DOWNLOADED1:
Wow - that is extremely cool - thanks. Tempted to list another 50, but will wait, it's 12:30 a.m. in NYC and I've gotta get to bed soon.
But - I can't help it - just a few quick things while you are on-line:
a. Grand Illusion is so remarkable, it always bothers me when Rules of the Game is ranked higher. I know it's ridiculous, they are both pretty universally considered to be in the top 25 films in world cinema, but Rules pretty much has the #2 spot, and I don't see why. I understand it has the structure and I recognize it is brilliant (although it took me 3 times), but it just doesn't have the emotional pull or poignancy of the Grand Illusion.
b. Gone With the Wind has fallen out of favor, and to a degree I can why, but I don't think it is fair. I know, the directorial styles of George Cukor, Victor Fleming and maybe others are not internally consistent, but so what, the end product remains one of the most ambitious Hollywood products ever. That is one of the reasons I prefer it (strongly) to its big competitor for greatest romance, Casablanca, which was only supposed to be a B movie. Like everybody else I think Casablanca is wonderful, but in some ways it plays almost more like a Shakespeare play (with all those great lines) than a piece of cinema. And Grand Illusion used L'Marseille first, and to even better, semi-surrealistic effect.
c. If I list another 50 films, a few Hitchcocks will make it, but not Vertigo. It pretty much has the #3 spot in world cinema at this point, and certainly I respect it, but it meanders. Kim Novak also didn't cut it for me - she should have switched roles with Barbara Bel Geddes, who was much more interesting (but of course Novak fit the ice blond Hitchcock mold).
Curious what you think. Forgive me if I don't respond tonight, only another 5 minutes or so on-line. thx