What's Your Favorite Old Movie? (pre 1970, more or less)

[the new scum]

definitely Seven Samurai.

Ikiru and The Good, The Bad and the Ugly are a close second and third.

[Popcorn_Bliss]

Far too many to list, but here are the three, prior to 1970, that currently land in my Top Ten...

The Endless Summer (1966)
Probably the "oldest" film I've watched the most times. Not your typical film and yet utterly enjoyable. And nostalgic too.

Vertigo (1958)
I read once that most Hitchcock fans tend to list "Psycho" as his best, while the "serious crowd" tends to gravitate to "Vertigo". I don't know how "serious" I am, but I do know that Vertigo is captivating on so many levels - the symbolism through color, the "psych before psych" nightmare sequence, the play of lenses, the themes of obsession, sexual fantasy and irony. It's a film that literally unveils something new on every viewing.

Citizen Kane (1941)
The film most responsible for every one that has followed. If you value films with stunning and inventive cinematography, and directors who have free control to craft their vision, then you owe the thanks to this film.

[imsounoriginal]

"Favorite," in terms of enjoyability and rewatchability, of the pre-1970s will probably always be Goldfinger. Followed very closely by Casablanca. And then I'd say Psycho.

There are "better" films than those three, but in terms of entertainment value, those are the top three for me.

[harpolini]

In The Heat of the Night

[The Debts]

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, Dr. Strangelove, Psycho and Goldfinger are among a few.

[AaronJ]

My FAVORITE?! Yikes. Talk about an impossible question.

I'm going to limit my list to five films, though this by no means some sort of conclusive list.

The Passion of Joan of Arc
Breathless
Vivre sa Vie
Vertigo
Citizen Kane

Oh, this is impossible. Hell, I could name five films by Godard alone. Or Bergman. Or Hitchcock. Or any number of others.

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg needs to be on there. As does Repulsion. As does Virgin Spring. As does ... well, it's impossible.

[Darth Marcus]

How does one simply pick one movie?! Anyways, here's a list in no specific order:

Sweet Smell of Success
Once Upon a Time in the West
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
2001: A Space Odyssey
Paths of Glory
Dr. Strangelove
Seven Samurai
Double Indemnity
The Wizard of Oz
The Sound of Music
Casablanca
The Quiet Man
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
The Searchers
The Maltese Falcon
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
To Kill a Mockingbird
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
It's a Beautiful Life
Gone with the Wind
Vertigo
Rear Window
Psycho
Citizen Kane
Goldfinger
North by Northwest
From Russia with Love
Thunderball

and many, many more.

[P-Rock]

Bad Boys II

[Coenskubrick]

2001
Psycho
All About Eve
The Miracle Worker
Midnight Cowboy

[surfdude12]

Gone With The Wind

[Dorklord]

The Time Machine (1960)
Forbidden Planet (1956)
Patton (1970)
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
My Fair Lady (1964)
Charade (1963)
Ben Hur (1959)
Planet of the Apes (1968)
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
The Mark of Zorro (1940)
The Ten Commandments (1956)

[imsounoriginal]

Forgot to mention "My Fair Lady" as a favorite. Also might as well throw in "Treasure of the Sierra Madre," since Bogey movies are usually very rewatchable.

I wonder if people in this thread are conflating "Favorite" and "Best," though. Some of these choices... I can't imagine watching too many times, if ever more than once. (I mean no offense, just saying that there are some interesting choices.)

[hamchuck1]

Touch of Evil (Restored version)
M

[DarkEco910]

Just naming my top three:

Some Like it Hot
Casablanca
Singin' in the Rain

[zorbonaut]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Can I pick 10? How bout 20? Way to difficult to actually pick one but if I most, I most....

I will go with Wait Until Dark, my favorite movie from my all time favorite actress.

I'm with you on this. It's near impossible to narrow it down to just one.

I would say something from Hitchcock or It's a Wonderful Life or Maybe 12 Angry Men.

[JC_20010]

Stanley Kubricks "The Killing"

[LuckyDragon]

[Jaymole]

Pre 1965:

Vertigo

[Todd Tomorrow]

Vertigo
Black Narcissus
Pandora's Box
Rosemary's Baby
The Night of the Hunter
Imitation of Life (1959 version)
The Ghost and Mrs Muir
I Know Where I'm Going
The Lady from Shamghai
Funny Face
The Heiress
The Innocents
2001
Sunrise
Marnie
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Meet Me in St Louis
Rear Window
Cat People/Curse of the Cat People
Peter Ibbetson
Once Upon a Time in the West
Northwest Passage

[Groot]