Top 20 films of the 1930's POLL

[mjbethancourt]

Definitely subject to change:


1. M
2. All Quiet on the Western Front
3. The Testament of Dr. Mabuse
4. King Kong
5. Things to Come
6. Captain Blood
7. The 39 Steps
8. The Invisible Man
9. The Public Enemy
10. Little Caesar
11. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
12. Angels with Dirty Faces
13. Island of Lost Souls
14. The Four Feathers
15. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
16. The Mutiny on the Bounty
17. Drums Along the Mohawk
18. Gunga Din
19. The Man Who Knew Too Much
20. The Mummy


Didn't forget Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind, or Robin Hood, they just aren't good enough, they missed the cut.

Gonna try and watch Trouble in Paradise, Petrified Forest, Things to Come, Gold Diggers of 1933, and The Testament of Dr. Mabuse before the deadline, and see if they bump any of these titles from the list. My favorite actors from these old decades are Claude Rains, Edward G. Robinson, and Lorre, so naturally I worked all three of them into the list. Rains in The Invisible Man is accidentally hilarious, he absolutely floors me laughing when he effetely hoots "I need to teach you a lesson ... I think I'll throttle you!"

[W0m6at]

King Kong (1933)
Alice in Wonderland (1933)
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
The Flying Mouse (1934) (short)
Elmer Elephant (1936) (short)
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1932)
Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933)
The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
The Mikado (1939)
Cosmic Journey (1936)
The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939)
The Invisible Man (1933)
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939)
Island of Lost Souls (1932)
City Lights (1931)
Babes in the Woods (1932) (short)
Playful Pluto (1934) (short)
Modern Times (1936)
White Zombie (1932)

[mjbethancourt]

Glad to note, we already have more surveys than we had for the 1920s poll. Already got 22 full surveys. This one should be a little more interesting from a statististical standpoint.

[jrsl76]

1.) It Happened One Night
2.) Freaks
3.) Ninotchka
4.) Bride Of Frankenstein
5.) King Kong
6.) The Public Enemy
7.) M
8.) Bringing Up Baby
9.) Dracula
10.) Grand Illusion
11.) Pygmalion
12.) The 39 Steps
13.) Frankenstein
14.) The Adventures Of Robin Hood
15.) Wizard Of Oz
16.) City Lights
17.) The Invisible Man
18.) Gone With The Wind
19.) Mr. Smith Goes To Washington
20.) Angels With Dirty Faces

[mjbethancourt]

Just made adjustments to include Things to Come and Public Enemy, both of which I just saw and thoroughly enjoyed. If you haven't picked up any of the four films from the Ultimate Gansters set, I recommend picking up at least Public Enemy, Little Caesar, and White Heat, if not all four. They are a lot of fun.

Thought the thread could use the bump.
Last time it was good for one more list, and it's getting to the last couple weeks now.

[brandon_260]

I'd love to participate in this one, but I don't see myself being caught up on my 1930's cinema in the next 8 days. I'll definitely be in for all the subsequent decades though.

[mjbethancourt]

Just got through 'The Testament of Dr. Mabuse', a strong source of influence and inspiration for all things Batman, whether comics or movies. Damn, Fritz Lang was such a great director, what an incredible visual artist. I added it near the top of my list.

So, time's running out: anybody have any suggestions of 1930s movies to watch before the deadline?

[Abdrewes]

1. King Kong (275 points)
2. The Wizard of Oz (214 points)
3. M (189 points)
4. Gone With the Wind (175 points)
5. The 39 Steps (165 points)
6. It Happened One Night (137 points)
7. The Adventures of Robin Hood (134 points)
8. Modern Times (118 points)
9. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (116 points)
10. Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (109 points)
11. The Lady Vanishes (100 points)
12. La Grande Illusion (95 points)
13. City Lights (94 points)
14. Bride of Frankenstein (90 points)
15. Frankenstein (85 points)
16. The Invisible Man (82 points)
17. All Quiet on the Western Front (78 points)
18. The Testament of Dr. Mabuse (72 points)
19. Freaks (67 points
20. Duck Soup (67 points)

The Math:

[Show spoiler]
1st tiebreaker: most votes
2nd tiebreaker: highest single vote

1. King Kong (19+9+20+19+6+19+13+15+13+18+18+15+20+18+17+20+16) 275
2. The Wizard of Oz (10+1+20+19+20+3+20+6+20+4+20+18+11+18+18+6) 214
3. M (11+2+3+16+2+13+16+6+17+20+20+8+1+20+20+14) 189
4. Gone With the Wind (15+13+7+16+16+17+1+14+11+15+17+8+5+17+3) 175
5. The 39 Steps (8+17+11+18+14+11+12+10+12+11+18+14+9) 165
6. It Happened One Night (12+12+18+12+12+3+4+12+7+15+1+9+20) 137
7. The Adventures of Robin Hood (5+1+14+15+7+15+9+7+2+2+19+19+12+7) 134
8. Modern Times (16+2+1+14+12+3+18+19+16+15+2) 118
9. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (6+13+5+15+17+5+3+14+11+10+17) 116
10. Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (9+10+2+13+2+16+17+12+20+6+2) 109
11. The Lady Vanishes (9+7+7+5+7+12+11+12+14+16) 100
12. La Grande Illusion (13+19+20+9+6+17+11) 95
13. City Lights (1+15+20+19+11+18+5+5) 94
14. Bride of Frankenstein (17+11+10+19+8+8+17) 90
15. Frankenstein (18+3+13+9+7+13+14+8) 85
16. The Invisible Man (3+15+2+14+6+17+13+8+4) 82
17. All Quiet on the Western Front (18+9+9+7+4+8+4+19) 78
18. The Testament of Dr. Mabuse (12+8+19+15+18) 72
19. Freaks (16+3+13+1+2+13+19) 67
20. Duck Soup (6+20+20+7+14) 67
21. The Public Enemy (10+7+11+10+1+12+15) 66
22. Stagecoach (19+14+9+3+2+9+7) 63
23. Bringing Up Baby (10+17+17+4+13) 61
24. The Rules of the Game (13+2+18+17+9) 59
25. L'Atalante (8+8+8+17+16) 57
26. The Man Who Knew Too Much (1+5+10+17+16+5+2) 56
27. Scarface (17+18+16+4) 55
28. Dracula (4+2+4+6+3+6+12+4+12) 53
29. Vampyr (5+19+10+19) 53
30. Angels With Dirty Faces (20+16+4+9+1) 50
31. Captain Blood (11+20+4+15) 50
32. The Thin Man (11+19+13+7) 50
33. Trouble in Paradise (4+18+10+13) 45
34. Shanghai Express (7+16+9+13) 45
35. The Blue Angel (14+14+15) 43
36. The Black Cat (5+8+16+11) 40
37. City Girl (9+12+19) 40
38. Island of Lost Souls (13+1+10+8+6) 38
39. Mutiny on the Bounty (17+14+5) 36
40. Only Angels Have Wings (18+11+4+2) 35
41. The Awful Truth (17+12+5) 34
42. Grand Hotel (1+16+16) 33
43. Mr Deeds Goes to Town (15+14+1) 30
44. Tabu (20+10) 30
45. My Man Godfrey (3+16+10) 29
46. Gunga Din (19+6+3) 28
47. The Mummy (12+5+2+7+1) 27
48. Lost Horizon (12+15) 27
49. Young Mr. Lincoln (13+2+11) 26
50. Ninotchka (8+18) 26
51. Design for Living (15+5+5) 25
52. Destry Rides Again (8+1+15) 24
53. Camille (19+5) 24
54. It's a Gift (5+18) 23
55. Things to Come (5+16) 21
56. Stage Door (6+14) 20
57. Make Way For Tomorrow 20
57. Limite 20
59. Earth (14+3+2) 19
60. Little Caesar (8+11) 19
61. Pygmalion (9+10) 19
62. Each Dawn I Die 19
62. Dishonored 19
62. Alice in Wonderland 19
65. The Mystery of the Wax Museum (5+13) 18
66. Sherlock Holmes (11+7) 18
67. Jezebel 18
67. A Slight Case of Murder18
67. The Goddess 18
70. Dark Victory (12+5) 17
71. Petrified Forest (11+6) 17
72. Bullets or Ballots 17
72. People on Sunday 17
74. Swing Time (4+12) 16
75. Mad Love (6+10) 16
76. Sons of the Desert 16
76. The Flying Mouse 16
76. Footlight Parade 16
79. The Most Dangerous Game (3+12) 15
80. Forty Second Street 15
80. The Count of Monte Cristo 15
80. Enthusiasm 15
80. Elmer Elephant 15
84. Way out West 14
84. The Kennel Murder Case 14
84. Morocco 14
84. Gold Diggers of 1933 14
84. Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde 14
89. The Old Dark House (6+1+6) 13
90. You Cant Take It With You 13
90. Vivacious Lady 13
90. Ganga Bruta 13
93. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (4+6+1) 11
94. The Roaring Twenties (2+9) 11
95. Port of Shadows 11
95. Osaka Elegy 11
95. The Mikado 11
98. Pepe Le Moko (1+9) 10
99. Westward Ho 10
99. The Bat Whispers 10
99. Blonde Venus 10
99. Alexander Nevsky 10
99. Animal Crackers 10
99. Ecstasy 10
99. Cosmic Journey 10
106. Holiday (6+3) 9
107. Hell's Angels 9
107. The Hound of the Baskervilles 9
107. The Murders in the Rue Morgue 9
107. Scrooge 9
111. Show Boat 8
111. You're Telling Me! 8
111. Zero for Conduct 8
111. Topper 8
111. A Night at the Opera 8
111. Our Relations 8
117. Red Dust 7
117. Smart Money 7
117. The Mask of Fu Manchu 7
117. The Life of Emile Zola 7
117. The Four Feathers 7
117. The Women 7
123. Imitation of Life 6
123. You Only Live Once 6
123. Pack up Your Troubles 6
126. The Scarlet Empress 5
126. The Blood of a Poet 5
128. Les Miserables 4
128. Heroes For Sale 4
128. Top Hat 4
128. Three Songs About Lenin 4
128. The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse 4
128. Drums Along the Mohawk 4
128. Babes in the Woods 4
135. Dr X (1+2) 3
136. Safe in Hell 3
136. A Story of Floating Weeds 3
136. Playful Pluto 3
136. The Mayor of Hell 3
136. I Am A Fugitive From A Chain Gang! 3
136. The Land Without Bread (Las Hurdes) 3
136. The Prisoner of Zenda 3
143. Dodsworth 2
143. Wuthering Heights 2
145. Two Pence Magic 1
145. Maniac 1
145. White Zombie 1

[Joeinar]

this is an utterly beautiful list of films.

[mirheum]

My 30's list:
1. La grande illusion
2. The lady vanishes
3. Modern times
4. The 39 steps
5. M
6. City lights
7. City girl
8. The rules of the game
9. La bete humaine
10. Hotel du nord
11. Port of shadows
12. Daybreak (carne)
13. The only son ( Ozu)
14 The Blue Angel
15. My man Godfrey
16. All quiet on the western front
17. The thin man
18. Dr. Jekyll and Mr.Hyde
19 The man who knew too much
20 Secret Agent

[benbess]

1. The Wizard of Oz-20 points
2. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington-19 points
3. Modern Times-18 points
4. Snow White and the Seven Dwarves-17 points
5. King Kong-16 points
6. City Lights-15 points
7. Gone With the Wind-14 points
8. The Rains Came-13 points
9. Lost Horizon-12 points
10. Freaks-11 points
11. Stagecoach-10 points
12. All Quiet on the Western Front-9 points
13. Duck Soup-8 points
14. Imitation of Life-7 points
15. Young Mr. Lincoln-6 points
16. The Adventures of Robin Hood-5 points
17. Gunga Din-4 points
18. Dark Victory-3 points
19. Little Caesar-2 points
20. Mutiny on the Bounty-1 point

Makes me want to see some of these again. Honorable mentions to lots of others, of course....

[qb2333]

Gone with the Wind (20)
The Wizard of Oz (19)
Modern Times (18)
King Kong (17)
Grand Hotel (16)
Top Hat (15)
The Blue Angel (14)
The Adventures of Robin Hood (13)
The Public Enemy (12)
City Lights (11)
Stagecoach (10)
Scarface (9)
Frankenstein (8)
The 39 Steps (7)
Island of Lost Souls (6)
A Star Is Born (5)
Sabotage (4)
Little Caesar (3)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (2)
Triumph of the Will (1)

[thebutcherboy]

The definitive list is as follows:
(in descending order)
1 point awarded to Under the Roofs of Paris (René Clair)1930
2 points awarded to The Devil is a Woman (Josef von Sternberg)1935
3 points awarded to Love Me Tonight (Rouben Mamoulian)1932
4 points awarded to The Childhood of Maxim Gorky (Mark Donskoi)1938
5 points awarded to Man's Castle (Frank Borzage)1933
6 points awarded to Le Jour Se Leve (Marcel Carné)1939
7 points awarded to Humanity and Paper Baloons (Sadao Yamanaka)1937
8 points awarded to Happiness (Aleksandr Medvedkin)1934
9 points awarded to Rose Hobart (Joseph Cornell)1936
10 points awarded to La Chienne (Jean Renoir)1931
11 points awarded to The Threepenny Opera (G.W. Pabst)1931
12 points awarded to Partie de Campagne (Jean Renoir)1936
13 points awarded to Man of Aran (Robert Flaherty)1934
14 points awarded to Angel (Ernst Lubitsch)1937
15 points awarded to The Story of the Last Chrysanthemums (Kenji Mizoguchi)1939
16 points awarded to Outskirts (Boris Barnet)1933
17 points awarded to Olympia (Leni Riefenstahl)1938
18 points awarded to I Was Born But... (Yasujiro Ozu)1932
19 points awarded to Triumph of the Will (Leni Riefenstahl)1935
20 points awarded to L'Age D'Or (Luis Buñuel)1930

[Todd Tomorrow]

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
The Scarlet Empress
M
Vampyr
L'Atalante
People on Sunday
The Bride of Frankenstein
The Testament of Dr Mabuse
Peter Ibbetson
The Wizard of Oz
The Edge of the World
Sabotage
The 39 Steps
Trouble In Paradise
Maedchen in Uniform (Maidens in Uniform)
L'Age d'Or
You Only Live Once
It Happened One Night
Duck Soup
A Midsummer Night's Dream

[PsychoWalrus]

1. Modern Times
2. M
3. Trouble in Paradise
4. The Rules of the Game
5. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
6. City Lights
7. Bringing Up Baby
8. The Wizard of Oz
9. Duck Soup
10. The Adventures of Robin Hood
11. Make Way for Tomorrow
12. Grand Illusion
13. The Scarlet Empress
14. Gone with the Wind
15. The 39 Steps
16. Love Me Tonight
17. Swing Time
18. Bride of Frankenstein
19. The Awful Truth
20. Shanghai Express

[Gerby]

1. I Am A Fugitive From A Chain Gang (1932, Mervyn LeRoy)
2. Modern Times (1936, Charlie Chaplin)
3. The Lady Vanishes (1938, Alfred Hitchcock)
4. Make Way For Tomorrow (1937, Leo McCarey)
5. Baby Face (1933, Alfred E. Green)
6. Three On A Match (1932, Mervyn LeRoy)
7. Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde (1931, Rouben Mamoulian)
8. Stagecoach (1939, John Ford)
9. The Old Dark House (1932, James Whale)
10. King Kong (1933, Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack)
11. The 39 Steps (1935, Alfred Hitchcock)
12. Gold Diggers Of 1933 (1933, Mervyn LeRoy)
13. Wild Boys Of The Road (1933, William Wellman)
14. Night World (1932, Hobart Henley)
15. The Red Headed Woman (1932, Jack Conway)
16. The Awful Truth (1937, Leo McCarey)
17. M (1931, Fritz Lang)
18. Frisco Jenny (1933, William Wellman)
19. Union Depot (1932, Alfred E. Green)
20. Midnight Mary (1933, William Wellman)

[mrjohnnyb]

My list:

1. Frankenstein
2. L'Atalante
3. The Wizard of Oz
4. Gone with the Wind
5. The Rules if the Game
6. M
7. King Kong
8. Zero for Conduct
9. Freaks
10. The Informer
11. Modern Times
12. The Adventures of Robin Hood
13. The Lady Vanishes
14. La Grande Illusion
15. Stagecoach
16. The 39 Steps
17. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
18. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
19. Little Caesar
20. L'Age D'Or

[Blu-Velvet]

I never got around to doing a 1930s list the first time around, partly because there are really way too many excellent films to try to narrow it down, but here finally is a list in rough order (which could change daily)...

20 top 1930s titles
===================

King Kong - 20 pts
Gold Diggers of 1933 - 19 pts
A Farewell to Arms - 18 pts
Gone With the Wind - 17
City Lights - 16
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington - 15
The Lady Vanishes - 14
All Quiet on the Western Front - 13
The Bride of Frankenstein - 12
Design for Living - 11
My Man Godfrey - 10
Beau Geste - 9
Wild Boys of the Road - 8
La Grande Illusion - 7
The Four Feathers - 6
The Wizard of Oz - 5
Make Way for Tomorrow - 4
International House - 3
The Sin of Nora Moran - 2
Duck Soup - 1