50 lesser, but still significant and fabulous "runners-up" films which must be seen by all movie-lovers:
- The Great Race (1965) .. Blake Edwards
Giddy homage to early slapstick is packed with joy. - Whistle Down the Wind (1961) .. Bryan Forbes
Moving, occasionally sly and cynical slice of childhood. - Sleeping Beauty (1959) .. Clyde Geronimi
Walt Disney's austerely composed mix of old-fashioned laughs with modern animation. - Dark Victory (1939) .. Edmund Goulding
The very best of the Bette Davis/Warner Bros. heavy-breathers. - Up the Sandbox (1972) .. Irvin Kershner
Bravura, unblinking look at life and marriage through a distorted lens. - La Luna (1979) .. Bernardo Bertolucci
Brave, certainly, but also ballsy, complicated; Jill Clayburgh digs deep within as an actress. - How To Steal a Million (1966) .. William Wyler
Another great '60s heist film, this one with the added pleasure of Audrey Hepburn. - The Love Cage (1964) .. René Clément
Criminally underrated psychological study of conflicted lives from French director René Clément. - Teacher's Pet (1958) .. George Seaton
Clark Gable putting the moves on Doris Day; pure fun! - Carrie (1976) .. Brian De Palma
It has stood the test of time well; performances from Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie unbeatable. - Funny Girl (1968) .. William Wyler
The unveiling of Barbra Streisand, a musical from William Wyler almost as fresh today as in 1968. - Lenny (1974) .. Bob Fosse
Unshakable, unsettling Lenny Bruce biography from Bob Fosse. - Pollyanna (1960) .. David Swift
Feel-good whimsy from Mr. Disney; irrepressible characters and unending charm. - Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969) .. Paul Mazursky
Disarming, unsettling, voyeuristic, and very funny. - Tommy (1975) .. Ken Russell
Provoking, passionately eccentric, surprisingly human, and amazingly acted by Ann-Margret. - Dream Lover (1986) .. Alan J. Pakula
A chilly gem from Alan J. Pakula; needling and unsentimental. - Interiors (1978) .. Woody Allen
Woody Allen's brittle, Bergmanesque view of entangled lives; an actor's dream. - Moonstruck (1987) .. Norman Jewison
Big voices, grand gestures, small and lovely pleasures. - The Sheepman (1958) .. George Marshall
Easily one of the best, most enjoyable westerns of the era; Glenn Ford is irresistible. - You Only Live Twice (1967) .. Lewis Gilbert
Peak James Bond, imitated but seldom equaled; eye-popping art direction. - Kansas City Bomber (1972) .. Jerrold Freedman
B-movie idea turned into a tough, gritty character study; Raquel Welch's 'Raging Bull'. - I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can (1982) .. Jack Hofsiss
Profound addiction-drama providing Jill Clayburgh with another bravura turn. - Melvin and Howard (1980) .. Jonathan Demme
Jonathan Demme's early triumph. - Husbands and Wives (1992) .. Woody Allen
An amazing showcase for a great cast; lumpy towards the end, yet still pretty terrific. - Coma (1978) .. Michael Crichton
For lovers of medical dramas, mysteries, and conspiracy thrillers, this one is hard to beat. - The Greengage Summer (1961) .. Lewis Gilbert
Youthful emotions gone terribly wrong; a scintillating film. - The Stepford Wives (1975) .. Bryan Forbes
Paranoia thriller-cum-quirky black comedy; imminently watchable and well-acted. - That Darn Cat! (1965) .. Robert Stevenson
Slapstick and sleuthing in suburbia, Disney style; utterly beguiling and charming. - Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967) .. George
Julie Andrews right where she needs to be; not exactly self-effacing, but exuberant. - Slither (1973) .. Howard Zieff
James Caan in a black comedy about mercenary crooks and kooks; one-of-a-kind. - Second Best (1994) .. Chris Menges
Little-seen movie about a bachelor who wants to adopt; William Hurt's best work in years. - Brokeback Mountain (2005) .. Ang Lee
A bittersweet gem. - Resurrection (1980) .. Daniel Petrie
Flawless acting by Ellen Burstyn is the centerpiece of an unforgettable human story. - Tiger Bay (1959) .. J. Lee Thompson
Nearly-perfect wise-child melodrama superbly captured. - Cinderella (1950) .. Clyde Geronimi & Wilfred Jackson &
The movie that saved Walt Disney in the post-WWII years; gleaming and glossy. - Atlantic City (1980) .. Louis Malle
Crafty criminal exploits in the modern age; sneaks up on you. - The Glass Bottom Boat (1966) .. Frank Tashlin
Spy-spoof with slapstick; an unappreciated blend, but highly entertaining. - The Sugarland Express (1974) .. Steven Spielberg
The changes in tone caught audiences off-guard; today, it amazes with its depth. - The Wicked Lady (1945) .. Leslie Arliss
Elegant, rollicking rogue-comedy from Leslie Arliss. - Defending Your Life (1991) .. Albert Brooks
Albert Brooks' very best film; a giddy high for clumsy romantics. - Funny Lady (1975) .. Herbert Ross
Streisand didn't want to do it, but the raucous spirit and sandpaper sentiment makes it one of her best. - Doctor Faustus (1967) .. Richard
Maniacal poetry meets mad-scientist filmmaking; stunning. - All That Jazz (1979) .. Bob Fosse
Almost made my list last time; an amazing high-wire act from Bob Fosse. - The Fastest Gun Alive (1956) .. Russell Rouse
Glenn Ford western is more than quick on the draw--a rousing audience-pleaser. - The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox (1976) .. Melvin Frank
Tasty, bawdy western romp, laugh-filled larceny from start to finish. - The Moon-Spinners (1964) .. James Neilson
Disney's entry in the Hitchcockian sweepstakes; beautifully made. - Airport (1970) .. George Seaton
Elegant disaster epic from super-sudsy producer Ross Hunter. - Caprice (1967) .. Frank Tashlin
- Irreconcilable Differences (1984) .. Charles Shyer
Manages to be both funny and insightful. - Black Widow (1987) .. Bob Rafelson
Femme match of wits; a perfect showcase for Debra Winger.
Also considered: The Quiet Man, Cactus Flower, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Crash (2005), Max Dugan Returns, Peter Pan (1953), Sweet November (1968), Mahogany, Only When I Laugh, Houseboat, The Misfits, Old Acquaintance.
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