A respectable, sincere film of Robert Bolt's literate play, with Scofield as Sir Thomas More, endorsing the divine right of the Pope over and above his King, Henry VIII, who wishes to divorce Katherine Of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn. Watch out for Orson Welles in a marvellous cameo as Cardinal Wolsey. The film won 6 Oscars.
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BEN HUR (1959)
CertificationPG Our Rating
One of the most spectacular epics of all time, even by the standards of Hollywood, the famous twenty minute chariot race alone took three months to shoot, and, along the way, Ben is given a helping hand and converted by Jesus. An unmissable slice of movie history. Won Best Picture at 1959 Academy Awards.
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IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934)
CertificationU Our Rating
Multi-Oscar winning romantic comedy that has Gable as the poor but honest hack who meets the snobbish, spoilt Colbert as she buses across the USA. He attempts to get through to her, and the byplay between the two stars is a model of skilful direction. Touching and funny in equal measure. Won five Academy Awards at the 1934 Oscars.
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ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)
CertificationPG Our Rating
Winner of 8 Oscars, this is the story of a misfit who challenges the power of the tough New York Longshoremen's Union. Steiger plays his brother, caught between divided loyalties, and Eve Marie Saint plays the woman he falls in love with. Highly recommended viewing despite its political premises. NB the special pleading on behalf of informers, deriving presumably from the fact that Kazan and Schulberg named names during the McCarthy witch-hunts.
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THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946)
CertificationU Our Rating
It's the hope that sustains the spirit of every GI: the dream of the day when he will finally return home. For three WWII veterans, the day has arrived. But for each man, the dream is about to become a nightmare. Captain Fred Derry (Dana Andrews) is returning to a loveless marriage; Sergeant Al Stephenson (Fredric March) is a stranger to a family that's grown up without him; and young sailor Homer Parrish (Harold Russell) is tormented by the loss of his hands. Can these three men find the courag
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THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI (1957)
CertificationPG Our Rating
Guinness restores the morale of British PoWs by building a bridge which is of military value to the Japanese, and then attempts to thwart the RAF's destruction of it! A classic film which swept 7 Oscars including "Best Picture".
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THE INFORMER (1935)
CertificationPG Our Rating
Dublin, 1922; Gypo Nolan, strong but none too bright, has been ousted from the rebel organization and is starving. When he finds that his equally destitute sweetheart Katie has been reduced to prostitution, he succumbs to temptation and betrays his former comrade Frankie to the British authorities for a 20 pound reward. In the course of one gloomy, foggy night, guilt and retribution inexorably close in. An atmospheric and gritty classic set around the Irish troubles.
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THE LOST WEEKEND (1945)
CertificationPG Our Rating
Don Birnam, long-time alcoholic, has been "on the wagon" for ten days and seems to be over the worst; but his craving has just become more insidious. Evading a country weekend planned by his brother Wick and girlfriend Helen, he begins a four-day bender. In flashbacks, we see past events, all gone wrong because of the bottle, but this bout looks like it's going to be his last...one way or the other. A dark, gritty depiction of the ravages of alcohol and winner of 4 Oscars including Best Actor, B
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