1939 is the "Golden Year" for movies (1 Viewer)

[Lew Crippen]

I did not notice you are a Brit!

I’m not, but I’ve worked in so many parts (and ex-parts) of the Empire and drunk enough G&Ts that I might qualify (other than my name, of course).

Plus, I can discuss the cricket and rugby.

 

[Rick Blaine]

John,

Is that your actual name or are you just a fan of Casablanca?

"Here's Lookin' at you."

Rick

 

[Rick Blaine]

I’m not, but I’ve worked in so many parts (and ex-parts) of the Empire and drunk enough G&Ts that I might qualify (other than my name, of course).

Sorry Lew, I meant Andrew. But we'd all still be proud, Right-Oh!

 

[Marty M]

Don't forget that one man, Victor Fleming, is credited with directing two of those classics of 1939 -- Gone With the Wind and The Wizard of Oz. 1939 was, indeed, a great year for cinema.

 

[DeeF]

Violet cremes?

 

[DeeF]

I personally don't understand the need to single out any particular year. 1939 was certainly a great year; how about 1999?

1939 is usually applauded on the basis of just two films, Gone With The Wind and The Wizard of Oz, arguably the most popular films ever made. Both are great classics, in beautiful Technicolor, and both are bettered for nuances by many other films.

Curiously, in a personal, unauthorized poll taken by me, I have found that these two films are primarily disliked by men. Of course, both movies were ultimately directed by that man's man of directors, Victor Fleming (though George Cukor is really responsible for GWTW, along with DOSelznick).

 

[John Thomas]

So Rick, are you pulling an "Al Brown"?

 

[rich_d]

Seems like a pretty fair result/poll.

Hard to fault 1939. Since no one has run through 1974 yet some notable titles:

Godfather Part II
Chinatown (My personal favorite)
The Conversation
Amarcord
Murder on the Orient Express
Young Frankenstein
The Great Gatsby (the score at least)
Lenny
The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
A Woman Under the Influence
Harry and Tonto

Not to shabby ....

 

[oscar_merkx]

considering that 1939 is such a classic year, some these classics are not on dvd such as Ninotcka.

a shame

 

[TonyD]

no one has mentioned my favorite movie, also from 1939 and still no word of a dvd. On Borrowed Time starring Lionel Barrymore as Julian Northrup (Gramps)

 

[Jack Shappa]

The early eighties had boatloads of great films, but 1982 really stands out:

E.T.
Tootsie
Sophie's Choice
Ghandi
Blade Runner
Star Trek II : Wrath of Kahn
Conan The Barbarian
First Blood
Poltergeist
John Carpenter's The Thing
48 Hours
Officer and a Gentleman
The Verdict
Victor/Victoria
My Favorite Year
Missing
Shoot the Moon
Evil Dead
Frances
Annie
Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
Rocky III

Not a bad year I'd say...

- JS

 

[benbess]

My top films for this year, at this moment anyway, are:


1. The Wizard of Oz

2. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

3. Gone with the Wind/Stagecoach/Young Mr. Lincoln (3-way tie)

4. Goodbye, Mr. Chips

5. Dark Victory

6. The Rains Came

7. Drums Along the Mohawk

8. Dodge City

9. Ninotchka

10. Jesse James

11. The Women

12. Union Pacific

13. Of Mice and Men

14. Gunga Din

15. The Roaring 20s


And I'm sure I've left some very good movies out. It was a good year.