10 must watch Hollywood flicks of last 100 years recommended for every cinephile
Hollywood has produced some of the best films in the cinematic landscape. It is very difficult to single out one film from each decade still we have dared to pick out the finest ones of
6. Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
Considered as the greatest western ever , it's labour of love from master director Sergio Leone. The film takes a departure from the run of the mill western films that mostly relied on fast action sequences and quick gun battle. The beauty of the movie is in its moments before violence. The story revolves around a man with no name (Charles Bronson). He's out to settle an old score with a menacing killer Frank (Henry Fonda) . The railroad boss Mr. Morton wants the land of Jill McBain (Claudia Cardinale), and the man with no name (Harmonica) who finds a reliable ally in a bandit leader Cheyenne (James Robards), teams up with him to defeat the railroad boss and Frank.
Indian blockbuster Sholay has borrowed a few scenes from this movie eg. Gabbar Singh killing the child,the killing scene of Thakur's family and the screeching background score also looks familiar.
7. On the Waterfront (1954)
This timeless classic follows on the heels of ‘A street car named desire' by Elia Kazan . This ruthless and naturalistic film is based on a series of true events that concerns with the problems of trade unionism, corruption and racketeering. The film stars Marlon Brando, in his Oscar winning performance, as Terry Malloy, a failed boxer who runs errands for local mob boss Johnny Friendly. Terry falls in love with a girl whose brother was killed by Johnny's thugs in his presence. Terry started questioning his loyalty and decides to testify against mob boss. Amir Khan's Ghulam is inspired from this masterpiece.With 11 nominations, the film bagged 8 oscar awards.
8. Rebecca (1940)
Alfred Hitchock is one director who virtually invented the thriller genre in English Cinema; Rebecca was master's debut in Hollywood. Rightly awarded the academy awards for best picture, the story of the film revolves around a young woman (Joan Fontaine) who falls for the wealthy and brooding widower Mr. de Winter (Laurence Olivier) and marries him. Upon returning to the family estate with him, she faces shunning by cold-hearted housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers who is obsessed with Winter's first wife Rebecca.
The movie has inspired Hindi Film Kohra starring Sunil Dutt and Wahida Rehman.
9. City lights (1931)
This simple yet moving tale of a tramp would leave you with a tinge in your heart. Charlie Chaplin risked making this silent movie several years after the inception of talkies. It's a telltale of a tramp who falls for a blind girl and goes on to extremes to help her. Chaplin personally considered it among his finest works. The strength of the film lies in Chaplin's mastery in expressing all forms of human emotions. The climax of the film is inarguably the most touching scene in cinematic history.
Raj Kapoor starrer films have hugely drawn from City Lights. Other films are - Choti Choti Baatein (1964), Sunayna (1979). Some of the scenes of Ranbir Kapoor's and Priyanka Chopra's recent movie Barfi are also a straight lift from City Lights.
10. Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927)
Widely revered as the best silent film of Hollywood, it‘s a story of a romance that leads to murder. When a simple country farmer gets involved with a seductress from the city, she convinces him to kill his wife with dreams of an exciting city life. The bewitched farmer tries to murder his wife but soon realizes the mistake. What followed next is sense of guilt and his longing for forgiveness. The film earned three Oscars and got listed in AFI's ‘100 years 100 Movies list'.