For the 1930's, 4 C's come away as my favorites---that would be Capra, Claudette, Clark, and Cagney. (There's also Cary, Carole, and Cooper, as they each have a film on my list, but the first 4 C's have two films each on the list.) Beginning at number 10, here are my 10 favorite films of the glorious 30's.
10. The Public Enemy
_03.jpg)
Even now, some 80 years after its release, this is the quintessential gangster film. Who could ever forget the grapefruit scene or Tom Powers' final arrival at his mother's door. (Reviewed HERE)
9. In Name Only
A beautiful, touching romantic drama starring Cary Grant and Carole Lombard in their only pairing. (Reviewed HERE)
8. A Star Is Born
A total tearjerker, starring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March in Academy Award-nominated performances. (Reviewed HERE)
Starring Barbara Stanwyck, in an Oscar-nominated role, John Boles, and Anne Shirley, this tearjerker is one of the movies I watch every Mother's Day weekend. (Reviewed HERE)
6. Dark Victory
_07.jpg)
Beautiful, touching tearjerker starring Bette Davis and frequent co-star George Brent. (Reviewed HERE)
5. Imitation of Life
Another of the movies I always watch Mother's Day weekend, Imitation of Life is a touching tearjerker starring Claudette Colbert and Louise Beavers. (Reviewed HERE)
4. Angels with Dirty Faces
3. It Happened One Night
Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable shine brightly in this adorable Frank Capra romantic comedy. (Reviewed HERE)
2. Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur star in this lovely Frank Capra dramedy. The kindhearted, trusting, firetruck-loving, tuba playing Longfellow Deeds is one of my favorite film characters. (Reviewed HERE)
and my absolute favorite film of the 1930's...
1. Gone with the Wind
An absolute iconic film, Gone with the Wind is not only my favorite movie of the 1930's, but it is the film which introduced me to three of my favorite stars---Vivien Leigh, Olivia deHavilland, and Clark Gable.
Some other beloved 1930's films which barely missed making the top 10 list: Make Way for Tomorrow, Manhattan Melodrama, and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
Stay tuned for the 1940's.
Pretty good list. I'd have to have Stagecoach and All Quiet on the Western Front on mine. Love your 2 Cagneys, but I prefer Smith Goes to Washington to Deeds.
ReplyDeleteI am almost ashamed to admit this, but I have never seen "Stagecoach." I haven't seen "Western Front" either, but "Stagecoach" is one of those absolute classics which everyone calls a must-see. I'm not a huge fan of Westerns, but I'm told that even non-Western lovers will enjoy that film.
DeleteAbout the Cagney films...I am one of those rare-bird females who loves gangster flicks. Yes, I love romantic and/or touching films (as evidenced by my list), but I love the shoot-em-ups too.
Deeds was the film which began my love affair with Gary Cooper, so I will always have a soft spot for it, though I do think "Mr. Smith" is a fabulous film, with brilliant performances by Jimmy Stewart and Claude Rains.
I enjoy all of these except for #10 and #4, only because I'm not sure I've seen them. #4 I think I definitely haven't seen. As much as I love Cary, out of your selections Bette wins out for me with Dark Victory...I adore that movie and can watch it over and over again.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy Gone With the Wind but, no pun intended, it's a bit long winded for me. It's not in my favorites list but I can appreciate it:)
Since you don't like #4 and #10, that tells me you don't like gangster movies. It's kind of weird that I do, but I really love them!
DeleteI never get tired of "Dark Victory" either. The final several minutes have me sobbing...every time.
I know a few people who think "Gone with the Wind" is overrated, so you are not alone.
I haven't seen the James Cagney ones but I've only come to Cagney lately. "In Name Only" is on my want to watch list and 6, 3, 2, and 1 are all great movies. I would probably have more comedies on my list because I love screwball and this was the period it was at it's best. I agree that sometimes a great shoot em up picture is great fun, and even though it's not girly I actually really like westerns as well.
ReplyDeleteAlyssa, besides being a rare-bird in that I, as a woman, enjoy gangster films, I am also rather strange in that I really don't lean to comedies, hence, why there is only 1 (It Happened One Night) on my list. (I consider "Deeds" a drama with comedic moments, or a dramedy.) Actually, in my entire 4 decades of favorites, there are only 3 comedies on the list.
DeleteI definitely recommend the Cagney one "Angels with Dirty Faces." He is so completely fantastic in that movie. I really need to see "Boystown" so I can try to understand how Spencer Tracy beat him for the Academy Award.