1. City Lights (1931) Directed By Charles Chaplin
2. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) Directed By Frank Capra
3. Rules of the Game (1939) Directed By Jean Renoir
4. Horse Feathers (1932) Directed By Norman Z. McLeod
5. (Tie) Top Hat (1935) Directed By Mark Sandrich
5. (Tie) Swing Time (1936) Directed By George Stevens
6. I Was Born But...(1931): Directed by Yasujiro Ozu
7. Trouble in Paradise (1932): Directed by Ernst Lubitsch
8. Bride of Frankenstein (1935) Directed by James Whale
9. Only Angels Have Wings (1939) Directed By Howard Hawks
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10. Stagecoach (1939): Directed By John Ford
Did I miss anything, let me know, tell me your top ten picks.
4 comments:
It's pretty bold to omit:
"Gone with the Wind"
"M"
"Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs"
"Grand Hotel"
"Grand Illusion"
"The 39 Steps"
I'm not sure I would include Horse Feathers OR Swing Time. I especially wouldn't pick Horse Feathers ahead of Duck Soup. And the include a musical, both The Wizard of Oz and Showboat deserve mention above the overrated Swing Time.
I do love the Ozu and Renoir picks. Off the charts, but both incredible pieces of film.
I have not seen Trouble in Paradise, but figure I best get on that.
My rules were that I would only choose one film per director for every decade which would count for me omitting Renoirs "Grand Illusion". It is an incredible piece of film but I find "Rules of the Game" just slightly more complex and also more innovative which is why I chose it. If I had an 11th pick it would probably have gone to "M" or one of Hitchcock's films like "The 39 Steps" or "The Lady Vanishes". As for "Gone With the Wind" epics are just not my cup of tea, but I do admire the vastness of it and Vivian Leigh's performance. "The Wizard of Oz" is great in so many ways, but I suppose I just haven't been as affected by it as others have. "Horse Feathers" remains my personal favorite Marx Brothers film, the whole "Swordfish" routine at the speakeasy, plus the football game are classic comedy moments, but I understand the majority liking "Duck Soup". I probably could make a Marx Brothers Top Ten.
Excellent list, and I think City Lights would top my own if I were to take the time to make one (maybe this week! We’ll see :P) Can you believe though, that I’ve yet to see Rules of the Game and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington? I find it pretty baffling, I am shocked at myself. I haven’t seen the Ozu or Top Hat either. I have some difficult with Fred Astaire, he annoys me, though I’m not sure why. Top Hat looks pretty delightful though.
Hi Jeremy: Here are my better-late-than-never choices. I'm going to break your rule of one-film-per-director with my choices... but it makes it REALLY hard (I see why you're doing it that way!). I'm also not looking at your choices before I put together my list-- so I won't be "cheating"!
I've seen 11/11 of your choices.
My Top 10 from the 1930s:
1. The Bride of Frankenstein
2. M
3. It Happened One Night
4. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
5. The Wizard of Oz
6. The 39 Steps
7. Swing Time
8. Trouble in Paradise
9. A Night at the Opera
10. 42nd Street
If you held me to the one director rule I'd probably have gone with Alexander Nevsky as #10.
We had just 4 in common...
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