MANILA, Philippines?At a recent forum, we were asked by the audience to come up with tips on how they could become better appreciators of film. We observed that many viewers today have forgotten the great movies of yore. If they really want to build up their ability to appreciate movies, they really need to go back to the good old days ?when movies were movies? and bone up on the classics. Some should-see golden oldies:
?Pinocchio? (1940). The Disney favorite can be summed up in one word: Magical. Based on the Carlo Collodi story about a wooden puppet who longs to become a little boy, the animated film?s host of wonderful characters include Jimminy Cricket and J. Worthington, the fox. Included in the Oscar-winning movie is the memorable song, ?When You Wish Upon A Star.?
Meaning of life
?The Seventh Seal? (1957). Ingmar Bergman?s masterpiece takes place in 14th-century Sweden, where a knight (Max von Sydow) returns from the Crusades, only to find the black plague ravaging his homeland. When Death comes to claim him, Von Sydow engages the Grim Reaper in a game of chess, thus giving him a reprieve and allowing him to meditate on the meaning of life. A haunting, beautifully shot allegorical film that helped inform and inspire an entire generation of cineastes.
?Singin? in the Rain? (1952). Many fans consider this to be the greatest musical of all time. Set in Hollywood when the industry was making the transition from silent to talkies, the story is about silent stars, Kelly and Hagan, trying to make a successful leap into sound. When Hagan?s voice proves to be a problem, and when Debbie Reynolds shows up as Gene Kelly?s new love interest, Hagan begins to scheme. Great dancing, especially by Kelly and Donald O?Connor, plus many musical gems.
?Stalag 17? (1953). A dramatic story about American G.I.?s sharing the same shack in a German P.O.W. camp. William Holden won an Oscar for his portrayal of a slick operator wrongly accused of being a traitor. This movie is about how men survive and bond in the harsh conditions of war.
?Cyrano de Bergerac? (1950). Jose Ferrer steals this film with his force-of-nature portrayal of the great Cyrano, a soldier, hero, poet and lover beyond equal, with a nose long enough for a bird to perch on. Based on the classic 17th-century play by Edmond Rostand. Gorgeously remade in 1990 with Gerard Depardieu.
?A Clockwork Orange? (1971). Disturbing, violent and visionary tale of a society out of control that focuses on the story of a sadistic young punk (Malcolm McDowell) who is forced to undergo a violent ?cure.? Filmed with cold detachment by Stanley Kubrick, the film remains a potent satire on both violence and society?s response to it.
Publishing magnate
?Citizen Kane? (1941). Sometimes cited as the best American film ever made, this is the saga (loosely based on the true story of William Randolph Hearst) of the rise and fall of publishing magnate, Charles Foster Kane (Orson Welles). Gorgeously filmed, impeccably acted, with production values that set new standards for excellence, ?Citizen Kane? is a work of genius.
?The Bicycle Thief? (1949). This classic film about a poor man and his son searching for his stolen bicycle is a favorite of cinephiles because of its remarkable cinematography and poignant script.
?Papillon? (1973). Steve McQueen plays a Frenchman sent to Devil?s Island for a murder he says he didn?t commit. Life at the penal colony is unbearable, and McQueen plots his escape with a bookish embezzler (Hoffman). The gritty realism and fine performances make this a spectacular film.
