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Our Twelve Favorite Films of All Time

  1. Black Magic. Starring Orson Welles. Alexander Dumas' novel 'Joseph Balsamo' is faithfully rendered. This is the story of the battle between the impostor healer, Cagliostrio, and Anton Mesmer, who discovers his plot to destroy the French Monarchy. Cagliostrio uses hypnotism to bend a friend of Marie Antoinette to tell him details of the French Court. This is Orson Welles' best role as the evil Cagliostrio. Cagliostrio even masquerades (in historical accounts) as St. Germain, the wonder man of Europe. He is not the real thing, however. I have found this one for rent at Hollywood video, but have not found it for sale yet. Let me know if you do!
  2. Somewhere In Time, 1986. This is a film which continues to move anyone who sees it. Its cult audience is growing, and growing. Christopher Reeves gives the single greatest male performance of the century as a man obsessed by a picture in a hotel of a woman from several generations back. He hypnotizes himself into believing he has traveled back in time to be with her (Jane Seymour), and the evidence confirms that he has. This movie has you believing in the power of faith like no other film. It is a romance like no other. See it!!
  3. Rasputin and the Empress. This is a great movie from the 30s, clearly showing how the black magician, Rasputin, almost single handedly paved the way for the 1917 Russian Revolution, and brought down the Tzar, only to meet his own demise. John Barrymore, as Rasputin, is inimitable.
  4. A Passage To India. I guess you see my penchant for historical novels in film! The E.M. Forster novel detailing the supposed rape of an Englishwoman, and the trial of her supposed rapist is great film, and gives a mood that will not leave you once you see it. The mystery of India presented as in no other film.
  5. Wild Strawberries. This film, directed by Ingmar Bergman, presents the recollections of a warm hearted retired professor, as he journeys to receive a special award. The weaving in of flashbacks is masterful. This one is a tribute to humanness and soul warmth.
  6. Nostradamus. This one is the 90's Hollywood version, not the documentary by Orson Welles from the 80's. In it we see the depth of compassion of this supposed great seer of history. He learns the mysteries from a great herbalist, saves countless lives from the plague, but cannot save his own wife. The love between Nostradamus and his wife, though graphic sexually, is one of the best love stories in film. You often find this one on cable on the romance or love channel. It is superb.
  7. Joan of Arc, the recent CBS miniseries. Though Ingrid Bergman's portrayal in the black and white film is deeply felt. The 1999 CBS series is overall a fabulous presentation of a life dedicated to the principle of faith against impossible odds. The acting, the story, flow, the scenery, deserve best film of the decade status.
  8. Nostromo, the 3 part miniseries. This is '96 vintage PBS. Conrad's novel is given heart-renching reality. This takes place in a divided kingdom in South America, and represents the conflict between a kind-hearted mine owner and evil rebel forces seeking to tear down all he has done for the country and its common people. Hangs together as a story, perhaps better than any miniseries I have seen.
  9. Oscar and Lucinda. Surprise after surprise in this exquisite characterization of a spiritual outcast from the 1800's, addicted to gambling to feed the poor, and beautiful glass-blown works. He is defrocked as a cleric in Australia, falls in love with another compulsive gambler, Lucinda, who also owns a glass factory. Oscar schemes with her to transport a glass church to a remote site about 3,000 miles away, through aborigine territory, as a gift for a cleric friend. The ending is as tragic as any film gets, and the acting even better.
  10. Jack and Sarah. I don't know how to describe this film ('97, I believe). It is so pure, so funny, so heartwarming, so romantic, so family-friendly that I watched it twice in 5 hours. That's how wonderful it is. It has English and American actors and it is so well crafted you will applaud at it's end. You have to like fairytale endings, however. A lawyer loses his wife in childbirth, and takes on a nanny to handle the child. She learns nannyhood from scratch, but provides just what baby and father need. This is how films to warm the heart should be, and it's intelligent as well. Every scene lends a new dimension to the heart.
  11. Gandhi from the 80's. I just had to include the classic portrayal of greatest spiritual teacher of the century, who showed how to put faith into action. This is directed by Sir Richard Attenborough. The actor, Ben Kingsley, wins 2nd best actor of the century for this role, but shares with David Suchet as Poirot in the PBS Agatha Christie mysteries. (Orson Welles comes in a close third, but a first for direction, with Citizen Kane below.) Actress of the century: Ingrid Bergman for her role as Joan of Arc and others.
  12. Citizen Kane, 1940's. Orson Welles directed and acted in this film, considered by most critics to be the best film ever made. For me, it doesn't have the spiritual dimension of some other films. However, it's innovative use of scene montage, its sad story, and great acting deserve mention. A publishing magnate becomes a recluse. His deepest emotional recollection is of his sled named 'Rosebud'.
Do you have a hard time finding films kids like? Here are my 12 year old son, Stephen's
12 funniest movies of all time!
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