#25 To Kill A Mockingbird

1962 
Director: Robert Mulligan
Starring: Gregory Peck, Brock Peters, Mary Badham, Phillip Alford

Classic novel and movie that follows Atticus Finch, a lawyer who defends a black man who is wrongly accused of raping a white woman in racially divided 1930's Alabama.  Despite pressure from some of the town, he takes the case.  Atticus represents someone who does the right thing for the right reasons... simply because its the right thing to do.  It's simply in his nature to do good.  The movie also follows the lives of his children, and the mysterious Boo Radley (A very young Robert Duvall.)  
I remember reading this in school and watching the movie back then too.  The movie seemed to mean more now.  We are definitely getting into the best of the best now. 

Trivia: Mary Badham (Scout) and Gregory Peck (Atticus) became close during filming and kept in contact for the rest of his life. He always called her Scout. 

Up Next: E. T. 

#26 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

1939
Director: Frank Capra
Starring: James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Claude Rains

Made in one of the best year for movies, the movie follows a young senator and his introduction into politics.  Stweart is perfection and I HEART Claude Rains ( I've loved just about everything I've seen him in.) Stewart takes on the DC elite and corrupt.  His passion for democracy is certainly believable and missed these days!

Trivia: The movie Bitterly denounced by Washington insiders angry at its allegations of corruption, yet banned by fascist states in Europe who were afraid it showed that democracy works. 

Up Next: To Kill A Mockingbird

#27 High Noon

1952
Director: Fred Zinnemann
Starring: Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, Lloyd Bridges

Ok, so I guess I really just don't like westerns.  Not one, aside from Unforgiven, on the list that I've liked.  It wasn't TERRIBLE... I just wasn't impressed.  I did like the concept of the movie and how is occurs in real time.  The movie follows Will Kane (played by Gary Cooper), a sheriff who has kept his little town safe for years and is finally ready to get married (to Grace Kelly) and retire.  On the day of the wedding, the town hears of a gang with a big meanie, Frank Miller, who is headed their way.  Kane feels responsible, since he sent him to jail in the first place, and seems to be the only one who will stand up to Miller when he and his crew get in on the noon train.  The whole movie builds up to the end scene.  You want to stick with it so you see the end, but for me, the whole western movie is just something I don't get!  Onto the next...

Up Next: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

#28 All About Eve

1950
Director:  Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Starring: Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, George Sanders, Celeste Holm, Gary Merrill, Hugh Marlowe

One of my personal all time favorites, I can watch this movie over and over.  The story is great, and the acting (especially by Davis and Baxter) is perfection.  The movie follows acting hopeful Eve Harrington as she obsesses over and eventually starts working for theater-diva Margo Channing.  Theater actors in this movie are revered as the ultimate celebrity.  Eve's motives are not what they seem, and she eventually tries to take over Margo's life.  The movie had 14 Oscar Nominations and won 6.  

Trivia: One scene in the movie shows a very young Marilyn Monroe in one of her first on-screen roles and the famous line "Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night."

Up Next: High Noon

#29 Double Indemnity

1944
Director: Billy Wilder
Starring: Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson

LOVE this movie... I saw it once many moons ago, but didn't remember the details, or liking it this much.  What a classic representation of film noir.  I love the lighting, the mood... Barbara Stanwyck is amazing, and dark.  Perfect.

 I love how the last thing Neff looks at before he leaves her lying on the couch is her anklet.  Details like this make the movie.


Up Next: All About Eve

# 30 Apocalypse Now

1979
Director: Francis Ford Coppola

Starring: Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall

Maybe I just don't like Vietnam War movies, I haven't liked one yet.  And this one was really no different... I didn't HATE it, I just didn't like it.
The movie follows Sheen's Capt. Willard and he goes into the jungle on a mission to kill rogue Colonel Kurtz, who views himself as a god and lives among a local tribe.

Up Next: Double Indemnity

#31 The Maltese Falcon

1941
Director: John Huston
Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Peter Lorre

Classic film noire movie starring one of the best, Humphrey Bogart.  The movie begins as Mary Astor's character, Brigid O'Shaughnessy,  shows up at the Detective agency of Spade and Archer.  Before long, Archer is dead and Sam Spade is tangled up in the search for the mysterious statue known as the Maltese Falcon.  Peter Lorre's character is classic villain for the film type.  I could watch this movie over and over...

Trivia: John Huston had Mary Astor run around the set several times before each of her scenes in order to give her a breathless, nervous appearance on screen.

Up Next: Apocalypse Now