All I WATCHED IN 2021 (with reviews)
by The_Invisible_Dog | created - 05 Jan 2021 | updated - 03 Aug 2022 | PublicPicks of the year:
The Silent Partner
The Dead
Ice Cold In Alex
The Grey Fox
Hobson's Choice
Fandango
Pillow Talk
Fort Apache
There Was A Crooked Man
Miranda/Mad About Men
Nowhere To Go
Breaking Away
Kings Of Summer
Manos: Hands Of Fate
The Hi-Lo Country
Ask A Policeman
Guns Of Navarone
Snowball
Ghosts Can't Do It
- Instant Watch Options
- Genres
- Movies or TV
- IMDb Rating
- In Theaters
- Release Year
- Keywords
1. The Silent Partner (1978)
R | 106 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
A timid bank teller anticipates a bank robbery and steals the money himself before the crook arrives. When the sadistic crook realizes he's been fooled, he tracks down the teller and engages him in a cat-and-mouse chase for the cash.
Directors: Daryl Duke, Curtis Hanson | Stars: Elliott Gould, Christopher Plummer, Susannah York, Céline Lomez
Votes: 7,747
This is a gem. The laid back, intriguing first half was good enough; the thriller that evolved took it up an unexpected gear.
2. Pleasantville (1998)
PG-13 | 124 min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Two 1990s teenage siblings find themselves transported to a 1950s sitcom where their influence begins to profoundly change that colorless, complacent world.
Director: Gary Ross | Stars: Tobey Maguire, Jeff Daniels, Joan Allen, William H. Macy
Votes: 136,346 | Gross: $40.57M
Enjoyed it when i first saw it in about 2009. Now i'm wiser. This is a manipulative reality/time travel film, like BTTF (though not as warm). Some dark undercurrent going on here when you really break it down.
3. Smokescreen (1964)
70 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A fastidious insurance assessor investigates a potential case of insurance fraud in Brighton and uncovers a murder.
Director: Jim O'Connolly | Stars: Peter Vaughan, John Carson, Yvonne Romain, Gerald Flood
Votes: 511
3rd viewing. I always remember the beginning and forget the end. Peter Vaughn and 60s Brighton are a combo enough that keeps me returning to this one.
4. Victoria Wood's All Day Breakfast (1992 TV Special)
49 min | Comedy
A spoof of ITV's magazine show This Morning, presented by Sally Cumbernauld (Wood) and Martin Crossthwaite (Preston), with sketches, adverts, an exercise ritual with Polly (Blake, an ... See full summary »
Director: Geoff Posner | Stars: Victoria Wood, Julie Walters, Celia Imrie, Susie Blake
Votes: 79
Probably the best of the VW specials. Includes the joyous 'The Mall' (soap opera)
5. The Dead (1987)
PG | 83 min | Drama
Gabriel Conroy and wife Gretta attend an early January dinner with friends at the home of his spinster aunts, an evening which results in an epiphany for both of them.
Director: John Huston | Stars: Anjelica Huston, Donal McCann, Helena Carroll, Cathleen Delany
Votes: 8,907 | Gross: $4.37M
2nd viewing and wow. I had no idea just how good this was, how lovingly made. It'll probably be a 10 next time.
6. Ice Cold in Alex (1958)
Approved | 130 min | Adventure, Drama, War
During World War II in North Africa, a medical field unit must cross the desert in their ambulance in order to reach the British lines in Alexandria.
Director: J. Lee Thompson | Stars: John Mills, Anthony Quayle, Sylvia Syms, Harry Andrews
Votes: 6,613
1st time seeing this on a projector really took it up a level. A solid, fine film.
7. The Grey Fox (1982)
PG | 92 min | Biography, Drama, History
When an aging, but gentlemanly stagecoach robber is released from prison, he decides to go to Canada to become a train robber.
Director: Phillip Borsos | Stars: Richard Farnsworth, Jackie Burroughs, Ken Pogue, Wayne Robson
Votes: 2,496
Finally the restored version. Man alive what a difference that made. Beautiful shots of autumnal canada to the cheiftains soundtrack. Again, this will probably become a 10 next time.
8. From Up on Poppy Hill (2011)
PG | 91 min | Animation, Comedy, Drama
A group of Yokohama teens look to save their school's clubhouse from the wrecking ball in preparations for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
Director: Gorô Miyazaki | Stars: Sarah Bolger, Chris Noth, Anton Yelchin, Christina Hendricks
Votes: 52,043 | Gross: $1.00M
A lot of chewing with little nutrition. Didn't really care about anyone in this. Looked great but characters feel remote, like much of studio g.
9. The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother (1975)
PG | 91 min | Comedy, Crime, Music
The younger brother of the consulting detective tries to steal Sherlock's glory by solving an important case assisted by an eccentric Scotland Yard detective and a lovely but suspicious actress.
Director: Gene Wilder | Stars: Gene Wilder, Madeline Kahn, Marty Feldman, Dom DeLuise
Votes: 7,307
It's no saddles or young frank, we know that, but this cast being happy idiots in a 1970s-made period setting? I'm in. Memorable moments but a forgettable plot.
10. Destry Rides Again (1939)
Approved | 95 min | Comedy, Western
Deputy sheriff Destry tames the town of Bottle Neck, including saloon singer Frenchy.
Director: George Marshall | Stars: Marlene Dietrich, James Stewart, Mischa Auer, Charles Winninger
Votes: 12,556 | Gross: $0.35M
Better on 2nd viewing. Marlene and Jimmy both loosen up to give good comedy.
11. Lunch Hour (1963)
64 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
The relationship and possible affair between a young designer and a married executive plays out over a series of lunch hours.
Director: James Hill | Stars: Shirley Anne Field, Robert Stephens, Kay Walsh, Hazel Hughes
Votes: 258
Is she bizarrely over-reacting? Or is she being emotionally intuitive, seeing to the heart of him as a person? It's different and it does capture something about 'non-starter' relationships. I kinda like it.
12. Forty Guns (1957)
Not Rated | 80 min | Western
Showdown in Arizona between the Bonnell brothers, U.S.Marshals, and Jessica Drummond, the iron-fist rancher who controls the territory.
Director: Samuel Fuller | Stars: Barbara Stanwyck, Barry Sullivan, Dean Jagger, John Ericson
Votes: 6,216
4th? viewing. Memorable moments, looks great, slightly bonkers; Stanwyck gives it class without taking away any of its b movie delights.
13. The Dig (2021)
PG-13 | 112 min | Biography, Drama, History
An archaeologist embarks on the historically important excavation of Sutton Hoo in 1938.
Director: Simon Stone | Stars: Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes, Lily James, Johnny Flynn
Votes: 82,611
Does what it says on the tin. Felt like tv but with a few quid extra spent.
14. Murder She Said (1961)
Unrated | 87 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
When Miss Jane Marple reports witnessing a murder through the window of a passing train, the police dismiss her as a dotty spinster when no trace of the crime can be found.
Director: George Pollock | Stars: Margaret Rutherford, Arthur Kennedy, Muriel Pavlow, James Robertson Justice
Votes: 8,569
Even better on the big screen. Such a good place to be, the Rutherford Miss Marple's.
15. Stalag 17 (1953)
Not Rated | 120 min | Comedy, Drama, War
After two Americans are killed while escaping from a German P.O.W. camp in World War II, the barracks black marketeer, J.J. Sefton, is suspected of being an informer.
Director: Billy Wilder | Stars: William Holden, Don Taylor, Otto Preminger, Robert Strauss
Votes: 58,823
Couple of squawky characters but overall a steady, dry hunk of bread of a film.
16. Murder at the Gallop (1963)
Approved | 81 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
When a wealthy old man appears to have been "frightened to death" by a cat, Miss Jane Marple suspects one of his four relatives, all heirs to his estate, of his murder.
Director: George Pollock | Stars: Margaret Rutherford, Stringer Davis, Robert Morley, Flora Robson
Votes: 6,804
This may be my favourite of the four. It even has her clambering up a wall, in the courtyard of the king's head in old amersham.
17. Finding Graceland (1998)
PG-13 | 106 min | Biography, Drama
An eccentric drifter claiming to be Elvis Presley hitches a ride with a young man and they find themselves on an adventurous road trip to Memphis.
Director: David Winkler | Stars: Harvey Keitel, Johnathon Schaech, Bridget Fonda, Gretchen Mol
Votes: 2,178
On paper, this should have been silly. It is. But somehow it also managed to be quite moving. Road movie with allegorical dream element.
18. The Walking Hills (1949)
Passed | 78 min | Adventure, Thriller, Western
A group of treasure hunters search for a wagon load of gold, buried years before in Death Valley.
Director: John Sturges | Stars: Randolph Scott, Ella Raines, William Bishop, Edgar Buchanan
Votes: 1,117
Lucky to make a 6. Promising, but i walked away hungry. The best thing is Josh White's cool blues. Better off putting one of his LPs on instead.
19. Hobson's Choice (1954)
Not Rated | 108 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Widower Henry Hobson refuses to let his three daughters get married because he doesn't want to pay settlements, so they'll just have to outsmart him.
Director: David Lean | Stars: Charles Laughton, John Mills, Brenda de Banzie, Daphne Anderson
Votes: 8,807
2nd viewing. Solid, funny and warm. Great performances from Charles Laughton and John Mills. Could be a 9.
20. Open Range (2003)
R | 139 min | Action, Drama, Romance
A former gunslinger is forced to take up arms again when he and his cattle crew are threatened by a corrupt lawman.
Director: Kevin Costner | Stars: Kevin Costner, Robert Duvall, Diego Luna, Abraham Benrubi
Votes: 78,174 | Gross: $58.33M
7th, 8th? viewing. Never fails. Costner and Duvall at their best. Sure to stay in my all time top 10 westerns for life.
21. Out (1978)
60 min | Crime, Drama
After an eight-year stint for a failed bank heist, Frank Ross (Tom Bell, Prime Suspect) returns to his old gangland haunts to find the snitch who sent him to jail. The smooth, streetwise ... See full summary »
Stars: Tom Bell, Brian Croucher, John Junkin, Norman Rodway
Votes: 316
A peak for Tom Bell and for late 70s UK tv. A 'get carter' style man on a mission story, working his way through the weasels all the way to Mr Big.
22. Where Angels Fear to Tread (1991)
PG | 116 min | Drama, Romance
After a rich Edwardian widow impulsively marries a handsome but poor Tuscan dentist and dies in childbirth, her English in-laws try to gain custody of the baby.
Director: Charles Sturridge | Stars: Helena Bonham Carter, Judy Davis, Rupert Graves, Helen Mirren
Votes: 2,443 | Gross: $1.40M
Period drama that misses the mark. Annoying acting and characters you don't care for. Glad when it ended.
23. Fandango (1985)
PG | 91 min | Comedy, Drama
Five college buddies from the University of Texas circa 1971 embark on a final road trip odyssey across the Mexican border before facing up to uncertain futures, in Vietnam and otherwise.
Director: Kevin Reynolds | Stars: Kevin Costner, Judd Nelson, Sam Robards, Chuck Bush
Votes: 8,740 | Gross: $0.09M
Can't believe i never heard of this before. Coming of age/buddy/road movie with unusual elements such as aeronautics, plus Costner in kinda Jeff Bridges mode. Humourous and worth a rewatch.
24. My Favorite Wife (1940)
Passed | 88 min | Comedy, Romance
Missing for seven years and presumed dead, a woman returns home on the day of her husband's second marriage.
Director: Garson Kanin | Stars: Irene Dunne, Cary Grant, Randolph Scott, Gail Patrick
Votes: 11,516
OK. A poor man's The Awful Truth?
25. Jim's Gift (1996 TV Movie)
96 min | Adventure, Comedy, Crime
A young boy receives a magical VCR with the power to replay the past and preview the future--and his comfortable middle-class existence is thrown into complete chaos.
Director: Bob Keen | Stars: Jean Boht, Doug Bradley, Daniel Burke, Jennifer Calvert
Votes: 71
Naff in many ways, a good concept not quite realised to its fullest but i enjoyed it all the same, just.
26. ...And the Band Played On (1980 TV Movie)
95 min | Drama
The equilibrium of a small English village is upset by the arrival of a pop star and his wife. When he takes over the conductorship of the local brass band after the previous conductor ... See full summary »
Director: Val Guest | Stars: Robin Nedwell, Diane Keen, Trevor Howard, Jack Douglas
Votes: 221
aka The Shillingbury Blowers. A lovely little world of an England that i miss more as the years go by. Lots of famous faces in this one. Trevor Howard steals it.
27. At Gunpoint (1955)
Approved | 81 min | Western
The peace-loving owner of a general store, who became a town hero after he luckily killed the leader of a gang of bank robbers, is deserted by the townspeople who fear the threatened return of the vengeful bandits.
Director: Alfred L. Werker | Stars: Fred MacMurray, Dorothy Malone, Walter Brennan, Tommy Rettig
Votes: 683
The soft bumbling hulk of Fred MacMurray does a good job on this one.
28. Fort Apache (1948)
Passed | 128 min | Drama, Western
At Fort Apache, an honorable and veteran war captain finds conflict when his regime is placed under the command of a young, glory hungry lieutenant colonel with no respect for the local Indian tribe.
Director: John Ford | Stars: John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Shirley Temple, Pedro Armendáriz
Votes: 19,698
Having resisted it for so long, i wasn't expecting to enjoy it (cavalry westerns, not really my thing), but to my surprise, i really did. Good roles for both Fonda and Wayne.
29. Downhill Racer (1969)
M | 101 min | Drama, Sport
Quietly cocky Robert Redford joins U.S. ski team as downhill racer and clashes with the team's coach, played by Gene Hackman. Lots of good skiing action leading to an exciting climax.
Director: Michael Ritchie | Stars: Robert Redford, Gene Hackman, Camilla Sparv, Karl Michael Vogler
Votes: 5,340
A low key portrait of an anti-hero hero on the ski slopes. Redford bares a little darkness, Hackman has thicker hair, all hanging round in late 60s European ski towns, it aint a bad old place to be for the afternoon.
30. The Proud Rebel (1958)
Approved | 103 min | Drama, Western
A Confederate veteran living in the Yankee North struggles with his son's shock-induced muteness and the Northerners' hatred.
Director: Michael Curtiz | Stars: Alan Ladd, Olivia de Havilland, Dean Jagger, David Ladd
Votes: 2,290
Decent 'family drama' western. Got heart and Alan Ladd brings the right note of gravitas.
31. McLintock! (1963)
Passed | 126 min | Comedy, Western
Wealthy rancher G. W. McLintock uses his power and influence in the territory to keep the peace between farmers, ranchers, land-grabbers, Indians and corrupt government officials.
Director: Andrew V. McLaglen | Stars: John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Patrick Wayne, Stefanie Powers
Votes: 16,619
So much of what annoys me about John Wayne and 60s movies in general. Overplayed, loud brawl scenes and staged emotions. Worse than expected.
32. Charlotte Gray (2001)
PG-13 | 121 min | Drama, Romance, Thriller
A young Scottish woman joins the French Resistance during World War II to rescue her Royal Air Force boyfriend who is lost in France.
Director: Gillian Armstrong | Stars: Cate Blanchett, James Fleet, Abigail Cruttenden, Charlotte McDougall
Votes: 13,185 | Gross: $0.67M
Yeah its very serious in tone, didn't love it but can't necessarily fault it.
33. The Black Rider (1954)
65 min | Crime, Thriller
When young reporter and amateur biker Jerry Marsh investigates a mysterious hooded figure on a motorbike, he discovers crooks hiding out in a ruined castle with atomic sabotage on their minds...
Director: Wolf Rilla | Stars: Jimmy Hanley, Rona Anderson, Leslie Dwyer, Lionel Jeffries
Votes: 243
Light crime mystery drama, pleasing rural setting with Lionel Jeffries on good villainous form. Enjoyable afternoon movie.
34. Pillow Talk (1959)
Passed | 102 min | Comedy, Romance
An interior decorator and a playboy songwriter share a telephone party line and size each other up.
Director: Michael Gordon | Stars: Rock Hudson, Doris Day, Tony Randall, Thelma Ritter
Votes: 19,176 | Gross: $18.75M
Happy froth that makes me want to see more Doris Day rom-coms.
(though bizarrely, a gangland shooting took place at the end of our road while i watched this, 3pm on a sunday afternoon, c'est la vie)
35. State Fair (1945)
Passed | 100 min | Comedy, Drama, Musical
Each member of the Frake clan has his/her own reason for attending the annual Iowa State Fair.
Director: Walter Lang | Stars: Jeanne Crain, Dana Andrews, Dick Haymes, Vivian Blaine
Votes: 4,498
Eeeh i didn't dislike it. A colourful (colorful) folksy world that probably never existed. Full of fun and also air.
36. There Was a Crooked Man... (1970)
R | 126 min | Comedy, Western
A charming but totally ruthless criminal is sent to a remote Arizona prison. He enlists the help of his cellmates in an escape attempt with the promise of sharing his hidden loot.
Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz | Stars: Kirk Douglas, Henry Fonda, Hume Cronyn, Warren Oates
Votes: 5,235 | Gross: $0.64M
2nd viewing, even better. Prison-movie comedy-western par excellence. Moves well and satisfies from start to end. Kirk D, Warren Oates, Henry Fonda and Burgess Meredith all bring it. Deserves better recognition.
37. The Paradine Case (1947)
Approved | 125 min | Crime, Drama, Romance
A happily married London barrister falls in love with the accused poisoner he is defending.
Director: Alfred Hitchcock | Stars: Gregory Peck, Ann Todd, Charles Laughton, Charles Coburn
Votes: 12,392
If this was your first Hitchcock movie, you'd wonder what all the fuss is about. It's an ok drama in it's own right, but has none of the shock or, alas, the humour of classic Hitch.
38. Daisy Miller (1974)
G | 91 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
In this comedy of manners, Frederick Winterbourne tries to figure out the bright and bubbly Daisy Miller, only to be helped and hindered by false judgments from their fellow friends.
Director: Peter Bogdanovich | Stars: Cybill Shepherd, Barry Brown, Cloris Leachman, Mildred Natwick
Votes: 1,939 | Gross: $0.36M
Pretty, bubbly, air-headed. That's the lead role, the acting, the script - and the movie itself. But there is this tasty autumnal tone. Get beyond the chitter-chatter and it's a pleasing sunday afternoon watch.
39. Johnny on the Run (1953)
68 min | Adventure
A superb early work by illustrious British director Lewis Gilbert (Alfie, You Only Live Twice) which follows orphaned Polish refugee Janek, who runs into trouble in the shape of two ... See full summary »
Director: Lewis Gilbert | Stars: Eugeniusz Chylek, Sydney Tafler, Michael Balfour, Edna Wynn
Votes: 117
Yeah i can't knock it, the runaway boy ends up in a nice rural children's home setting. Nothing exceptional.
40. Treasure at the Mill (1957)
60 min | Family
A teenage boy goes in search of treasure at an old mill in the hope of solving all his mother's money worries.
Director: Max Anderson | Stars: John Ruddock, Richard Palmer, Hilda Fenemore, Harry Pettit
Votes: 71
Preferred it to johnny on the run. The old bookshop, the mystery, the exploring etc.
41. Murder on Monday (1952)
85 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
David Preston, a banker, has a 24-hour memory lapse. Accused of robbery and murder, he can't account for his lost time. With no alibi, police press him to explain the missing hours, jeopardizing his freedom.
Director: Ralph Richardson | Stars: Ralph Richardson, Margaret Leighton, Jack Hawkins, Campbell Singer
Votes: 801
(aka Home At Seven) Intriguing mystery that keeps you watching. A good Ralph Richardson movie.
42. Inferno (1953)
Approved | 83 min | Crime, Drama, Romance
A tough, hard-driving business tycoon suffers a broken leg and is left to die in the desert by his scheming wife and her greedy lover.
Director: Roy Ward Baker | Stars: Robert Ryan, Rhonda Fleming, William Lundigan, Larry Keating
Votes: 1,801
Life or death situation film with a B Movie vibe. Given extra class by the authentic heft of Robert Ryan.
43. The Hired Hand (1971)
R | 90 min | Drama, Western
Harry returns home to his wife and farm after drifting with his friend Arch and has to make a difficult decision regarding his loyalties.
Director: Peter Fonda | Stars: Peter Fonda, Warren Oates, Verna Bloom, Robert Pratt
Votes: 3,793
One of my all time best that i can watch endlessly.
44. Comrades (1986)
183 min | Drama, History
The story of "The Tolpuddle Martyrs". A group of nineteenth century English farm laborers who formed one of the first trade unions and started a campaign to receive fair wages.
Director: Bill Douglas | Stars: Robin Soans, William Gaminara, Stephen Bateman, Phil Davis
Votes: 934
One of my all time best that i like to savour and only watch every two years or so.
45. Thunder Over Arizona (1956)
Approved | 70 min | Western
A rich vein of ore is discovered in a silver mine near a small town. The corrupt Mayor almost succeeds in seizing control of the mine.
Director: Joseph Kane | Stars: Skip Homeier, Kristine Miller, George Macready, Wallace Ford
Votes: 162
Good to watch Skip Homeier in a lead role, its got a little trash element to it that i liked.
46. Up River (1979)
86 min | Western
A young man meets with violent hostility as he attempts to fulfil his dream of making a life for himself in the wilds of British Columbia at the turn of the 20th Century.
Director: Carl Kitt | Stars: Morgan Stevens, Jeff Corey, Dale Wilson, John 'Bear' Curtis
Votes: 62
Something about this film is almost like a dream, i don't know why. Feels quite TV movie. But has the late 70s vibe that feels homely.
47. Black Gunn (1972)
R | 96 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
A black militant group robs a Mafia bookie joint and also steals the incriminating ledgers which, in turn, prompts retaliation from the mob.
Director: Robert Hartford-Davis | Stars: Jim Brown, Martin Landau, Brenda Sykes, Luciana Paluzzi
Votes: 874 | Gross: $1.10M
Surely surely one of the movies that inspired Black Dynamite
48. Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978)
PG | 99 min | Comedy, Crime, Mystery
To prove that he still is strong and powerful, Philippe Douvier decides to kill Clouseau. Once news of his "death" has been announced, Clouseau tries to take advantage of it and goes undercover with Cato to find out who tried to kill him.
Director: Blake Edwards | Stars: Peter Sellers, Herbert Lom, Burt Kwouk, Dyan Cannon
Votes: 23,258
The one with him disguised as toulouse lautrec, etc. Clouseau getting his medal at the end, is a contender for the funniest scene of any peter sellers movie.
49. The Lone Hand (1953)
Approved | 80 min | Drama, Western
In 1870, widowed farmer Zachary Hallock secretly joins a group of outlaws as a solution to his money problems.
Director: George Sherman | Stars: Joel McCrea, Barbara Hale, Alex Nicol, Charles Drake
Votes: 562
Decent B-Western, father/son drama, alpine setting.
50. Emma. (2020)
PG | 124 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
In 1800s England, a well meaning but selfish young woman meddles in the love lives of her friends.
Director: Autumn de Wilde | Stars: Anya Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn, Mia Goth, Josh O'Connor
Votes: 62,765
Looks good, has its own twist of humour and boldness, yet something left me wanting.
51. Miranda (1948)
Not Rated | 80 min | Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
A young married physician discovers a mermaid, and gives in to her request to be taken to see London. Comedy and romantic entanglements ensue soon after.
Director: Ken Annakin | Stars: Glynis Johns, Googie Withers, Griffith Jones, John McCallum
Votes: 1,143
Enjoyable off-beat (rom-com?). Glynis Johns perfectly pitched for the mermaid, enchanting everyone, including David Tomlinson - yes it's both parents from Mary Poppins.
52. Islands in the Stream (1977)
PG | 104 min | Drama
An isolated sculptor is visited by his three sons just before the start of WWII.
Director: Franklin J. Schaffner | Stars: George C. Scott, David Hemmings, Gilbert Roland, Susan Tyrrell
Votes: 1,641 | Gross: $8.00M
Less of a movie to care too much about, more of a good place to spend the afternoon. Watching George C Scott here is like smoking a roll up and watching the sea.
53. Station West (1948)
Approved | 97 min | Western
After two U.S. cavalrymen transporting a gold shipment get killed, U.S. Army Intelligence investigator John Haven goes undercover to a mining and logging town to find the killers.
Director: Sidney Lanfield | Stars: Dick Powell, Jane Greer, Agnes Moorehead, Tom Powers
Votes: 1,517
B-movie noir in western setting. Some enjoyable dialogue and memorable moments. Hmm. Strange one, maybe it should be 7.
54. Blazing Saddles (1974)
R | 93 min | Comedy, Western
In order to ruin a western town, a corrupt politician appoints a black Sheriff, who promptly becomes his most formidable adversary.
Director: Mel Brooks | Stars: Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Slim Pickens, Harvey Korman
Votes: 152,543 | Gross: $119.50M
Do i need to review this for me or for anyone else? After Star Wars, it's probably the film i've seen the most in my life.
55. Love Comes Softly (2003 TV Movie)
TV-PG | 88 min | Drama, Family, Romance
A young woman on her way to a new life in the 1800's suddenly finds herself a widow. Now she must live with a recently widowed young man and his daughter. Can any of them find love again?
Director: Michael Landon Jr. | Stars: Katherine Heigl, Dale Midkiff, Corbin Bernsen, Skye McCole Bartusiak
Votes: 6,978
TV movie with some serious feelings. Wouldn't say i loved it but it was good.
56. Nowhere to Go (1958)
Approved | 89 min | Crime, Drama
In London, a Canadian serving prison time for grand theft escapes prison and attempts to retrieve his loot, kept in a bank safety deposit box, but his accomplice takes the security key while he only has the pass code.
Directors: Seth Holt, Basil Dearden | Stars: George Nader, Maggie Smith, Bernard Lee, Geoffrey Keen
Votes: 918
Yeah this is a solid, mature and atmospheric UK 'man on the run' movie, with a memorable early role for Maggie Smith.
57. The Quiet Woman (1951)
71 min | Crime, Drama
Coastal pub proprietress is inveigled into a smuggling plot.
Director: John Gilling | Stars: Derek Bond, Jane Hylton, Dora Bryan, Michael Balfour
Votes: 237
Many enjoyable elements: the coastal setting, character actors, old-school post-war criminal Brits with a glint in the eye.
58. The Monster of Highgate Ponds (1961)
59 min | Animation, Family, Fantasy
A group of children befriend a monster.
Director: Alberto Cavalcanti | Stars: Rachel Clay, Michael Wade, Terry Raven, Ronald Howard
Votes: 137
Of course it's naff, particularly the special (ahem) effects, but this has all the joy of a fantasy CFF film.
59. Breaking Away (1979)
PG | 101 min | Comedy, Drama, Sport
A working-class Indiana teen obsessed with the Italian cycling team vies for the affections of a college girl while searching for life goals with his friends.
Director: Peter Yates | Stars: Dennis Christopher, Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern, Jackie Earle Haley
Votes: 25,482 | Gross: $16.42M
Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern & co in small town, coming of age drama with bikes, fights, nature spots. Quality late 70s vibe, look forward to rewatching.
60. Notting Hill (1999)
PG-13 | 124 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A set of circumstances makes Anna Scott, a famous actress, fall in love with William Thacker, owner of a bookstore in Notting Hill. But the paparazzi's fascination with her complicates their bond.
Director: Roger Michell | Stars: Hugh Grant, Julia Roberts, Richard McCabe, Rhys Ifans
Votes: 342,381 | Gross: $116.09M
Never seen it before and i just happened to catch it at the right time, one afternoon when i felt crappy and wanting some easy viewing. It was like eating a tub of ice cream instead of dinner.
61. Heartbreak Ridge (1986)
R | 130 min | Drama, War
Hard-nosed, hard-living Marine Gunnery Sergeant Tom Highway clashes with his superiors and his ex-wife as he takes command of a spoiled recon platoon with a bad attitude.
Director: Clint Eastwood | Stars: Clint Eastwood, Marsha Mason, Everett McGill, Moses Gunn
Votes: 48,212 | Gross: $42.72M
Watched it 'because it's clint' really. Yeah it delivered on that level, the usual formula of work and woman, though in some ways he was almost overdoing the self-parody.
62. Going My Way (1944)
Passed | 126 min | Comedy, Drama, Music
When young Father O'Malley arrives at St. Dominic's, old Father Fitzgibbon doesn't think much of the church's newest member.
Director: Leo McCarey | Stars: Bing Crosby, Barry Fitzgerald, Frank McHugh, James Brown
Votes: 13,457 | Gross: $16.30M
Bing is one of a few actors who i can never really quite enjoy. Don't know why. This is quite a contrived little set-up. Made better by watching it in Robin's outdoor cinema.
63. Supersonic Saucer (1956)
50 min | Adventure, Family, Sci-Fi
A group of schoolchildren come upon an alien from Venus, and help him against a gang of criminals who are trying to kidnap him.
Director: Guy Fergusson | Stars: Marcia Manolescue, Gillian Harrison, Fella Edmonds, Andrew Motte-Harrison
Votes: 189
Eeeeh. Come on. It's Meba. One of my favourite CFF fantasy movies.
64. Get Charlie Tully (1972)
PG | 97 min | Comedy, Crime
Charlie Tully and womanizing Reggie Peek con two rich Italians out of £500,000, but during their flight out Charlie is arrested for conning an American and a dog. Reggie puts the money in a... See full summary »
Director: Cliff Owen | Stars: Dick Emery, Derren Nesbitt, Ronald Fraser, Pat Coombs
Votes: 493
(aka Ooh, you are awful.) This Dick Emery movie based on his TV characters was a surprisngly good laugh. It's better than a lot of Carry On movies.
65. Mad About Men (1954)
Not Rated | 90 min | Comedy, Fantasy
Flirtatious mermaid Miranda (Glynis Johns) swaps places with a schoolteacher who has gone on vacation. All is well until she falls in love with a human.
Director: Ralph Thomas | Stars: Glynis Johns, Donald Sinden, Anne Crawford, Margaret Rutherford
Votes: 612
Sequel to Miranda takes it up a gear, including being shot in colour. The mermaid concept seems more relaxed and ripened into perhaps a better film than the first. Same thing but with a happier feel.
66. The Glitterball (1977)
56 min | Adventure, Family, Sci-Fi
Two teenage boys try to help a tiny spherical alien get back to its mothership, while the army and a devious petty crook pursue the creature for its wonderful powers.
Director: Harley Cokeliss | Stars: Ben Buckton, Keith Jayne, Ron Pember, Marjorie Yates
Votes: 278
Great UK 70s vibe here, including classic 70s snacks and Ron Pember poking about. People say this influenced E.T. (!?!)
67. Mrs. Brown (1997)
PG | 101 min | Biography, Drama, History
When Queen Victoria's husband Prince Albert dies, she finds solace in her trusted servant, Mr. John Brown, but their relationship also brings scandal and turmoil.
Director: John Madden | Stars: Judi Dench, Billy Connolly, Geoffrey Palmer, Antony Sher
Votes: 15,592 | Gross: $9.22M
More refined than it's sequel: 'Mrs Brown's Boys: D'Movie'...
but seriously, this is Connolly and Dench both on top form. A great period movie.
68. Gran Torino (2008)
R | 116 min | Drama
After a Hmong teenager tries to steal his prized 1972 Gran Torino, a disgruntled, prejudiced Korean War veteran seeks to redeem both the boy and himself.
Director: Clint Eastwood | Stars: Clint Eastwood, Bee Vang, Christopher Carley, Ahney Her
Votes: 815,150 | Gross: $148.10M
2nd viewing. I think i liked it slightly less this time. It is good but i'm not having quite as much fun as i want to.
69. Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009)
PG | 91 min | Action, Comedy, Crime
When a shopping mall is taken over by a gang of organized crooks, it's up to a mild-mannered security guard to save the day.
Director: Steve Carr | Stars: Kevin James, Keir O'Donnell, Jayma Mays, Raini Rodriguez
Votes: 117,437 | Gross: $20.82M
I'm beyond calling it a guilty pleasure now i think, and just choose to love it.
70. She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949)
Passed | 104 min | Western
Captain Nathan Brittles, on the eve of retirement, takes out a last patrol to stop an impending massive Indian attack. Encumbered by women who must be evacuated, Brittles finds his mission imperiled.
Director: John Ford | Stars: John Wayne, Joanne Dru, John Agar, Ben Johnson
Votes: 19,329
Fort apache was great. This, part 2 of ford's cavalry trilogy, was surprisingly annoying to me. The characters and cliche of it all - plus the whole big army march situation. No i didn't like it.
71. Housewife, 49 (2005 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 93 min | Drama, Romance, War
In the late 1930s, Nella Last, a 49 year old housewife living in Barrow-in-Furness on the North West English coast, agrees to send details of her routine to the Mass Observation Project; a ... See full summary »
Director: Gavin Millar | Stars: Victoria Wood, David Threlfall, Christopher Harper, Ben Crompton
Votes: 804
It's fairly pedestrian but made with honest affection. Nothing to fault as such, just would have enjoyed another gear.
72. Goodnight Mr Tom (1998 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 101 min | Drama, Family, War
A shy and quiet World War II evacuee is housed by a disgruntled old man, and they soon develop a close bond.
Director: Jack Gold | Stars: John Thaw, Nick Robinson, Annabelle Apsion, Thomas Orange
Votes: 4,918
A scrooge type story that twangs the heartstrings without overdoing it. Thaw brings the expected gravitas with tender touch.
73. The Outsiders (1983)
PG | 91 min | Crime, Drama
In a small Oklahoma town in 1964, the rivalry between two gangs, the poor Greasers and the rich Socs, heats up when one gang member accidentally kills a member of the other.
Director: Francis Ford Coppola | Stars: C. Thomas Howell, Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, Patrick Swayze
Votes: 97,586 | Gross: $25.60M
Hadn't seen this since early 90s VHS days. Feels like an adult-affected view on teenage culture. I think enjoyed more for personal nostalgia than a film in its own right.
74. Rumble Fish (1983)
R | 94 min | Crime, Drama, Romance
Absent-minded street thug Rusty James struggles to live up to his legendary older brother's reputation, and longs for the days of gang warfare.
Director: Francis Ford Coppola | Stars: Matt Dillon, Mickey Rourke, Diane Lane, Dennis Hopper
Votes: 37,701 | Gross: $2.49M
Again, not seen since early 90s. It hasn't aged well. It's essentially a stupid film. Tries too hard to be cool and to depict teen issues as such. Somehow it just feels out of touch.
75. The Kings of Summer (2013)
R | 95 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Three teenage friends, in the ultimate act of independence, decide to spend their summer building a house in the woods and living off the land.
Director: Jordan Vogt-Roberts | Stars: Nick Robinson, Gabriel Basso, Moises Arias, Nick Offerman
Votes: 84,402 | Gross: $1.29M
Neat little indie teen comedy. Inhabits its own world well, and the cast seem united in having a good time. Will watch again.
76. Hide and Seek (1972)
61 min | Adventure, Crime, Family
A young boy runs away from an approved school to meet up with his father in the hope that he can persuade his dad to allow him to travel to Canada with him. He also meets up with two local ... See full summary »
Director: David Eady | Stars: Peter Newby, Gary Kemp, Eileen Fletcher, Robin Askwith
Votes: 82
With a young Gary Kemp in a rainbow tanktop. Not as joyful as other CFF films, but just enough to keep you watching.
77. Weekend at Bernie's (1989)
PG-13 | 97 min | Adventure, Comedy, Crime
Two idiots try to pretend that their murdered employer is really alive, leading the hitman to attempt to track him down to finish him off.
Director: Ted Kotcheff | Stars: Andrew McCarthy, Jonathan Silverman, Catherine Mary Stewart, Terry Kiser
Votes: 62,930 | Gross: $30.22M
Surprised how i missed this back in the day, and also how good it was. As if lessons were learned from mid-80s teen movies and this refined the craft. Sadly the brat-pack thing was ending by 89, so it just missed the boat. This in 86 would have been twice the movie.
78. Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)
R | 93 min | Comedy, Drama
A Chicago advertising man must struggle to travel home from New York for Thanksgiving, with a lovable oaf of a shower-curtain-ring salesman as his only companion.
Director: John Hughes | Stars: Steve Martin, John Candy, Laila Robins, Michael McKean
Votes: 160,312 | Gross: $49.53M
Watched the 'clean' version: praise to channel 4 for cleverly editing all f-words from the car rental scene (it was always too ugly for such a sweet movie), but man alive did they have to cut out 'you play with your balls a lot' (the only moment Del Griffith bites back) and also Del's daft jamaican accent (they wouldn't cut out americans doing daft british or french accents, it's insulting to presume jamaicans can't enjoy the same joke)
79. The Mule (2018)
R | 116 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
A ninety-year-old horticulturist and Korean War veteran turns drug mule for a Mexican cartel.
Director: Clint Eastwood | Stars: Clint Eastwood, Patrick L. Reyes, Cesar De León, Gustavo Muñoz
Votes: 152,605 | Gross: $103.80M
4th time viewing. Engaging, satisfying, rounded movie. One of Clint's all time best.
80. Get Carter (1971)
R | 112 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
When his brother dies under mysterious circumstances in a car accident, London gangster Jack Carter travels to Newcastle to investigate.
Director: Mike Hodges | Stars: Michael Caine, Ian Hendry, Britt Ekland, John Osborne
Votes: 36,793 | Gross: $0.39M
Looking sharp, aging well, funny, dirty, hard. Surely the ultimate Caine film and performance.
81. The Green Man (1956)
Not Rated | 80 min | Comedy, Crime
An assassin is annoyed by a vacuum cleaner salesman determined to stop him.
Directors: Robert Day, Basil Dearden | Stars: Alastair Sim, George Cole, Terry-Thomas, Jill Adams
Votes: 2,326
Alastair Sim on fine form as the charming assassin. One of his best. Shame the rest of the movie doesn't quite match his strong comic performance.
82. The Dead Pool (1988)
R | 91 min | Action, Crime, Mystery
Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan must stop a sick secret contest to murder various San Francisco celebrities, with himself being one of the targets.
Director: Buddy Van Horn | Stars: Clint Eastwood, Liam Neeson, Patricia Clarkson, Evan C. Kim
Votes: 48,974 | Gross: $37.90M
I got bored and fast forwarded through a few actions scenes at the end which saved me time and took nothing away from the film. Meh.
83. The Amazing Transparent Man (1960)
Approved | 58 min | Crime, Horror, Sci-Fi
A crazed scientist invents an invisibility formula. He plans to use the formula to create an army of invisible zombies.
Director: Edgar G. Ulmer | Stars: Marguerite Chapman, Douglas Kennedy, James Griffith, Ivan Triesault
Votes: 2,740
Lucky to get a 6. This is ultimately, quite crap. But i was in the mood for it so i felt generous. No it's not amazing, but there is a man in it.
84. The Blob (1958)
Approved | 86 min | Horror, Sci-Fi
An alien lifeform consumes everything in its path as it grows and grows.
Directors: Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr., Russell S. Doughten Jr. | Stars: Steve McQueen, Aneta Corsaut, Earl Rowe, Olin Howland
Votes: 29,390
Looks, feels, plays, emotes like an old comic. It's the drive-in b movie classic i expected it to be. Surprising to see Steve McQueen among it all, but there he is. Feels like everyone has been slightly gassed for this one.
85. Blood and Black Lace (1964)
Not Rated | 88 min | Crime, Horror, Mystery
A masked, shadowy killer brutally murders the models of a scandalous fashion house in Rome.
Director: Mario Bava | Stars: Cameron Mitchell, Eva Bartok, Thomas Reiner, Arianna Gorini
Votes: 13,021
Stylish and in some ways beginning to look dated, the whole concept of mystery black gloves killing only models. But still keeps its cool.
86. The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970)
GP | 96 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
An American expatriate in Rome attempts to unmask a serial killer he witnessed in the act of an attempted murder - and is now hunting him and his girlfriend.
Director: Dario Argento | Stars: Tony Musante, Suzy Kendall, Enrico Maria Salerno, Eva Renzi
Votes: 24,103 | Gross: $0.42M
Not as fun as 'black lace' but watchable all the same. Suffers, as usual, from the emotional detachment caused by overdubbing, so one never really thinks of the film again after viewing.
87. Manos: The Hands of Fate (1966)
Not Rated | 70 min | Horror
A family gets lost on the road and stumbles upon a hidden, underground, devil-worshiping cult led by the fearsome Master and his servant Torgo.
Director: Harold P. Warren | Stars: Tom Neyman, John Reynolds, Diane Adelson, Harold P. Warren
Votes: 37,543
Rated 1 to keep its cult status on IMDB. I actually loved it, it was soooo bad, i laughed out loud a lot from the general state of weak ecstasy that it built up. Of course loads of people would hate this film. Not me.
88. The House That Dripped Blood (1971)
PG | 102 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
An anthology of four horror stories revolving around a mysterious rental house in the U.K.
Director: Peter Duffell | Stars: John Bryans, John Bennett, Denholm Elliott, Peter Cushing
Votes: 7,511
Anthology horror. Not as good as Dr Terror's house of horror, nor From beyond the grave, but same ballpark, Halloween oater.
89. Carry on Screaming! (1966)
Not Rated | 97 min | Comedy, Horror
The sinister Dr Watt has an evil scheme going. He's kidnapping beautiful young women and turning them into mannequins to sell to local stores.
Director: Gerald Thomas | Stars: Kenneth Williams, Jim Dale, Harry H. Corbett, Charles Hawtrey
Votes: 5,829
One of the best Carry Ons. The madcap humour works well in a fantasy horror setting, years before Young Frankenstein did the same thing (albeit better)
90. Ed Wood (1994)
R | 127 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama
Ambitious but troubled movie director Edward D. Wood Jr. tries his best to fulfill his dreams despite his lack of talent.
Director: Tim Burton | Stars: Johnny Depp, Martin Landau, Sarah Jessica Parker, Patricia Arquette
Votes: 184,004 | Gross: $5.89M
Loved this in the 90s. Disappointed on this 2nd viewing. Landau steals it, the rest just seems a little floppy with too much focus on the cross-dress thing. Not as funny as i remembered.
91. The Black Torment (1964)
Not Rated | 85 min | Horror, Mystery
A lord returns to his manor with his new wife, to hear rumors that he had already secretly returned and had committed several murders. Has he lost his mind, or is something dark afoot?
Director: Robert Hartford-Davis | Stars: Heather Sears, John Turner, Ann Lynn, Peter Arne
Votes: 825
The title sounds misleadingly generic. This is a strong gothic mystery that keeps you guessing. Looks good and has the right twinkle in its eye. Watch again.
92. Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988)
PG-13 | 96 min | Comedy, Horror
"Elvira: Mistress of the Dark" is a 1988 comedy, horror movie - upon arriving in a small town where Elvira has inherited a rundown mansion, the famous horror host must battle an evil uncle, and townspeople who want her burned at the stake.
Director: James Signorelli | Stars: Cassandra Peterson, Phil Rubenstein, Larry Flash Jenkins, Damita Jo Freeman
Votes: 20,859 | Gross: $5.60M
As horror comedy goes, this is definitely one of my faves. It'd be a guilty pleasure, except i feel no guilt in enjoying and recommending this sassy little caper.
93. The Addams Family (2019)
PG | 86 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
The eccentrically macabre family moves to a bland suburb where Wednesday Addams' friendship with the daughter of a hostile and conformist local reality show host exacerbates conflict between the families.
Directors: Greg Tiernan, Conrad Vernon | Stars: Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Chloë Grace Moretz, Finn Wolfhard
Votes: 44,901 | Gross: $100.04M
The new animated one. I was into it at first but by the end had become kinda not so bothered. It's basically what you'd expect from such a movie in 2019.
94. Great Expectations (1946)
Approved | 118 min | Adventure, Drama, Mystery
A humble orphan boy in 1810s Kent is given the opportunity to go to London and become a gentleman, with the help of an unknown benefactor.
Director: David Lean | Stars: John Mills, Valerie Hobson, Tony Wager, Jean Simmons
Votes: 26,414
4th? time viewing and loved it more than ever. Upgraded to 10. The best dickens adaptation, great photography, all the characters play well, even with Alec Guinness dressed up like an easter egg.
95. First Men in the Moon (1964)
Not Rated | 103 min | Adventure, Sci-Fi
When a spaceship lands on the moon, it is hailed as a new accomplishment, before it becomes clear that a Victorian party completed the journey in 1899, leading investigators to that mission's last survivor.
Director: Nathan Juran | Stars: Edward Judd, Martha Hyer, Lionel Jeffries, Miles Malleson
Votes: 6,412 | Gross: $1.65M
Again with that 60s 'loud n empty' feel. The whole mad inventor world at the start looked promising but once up on the moon, it soon ran out of puff and steam.
96. Tangled (2010)
PG | 100 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
The magically long-haired Rapunzel has spent her entire life in a tower, but now that a runaway thief has stumbled upon her, she is about to discover the world for the first time, and who she really is.
Directors: Nathan Greno, Byron Howard | Stars: Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, Donna Murphy, Ron Perlman
Votes: 494,481 | Gross: $200.82M
2nd viewing. Has a calmness and maturity not always found in Disney. Some pretty moments too, such as the candle lanterns. Yeah this is ageing well.
97. The Hi-Lo Country (1998)
R | 114 min | Drama, Romance, Western
Two cowboys have their friendship tested when they fall for the same girl.
Director: Stephen Frears | Stars: Billy Crudup, Woody Harrelson, Patricia Arquette, Cole Hauser
Votes: 4,574 | Gross: $0.16M
Woody Harrelson playing the loose cannon; touches of 80s brat-pack meets Hud perhaps? It moves casually but ends up feeling like a rounded film with a decent punch. Watch again.
98. The Entertainer (1960)
Not Rated | 96 min | Drama
Archie Rice, an old-time British music hall performer sinking into final defeat, schemes to stay in show business.
Director: Tony Richardson | Stars: Laurence Olivier, Brenda de Banzie, Roger Livesey, Joan Plowright
Votes: 3,736
Finally watched it and tried to wring every drop from it. Brave turn for Olivier, he does a good job. It all feels too self-aware without being funny enough nor successfully evoking the emotions it clearly wanted to.
99. They Came from Beyond Space (1967)
Unrated | 85 min | Adventure, Sci-Fi
Scientists investigating an unusual meteor shower in a rural field are possessed by an alien force bent on an ulterior purpose.
Director: Freddie Francis | Stars: Robert Hutton, Jennifer Jayne, Zia Mohyeddin, Bernard Kay
Votes: 2,046
An clunky 60s british fumble through the usual alien takeover plot.
100. Absolute Power (1997)
R | 121 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Career thief Luther Whitney (Clint Eastwood) witnesses a horrific crime involving U.S. President Alan Richmond (Gene Hackman).
Director: Clint Eastwood | Stars: Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Ed Harris, Laura Linney
Votes: 60,188 | Gross: $50.01M
I shouldn't like this as much as i do. It's almost silly, but it keeps you watching. The cafe scene with all eyes on his meeting his daughter, his appearance at the hospital. Classic Clint in many ways, albeit smoker's delight.
Tell Your Friends