Screenwriting : Name one of your favorite classics and why you consider it great by Phillip E. Hardy, Prolifique

"And where do you think you're going?" I love Jack Palance in "Shane". There are just so many good things to say about that film. One of the first modern cowboy films. George Stevens directing. The great novelist/journalist A.B. Guthrie's screenplay. Required reading in both my high school and college. One of the last great Technicolor films. The shootout as seen from Joey's eyes. And of course, Alan Ladd as Shane, American cinema's first "killer as a cold angel." I can really see Steven's influence in a lot of Clint Eastwood's films. "Pale Rider" looks like a tribute to "Shane". What a great film. Good choice, PH. Not to nitpick, but it's much higher up on AFI's list of Top 100 than 69. Maybe you were thinking of or doing something else when you wrote the number "69". Heh-heh.

Bill: great post sir!

I don't really know what defines a film as a classic. Is it black and white, of a certain era, style. Is Star Wars a classic? If so which one? The problem is i forget a lot of films that I've seen and forgotten what I thought of them. I'm looking at my DVD cabinet and I see 'Cyrano De Bergerac'. If that's a classic i'll vote for that. Oh or the version of 'The Three Musketeers' before that horrid recent one. The really good one. Oh and 'The Three Amigos' also based on two classics 'The Magnificent Seven' and 'The Seven Samurai'.

I am already upset over "The Magnificent Seven" reboot even those that original movie is a remake of "The Seven Samurai". The Longest Day is a great war classic. The Caine Mutiny, The French Connection, Dog Day Afternoon, Fort Apache The Bronx, and so many others! A classic for me is a movie that is right for a period that would make no sense to remake. But hey, remakes seem to be better than originality these days! (groan)

@Cherie: The 1973 "Three Musketeers" directed by the great Richard Lester stands as the definitive version of the many that were made. @Peter: "The Searchers" and "The Quiet Man", both classics in my book. @David: Love all those movies. "The Magnificent Seven" was a childhood favorite. "Nobody throws me my own guns and says run... nobody."

And for the life of me WHY or WHY is Westworld being remade? Some films are peect as they are. Just because tech and CGI has come far doesn;t mean those films need to be remade.

CHIPS is getting a movire reboot done in "Lethal Weapon" fashion with comedic undertones. I really do not want to talk about GILLIGANS ISLAND being scripted right now.

GODFATHER - need I say more.

"12 Angry Men" ranks near the top of my list. Just the psychological angles from the characters make me watch it every chance I get. Very defined characters with huge arcs for some. As also mentioned above, "The Caine Mutiny" is a keeper, although the book was even better.

It depends on who is at the helm of the new project. The director or writer of the new CHIPS said he doesn't want to go down the full comedy route where its more about the comedians schtick and one liners. Remember MIAMI VICE? Bad example I know, but look what they tried to do. It really varies on who bought the rights and how producers see it. Now is the right time for an F Troop film!

To me a classic is a film that has stood the test of time. Now I love classics like Gone with the Wind and Casablanca, but I have to say my favorite is Jaws, not because it's my favorite movie but it's what happened behind the camera. In show business they say everything that can go wrong will go wrong and that was so true for this film. I know it's cliché to say that Steven Spielberg is a genius, but when you listen to the reasoning behind his madness you truly believe that he is. One of the things he said about this film was regarding the ending and how he changed it from the book and the author said that "a shark would never eat an oxygen tank" but Spielberg said that if the audience has bought the entire movie up until that point they can buy the last 4 minutes because they're already convinced that this is all real. He has also said this about Indiana Jones film and if the audience buys the first 10 minutes they can believe the whole thing. I now understand that when I took a screenwriting class my teacher said you need to sell the film in your first 10 pages. Now I see it in every movie I watch. For example Colin Trevorrow just made one of the biggest movie of all time and it's still going strong, but his first film Safety Not Guaranteed is a movie about time-travel where they don't actually travel through time until the very last few moments. No one nowadays is going to buy a Back to the Future type movie because it's already been done, but what he does is make the characters and the conflicts so real that by the time we see them time-travel we believe it because of the journey we took with those very real characters. So the lesson here is make a movie that is very real and then you can do what ever the fuck you want at the end and everyone will believe you because that is what makes a classic and makes it stand the test of time.

@Steven M: I used "12 Angry Men" and showed part of the film during my team building class in college, as a demonstration of phases of forming, storming, norming and performing. A great film and truly a classic.

'The Best Years of Our Lives'. Fantastic movie-fantastic emotions while watching. I remember being a young pup', watching the TMC with my Dad, and the first time I saw this movie with him, it was like an awakening for a young man, (me) who was bound for Service, and on my way to Marine boot camp. My dad explained to me that Homer Parrish (Harold Russell), was "the real deal", and had lost both arms in combat, and was in fact - playing his own role. To me; that film stood for so much more than just a story on paper that was manifested into great film, it was one of the reasons that I was able to relate to this wonderful craft, and how I was able to be touched emotionally, and, like an addict...keep searching for that tug at my heart through each script I create. I'm not one to agree with the New York Times, (trust me). However; regarding 'The Best Years of Our Lives', they were spot on! "It is seldom that there comes a motion picture which can be wholly and enthusiastically endorsed not only as superlative entertainment but as food for quiet and humanizing thought... In working out their solutions Mr. Sherwood and Mr. Wyler have achieved some of the most beautiful and inspiring demonstrations of human fortitude that we have had in films." He also said the ensemble casting gave the "'best' performance in this best film this year from Hollywood." Bosley Crowther, film critic for The New York Times, hailed the film as a masterpiece. (Agreed!)

@SB: Best Years of Our Lives is one of my favorites. It is a truly magnificent film.

Psycho, was fortunate to see it on the big screen again last year... still fantastic.

All my classics seem to be musicals, Singing In The Rain and Bye Bye Birdie are at the top of the list. I'm not sure if it's because of years as a music student or just music being the way my brain grabs hold of things. Trying to spend more time on TCM expanding my knowledge base. I do very much like Harvey, as it works on many levels, and really enjoyed Alfred Hitchcock's Rope although I do usually have to look up the title after I've spoken to someone about it. The creepiness sticks with me though. Newer classics (for me) include Ted Demme's Beautiful Girls and To Wong Foo Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar - I like controlled thematic chaos.

Isn't it interesting that most "classics" come from a period when the film industry was run more by creatives? Modern "classics" appear few and far between...

Samantha how can anyone love Gone with the Wind? That's not a classic. It's a travesty that should disappear with the dust of time. I saw it finally earlier this year and it sickened me and outraged me. It was a racist, sexist long winded piece of shit. To be honest for that reason I don't like a lot of 'classics'. They are dated and belong in the past. And there's nothing superior about the writing nor acting nor directing. Not all modern films are blow-ups and comedies, which by the way can still be a classic. Are Alien, Jaws, Terminator all classics? I think Terminator 2:Judgement Day will become a classic for sure. Does classic really mean quality or something that just sticks in the minds of the audiences for a long time after?

Dang, Fiona, I was gonna do my 100 word spiel on "Some Like It Hot," but you beat me to it! I guess "nobody's perfect!" :) Because me and Phillip are gonna be neighbors in the Pacific Palisades soon, I'm gonna stay in the year that "Shane" was made (1953) and rip one longie and two shorties on three of my favorite pics from that year. 1. "The Wild One". What a great flick. The first American "Outlaw Biker Movie." Brando. Brando. Brando. Everybody wanted to be Brando after this movie came out, and leather jacket sales skyrocketed. A new fashion era was ushered in as a result. Produced by icon Stanley Kramer. Directed by the great Lazlo Benedek. Written by tough-guy writer John Paxton. Based on magazine writer Frank Rooney's short story that was based on the American Motorcycle Association's Hollister, CA event that got a little wild. The Beetles named themselves after Lee Marvin's rival motorcycle gang from the movie. The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club named themselves after Brando's gang. America was changed a bit after this film came out. And, of course, the immortal lines: "Hey Johnny, what are you rebelling against?" "What da ya, got?" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4NkkAQllfo 2. "Roman Holiday". What a great flick. One of Phillip's favorite writers, Dalton Trumble, was the screenwriter. William Wyler produced. Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck. What a great romantic comedy. This was the film that Ms. Hepburn's long locks were cut into her famous short chop. She won the Oscar. And so did Mr. Trumble - although it wasn't awarded to him while he was alive! He was on the Black List at the time and was given the Oscar posthumously 60 years later! Fuck! What a great writer. The great haircut scene https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJ4ZU-FA5XA 3. "I Vitteloni". What a great flick. I love the Italian comedy-dramas of the 50's and 60's. This movie preceded Fellini's great run (La Strada, Nights of Calbiria, La Dolce Vita, 81/2, Juliet of the Spirits, Fellini Satyricon). Watching this film made me realize how Fellini was destined for greatness. The writer, Tullio Pinelli, was nominated for an Oscar. And the film is credited as being Alberto Soldi's breakthrough role as an actor. Soldi's career ran from the 1930's - 1990's! Watch the trailer and notice how many of these shots have been mimicked over the years. The trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L76OA8LzGjk Ciao!

a somewhat newer one I think is a classic is Big Lebowski, don't know how a comedy could get any better.....had everything in it.....

Bill: Your about one post away from me declaring you an S32 film historian. I've never really considered how much "The Wild One" influenced the American cultural landscape of the 1950's; and it remains a pretty gritty movie. It's also interesting to note that in addition to playing Johnny in the Wild One, in 1953, Brando also play Brutus in Julius Caesar. Wow, that's some serious diversity. The following year Brando turned in what I believe is the best performance of his early career in "On The Waterfront", which to me is a landmark film. It took an uncompromising look at union corruption and gang affiliation and also presented the classic formula of one can man make a difference. This one deserve's it place as number 19 on AFI"s top 100 American films. And as far as the Palisades, I like your way of thinking. Cherie: Your favorite "Gone With the Wind" is number 6 on AFI's top 100 films. So you probably think "they don't know nothin' 'bout birthin' classics." Though I think it's place in the top ten is ridiculous, I would still include it on the top 100 list. if only for the backstory in making it and it's historic scope for 1939. I can't believe "Chinatown" isn't in the top ten. For me, films don't get any more perfect than that.

JD: Only recently saw BL recently but I loved it. Definitely a cult classic. "The Dude abides."

man, I really miss that snail-mail movie ordering system "zip.ca". I totally want to see those movies from the 50's (have seen 'wild ones'...so fun). I don't know if these are classics...but they influenced me as a writer: Rumblefish (the dreamlike quality to some of the cinematography, the undercurrent of violence)....Dusk 'till Dawn (so much for beat-sheets!)....Star Wars (yeah, this one's a classic)..... Oh, Cherie, I remember my mom took me to see 'Cyrano De Bergerac' and 'Manon of the Spring' at the same time at a little theatre in Toronto. It was my first exposure to the 'other' side of film. I was very young. Thanks for prompting the memory!

also remember back then no special effects etc, they had to rely on great writing, acting and lighting.....so that was where studios spent their money, in hiring the best in thise worlds, now their money goes towards special effects etc, tehn hire lot of times good looking actors who dont even have anywhere the background inacting those pioneers had, many times, models or athletes turned actors, and usuallys pend no money on writing, buying their stock studio writers

I can never pick a favorite or classic film for myself. It seems to change depending on my moods. I mean I love Star Wars and of course The Goonies along with Indiana Jones. Then again The Great Outdoors is a 'classic' to me. I think my list of classic can go on and on. Oh how about for a different genre, The Mosquito Coast? I really like that one too. One day during the summer as a kid I watched The Mosquito Coast. When the movie was done, I rewound it and watched it again. Don't know why but something about that movie I was drawn too.

Sure someone has posted this, but Chinatown. It's pithy and entertaining. And Gittes is my favorite character ever written. Well besides Tyler Durden, Bilbo and Roland of Gilaed.

Yes, of course Chinatown, how could we forget that one! Too many classics to keep track of. I think another newer one that I believe is now a classic is Band of Brothers.

CLEOPATRA!!! I've always heard this movie was the financial disaster of all time, but holy moly, the opulence! What an unbelievable display of overabundance and excess. When Cleopatra enters Rome for the first time, I was completely stunned. What an unbelievable number of extras, props, and costumes! I only saw this recently on Netflix, and recommend it to anyone who has the 4+ hours of run time to watch it all in its ungainly magnificence. Every single thing was real. Not one second of CGI!

Mike: Yep, saw Cleopatra at the Culver Theater when I was wee lad. In those days, my parents would dump my young carcass off for a Saturday matinee. That was cheap babysitting. Cleo sported a great cast and had a good backstory because it gave scandalous birth to the Liz and Dick saga... the first Brad and Angelina. The film plods along but offers some good acting and sumptuous sets and costumes. Also Liz flashed a little skin, which was adventurous in 1963. I think the other actors ran circles around her. However, she showed her meddle and brilliance a few years later in "Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf." Here are some Wikipedia facts about Cleopatra: It received mixed reviews from critics, although critics and audiences alike generally praised Taylor and Burton's performances. It was the highest grossing film of 1963, earning US$26 million ($57.7 million total; equivalent to $444.48 million in 2015), yet made a loss due to its production and marketing costs of $44 million (equivalent to $338.94 million in 2015), making it the only film ever to be the highest grossing film of the year yet to run at a loss.[4] Cleopatra later won four Academy Awards, and was nominated for five more, including Best Picture (which it lost to Tom Jones).

Ahhh! Saturday morning movies... Those were the days...

A Man for All Seasons continues to resonate with me. (Although Wolf Hall portrayed Thomas More in a less flattering light).

Virginia: About 18 years ago, I was at an auction and tried to purchase a document signed by Sir Thomas; but they wanted too damn much money for it. It would have looked good in my den... but alas.

The Outlaw Josey Wales. Despite being a conventional western based on a novel by an unapologetic segregationist, the movie humanized Native American characters and expressed the era's cynical attitude toward government without degrading the story. The plot, themes and action were incredible.

Timeless masterpieces: "Strangers on a Train," "Laura," "Portrait of Jennie" (try not to cry), "Bell, Book & Candle," and "The Third Man" -- just saw a new print at Film Forum. That chase through Vienna's sewers to catch Orson Welles/ Harry Lime, the ferris wheel scenes, just awesome camerawork.

One of my favorites: Thomas Crown - great actors, witty dialoque, suspense - cult

"Paper Moon" and "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" would be my picks. I still think they hold up well today. I will have to catch Gone with the Wind, Cherie. lol. I either haven't seen it in a while, or just simply never have. I'll check Netflix.

Schindlers List because it just reminds you of the history back then and every piece of that film is brilliant!

"Schindler's List" Comment One of the best and most important films of the last 20 years. The amount of "Hollywood Back Story" is very enlightening - check it out when you get a chance. Mr. Spielberg didn't use any storyboards for the film. The original script was nearly 300 pages long. When Steve Zaillian turned in a 115 page script, Mr. Spielberg felt it was too short. The final scene wasn't even in the original script, and grew organically during the process. That scene - the "I could have done more" scene - turns me into a puddle of tears every time I view it. As writers, we should all bow to the greatness of Steve Zaillian. "The Falcon and the Snowman", "Awakenings", "Schindler's List", "Searching for Bobby Fischer", "Jack the Bear", "Clear and Present Danger", "Mission Impossible", "Hannibal", "Gangs of New York", "All the Kings Men", "American Gangster", "Moneyball", etc... - Mr. Zallian is clearly one of the best modern screenwriters working today. "I Could Have Done More" Scene https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOoWpTxKJGA

I have never seen Strangers On A Train, Linda Ann. What does that say about me? Goodfellas because it's pace is amazing and never, ever forced.

"Strangers on a Train" is very taut and has an anticipatory clench to it like a Hitchcock film. "Criss-cross, you know?" is still one of my favorite lines.

Bill: Thanks for sharing and Steve's list of credits is amazing. Here's a list of films that I absolutely adore: 1. Godfather I and II 2. LA Confidential 3. Good Will Hunting 4. The Wild Bunch 5. The Duellists 6. Sideways 7. Look Both Ways (Australia) 8. Chinatown 9. Elmer Gantry 10. Lawrence of Arabia