The Man in the White Suit - Recently came out on DVD! This is a great comedy, in the classic sense of the word. You know, I have always thought of optimism as coming in two varieties. One is the kind always derided by 'realists' and implies a certain amount of ignorance of the possibilities. The other, which I really prefer to call idealism, is a conscious choice, a decision to hope and believe despite knowing the odds. Alec Guinness gives a terrific example of that sort of thing with expressions of almost palpable idealism. If you're not use to British style it can be kinda dull. Probably holds intrinsic interest for anyone remotely interested in general economics, and more specifically the economics of progress and discovery.
12 Angry Men - Original recently came out on DVD - and it was better than I remembered. I ought to go watch the made-for-TV remake again, and see if the addition of color (to the film, to the characters, to their clothes...) really means as much to me as it used to. Stars Henry Fonda/Jack Lemmon in a courtroom drama. Adapted from a stage play, notable in that almost the entire film takes place within one room. Can run kinda slow if you're not use to such bland settings, but the dialogue and acting are great.
The Chalk Garden - An atypical Hayley Mills. You might call this a mystery, or you might call it a 'child love story.' Deborah Kerr (The King and I, An Affair to Remember) and John Mills (Hayley's father) also play significant roles. I have actually only seen this once, and I think it was about 10 years ago at that, but I was never able to forget it.
Roman Holiday - Audrey Hepburn's first movie, with Gregory Peck as leading man. The story of a Princess who decided to take a day off...You can tell that Hepburn's talent is natural, as even today many people consider this her best work.
The Black Stallion - Little talking; just acting, music, great visuals, and cinematography. Did I mention cinematography? Modern blockbusters have their place, but this is something from another level...placidly realistic acting against a majestic background. The 'flirtation' and first riding sequences on the island are unrivaled...and I'm not even a horse enthusiast! (no offense, Sara)
