Skip to main content

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19078948

 

The BFI's Sight and Sound Magazine, which ran the survey, is for serious film buffs and would not necessarily repreent the views of the general film viewer. So the films selected are not going to be the blockbusters. They will be on quality rather than on entertainment value.I've seen Vertigo and although I can admire the film I can't say it would be in my top ten films, I didn't like the film, and my favourite Hitchcock films are Thirty Nine Steps, the Lady Vanishes and Shadow of a Doubt.

 

This is their top 10:

1. Vertigo (Hitchcock, 1958)

2. Citizen Kane (Welles, 1941)

3. Tokyo Story (Ozu, 1953)

4. La Regle du jeu (Renoir, 1939)

5. Sunrise: a Song for Two Humans (Murnau, 1927)

6. 2001: A Space Odyssey (Kubrick, 1968)

7. The Searchers (Ford, 1956)

8. Man with a Movie Camera (Dziga Vertov, 1929)

9. The Passion of Joan of Arc (Dreyer, 1927)

10. 8 Â― (Fellini, 1963)

 

Citizen Kane is regularly at the top of critics greatest films. It is an exceptional film but there is nothing to like about it.

I haven't seen Tokyo Story though it is regarded as one of the great films - the storyline is extremely depressing and I wouldn't advise anyone to read about it let alone watch it.

La Regle du Jeu (The Rules of the Game) is one I haven't yet seen though I have it on DVD. Sounds like an ultra serious version of something like Downton Abbey though in French.

Sunrise. I have mentioned this one to you before. I consider this to be definitely in my top 10 films and consider it to be the greatest silent film ever made. It draws you into the film and you soon forget that it is silent. The only film ever to have received the Oscar for Best Picture - Unique and Artistic Presentation.

2001. A film to admire, not that it is particularly enjoyable. This is another in my top 10 as I saw this at the cinema (the only place to see it at it's best, pointless seeing it on a small screen) and it is the film which sparked my interest in films.

The Searchers. A great western and easily John Wayne's best film.

Man with a Movie Camera. I haven't seen this so can't say anything about it.

The Passion of Joan of Arc. This is another one I've mentioned before. Not available on DVD in this country and is the one which took me years to get a copy. An exceptional film with one of the greatest acting performances.

8 1/2 Another regular on lists of top 10 films, but I've never seen it. Fellini is a bit of an acquired taste which I've never acquired.

 

Sunrise, 2001 and Passion of Joan of Arc would feature in my top 10. I don't have a top 10 as such so I'm not going to come up with a list and I wouldn't attempt to put them in any order.

Replies sorted oldest to newest

 

I saw this list published and was pleased to say I know most and seen some of the films on the list.

 

I do have a question mark over Citizen Kane.

 

"Citizen Kane is regularly at the top of critics greatest films. It is an exceptional film but there is nothing to like about it."


I've seen it once and immediately thought, why do people rate this film. I have got to re-visit CK and do some additional reading, because I just don't see it. I've spoken with people who enjoy film and no one can give me a reason or reasons as to why. Anyway as I say, more research and reviewing needed.


I do like number 6, number 8 and I think I liked number 7 but it was a long time ago I saw it.


I really want to see 3, 4 and 10.


I have seen 9 under different circumstances to normal viewing.

Enthusiastic Contrafibularities

Since then I've now seen La Regle du jeu. It's a film to admire rather than like. There is a hunting scene in it where the shooting party are shooting at birds, squirrels etc and it is hard to watch as there is no doubt that these are being killed. It is a prolonged scene.

 

Citizen Kane is admired by critics for its technical aspects rather than being liked. A lot of the credit should go to Gregg Toland for his cinematography. Orson Welles recognised that in the credits by having Toland's credit appearing on the same credit card as his own - that is very rare.

 

4 years before Citizen Kane was made Gregg Toland did the photography for Dead End. I think it's the opening scene where there is a camera shot from a high up point in New York and the shot slowly descends into a New York slum area. It has similarites to the technique he used in Citizen Kane but it's Citizen Kane which got the praise.

El Loro

Add Reply

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×