10 Old Films that are Gold

Over the course of my lifetime, nothing entralls and enraptures me more than a good film. I find myself utterly consumed by a rich text for days and even weeks afterwards; my mind constantly rolling it over in my head or scenarios in my life awakening discourse within me. Being such a great part of my life, it's been hard not being able to share the same love of particularly old films with those of my generation as they seem unlikely to even watch a trailer for one. Normally my prescription for an aversion this extreme would-be all-time greats such as the likes of '12 Angry Men', 'Some like it Hot' and 'Casablanca', but I thought maybe I'd reccomend some films of a slightly different flavour that haven't been tinged by radical cinephiles lambasting you across the internet for never watching. Thus, I present some great films that may be falling out of the culture. Don't worry, there are no achingly slow independant films on here, just simply great blockbusters that should still connect with the average filmgoer today.

'M' directed by Fritz Lang

Starring Peter Lorre in his most iconic and chilling role, 'M' is director Fritz Lang's first talkie and arguably his magnum opus. It follows a german city that is gripped by a serial child murderer on the loose but cleverly tackles many aspects of society while exploring the inner workings of the killer. Economic in its storytelling while laying the groundwork for film language in later years, 'M' is a great film.

'All about Eve' Directed by Joesph Mankiewicz

Insanely clever and snappy, 'All about Eve' comprises many stars at the height of their career (including an introspective Bette Davis) and pairs them up with Mank's great dialogue and direction. This film is definitely engrossed in its own 1950's Hollywood audience that it feels like an inside joke for most of the running time, but one that I think can be laughed along by anyone.

'Network' Directed by Sidney Lumet

I'm so very sorry that McKay's 'Don't Look Up' is what we're calling satire now. Sidney Lumet's 'Network' is both ahead of its time as well as perfecting and predicting everything that would come after it. Just at the height of all its powers, it's one of the best satirical dramas ever constructed (and based on real events if you can believe it!)

'Anatomy of a Murder' Directed by Otto Preminger

Who doesn't love a great court procedural? Throw in James Stewart, a Duke Ellington soundtrack, and Otto Preminger's introspective look on the process itself and you have yourself an instant classic

'High and Low' Directed By Akira Kurosawa

From one of the Greats, Akira Kurosawa's 1963 film 'High and Low' is a thriller kidnapping movie. Honestly, I'm going to put this in here as it's one of my favourites but any of his Samurai films are just as engaging and exciting and they are either based on Shakespeare plays or were the inspiration for Clint Eastwood westerns and even Star Wars (which technically is a Western in all senses of the genre but...)

'Ikiru' Directed by Akira Kurosawa

I know I just listed an Akira Kurosawa film, but if you want to get a little arthousey, Ikiru is the tender telling of an old bureaucrat who receives a cancer diagnosis. It's slower-paced and a loose drama but is extremely quiet and subtle. It demands you lend yourself over the film and embody the main character, but if you do, you're in for the ride of a full lifetime in two hours. Coincidentally, this is one of the films that got me bigtime into the films. If you like it, Agnes Varda's 'Cleo 5 a 7' is a deliciously similar film that has some differing and interesting aspects.

'Roman Holiday' Directed by William Wyler

An instant classic, Roman Holiday was the reason Audrey Hepburn was transformed from a no-name actress to the star she would become. A great movie that has much more contextual depth than an average Rom-Com, Roman Holiday is a fun romp for the vicarious in these troubled travel times.

'Sunset Boulevard' Directed by Billy Wilder

Billy Wilder's magnum opus, 'Sunset Blvd.' is another film about the inner workings of Hollywood, but broadly encompasses and explores your pleasures not being profitable and the advantage of making money over pursuing interests.

'Tokyo Story' By Yasijiro Ozu

From the exhilarating rush of Kurosawa's pictures, Yasujiro Ozu was making silent and human films that gripped and tore at the hearts that Kurosawa was making beat so fast. These two singlehandedly ushered in the golden age of Japanese cinema and their ripples are still felt today. Ozu especially, for very nerdy cinematography reasons, is heralded as a master. The way he frames the characters would make it possible for films as distant as Silence of the Lambs to be possible. Alas, Silence of the lambs this is not, but instead a silent whimper of familial longing. Perhaps a bit too lulling, 'Tokyo Story' is one of Ozu's most celebrated works.

'His Girl Friday' Directed by Howard Hawks

This film invented banter. You may want to put the subtitles on, if they can keep up!

I hope this small snapshot of great films have peaked your interests in the slightest! If you have trouble finding these online, I suggest using the website 'Just Watch' to find any streaming service a film may be on or visiting your local library! Happy watching!