Favourite Non British Film

[Villan]

I know its a Brit site but were are all allowed one or two films that we like from across the pond.
My personal favourite is It's a Wonderful Life. Any others to add to the list?

[DB7]

There's so many but a few I often return to are firstly Dumb and Dumber. It's the perfect no-brainer when I'm in the mood to relax and want a laugh. Whilst not everyone's cup-of-tea as it's regarded as part of the gross-out genre the saving grace is that the gags keep coming at machine gun rate.
Policeman: Pullover!
Jeff Daniels: No, it's a cardigan but thanks for noticing.

Another comedy, and something of a black one, is Grosse Point Blank. John Cusack oozes cool throughout as the neurotic hitman and the film could almost be like revisiting some 80s John Hughes characters (what would Ferris Bueller be doing now?) now they've grown up. A great cameo from Dan Aykroyd and a soundtrack including some classic alternative bands.

Then there's The Usual Suspects. American films may deservedly get some stick for prioritising SFX over the script but this one bucked the trend. The first time I watched it I came out wondering who? why? what? Then like everybody else spent ages watching the film over again trying to work out who is Keyser Soze? The finale where the detective realises Kevin Spacey's whole story has been garnered from objects in his office (as the free man simultaneously loses his fake limp outside) is superb. Refreshing also to see no 'big names' in the cast just to attract an audience.

Then of course there's The Great Escape, Some Like It Hot, Rear Window etc.

On the European side. Fritz Lang's M is a must see, Das Boot had me enthralled when it was originally shown weekly on BBC2 in full length, also the Dutch film Spoorloos (sadly there was a watered down US remake) which touched upon many people's private nightmare of being buried alive.

[Polynikes]

I suppose someone's going to mention "Citizen Kane" but in all honesty I don't rate that film much...

For exitement it's got to be "Saving Private Ryan"

For Special effects, "Star Wars" (original).

Any Stanley Kubrik film.

[only hooper]

I'm as big a Barbara Stanwyck fan as I am a Phyllis Calvert fan :) At the moment Ball Of Fire is my absolute favourite!

And I don't care for Citizen Kane either. Good cinematography but the actual story sent me off to sleep.

[Hackett]

I love "THE KILLING" Kubrik's film and "THE OUTFIT" Robert Ryans last role. "NARROW MARGIN" of course the Charles MaGraw version. My real favourite is "KING OF THE ROCKETMEN" an old 1940's Saturday morning serial which took ages to tape off the t.v. "CITIZEN KANE" was never able to take it serious after I read David Nivens account of what "ROSEBUD" ment in relation to William Randolph Hearst and Marion Davies.

[Bix]

Here's a few contenders:

KEY LARGO (1948) - Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Lionel Barrymore, Edward G. Robinson
MY FAVORITE YEAR (1982) - Peter O'Toole, Marc Linn-Baker, Lainie Kazan
FIVE CARD STUD (1968) - Dean Martin, Inger Stevens, Robert Mitchum

LARGO shows profoundly decent people up against the scum of the earth. FAVORITE is a reliable O'Toole romp, but in a 1950's Manhattan context. And FIVE CARD STUD showcases Dean Martin's understated acting prowess (more obvious in RIO BRAVO).

[Brian Brandt]

There's a moment early on in Casablanca when the Germans sitting at the bar start singing "Die Wacht am Rhein!" Victor, who has been talking to Rick becomes so incensed that he storms out and orders the band leader to play "La Marseillaise." The conductor, realizing what will happen, looks up at Rick on the balcony. Rick gives him the nod.

Everybody joins in. Even Yvonne, who seconds before had been fraternizing with the enemy. The Nazis are drowned out, and the club is shut down.

This is when you realize that no matter how cynical he talks, Rick's going to do The Right Thing. Is this the greatist movie in the world, or what?

Allons enfants de la patrie,

Le jour de gloire est arrivé!

[theuofc]

Hi, Bix,

Your Dirk Bogarde photo caught my eye, ditto your favorite movie Sebastian with Bogarde. Excellent!

I invite you to join our fellow Dirk Bogarde appreciators at the Dirk_Bogarde_Brigade list, which I moderate. We're a cordial group of fans from around the globe who enjoy discussing Bogarde's films and books.

All the best,

Barbara
Moderator, Dirk_Bogarde_Brigade
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Dirk_Bogarde_Brigade

[MikeA]

Difficult to name just one favourite non-British film... Some of my contenders would have to be Cary Grant comedies Bringing Up Baby and Arsenic And Old Lace , or something by John Ford - probably The Searchers . I'm a great admirer of The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter and Alan Arkin's performance in that film. Terrence Malick's Days Of Heaven , Louis Malle's Atlantic City and Wim Wenders' Paris Texas are all long-time favourites too. I think that lot's probably enough!

[lambchopnixon]

How about Gods and Monsters, not a British film but with a British star, Ian McKellen, and in my mind the best acting i've seen these last 5 or so years.

[deckard]

I have to say that one of my favourite U.S. films of fairly recent years is "Blade Runner"it was a shame about the Sam Spade stlye voice-over in the original(which was added on after a test screening where the audience didn't understand the plot!)but some years later Ridley Scott released a director's cut which is an absolute gem.
Also The first "Star Wars" trilogy has to get a mention along with "Indy" and "Close Encounters" which I watched as a still impressionable late teenager when first released.
The best(imho)Hitch U.S. releases where "Rear Window" and "North by Northwest"the latter for it's huge natural sets and of course the crop spraying scene.
Lastly(although there are others I could mention) is "Deliverence" supurb tension excellently filmed and the best thing Burt Reynolds has done.
Oh! and "The Day The Earth Stood Still"...."Klaatu,Barada,Nikto!! :)

[michael dangero]

Even my favourite American films either have a British character in it -- Vivian Pickles in
"Harold & Maude"
or go to Great Britain -- John Cassavetes'
"Husbands"
My two favourite American films.

[Bobj]

Billy Wilder's 'The Apartment' closely followed by '12 Angry Men'

[Marky B]

Most of Spielberg films;the Star Wars trilogy;Die Hard trilogy;Lethal Weapon;Shawshank Redemption;Green Mile;The Fugitive;Ronin;The Godfather trilogy;Shaft (Samuel L's version);Clint Eastwood films;most of James Stewart films;James Cagney;The Untouchables;Arsenic and Old Lace;North By North West;The Searchers;Dances With Wolves;Open Range;Toy Story & Toy Stroy 2;Speed;Finding Nemo;Shrek;Monster Inc;Dumbo;The Jungle Book (Walt Disney;West Side Story;The Sound of Music;Singing In the Rain;adaptations of John Grisham books;Laurel and Hardy's Way Out West,Our Relations,Sons of the Desert,The Music Box;early Marx bros films;Buster Keaton;Silence of the Lambs;Seven;Ocean's 11 (new version);Blair Witch Project;The Others;The Shootist;The Longest Day;The Vikings;Spartacus;Patton (Lust for Glory);The Siege...I'm going for a nap!
Ta Ta
Marky B thumbs_u

[Sgt Dudfoot]

Always hard to pick just one, so here's a few of my personal faves:

The Man Who Came To Dinner, with Monty Woolley, Bette Davis and Jimmy Durante in a wonderful cameo. It doesn't hide it's stage origins but the acerbic wit from Woolley ( playing a thinly disguised Alexander Woolcott)never fails to have me laughing, regardless how many time I watch it.

Leon: the American version was great iin itself, but the European version has an extra 25 mins or so and turns the film into more of a character study, which, IMO, improves what was already great!

Badlands: Terence Malick gives us what must be one the most impressive debuts ever, a true work of art.

Special mention also goes to His Girl Friday, The Man Who With Two Brains, It's a Wonderful Life, The Philadelphia Story, The Big Lebowski, I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang. I also feel that I'll still adore in Lost in Translation in years to come, but time will tell!

A mixed bag perhaps, but all films nearing perfection.