“Lord of the Flies” (1962)
T.S. of ‘Screen Savour’ who teaches in a University, is one of the net’s most gifted film writers, having penned comprehensive examinations of the work of Hitchcock, Chaplin, Griffith and Lang. His series on Buster Keaton will soon debut at his site. T.S. conversed with me earlier today about the kind of films that every high school student should see, and a tentative listing of maybe 15 or 20 ‘essential’ titles. Said T.S.: “I’ve been asked by a friend who is a high school teacher for some film-related advice. He is developing a media studies course for high school students, and it will be akin to an intro to film/film history course. He has presented me with this question, which I thought I would present to you:: What 15-to-20 films should the average American high school student see before graduation?
He’s made clear he’s not exactly looking for a list of 15-to-20 favorite films, and not necessarily the films I would select as the 15-to-20 best or most important of all time (although maybe, depending on your perspective, those would overlap in the suggestions.) He wants his course to give students a fairly comprehensive overview of cinema, offerings they might not catch unless otherwise asked to watch for a class — films from different decades, countries, genres, directors, etc. R-rated films are okay, and hopefully the choices will be available on either VHS, DVD, or streaming on the Internet (he can project all three in his classroom).
He and I both have some in mind, but to help us think outside the box, I’d love to hear your suggestions.”
Both Allan Fish and I put together our own lists of films that for various reasons, would be recommended for the average high school students. Some are superlative adaptations of literature, while the others for artistic, social, psychological or ethnic underpinnings, all have a place.
Here are my own recommendations:
Greed (1926)The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928; France)To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)Lord of the Flies (1962)City Lights (1930)The Grapes of Wrath (1940)Great Expectations (1946)Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1939)Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939)Jean de Florette/Manon des Sorces (1987; France)Wuthering Heights (1939)All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)Night and Fog (French; 1955)Anne of Green Gables/Anne of Avonlea (1985)Sansho the Bailiff (Japan; 1954)Beauty and the Beast (France; 1946)Henry V (UK; 1989)A Separate Peace (1972)West Side Story (1961)Glory (1989)Being There (1979)And Then There Were None (1945)A Taste of Cherry (Iran; 1997)Bicycle Thieves (1948; Italy)Romeo and Juliet (1968)Fateless (Hungary; 2005)Captains Courageous (1937)Hope and Glory (1987; UK)I Never Sang For My Father (1971)How Green Was My Valley (1941)Sounder (1972)Kes (1968; UK)Twelve Angry Men (1957)Driving Miss Daisy (1989)The Crucible (1996)Beautiful Thing (1996)The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978)I Walked With A Zombie (1942)Carnival of Souls (1962)Fiddler on the Roof (1971)Oliver! (1968; UK)Gattaca (1997)Watership Down (1978)Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Sherlock Jr. (1924)M (1930)Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)The Maltese Falcon (1941)Gone With the Wind (1939)Bless the Beasts of Children (1972) -S.J.Here is what Allan adds:THE GOLD RUSH – Not Chaplin’s best, but nice and short, and probably his most outright comedy. Chaplin’s narration will also make it seem less like a silent for them, and then maybe chuck in a Chaplin short while you’re at it.LAUREL & HARDY SHORTS – Three will do, I’d suggest Big Business, The Music Box and Busy Bodies in terms of three they may like.M – good choice by Sam this one, show an early talkie and a foreign one.THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD – ideal for use of colourTHE MALTESE FALCON – probably the Bogart film they’d most appreciate seeing, most straightforwardTHE TRUE GLORY – study documentary wartime movement, especially in UK, but this is a good one to pick as a US and UK co-productionTHE SEARCHERS – pick a western that’s not too modern but not too oldPSYCHO – seems an obvious choiceDOCTOR STRANGELOVE – this one I think could workLES PARAPLUIES DE CHERBOURG – musical and foreign, so ideal in many waysKES – excellent choice from SamPICNIC AT HANGING ROCK – a different sort of film for themTHE ELEPHANT MAN – a way of introducing black and white in modern cinemaBLADE RUNNER – I have some reservations with the couple of topless shots of Joanna Cassidy, but otherwise an intersting choice – allow comparisons between various cutsTHE KING OF COMEDY – a different sort of Scorsese, and allows look at the power of celebrity and modern media, very prescientDO THE RIGHT THING – there’s that one topless shot of Rosie Perez, but interesting from a racial angleRESERVOIR DOGS – a Tarantino will be something to drag them inCROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON – again would be a foreign film they would be drawn toSPIRITED AWAY – modern animation away from DisneyETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND – studfy Kaufman and his influence nd the importance of screenwriting to the processQuestion to WitD readers: Would you be so kind as to ‘recommend’ 15 to 20 films that you feel all high students should see, for whatever criteria you attach to the undertaking? You may of course choose any of the titles recommended by Allan or myself on your own lists. Thank You!
I’ll suggest 15:
Invasion of the Body Snatchers -1956-
Gone With the Wind
Elephant
Dead Poets Society
A Man For All Seasons
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Ordinary People
Greed
To Kill A Mockingbird
Born on the Fourth of July
Death of a Salesman
Jason and the Argonauts (maybe for a mythology unit)
The Rocking-Horse Winner
Kes
East of Eden
Maxine G.’s choices:
I teach the sixth grade, but both my sons have graduated high school, and I’ve helped them find books and films to complete requirements. Some of the choices above would be on just about everyone’s lists.
To Kill A Mockingbird
A Christmas Carol
Chariots of Fire
Fried Green Tomatoes
The Deer Hunter
Sleuth
How Green Was My Valley
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
Of Human Bondage
Beckett
The Shining
Schindler’s List
The Accidental Torist
Citizen Kane
Lord of the Rings
Beckett is an inspired choice. I should have thought of that one.
Films which were screened in high school classes for me:
Modern Times
Citizen Kane
To Kill a Mockingbird
Dr. Strangelove
All the President’s Men
Ordinary People
Gandhi
Dead Poets Society
Schindler’s List
Kundun
Amistad
Saving Private Ryan
I had seen all of these before the high school screenings, however.
I’m not sure if I have 15-20 in me at the moment but here are some in no order whatsoever:
Citizen Kane
All Quiet on the Western Front
Paths of Glory
Dr. Strangelove
The True Glory (an excellent choice by Allan)
I Know Where I’m Going!
Kes
Rear Window (always ends up playing like gangbusters)
Psycho (Allan’s right)
M (stealing this from Sam and Allan, as this would probably be a terrific choice)
The Seven Samurai (it’s long, in black-and-white and in Japanese, but the title alone will have most intrigued–admittedly a question of endurance for many)
Mon Oncle
The Exterminating Angel (this film often creates a stellar discussion)
Beauty and the Beast (1946–inspired choice by Sam)
The Seventh Seal–tell them it’s a crusader knight vs. Death
The Wages of Fear (just when they start falling asleep they’ll start getting hooked)
The Searchers (can’t disagree with Allan’s logic)
Mean Streets (I know, I know, but I’d rather start them with this than something like Reservoir Dogs–let them see where the Tarantinos and his ilk came from)
White Heat
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956–Sam can attest to the fact that I would have chosen this one all by myself, heh)
West Side Story
Get Carter (underrated British classic)
All the President’s Men (historical “thriller”–it’s not medicine)
Modern Times
City Lights (great call, Sam)
The Music Box
The Grand Illusion (accessible Renoir)
Okay, I’ll stop there.
Duck Soup could represent the Marx Bros. for this purpose as well, I suppose.
Wow wow wow Alexander! A wildy enthusiastic, treasure trove kind of response here with excellent footnotes too! Yes, INVASION is yours for sure Alexander. We’ve talked much on that! Your L & H is a great choice as is so many others! I suppose GANDHI would be a very important film for a high schooler an drightfully so, but again th efilms that were shown to you were a worthy lot too! I’m sure T.S. will love your great list!
Maxine– Thanks for stopping by and submitting your choices.
I suspect that at some point there will be some questions raised concerning book adaptations as the pimary thrust of compiling the list here to T.S.’ liberal specifications. I think what we must consider here, rather than whether the choice is a book or theatre adaptation is whether it examines pertinent issues for young people that age: coming of age, racism, drugs, combat or war, homosexuality, relationships, dysfunctional families, injustice, etc. Films that are vital in a young person’s upbringing need not to have originated as novels or plays.
Hi! T.S., Sam Juliano, Allan and WitD readers,
For what it’s worth here goes my 0.02cent worth of 20 suggestions:
1. Hamlet with Sir Lawrence Oliver (1948)
2. Mrs. Miniver (1942)
3. Gentlemen Agreement(1947)
4. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
5. Rebecca (1940)
6. How Green Was My Valley (1941)
7. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
8. Gigi (1958)
9. On the Waterfront (1954)
10. The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes (1939)
11. The Hound of the Baskerville (1939) for the authentic Victorian setting…
12. The Maltese Falcon (1941)
13. Casablanca (1943)
14. The Third Man (1949)
15. Anastasia (1957) followed by 20th Century Fox first animated features too!
16. Gaslight (1944) (See:my number 10 and 11 reason)
17.All The King’s Men (1949)
18.Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
19. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
2O. Young Mr.Lincoln (1940)
DeeDee
Well, Dee Dee, there isn’t a bad choice in the lot. Allan will propbably dice GIGI, but I see the variety you are trying to pose here. The Sherlock Holmes stuff is fantastic for kids that age!!! I’m sorry to say I forgot to mention any of those. And a film like RIVER KWAI would define to high schoolers how personal commitment could actually be an act of treason. The noirs are top-rank, and the first six choices are perfect for this project, methinks.
I would propose:
The General
Run Lola Run
Psycho
Bonnie and Clyde
On the Waterfront
The 400 Blows
Citizen Kane
Notorious (for its mise en scene)
Ace in the Hole
The Godfather
Some Like It Hot
Singing in the Rain
The Graduate, and
Pulp Fiction
Several of your choices ar eexcellent Film Dr., but I shouldn’t be telling YOU of all people that, as you yourself teach a cinema studies class in a University. The Truffaut would seem to a natural choice and I can’t believe I didnt include it. And the cynicism of ACE IN THE HOLE should definitely be part of this diversified line-up.
Thanks, Sam. I also meant to include Donnie Darko, Clueless, and Breathless.
Bonnie and Clyde and Some Like It Hot tend to be the most popular.
Some movies that have not gone over as well with students–8 1/12, Jules et Jim, The Blue Angel, The Wild Bunch, and Metropolis.
Film Dr:
I am not surprised that METROPOLIS, 8 1/2, and JULES AND JIM didn’t go over, but I do find it startling that THE WILD BUNCH and THE BLUE ANGEL didn’t click, the former for the school setting and the latter for the violence.
DONNIE DARKO and CLUELESS are PERFECT choices. It would be interesting how BREATHLESS would go over.
Hi! Sam Juliano,
Sam Juliano said,”Allan will probably dice GIGI, but I see the variety you are trying to pose here…”
Sam, I tried to avoid including “Film noir” on purpose…and I think ever title that I listed is available on dvds, but I will check…
…Allan Fish, I really like the musicalGigi…car il est “parfait” dans tous les sens du chemin!
(Translation:because it’s “perfect” in every sense of the way!)
“…The Sherlock Holmes stuff is fantastic for kids that age!!! I’m sorry to say I forgot to mention any of those…”
Not to mention that Edgar Allan Poe, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, are the “Grandfathers of Film noir”…if readers do not believe me then checkout the book Crime Scene: Movie Posters Art of the Film Noir by Lawrence Bassoff/with a foreword by the great director Robert Wise.
DeeDee
Indeed Dee Dee!!! Poe and Doyle are the true grandfathers of noir. I am with you on GIGI, and I do believe musicals should be part of the high school program.
I would think Pulp Fiction would be a dodgy choice – not all parents would see that film as ‘essential’ viewing.
I think the initial focus should be on getting kids interested in film-making and the first few class discussions should be centered around movies that are fairly current and appealing to a young audience. The films should be of sufficient quality allowing discussion on the essential elements of film appreciation and film craft.
That second paragraph is fantastic, and serves as the true underpinning of this entire proposal. Yeah, PULP FICTION will cross the line with too many.
How about IN COLD BLOOD and CAPOTE? One is the great story Truman told, the other is the history of the story’s creation. THERE WILL BE BLOOD based on Upton Sinclaire’s OIL and a perfect parable for todays politics of greed. It’s also a master-class on how great acting works with Daniel Day-Lewis’ astounding decade-best performance. Spielberg’s WAR OF THE WORLDS for its metaphor on the senslessness of terrorism. CRUMB,the best documentary of the past twenty years pertaining to the artist as a social commentator and a scortching look at depression and mental illness. SLING BLADE, the biography of Sam Juliano. LOL!!! JAWS, for grand scale adventure, the best of its kind since the adventure films of the 30′s. THE THIRD MAN/THE FALLEN IDOL-Graham Greene done perfectly on screen. HOUSE OF GAMES because that’s what hypnotic dialogue is all about. PLANET OF THE APES (1968) for the greatest twist ending ever and it’s condemnation of racism and slavery. SUPERMAN (1978) the greatest comic-book adaptation of them all!
So, armed with these lists, does this mean Sam is actually going to teach something in class or just continue to blog while his students tear apart his class-room, smoke and take turns pulling the alarm? Has anyone ever heard the story about Sam and time with door to the supply closet? I’m sure Allan would love that one!
Dennis, you are a character, no doubt about it. What sixth, seventh and eighth graders do you know that ‘smoke’ much less in a classroom? This is no longer the 1950′s. But IN COLD BLOOD was a tremendous choice I must say.
I wasn’t alluding to cigarettes Sam. And considering the urban environment our little home town has become I’m surprised the schools there haven’t been equipped with metal-detectors at the doors yet. Shit, Danny alone is a vitual arsenal of knives, axes, dart guns, bicycle chains, ice-picks and magnifying glasses to burn ants during lunch break. I was walking by the school yard the other day on the way to the library and saw Dan trying to shake a nun down for milk money and a date. If I were you I’d go to work wearing a bullet proof vest. And that would be just for the ride there with your own kids! LOL!
Your wild and bizarre imagination, and trips to Fantasyland admittedly know no equal. David Lynch is looking for a story assistant.
“I wasn’t alluding to cigarettes Sam.”
OK, then you mean grass, which is even more preposterous. Kids that age in this school never even ‘heard’ of the stuff, much less used it.
8 1/2– Fellini’s most substantial and entertaining film. Not as long and tedious to newcommers as “La Dolce Vita”, which is a fine film, but better for those weaned on other works by the maestro.
THX 1138– A prime example of thoughtful science-fiction and arthouse cinema, plus a picture with a great lead-in, thanks to Lucas. “American Graffiti” would also fit.
The 400 Blows– The most accessible and emotional picture of the French New Wave, Truffaut’s debut would be a great way to usher kids into foreign productions. A classic coming-of-age-story as easy for students to identify with as “Catcher in the Rye”.
Rashomon– An important and influential film as much for its multi-faceted approach to narrative conventions as its country of origin, this would be a fine introduction not only to Kurosawa’s oevure, but world cinema as a whole.
Last of the Mohicans (Mann)– A piece of American history, a piece of literature that can be read-along in class to illustrate the nature of cinematic adaptation, and an all-around fine piece of bravua filmmaking with plenty of action and excitement. Maybe a little violent, but it’s better than “Dances With Wolves”.
Henry V (Brannagh)– Olivier’s is still the standard for many, but the more modern production is a feast for the senses and a great introduction to the Bard. Accessible as wartime adventure without betraying the integrity of Shakeseare’s drama or language, it’s almost pitch-perfect for a classroom setting.
The Trial– A bit harder to track down and not nearly as down-to-earth as “Citizen Kane”, this film nonetheless works tremendously both as an example of Welles’ deep wellspring of talent and as a faithful, yet imaginative literary adaptation. Screen alongside readings, and it also makes Kafka a much more approachable author.
The Manchurian Candidate (Frankenheimer)– A movie that entered the American political lexicon long before it was overshadowed by tragic events, this picture remains a classic yet is still relatively unseen enough by modern audiences to maintain its suckerpunch shocks and surprises.
Eraserhead– Surreal enough to provoke interest, yet comedic enough to keep from losing it, this might oddly be the best of Lynch’s works to show in a classroom setting. It won’t bore them like “The Elephant Man” or “The Straight Story”, and it’s probably less likely to prompt angry parents than “Blue Velvet” or any given episode of “Twin Peaks”. Perfect for a sex-ed class.
The Truman Show– Funny, dramatic and intellectual without being showy, Jim Carrey’s star-turn from Peter Weir makes for a perfect storm of potential audiences. Like a Frank Capra picture by way of Charlie Kaufman, its blend of satire, melodrama and existentialism ought to be enough to keep most students on the edge of their seats. Unless it’s too overexposed, thanks to TNT.
Woman in the Dunes– Teshigahara’s bleak adaptation of Kobo Abe’s book was an art-house hit when it was first released, but over the years it’s mostly been forgotten. Still, it’s a perfect example of world cinema and existential filmmaking, an easy fit on the shelf alongside “The Stranger” and “Waiting for Godot”.
The Conversation– Not Coppola’s best, but easily among his best and most underexposed films, this one makes an easy fit for a classroom setting, likely to prompt a lot of good discussions not only on filmmaking but the nature of privacy in modern society.
Fast, Cheap & Out of Control– Not Errol Morris’ best, but probably the one with the least amount of political baggage and a great example of essay-form documentary filmmaking. If you wanted something more focused, I guess, go with “Gates of Heaven”.
The Iron Giant– A modern classic of animation and American to-boot, the Cold War maturity hiding underneath the childlike simplicity of this picture is likely to surprise a lot of jaded students.
Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas– Maybe this is a bit of a stretch, but Terry Gilliam’s warped, yet surprisingly sober digestion of Hunter S. Thompson’s classic piece of Gonzo journalism stands as a picture-perfect recreation not only of the look and feel of America in the 60′s, but its mood and spirit, as well. Another good read-a-long, but might be a harder sell to most school districts– at least it makes “Brazil” look tame by comparison.
Hello Bob Clark!!!
Thanks very much for that comprehensive scroll, which of course contains great choices; your illuminations are much appreciated here. Love that IRON GIANT, HENRY V, WOMEN IN THE DUNES and THE 400 BLOWS. But there isn’t a weak one in that lot!
Hi! Tony,
Tony said,” I think the initial focus should be on getting kids interested in film-making and the first few class discussions should be centered around movies that are fairly current and appealing to a young audience. The films should be of sufficient quality allowing discussion on the essential elements of film appreciation and film craft.”
Tony, I agree with you, wholeheartedly, and thanks, to a couple of friends that I know in the book publishing, “biz”ness (business) I was able to secure a couple of books (and some titles that I purchased) and a great series on film making from them…I must admit that some of the titles are more recommended than others…
…starting with America Cinema/America Culture and the companion book with the same title followed with the 14 vhs/dvd series by John Belton.
Adaptation:Studying Films and Literature b Desmond and Hawkes.
The Art of Watching Films by Joseph Boggs.
Studying Films by Abrams, Bell, Udris and
Films a concise History by Gronemeyer. (I especially, like this book because it cover the birth of moving pictures from “ca.1000 with the introduction or first description of the camera obscura principle by the arabic scholar Ibn al- Haytham to 1895 the first public film shown by the Skladanowsky brothers in Berlin and the Lumière brothers in Paris to Film in a New Media World.”)
I think all of these books are very informative reading for the average American high school student to read before graduation.
And I think all the aforementioned films that Sam, Allan, Bobby McCarthy, Alexander, FilmDr and Dennis mentioned are in these books.
Thanks,
DeeDee
Oops! I’ am so sorry and Maxine G.’s list of films…Please forgive me!…Speaking of, films and literature…“I have forgotten the book and seen a movie.” Günter Grass said, as he praised Volker Schlöndorff filming of his novel, the Tin Drum (1978) the film which collected numerous awards, is seen as the model for adaptation of a literary work.
Adaptation: Studying Films and Literature
I wonder if asked how many of the students would prefer to watch the films based on novels…instead of, reading the book(s). By the way, Tony, I ‘am quite sure you, were not referring to books when you, said, “The films should be of sufficient quality allowing discussion on the essential elements of film appreciation and film craft.” …Therefore, ignore my previous post/comment…
Oops!…Please let me add the 1955 film Night and Fog (French: Nuit et brouillard) to my list.
DeeDee
Dee Dee!!! You raise some superb points here, and get to the heart of the discussion, which has to do with book to film or just films that dazzle by their style and/or themes. THE TIN DRUM is a fantastic choice! Of course NIGHT AND FOG is the seminal work o n the Holocaust, because its length is maneagable, and Cayrol’s narration is one of the most haunting ever presented in a film.
Dee-Dee, I would also add to that list of films that are model adaptations of the literary source.. THE GODFATHER, while not all of it makes it to the screen (the rest appears in part 2) what is on the screen is exact. I would also add to the list Allan’s No. 4 film of the 70′s Staley Kubrick’s breath-taking BARRY LYNDON (yes, he did add to the film but every page is there too). Peter Jackson also gets high marks for faithfully adapting THE LORD OF THE RINGS. Sadly though, my favorite book, Richard Matheson’s I AM LEGEND (which I read in one night) has been adapted no less than 3 times (the best being NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD but even that one was loosely “based”) and none of them ever got it right. Oh well!
I showed my class Pineapple Express last year…
Oh, but that was a reward for getting through the school year, hehe.
I like a lot of the choices I’ve seen so far. Here’s my two cents:
I teach at an alternative high school, so I’m pretty lucky that I don’t have to adhere to any real rules about content…however, I have found that something too sophisticated will totally make you look like a bad teacher. Unfortunately, a lot of the foreign films fall under that category. Unless this is going to be an advanced film class, with 18-year old students, then it’s going to be hard to get them to want to see the value in something like 8 1/2…which I didn’t really understand until I was 21.
It seems to me that the most important thing is to give them context. Say what you will about Chaplin or Citizen Kane or Psycho, but these are the films that teenagers are not watching. These are the kinds of films they need to be watching . I guarantee a lot of them have seen Saving Private Ryan…hell, I’d imagine a lot of them have seen anything post 90′s, but if you’re going to select something from that era, it’s best to go with something a little less popular. With Netflix and the accessibility of movies today, I think it’s safe to say that things like Pulp Fiction have been seen.
In my own film class I worked with the basics, to give them a context of film vocabulary. Then we moved more towards personal films I loved that I was pretty certain they hadn’t seen. Besides, teaching the films you love will make it more interesting for the students.
Here’s my own personal “go-to” list:
1.) The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari — A perfect introduction into basic elements of mise-en-scene…blocking, framing, dutch/tilted angles, etc. Plus I like to show them that all of the stuff Tim Burton does stems from this film. They find that cool.
2.) Modern Times — I found the themes in this particular Chaplin film are much more relevant now than what you’ll find in City Lights. But they can be interchangeable in regards to showcasing great silent comedy. You could also, obviously, use anything by Keaton or Llyod.
3.) Citizen Kane — Obviously. This is where they learn about film vocabulary, especially important things like deep focus, and all of the tricks Welle’s and his DP used throughout the film to achieve the look they wanted.
4.) Bringing Up Baby — Good example of a screwball comedy.
5.) Touch of Evil — Great example of lighting and tracking shots. Also, I’ve used it as an intro into Noir and then shown the more recent L.A. Confidential and Brick. I’ve always had success with this trifecta as the students I teach love Noir. I’ve also done films like Night of the Hunter or neo-noir like Chinatown.
6.) Psycho — Always good to introduce Hitchcock, and this has always been met with the best results. I still remember when I was in high school taking a film class and we went through the shower scene, culminating in that brilliant dissolve, shot-by-shot. I appreciate other Hitch films more now, but as I high schooler I’ll never forget my experiences with Psycho, and I try to remember that when I think of a good Hitch film to show the class.
7.) I’ve done any combo of Apocalypse Now (tie-in with the Vietnam war if they’re learning about that in a History class), Blade Runner (always good to include Sci-Fi, interesting themes, too, obviously…there is the problem, as Allan notes, of the nudity, though), or Raging Bull (probably the most famous Scorsese that I’ve run across that teenagers haven’t seen. Forget about Taxi Driver or Goodfellas, they’ve all seen ‘em. This one was pretty popular too, and a good example that B & W doesn’t equal “boring” or “old” as most of the kids seem to think it does).
8.) Now after those films which I consider the essentials, I get creative and switch it up. Since I teach at an alternative school with varying cultures in the classroom is helps to keep an array of films on hand. Here are some more unconventional films I’ve taught the students after we’ve covered the basics: Breaking Away, My Family, The Shawshank Redemption (they loved this one, and it’s an easy film for a symbolism unit…as is Raging Bull or a film like East of Eden), October Sky, Donnie Darko (which I don’t like, but the kids so…same goes with Fight Club, which I’ve taught in a lit class and then we watched the film…the kids loved it), The Virgin Suicides, Undertow, anyway this list could go on forever…it’s really up to you and what you want to teach.
The above list has really helped me out, though, and I have only had a few films completely bomb on me, but who knows, your classes may be completely different. And trust me, I’m not being condescending to the students in saying that I don’t think they’ll “get” foreign films, it’s just I tried to show them The 400 Blows once and they all fell asleep. Foreign film can be done if you know it’s something that will hold their interest, but if it’s out of the canon, or just a film you get, often times I’ve found that that doesn’t mean the students will necessarily get it.
Hope that helps. I love these kinds of questions! Haha.
Also, I always find it’s helpful to tie-in what you’re watching with something they’re learning about in another class (if that’s possible, you obviously shouldn’t try and force this connection). I’ve done Soderbergh’s King of the Hill before because I talked to the history teacher and found out they were doing a unit on The Great Depression. Tie-ins are a good way to narrow down options, I think.
Well Kevin, you performance here on this thread was typically brilliant, and as a teacher yourself, you do have some special insight sas to what would be appropriate and what will motivate. Your numbers 2,3, 5 are all superb, but then, so is the entire list. I think I’ve already told you that KING OF THE HILL is my favorite Soderburgh film, and it is indeed a great way to visualize The Great Depression. Thanks for all you’ve done here with this query. It’s great to have professional input.
Well, here is my list- some are repetitive….. all have some value.
Johnny Got His Gun – (1971) – ( Kids should be taught war is not a John Wayne movie.)
To Kill a Mockingbird
Sherlock Jr.
The Maltese Falcon
Letters from Iwo Jima
All the President’s Men
Sullivan’s Travels
Duck Soup
Inherit the Wind
The Dentist (or just about any other W.C Fields film)
Rebel Without a Cause
Umberto D
The 400 Blows
All’s Quiet on the Western Front
Metropolis
Unsurprisingly John, you have suggested some great possibilities, but telling you that is rather an insult. Let’s just say I’m with you on all of these choices. Thanks again for your insights and support.
I’m tempted to go through and respond to each and every one of these because that’s how thankful I am that you all turned out en masse (and in force) to answer this question so thoughtfully! In fact, I may well do that once I get a few more free moments on my hands, but right now let me say that, seriously, I’m very impressed that you all have so many suggestions (and so many overlaps). I’ll be sure to copy not only all your suggestions but your reasons to my friend, who I imagine will be simultaneously thankful and overwhelmed.
Thanks again to Sam and Allan for the opportunity to pose this question, and thanks again to all of you who answered it.
Interesting query —
I’ll try and get a mix:
The Outsiders
Juno
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Lost Horizon
Of Mice and Men
Reds
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
The Yearling
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
The Graduate
Night and Fog
The 400 Blows
Tokyo Story
All the King’s Men
Platoon
Frank–
THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS is a terrific choice for a number of reason! But your entire diversified list contains some promising titles.
By the way, Dennis,
Least, we…Oops!… I meant…I forget author/writer Dashiell Hammett’s novel The Maltese Falcon from my understanding was “almost” faithfully adapted to the big screen…by director John Huston.
DeeDee
Nice idea here. My oldest son is in college now, but once had a high school class that was devoted to cinema, and I remember a number of the films he was shown. Here are some choices, though there’s some overlap from previous lists:
Fail-Safe
The Outsiders
Carrie
Young Sherlock Holmes
Lord of the Flies (either version)
Blade Runner
Dead Poets Society
Field of Dreams
A Member of the Wedding
Downfall
Diary of Anne Frank
L.A. Confidential
Papillon
The Shawshank Redemption
The Yearling
Thank You Peter! A MEMBER OF THE WEDDINg is a most curious, but worthwhile choice. I never forgot Brandon de Wilde and Julie. So many others would be perfect.
Some films that I wish a cool high school teacher had shown me back when I was in high school… The only real criteria is stuff that I think would be (1) potentially appealing to reasonably intelligent teens; and (2) important to a well-rounded understanding of film. My picks are below, with some comments about why I picked them and what kinds of discussions they’d bring up for class.
Band of Outsiders (everyone should be introduced to Godard through one of his most accessible works)
The Player (so complex in its Hollywood satire, but also possesses an accessible thriller plot)
Rio Bravo (fun and funny, precise mise en scene, loose approach to narrative)
His Girl Friday (Hollywood comedy at its best, importance of dialogue and timing)
Rear Window (voyeurism, the cinema)
Down By Law
Underground (epic, convoluted allegory about the politics & history of Eastern Europe)
The Night of the Hunter (guaranteed to be like nothing else they’ve ever seen; some will be awed, some will hate it, none will forget it)
Lessons of Darkness (truth and lies in documentary, the Middle East)
I Walked With a Zombie (how unexpectedly deep and emotional a Hollywood horror flick can be)
Anatomy of a Murder (legal drama with moral complexity)
In a Lonely Place (noir, the dark side of Bogie)
Good Morning (a very childlike introduction to Ozu, lots of fart jokes to leaven the effect of seeing a very quiet Japanese film)
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (militarism, color, war and peace)
The Face of Another (a very different kind of Japanese film; edgy and stylish)
Punishment Park (race, 60s radicalism, government, fascism, etc.)
Code Unknown (network narratives)
Veronika Voss (post-war Germany, homage to noir)
Well Ed, if there are some bright students in the mix, there’s no doubt that this line-up would be to die for. But I must say that you have included one film here, that no one has yet mentioned that I think could be (potentially) the greatest cinematic experience a high schooler could ever have, and that is Laughton’s NIGHT OF THE HUNTER. Like you I am a huge fan of the Lewton, the Middle East doc, the Teshahagara, and the Watkins, and think them essential for the high school crowd, while the Hitchcock, Hawks, Godard and Altman would be superb choices. UNDERGROUND would be a toughie, but it might appeal to ethnic Albanians, Serbians or Croatians. Likewise the Fassbinder would also be a most challenging choice. What more can I say–exquisite stuff. T.S. I’m sure will love these.
Here’s my high-school graduation pre-requisites:
Birth of a Nation
The Passion of Joan of Arc
M
Gone with the Wind
The Grapes of Wrath
Oliver Twist (the David Lean version)
Night and Fog
Dr. Strangelove
2001: A Space Odyssey
One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Au Revoir Les Enfants
Schindler’s List
Kundun
The Pianist
The New World
Awww….man…I forgot Testament! Take out Kundun (that could be extra credit in a Global Studies course) — Testament is a must….great anti nuclear war statement, and a very accessible and emotional movie.
David: TESTAMENT was one of my top movies of 1983. It is indeed an emotionally wrenching film, that left a powerful impression on me. You’re posing it here is a great idea, as are so many of your choices!
Oh, and duh! TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD — though they better be reading that too! I see many alreayd included that one. Geeze, this was hard….
ok, off the top of my head, my two cents…..
1. Silents – Any one from ‘The General’, ‘The Gold Rush’ or ‘The Kid Brother’ – Enough to make them wonder, what else is there…
2. Pygmalion – English Golden Age starts
3. His Girl Friday – ’30s Screwball hits zenith
4. Citizen Kane – The demarcation line before and after.
5. Double Indemnity – at the towering peak of film noir.
6. The Best Years of Our Lives – the aftermath of war. The War Movie.
7. It’s a Wonderful Life – a tour de force of hope with the vitality to provide a bedrock support throughout life.
8. Beauty and the Beast – French masterpiece
9. A Matter of Life and death – English masterpiece.
10. Great Expectations – whoops, great literature adapated and throbbing with life.
11. Rashmoon – Japanese masterpiece.
12. Vertigo – The colourful ’50s.
13. Cinema Paradiso – Italian masterpiece with enough passion for movies to provoke Allan-like devotion.
14. Magnolia – Modern independent classic.
15. Singin’ in the Rain – musical heaven.
16. The Manchurian Candidate – politics 101…
17. 2001. A Space Oddssey (or ‘The Incredible Shrinking Man’) – SF classics.
18. The Corporation – Essential to understand what’s been going on for the last 150 years. What happens when all the media is controlled by right-winger moguls. Films documentaries get made for the internet, and small cinemas.
19. The Seventh Seal – Swedish classic.
20. When the Wind Blows – animation masterwork.
only problem is, where do I put ‘Twelve Angry Men’?
I was going to suggest a double bill of compare and contrast ‘The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes’ and ‘The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes’, one a studio picture the other an autuerist one.
Each one leads to a well-spring of other treasures and is likely to appeal to high, middle and low brow tastes – enough to make a person curious, passionate and healthily obsessed.
Emphasis the fact that five of them were made in the same year (6-10), it would make a powerful enforcement of how good, just a past single year could be compared with the gunk released in the multiplexes.
These are also healthy – as in that they have a powerful, positive philosophy. Unlike a great movie such as ‘Psycho’ – where the lesson is, ‘lock the door when you take a shower’.
If they don’t respond – check for pulse and drugs!
Many, many films mentioned are definitely worth showing; others, I think, may not be right for this less mature audience. My criteria for choosing films would be that they not be likely to see them outside of class and that they expand the world in which the kids live. Thus, as tempting as it would be to choose something like “Great Expectations,” it is a film that simply reinforces the Western literary and film canon.
I would choose the following:
1. Wanda (1970) – An honest look at a working-class woman made by a woman and coming at the start of second-wave feminism. A great discussion of the times and choices (real and imagined) that women had could ensue.
2. Yesterday (2004) – A South African film that talks about the contemporary AIDS crisis in Africa and the culture-specific issues of illness, marriage, and poverty.
3. Breathless (1960) – The exhiliration of youth and the inevitable fall of this timeless classic should enthrall high schoolers and give them a great introduction to the Nouvelle Vague.
4. Vagabond (1985) – No high schooler should enter the adult world without seeing a film by Agnes Varda, and this is the one that can tell them about freedom at its most difficult and self-destructive.
5. A Canterbury Tale (1944) – A film that doesn’t relate to the English Lit canon in an expected way, it has mystery, romance, and the toll of war all rolled into one. Just about any Michael Powell film will do, of course, but this one has a lot of great themes. Counsel patience for the students, as it doesn’t move at lightning speed.
6. Oklahoma (1955) – For those who can’t relate to musicals, this one is the one that started the trend of songs relating to story. A great lesson in theatre, dance, music, and Americana.
7. I Was Born But… (1932) – Ozu was the king of family drama. As a silent, there is no language barrier, and this is a good lesson in the universality of family experiences.
8. Secret Ballot (2000) – Iran is in the news again, and a look that country as it goes through a democratic election process is instructive, funny, and a commentary on social conditions. With the recent controversy about the slaying of Neda, a young Iranian woman, it might help flesh out what she died for.
9. My Brother’s Wedding (1983) – An energetic indie film from America’s preeminent African American filmmaker, Charles Burnett, this is a great coming-of-age film (even though the character is 30 years old), with humor, moral choices, and universal family concerns.
10. The Great Dictator (1940) – The brilliance of Chaplin will give students a lesson in dangers of Fascism in a completely unique way. It will also counsel the importance of speaking out against injustice.
11. Harlan County U.S.A. (1976) – The greatest American documentary by one of its greatest documentarians, this is a great lesson on unions, capitalism, and community, as well as being a compelling narrative.
12. It All Starts Today (1999) – One of the best films ever made about teachers and teaching (by a favorite of mine, Bertrand Tavernier), the harsh economic conditions of the provincial town in France in which this is set should resonate in these tough economic times.
13. Allegro non troppo (1977) – Students may have seen “Fantasia,” so I chose this Italian film as a great marriage of animation, classical music, comedy, and uniquely Italian pathos. Adult enough in its humor to appeal to high schoolers.
14. Breaking Away (1979) – A great film for teens looking into their futures. Will they have the courage to exceed their parents’ lives, make the most of what talents they have, and be honest about their lives? Enormously entertaining and a true classic written and directed by a fairly contemporary immigrant to the U.S. who loves his adopted country.
15. The Golem (1914) – Recently restored with full color tints, this German Expressionist film is a good foundation for discussions about horror and film noir. I pick it over Nosferatu because I think students are too familiar with vampire films to really appreciate what Nosferatu has to offer.
16. Sunset Boulevard (1950) – A classic noir that also refers to the history of films. Ripe for a variety of discussions.
17. The Public Enemy (1931) – The great James Cagney in all his pre-Code violent glory and Jean Harlow in all her sexy, lingerie-free beauty. Discussions can cover gangster films, the Hays Code, an economic conditions of the Depression.
18. Buffalo Bill and the Indians (1976) – A Western is called for, but I’m picking one that puts cowboys on the reservation. I think Altman was a great director who is likely to be overlooked in most surveys of film, and this death of the West film is honest, cinematic, and different. A great discussion starter.
19. His Girl Friday (1940) – Might as well talk about remakes with this gender-flipping exemplar of screwball comedy.
20. Barry Lyndon (1975) – One of the greatest period pieces based on English Lit by one of our finest directors. So much to talk about from a technical aspect (see where the Dogme group only wishes it could go), with a contemporary feel.
Marilyn, love your list – especially ‘Harlan County, USA’. Just researched it, defintely on my to do list.
As for “Great Expectations,” it’s a revelation for a whole large spectrum generation of kids who won’t watch something made before they were born, or in b/w, and usually won’t even now pick up a book.
Thanks, Bobby. “Great Expectations” is a wonderful film and book, and I’m sure you’re right about kids today. I’m not trying to diss either of them.
hey, Marilyn…do you have any other film recommendations along the same questioning nature as ‘Harlan County, USA’. I’m pretty up to date on many of latest, ‘RFK Must Die’, ‘Enron’, ‘Walmart’ ext, ect. thanks
“Trouble the Water” (about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina)
“Excellent Cadavers” (Italian, about the fight against the Mafia in Sicily)
“The War Tapes” (videos by soldiers fighting in Iraq)
“Whose Song Is This?” (Bulgarian, about the troubled relations of Balkan countries)
“Control Room” (about Al-Jazeera)
“Deadline” (about the death penalty)
“The Rape of Europa” (about Nazi theft of artwork and Jewish families trying to retrieve it)
“Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story” (about the architect of neocon politics)
Marilyn, I have been running around all weekend, and I have been out of the house more than I’ve been in, but I want to thank you riguorously for your superlative contributions here on this thread. It is practically an insult to say it that way, but in the absence of a better way, I express my graciousness. Those additions are fantastic, especially for those students who are specializing in politics. GOLEM, WANDA, CANTURBURY TALE, BUFFALO BILL, VAGABOND, SECRET BALLOT, even OKLAHOMA can be defended, as it was with ethe excellent reasons you provide. The Ozu, I WAS BORN BUT, is my personal favorite of all your choices, but I have always been partial to that director, one of my absolute favorites.