Nancy and I watched Field of Dreams this week on TV. Featuring Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones, and Burt Lancaster, it was most entertaining.
“Build it and he will come.”
“Go the distance.
“Ease his pain.”
“Is this heaven? No, it’s Iowa.”
I would rank Field of Dreams as certainly one of my all-time favorites, which got me to thinking. What would be my Top Ten Movies – those that stand out among all the rest. I gave it some thought and here’s my list.
Number 1. “Song of the South”. It was the first movie I ever remember seeing as a child. I vividly recall the bluebirds on Uncle Remus’ shoulder, and how well I remember Br’er Rabbit outfoxing Br’er Fox in the Tar Baby story. “Please don’t throw me in that briar patch, Br’er Fox.”
When the movie ended, an ad appeared on the screen with a cartoon pig – I think it was a Piggly Wiggly commercial, and I cried when they made me leave because I thought there would be more. The film had classic Disney animation and enchanting music including, “Zip-a-dee-do-dah” and “Everybody’s got a Laughing Place.
The sad part is that someone, somewhere considered it racist and Uncle Remus, one of America’s greatest literary characters, was literally erased from history. But not from my memories. “Song of the South” will always be Number One in my book.
Number 2. “Peter Pan”. I was about 10 years old and was visiting Mama Ida in Raleigh, NC. She worked at the Department of Motor Vehicles and took me to work with her one day. She gave me a quarter, and I walked down Fayetteville Street to see the new release of Peter Pan. The movie cost a dime; I bought a Pepsi for a nickel and spent the last 10c for a box of popcorn. I sat through the movie through three airings. To this day, I can sing and recite the lyrics to “Never Smile at a Crocodile.” Tinkerbell, Captain Hook, and Wendy? Who can ever forget?
3. “Harvey” A timeless classic with James Stewart and his invisible friend, Harvey, a six-foot rabbit. What great characters – Elwood P. Dowd, Myrtle Mae, Dr. Chumley and of course Harvey, who Veta Louise says she can sometimes see. Simply a great movie.
4. “Psycho” I still wonder when I take a shower who might be out there with a knife. And Bates Motel? Don’t go up the stairs or down to the basement!
5. “To Kill a Mockingbird.” One of Gregory Peck’s finest performances. There was Scout, Jim and Boo Radley, and the intense courtroom drama with Atticus Finch defending Tom Robinson. Top Ten, for sure.
6. “Lawrence of Arabia” It is a crime that Peter O’Toole never won the Oscar for Best Actor. There has never been and likely never will be as stunning a portrayal by an actor as O’Toole in his role as T. E. Lawrence. After seeing Lawrence on camel back in the desert for much of the movie,” I was thirsty for a week
7. “West Side Story” This recreation of Romeo and Juliet in a modern setting produced some of the best music ever composed from Leonard Bernstein. Wonderful choreography and timeless songs such as “Maria”, “Tonight” and “I Feel Pretty.” I could watch this movie every week.
8. “Rocky” Perhaps the best “feel good” movie of all time in Sylvester Stallone’s great portrayal of a down and out boxer who had the audience cheering and on the edge of their seats in his bout with Apollo Creed.
9. “Pink Panther” Peter Sellers showed his amazing flair for comedy as Inspector Clouseau, which led to many entertaining sequels. David Niven as Sir Charles Litton and Herbert Lom as Inspector Dreyfus led a star-studded cast with captivating music by the immortal Henry Mancini. But Sellers stole the show
10. “White Christmas” I watch it every year. It’s a Christmas ritual in our house and when they open the doors of the hall and the snow is falling, it always puts a warm place in my heart.
Well, those are some of the movies that I have truly enjoyed. What are your Top Ten favorite movies?
