak English), but the femme fatale of the piece Fiona Volpe- pictured below. The scene where Bond catches her in the bath and she asks him to hand her some clothes so she can cover up and Sean Connery casually hands her a pair of shoes is classic. Her death is one of the funniest moments in all 22 films also- "Do you mind if my friend sits this dance out? She's just...dead." I could go on for ages, but "I think you get the point" *fires an harpoon at an unexpected goon.*



Sadly this would be the last great Sean bond film.

6. Once Upon A Time In The West

"How can you trust a man who wears both a belt and braces? He can't even trust his own pants!" is one of my favourite movie quotes and this also has one of my favourite taglines in film "There were three men in her life. One to take her... one to love her... and one to kill her." It also has Charles Bronson playing the iconic "Harmonica". Sergio Leone did what should have been impossible and made a film that rivals his 1966 cowboy classic..... more on that later.

5. From Russia With Love

I'm a Bond mark- sue me. The critics would tell you this is the best Bond of all time and you can see why. Great story- check. Great Villain- check (Rosa Clebb and her spike tipped shoe). Great henchman- CHECK, Robert Shaw's Red Grant is the best of all time... that being said this is the 2nd best 007 film on my list...

4. The Good The Bad & The Ugly

The 2nd Leone film here! Clint Eastwood is just so effortlessly cool here (who do you think is cooler, him or McQueen? Hmmm) and this is quite easily the best of the "Dollars Trilogy). There are many people in the world- those who have guns, those who dig and those like Sergio & Eastwood are just perfect film makers.

3. Goldfinger

This is probably the best 007 movie of all time for the following reasons- Auric Goldfinger, Oddjob, Pussy Galore, The Aston Martin, Shirley Eaton painted gold, Shirley Bassey's theme song, Bond emerging from the sea in a wet suit before revealing a perfectly ironed tuxedo underneath and "You expect me to talk?" "No Mr. Bond I expect you to die!"

Only The Spy Who Loved Me has come close to beating Goldfinger on the perfect "Bond Formula" and unlike that one Goldfinger's villain is awesome.

2. Psycho

How can it not be No.1!?! I dunno, but it came very close. The most famous scene in cinema history needs no introduction to anybody, but it's Anthony Perkins who steals this. What a creepy son of a bitch that guy is.


1. The Great Escape

McQueen and Bronson are on my list again joined by an all star cast including Donald Pleasence, Richard Attenborough and Gordon Jackson amongst others. This Christmas classic is brilliantly tense as you really grow to love the 20 or so main characters who break out and want them all to get away and you aren't sure of which ones will or which ones won't be so lucky. It's a real feel-good film despite most of the characters winding up being murdered. Never before has throwing a ball against a wall seemed so heroic as it does in the final scene here.

If only that Aussie prick didn't fuck it all up the may have all escaped...

[MetalBlade]

Nice list, Woo.
Here's mine.

10. The Boston Strangler
This was possibly the most unique film of the 60's, utilising split screen technology which today is popularised on TV by 24. This basically shows the demented sex murders of Albert De Salv, expertly played against type by Tony Curtis, playing alongside the forensic investigation and subsequent manhunt for the killer.
Sure, it is common knowledge today that De Salvo likely was not The Strangler afterall, but this film is one of the best examples which paved the way for the likes of the aforementioned 24, and procedural crime thriller such as Zodiac.
An undiscovered classic in my opinion.

9. The Devil Rides Out
How could I have a Top Ten Films Of The 60's list without including that icon of horror Christopher Lee. Ironically, here Lee plays the worldly hero Duke De Richleau, who uncovers the dastardly satanic plot of Charles Gray.
It's really one of the best book adaptations (from the novel by occult master Dennis Wheatley) and includes several terrifying scenes - one in particular when a demonic negro is cunjured up as the heroic trio take refuge in a circle of salt drawn on the floor of Gray's satanic mansion.
That scene gave me fucking nightmares. It is a truly scary movie.

8. The Italian Job
I've lost count how many times I've seen this. It's one of my favourite comedy thrillers ever. Why the fuck was it not in Woo's list, I have no idea...
Benny Hill almost spoils it, but Noel Coward and especially the splendid Michael Caine make this film one of my fondest childhood memories.
And the car chase scenes are better than Bullitt.

7. Night Of The Living Dead
Yes, Woo, I could not make a top ten list which omitted this classic.
Whilst it is not the greatest horror film ever made by a long shot -it's not even the greatest zombie movie ever made - it still makes for grisly viewing.
I know we've all read so much about the film's impact, but I can only imagine the horror when this film was first released on the unsuspecting public. The visceral gore scenes at the end must have been the most disgusting thing ever seen in the cinema at that time.

6. Point Blank
When I saw this as a kid, it was the most violent thing I'd ever seen on the TV, and it is largely what inspired my love of crime thrillers such as Reservoir Dogs. It's brutal action sequences and great scenes set in Alcatraz remain some of my earliest movie memories. Awesome.

5. Hell In The Pacific
Marvin's finest hour as far as I'm concerned. This is also one of my favourite war movies ever, even though it's not really about war, but peace and survival. Kurosawa regular Toshiro Mifune excels as the Japanese survivor who just can't seem to get along with the shipwrecked American.
I love films like this, when people must overcome personal obstacles whilst at the same time fighting the forces of nature.
A brilliant charcter study. If I had the inclination, I would rewrite this as a play, such are the strength of the characters.

4. Once Upon A Time In The West
It had to be here. Such a classic movie must make most people's top ten, whether they like westerns or not.
I consider this to be Sergio Leone's masterpiece, even though I prefer his Dollars Trilogy from a purely personal point of view.
Also, another great film once again made greater by the magnificent Ennio Morricone score.

3. Witchfinder General
Vincent Price's most menacing performance is both over the top, and extremely unsettling to watch. Sure, the film is a little camp in places, especially with the sickeningly sugary hero in Ian Ogilvy, but Price more than makes up for any shortfall in quality with a towering performance of pure evil.

2. Spartacus
This is almost Kubrick's best film, and is certainly my favourite Kirk Douglas film. It is also I believe the greatest biblical epic ever.
Strangely, this film marks the second appearance of Tony Curtis, whom I never really rated as an actor, other than his standout role in The Boston Strangler.

1. The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
The best of the trilogy, but not by far, as For A Few Dollars More is very nearly as good.
It's just that this one has a much more sprawling adventure style storyline, with extremely strong characterizations and possibly the greatest film score of all time.
I elected only to include one film of the trilogy in order that I can include other films, otherwise they would occupy the top three spots. Probably.

[Woo]

Ah the Italian Job...... yeah I just forgot about it....

The Boston Strangler is a great movie! I caught it late on night and was like "what's this?..... What the hell is Tony Curtis doing?!!"

For some reason I liked For A Few Dollars More the least out of the three.

[EZD]

Fuck Sergio Leone. I sat through all three of those shitty movies for nothing. The only thing they did for me was make me want a cigar. Dammit, now I want a cigar. Thanks, Woo.

[Hellion]

Man, Sergio Leone is a legend. His films are perfect, if you ignore the dubbing. Some people might find them slow or boring, but I think they are brilliantly paced. He built tension like no other. I can't be bothered doing a list for this at the moment, but I would have put Once upon a time in the west #1. I do love the dollars trilogy, but Ennio Morricone's scoring has never been so brilliant as that final scene in once upon a time. The payoff when you find out why Bronson plays the harmonica is exceptional.