If you were to ask me what, if any, era of cinema I am way, way behind on, I would quickly and without hesitation reply “classic Hollywood cinema of the 30s, 40s and 50s.” Which is why, after admirable persistance from Anna at Defiant Success, I have decided to dedicate the entire month of May to a much-needed boost in my classic movie experience. I have gathered as many titles as I can (mainly from the invaluable 1001 Movies You Must See Before You die book) from this era and have searched vigorously for as many classic films in the English language as I can find. It was not easy to find a lot, but I have found several much-lauded titles that I will, rest assured, be seeing this month. Though I am certainly not limiting this new experience to just the month of May, it will be during this month that I give it particular emphasis. Here are a list of the films I will be watching so far. I have already began the marathon with two movies: Sweet Smell of Success and Bigger than Life, which I’ve seen.
In no order, the titles are:
Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
Bigger than Life (1956)
Modern Times (1936)
The Red Shoes (1948)
The Night of the Hunter (1956)
The Ox-Bow Incident (1943)
The Palm Beach Story (1941)
Stagecoach (1939)
The Searchers (1956)
Brief Encounter (1945)
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967)
It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)
The African Queen (1952)
Seven Days in May (1964)
Shadow of a Doubt (1943)
Notorious (1946)
The 39 Steps (1935)
Rebecca (1940)
His Girl Friday (1940)
My Man Godfrey (1936)
In A Lonely Place (1950)
Touch of Evil (1958)
Gone with the Wind (1939)
Citizen Kane (1941) – REWATCH
Casablanca (1942) – REWATCH
As I add new films to this list, I will update it on this page. As I see each film, it will be crossed out with a line through it. Feel free to make film suggestions in the comments, but don’t if you don’t have to, as I already have way more than I need. Thanks!