#9 Vertigo

1958
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Starring: Jimmy Stewart, Kim Novak, Barbara Bel Geddes

Classic Hitchcock film which I had never seen before.  As with all Hitchcock film, every shot is perfect and has a purpose.  The story was interesting and dark, as I expected.  Jimmy Stewart's character, Scottie,  is an ex-detective who suffers from vertigo, which was the reason for his early retirement after he witnesses someone fall and couldn't save him because of his fear.  When an old friend asks Scottie to follow his wife because he was afraid something bad would happen to her, he becomes obsessed and in love.  When she falls to her death, he is devastated.  But nothing is quite as it seems...

Trivia: The film was unavailable for decades because its rights (together with four other pictures of the same period) were bought back by Alfred Hitchcock and left as part of his legacy to his daughter. They've been known for long as the infamous "Five Lost Hitchcocks" amongst film buffs, and were re-released in theatres around 1984 after a 30-year absence. The others are The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), Rear Window(1954), Rope (1948), and The Trouble with Harry (1955).

Up next: Schindler's List

#10 The Wizard of Oz

1939
Director: Victor Fleming, George Cukor

Starring: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Billie Burke, Margaret Hamilton

Ok, if you've never seen this movie are are over the age of 12, then there's something wrong with you! I haven't seen it in a few years, so it was fun to watch again.  I watched this movie with my best friend and this is her favorite movie ever.  She was saying it's funny how you never forget the lines and the songs after you've seen it so many times.
There were so many interesting stories that instead of writing the synopsis, I'll share some that I found.

- When the wardrobe department was looking for a coat for Frank Morgan (Professor Marvel / The Wizard), they decided they wanted one that looked like it had once been elegant but had since "gone to seed". They visited a second-hand store and purchased an entire rack of coats, from which Morgan, the head of the wardrobe department, and director Victor Fleming chose one they felt gave off the perfect appearance of "shabby gentility". One day, while he was on set in the coat, Morgan idly turned out one of the pockets and discovered a label indicating that the coat had been made for L. Frank Baum. Mary Mayer, a unit publicist for the film, contacted the tailor and Baum's widow, who both verified that the coat had at one time been owned by the author of the original "Wizard of Oz" books. After the filming was completed, the coat was presented to Mrs. Baum.

- While filming the scene where Dorothy slaps the Cowardly Lion, Judy Garland got the giggles so badly that they had to take a break in shooting. The director, Victor Fleming, took her aside, gave her a quick lecture, and then slapped her. She returned to the set and filmed the scene in one take. 

- The horses in Emerald City palace were colored with Jell-O crystals. The relevant scenes had to be shot quickly, before the horses started to lick it off.

Up Next: Vertigo

# 11 City Lights

1931
Director: Charles Chaplin
Starring: Charles Chaplin

Story of a tramp who falls in love with a blind flower girl.  He does anything to save up enough money for her to have an operation so she can see.  He forms a friendship with a wealthy man, who only remembers Chaplin when he's drunk.  Chaplin fears that once his girl is able to see again, she won't love him because he's poor.  I am a fan of silent movies, but this one was just so so for me.  I am a little surprised it's number 11 on the list!

Trivia: At the beginning of the film, a town official and a woman dedicating the statue can be heard uttering nondescript words by way of a paper reed mouth instrument. The sounds were made by Charles Chaplin and this was the first time that his voice was heard on film.

Up Next: The Wizard of Oz

#12 The Searchers

1956
Director: John Ford
Starring: John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles

So far, one of the only westerns I've ever seen that I've liked!  The story follows Wayne's character, Ethan Edwards, who comes homes after fighting in the Civil War to his family.  Before he can settle in, the family's ranch is attacked by Comanches.  Most of the family is killed, but his young niece, Debbie,  survives and is taken by the native americans.  Ethan sets out to save his niece and his traveling companion is Martin, a young man who is part native american and was all but adopted by Ethan's family.  Ethan's obvious dislike towards native americans comes out mostly towards Martin.  But after 5 years they finally find the niece, Debbie, who has become part of the Comanche tribe herself, and Ethan finds himself starting to feel the same towards her.  (Natalie Wood plays little Debbie all grown up.)  Great story, great characters... finally a western I can say I really enjoyed watching.

Trivia: Reportedly this film was seen in a theater in Texas by Buddy Holly and his friends in the summer of 1956. They were so impressed with Ethan's (John Wayne) repeated use of the phrase "That'll be the day" that they used it as the title for their now standard rock song, which they composed soon after.

Up Next: City Lights

#13 Star Wars

1977
Director: George Lucas
Starring: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford

One of my all-time favorites, and one I've seen more times than I care to admit.  If you haven't seen this movie, there might be something wrong with you.  (Just as a side note- I watched this movie twice; once just by itself and once with a Rifftrax.  Google it if you've never heard of it!!)

Nothing more to say other than it's the reason why people go to the movies- entertaining as any movie can be.  Looking forward to see the sequels being filmed now!

Trivia: George Lucas was so sure the film would flop that instead of attending the premiere, he went on holiday to Hawaii with his good friend Steven Spielberg, where they came up with the idea for Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Up Next: The Searchers

# 14 Psycho

1960
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Starring: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh

What a great movie! I haven't seen it in years, and it holds up. Every shot is perfect and purposeful.  What more can be said!

Trivia: Every theater that showed the film had a cardboard cut-out installed in the lobby of Alfred Hitchcock pointing to his wristwatch with a note from the director saying "The manager of this theatre has been instructed at the risk of his life, not to admit to the theatre any persons after the picture starts. Any spurious attempts to enter by side doors, fire escapes or ventilating shafts will be met by force. The entire objective of this extraordinary policy, of course, is to help you enjoy PSYCHO more. Alfred Hitchcock"

Up Next: Star Wars (!!!!!!)

#15 2001: A Space Odyssey

1968
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Starring: Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester,

Stanley Kubrick's classic film, which I hadn't seen in about 20 years. The story follows mankind, starting with early apes, who come across a strange monolith on earth.  Modern man then discovers a similar monolith on the surface of the moon, and the race begins to find the origins of the strange structure.  Astronauts set out on a mission with the assistance of HAL (a computer/AI), who then turns on them.  I found myself loving the score, but the movie wouldn't be classified as one of my favorites.

Trivia: There is no dialogue in the first 25 minutes of the movie (ending when a stewardess speaks at 25:38), nor in the last 23 minutes (excluding end credits). With these two lengthy sections and other shorter ones, there are around 88 dialogue-free minutes in the movie.

Up Next: Psycho