Trying to start an old movie collection?

Question

I am trying to start an old movie collection. I am 26 so i don't know much about old movies, just the ones i catch on TCM. I am looking for movies on DVD because i do not have a VHS anymore. Any recommendations for good old movies to start my collection. I already have Breakfast At Tiffany's, Roman Holiday, and Suddenly Last Summer. I am about to order Funny Face and I already have many Shirley Temple Movies. I am not into war movies. Just love stories, musicals, comedy and horror. Remember i need DVD'S so please help. I am also adding a master bedroom in my home and would like to decorate my room in Classic movie theme, but i would like to know the movies and the people that i decorate with. Thanks for the help. The most info gets the best answer!

Answer 1

Hi!

I certainly agree with all of Sharkey's list. Others that you should get (in no particular order) are:

Sabrina
(Since you already have Roman Holiday and Breakfast at Tiffany's, perhaps you're a fan of Ms. Hepburn like myself? This is one of my all-time favourites and with the perfect cast, all of which were Oscar-winners prior to the film(Audrey Hepburn for Roman Holiday, Humphrey Bogart for The African Queen and William Holden fofr Stalag-17), it willl be one of yours too!)

The Maltese Falcon
(EXCELLENT detective flick!! The complex plot is hardly discouraging due to the gripping performances of Humphrey Bogart and (especially) Mary Astor. Of its kind it has never been bettered.)

The African Queen
(Bogart's only Oscar-win came his way for this excellent combination of action and romance which fell entered the American Film Institute's Top 100 at #17)

The Third Man
(Another of Orson Welles' greatest films! I don't want to give away the plot, you'll just have to watch it!)

The Best Years of our Lives
(3 WWW veterans returning home, each faced with different personal problems but also the difficulty of readjusting to society, this films justifies its high rating on imdb.com.)

The Thin Man
(Detective film with a sharp streak of comedy! The rest of the series are pretty good too, the second (After the Thin Man) starring a young James Stewart.)

Grand Hotel
(A reviewer said that "if you want to see what screen glamour used to be, and what originally 'stars' were, this is perhaps the best example of all time". Stars the enigmatic Garbo, John Barrymore and Joan Crawford in one of her earliest appearances.)

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
(Frank Capra's masterpiece with James Stewart, who naively takes on a group of ruthless politicians out to destroy his reputation and good intentions, co-starring Jean Arthur.)

Bringing Up Baby
(Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn in the greatest screwball of them all! REALLY funny!)

Brief Encounter
David Lean and Noel Coward combined to make this, one of the greatest love stories ever put to the screen (other favourites of mine being Casablanca and Roman Holiday) It is without clichés and tells the story of a happily married woman who is tempted to get involved with another man (Trevor Howard in one of his first roles). This film is absolutely flawless.)

A Streetcar Named Desire
Marlon Brando stars with Vivien Leigh in the film that made him a star. Based on the play by Tennessee Williams, this is very different to rest of the films I've mentioned. Slightly more psychological with excellent suspense and a sizzling atmosphere!

Wait Until Dark
Speaking of atmosphere, you HAVE to watch this film. I just watched it last week and was shocked by Audrey Hepburn's unequalled performance as the blind Susy Hendrix who has to defend herself from three drug smugglers who are convinced that a heroin-stuffed doll lies in her possession. One of her slightly later works and not as old as the others (1967), she's as beautiful and convincing as ever but be warned: there are genuine jump-out-of-your-seat-moments!!

A Place in the Sun
Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift as the passionate lovers. One person comes between them: Clift's girlfriend...and he wants to get rid of her before she tells an unsuspecting Taylor of THEIR relationship...

Dial M for Murder
One of Hitchcock's best, I just watched this last night! Ray Milland plans the "perfect murder" of his wife (Grace Kelly) and when this fails, he resorts to an EXCELLENT, meticulously well-formed "Plan B"...

Rebecca
Hitchcock gained his one and only Oscar nomination for this film which has become synonymous with the genre of "romance-suspense". Great performances by the innocent Joan Fontaine as "the second Mrs. de Winter" and the sinister Laurence Olivier as her new husband, Maxim.

Sunset Boulevard
A realistic story with Gloria Swanson as the "ageing silent-film queen" and William Holden who unwittingly stumbles upon her grand mansion. The great thing about this film (which I recommend HIGHLY) is that Ms. Swanson practically acts as a parody of herself. The film features other silent stars such as Buster Keaton and director Cecil B. DeMille as themselves. You really have to see it to realise how cool the whole idea of the film is. Simply put, it's a film about the people who make the films.

All About Eve
FANTASTIC performances by Bette Davis as the ageing Broadway star and Anne Baxter as the sly Eve who slowly attempts to seize the reigns of power from Davis. Both were nominated for "Best Actress" and the film garnered 14 nominations in all, the most in movie history...and rightly so!

Others that are higly recommended in general that I own but have not yet seen are:

The Philadelphia Story
On the Waterfront
From Here To Eternity
Strangers on a Train
Now, Voyager
Dark Victory
White Heat

I own a load more but some are already mentioned and also, I don't want to COMPLETELY overload you! If you want, add me as a buddy and let me know what you think of these as you see them! (And just in case you think I'm some old guy who would glorify these films anyway, I'm 17!)

:)

Answer 2

That story is very elaborate. But, basically what your sister does is out of your control, and is not your problem. Although it is good to care about your sis the way you do, it is bad to let her life worry you like this. Have you mentioned any of this to your parents? Maybe they can figure out something to knock some sense into her. She won't listen to you, so find someone to help that she will listen to. If all else fails, you just have to let it go and pray for her and her baby to live a healthy life. That's all you can really do. Hope all turns out well. Good luck.

Answer 3

You have some great choices here. I'd add:
"Rebel Without a Cause" with James Dean
"Mary Poppins" and "Sound of Music" with Julie Andrews

Answer 4

To kill a mockingbird
East of Eden
The day the Earth stood still
The grapes of wrath
The rear window
Vertigo
North by Northwest

Answer 5

Lets see:
Casablanca
Some like it Hot
Citizen Kane
Gone with the Wind
Wizard of Oz
An American in Paris
Singin in the Rain

are all great older movies

Answer 6

many classic's are not yet available on dvd though many are. if you go to tcm.com, they have a list of recently released classics. they also have a great data base if you want to check out titles and summaries. i love old movies. b&w especially.if you like the old musicals you can't go wrong with fred astaire, gene kelly,ginger rodgers,donald o'conner or dan daily. all great dancers.

Answer 7

well, you have to get: Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, of course all the humphrey bogart, lauren bacall movies.. then there's the horror classics. whew, you have a lot of work to do!

Answer 8

these arnt that old but they are the best movies try watching:
-the deer hunter
-the godfather part 1
-taxi driver
-carlitos way (1992)
-raging bull
-scarface
-goodfellas
-pulp fiction

Answer 9

"Singin' in the Rain" is a must for such a collection! So is "Some like it Hot."

Answer 10

hush, hush sweet charlotte