When deciding which film to settle down with for a good movie night, the Classics are often overlooked in favor of more modern favorites. This is a tragic mistake, because classic films are richly rewarding to watch. They boast everything from smoky film-noir cinematography to stunningly sophisticated actors to witty, rapid-fire dialogue that leaves you hanging on every word. From gunfights to passionate romance, from political intrigue to scandal, classic films have it all. They tackle the greatest and most lasting themes of human existence, from love to loss and everything in between. So next time you’re in the mood for a good movie, choose one of these beloved classics and prepare for one of the best movie nights of your life.
1. Gone With The Wind (1939)
This epic saga of the Civil War has become a national legend. Starring Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable as a Southern belle from Georgia and the dashing scalawag who loves her, it tells the story of how the South was forever changed by the ravages and terrors of the War, and how its people endured through it all and attempted to rebuild their lives out of the wreckage.
2. Casablanca (1942)
This WWII-era movie, starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, is the perfect blend of intrigue and romance. It tells the story of Rick, a bar owner in Casablanca who is unexpectedly reunited with the only woman he ever loved—only to discover that she is now married to a renowned (and hunted) opponent of the Nazi regime. The plot is fast-paced and full of unexpected twists, and the ending is both touching and intensely satisfying.
3. Notorious (1946)
This is another story of Nazi intrigue starring Ingrid Bergman, but this time she acts across from Cary Grant. One of renowned director Alfred Hitchcock’s greatest films, Notorious tells the story of a woman who must go undercover as a Nazi sympathizer in order to catch several Nazi leaders that are hiding in South America to escape punishment for their crimes. The plot thickens when her love affair with her fellow agent is complicated by the nature of her work. Jealousy ensues and tensions rise as the plot thickens to a terrifying and excellently wrought climax.
4. An Affair To Remember (1957)
This romantic tear-jerker once again stars Cary Grant, this time opposite Deborah Kerr. It is the sweet story of two people who just happen to meet and fall in love under the most unusual of circumstances. When they are forced to part ways, they agree that if their feelings remain unchanged after a year, they will meet at the top of the Empire State Building and go straight away to get married. Whether or not they actually meet is the question that occupies the majority of the plot, and all of the ups-and-downs of their lives as they progress towards the exquisite conclusion will leave both your heart and your eyes overflowing.
5. Breakfast At Tiffany's (1961)
Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard star in this quirky romance that is alternately laugh-out-loud hilarious and incredibly moving. Hepburn plays Holly Golightly, a beautiful and eccentric woman in New York City who dreams of finding a rich husband instead of finding love—until she meets the aspiring writer who just moved in upstairs. Both of them have difficult pasts and complicated presents, but they just might be each other’s key to redemption and happiness…if Holly will ever allow herself to become vulnerable enough to be redeemed.
As you can see, classic films offer all of the entertainment that modern movies do, but in their own unique and beautiful way. This list is only the beginning of all the excellent Classics out there waiting to be watched. So enjoy your next movie night, and long live classic films.
