Category Archives: Misc.

Yahoo’s 100 Movies to See Before You Die

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*Bold I have seen


12 Angry Men
2001:A Space Odyssey
The 400 Blows (1959)
8 ½ (1963)
A Hard Day’s Night (1964)
The African Queen (1952)
Alien (1979)
All About Eve (1950)
Annie Hall (1977)
Apocalypse Now (1979)
The Battle of Algiers (1967)
The Bicycle Thief (1948)
Blade Runner (1982)
Blazing Saddles (1974)
Blow Up (1966)
Blue Velvet (1986)
Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
Breathless (1960)
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
Bringing Up Baby (1938)
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
Casablanca (1942)
Chinatown (1974)
Citizen Kane (1941)
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
Die Hard (1988)
Do the Right Thing (1989)
Double Indemnity (1944)
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
Duck Soup (1933)
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Enter the Dragon (1973)
The Exorcist (1973)
Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982)
The French Connection (1971)
The Godfather (1972)
The Godfather, Part II (1974)
Goldfinger (1964)
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1968)
Goodfellas (1990)
The Graduate (1967)
Grand Illusion (1938)
Groundhog Day (1993)
In the Mood For Love (2001)
It Happened One Night (1934)
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Jaws (1975)
King Kong (1933)
The Lady Eve (1941)
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
The Lord of the Rings (2001,2002,2003)
M (1931)
M*A*S*H (1970)
The Maltese Falcon (1941)
The Matrix (1999)
Modern Times (1936)
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978)
Network (1976)
Nosferatu (1922)
On the Waterfront (1954)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
Paths of Glory (1958)
Princess Mononoke (1999)
Psycho (1960)
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Raging Bull (1980)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Raise the Red Lantern (1992)
Rashomon (1951)
Rear Window (1954)
Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
Rocky (1976)
Roman Holiday (1953)
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Schindler’s List (1993)
The Searchers (1956)
Seven Samurai (1954)
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Some Like It Hot (1959)
The Sound of Music (1965)
Star Wars (1977)
Sunset Blvd. (1950)
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
The Third Man (1949)
This is Spinal Tap (1984)
Titanic (1997)
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
Toy Story (1995)
The Usual Suspects (1995)
Vertigo (1958)
When Harry Met Sally… (1989)
Wild Strawberries (1957)
Wings of Desire (1988)
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988)
The World of Apu (1959)

Frequently Asked Questions (2014)

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Why is the name 4 Star Films?

I am a film enthusiasts but I try and focus on high quality films that are commonly rated 4 Stars and above. There is such a thing as a bad film, so I try and focus on ones with good reviews, entertainment value, artistic merit and a lens into humanity. 

What is the purpose of this blog?

Initially the site was just so I could catalog what films I had seen. Now I would like to think that the purpose is to talk about great films, stars, directors and other movie related news for the fun of it. I especially want others to appreciate Classic Hollywood as much as I do!

What is your Favorite Movie?

It’s a tough question so here’s my tough answer. When I was younger I would have said Star Wars. That is still good but now I would probably say Rear Window. I love Alfred Hitchcock. I love Jimmy Stewart. I love Grace Kelly and I love mysteries. 

Who is your Favorite Leading Man?

I would have to go old school and say Jimmy Stewart. He was the perfect every man and he was in a plethora of classics all over the board. It’s awesome impersonating him too.

Who is your Favorite Leading Lady?

Again I would have to go Classic Hollywood and pick Audrey Hepburn (although Grace Kelly is a close second). Both were so memorable in their film roles thanks to their beauty, poise and “grace” on screen.

Who is your Favorite Director behind and in front of the Camera?

It has to be Alfred Hitchcock. He’s the Master of Suspense for good reason and his string of cameos make his films even more memorable. The balance of entertainment and art in his films is what has allowed him to remain popular all this time. There’s something for everybody.

Favorite Movie Quote?

Maybe something from Up (2009)?

Favorite Scene from a Movie?

That’s another tough one, but I’d probably have to say the ending of It’s a Wonderful Life. When they start singing Auld Lang Syne it gets me every time. 

Favorite Film Hero

It might be a tie between Indiana Jones and George Bailey from It’s a Wonderful Life. They are both awesome characters for very different reasons.

Favorite Film Villain?

The Joker (Heath Ledger) from The Dark Knight. Another one who is fun to imitate. Why so serious?

Favorite Song in a Movie?

Moon River, composed and written by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer for Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961). Instrumental version, Audrey Hepburn or Andy Williams version. Doesn’t matter. I would seriously have it play at my wedding. Seriously. 

A New List of 101 Popular and Beloved Films

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I wanted to get away from lists that represent what critics think and I wanted to focus more on the films that have historically been popular with moviegoers or films that have gained a following over the years. Here is a list that mixes beloved classics, box office smashes, and iconic films all into a condensed group of 101.

These include films that have tremendous critical acclaim such as Gone With the Wind, Casablanca, Lawrence of Arabia, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and Silence of the Lambs.

There are also blockbusters such as Jaws, Titanic, Avatar, and the Avengers.

However, you cannot forget random fan favorites like Monty Python and the Holy Grail, The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Home Alone, Mean Girls, and Anchorman either.

I hope to continue to discuss these films in more depth because I find this list to be eclectic and fun for me personally. I hope it is for you too.

It goes without saying that discussion is welcome because any list like this can never be truly subjective. No matter what you think I sincerely hope you enjoy it!

Here is a list of some of the films I did not select (including a lot of classics).

Other Candidates:
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Top Hat (1935)
Pretty Woman (1990)
The French Connection (1971)
Vertigo (1958)
King Kong (1933)
The Great Dictator (1940)
MASH (1970)
Saturday Night Fever (1977)
Platoon (1986)
(National Lampoon’s) Animal House (1978)
Dirty Dancing (1987)
The Notebook (2004)
Dirty Harry (1971)
The Big Lebowski (1998)
Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
Ghost (1990)
Frankenstein (1931)
Apocalypse Now (1979)
The Music Man (1962)
The Fugitive (1993)
It Happened One Night (1934)
Love Story (1970)
Raging Bull (1980)
Braveheart (1995)
Pinocchio (1940)
Citizen Kane (1941)
Seven Year Itch (1957)
The Philadelphia Story (1940)
Big (1988)
Chinatown (1974)
Scarface (1983)
The Great Escape (1963)
Say Anything (1989)
Independence Day (1996)
Monster’s Inc.(2001)
Dumb and Dumber (1994)
The Passion of the Christ (2004)
Men in Black (1997)

Part of a Series:
Dr. No (1962)
Star Wars (1977)
Toy Story (1995)
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
The Planet of the Apes (1968)
Skyfall (2012)
Spider-Man (2002)
Alien (1979)
Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
Toy Story 2 (1999)
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
The Terminator (1984)
The Godfather Part II (1974)
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011)

Note: Because of the limited space I only selected one film from a specific franchise/series

Director of the Month: George Stevens

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One of the great, if often unheralded American directors, it is astounding when you look at the breadth of George Stevens work. His catalogue of films rivals those of the other American greats such as John Ford, Howard Hawks, Frank Capra, and William Wyler. His films also evolved over time as he changed with the times.

Stevens got his start working at the company of Hal Roach as an assistant cameraman where he worked on B-westerns and the comedy productions of Laurel & Hardy. This training with the camera would influence him later as a director because he would also pay close attention to details. The mise-en-scene and the relationships between his characters were of the utmost importance to him. Despite, these aesthetic aspects he never lost sight of the humanity in his films.

Soon Stevens had moved on to directing and his credits include the quintessential Astaire-Rogers vehicle Swing Time (1936), along with the swash-buckling thriller Gunga Din (1939). Then during the early years of the war he had a string of solid films including the comedies Women of the Year (1942), The Talk of the Town (1943), and More the Merrier (1943). In the waning years of WWII he would begin to shoot footage of the war and concentration camps as well. This reality would deeply impact Stevens and as a result his post-war films were also impacted. His so-called “American Trilogy” included the tragic drama A Place in the Sun (1951), the western Shane (1953), and the epic Giant (1956). In these three films we see signs of a man disillusioned who turned away from the comedy and crafted films with a heavier tones and more complex themes.

With these films Stevens solidified his legacy as an American Film Legend and despite what anyone might say it would be difficult to take that away from him. Other notable films of his include: Vivacious Lady (1948), I Remember Mama (1938), and the Diary of Anne Frank (1959).

John Ford: Director of the Month

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There have been preeminent directors over the years, but I think John Ford has the distinction of being a legend in his own time and his legacy has continued far after he stopped making films. Ford is the only director to ever win 4 Oscars for best director (The Informer, The Grapes of Wrath, How Green Was my Valley, and The Quiet Man). However, his career is most highly remembered for his collaboration and friendship with John Wayne. He essentially made Wayne a star with Stagecoach (1939). Their work together continued for several more decades, memorably in other westerns such as Fort Apache (1948), 3 Godfathers (1948), She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949), Rio Grande (1950), and then of course The Searchers (1956) and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962). However, Ford also showed a sensitivity in portraying his ancestral homeland in great films such as How Green Was my Valley (1941) and The Quiet Man (1952). Furthermore, Ford had several highly praised films with Henry Fonda including The Grapes of Wrath (1940), My Darling Clementine (1946), and Mister Roberts (1955). I think what makes Ford so brilliant is he had had his trademark genre in westerns and his trademark setting of Monument Valley, but there were many other brilliant aspects to his career. He was definitely a great American filmmaker and yet he was not averse to depicting Ireland as well. I cannot speak for the man specifically but the director John Ford is very impressive.

Star of the Month: Audrey Hepburn

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As a young girl Audrey Hepburn lived in occupied Netherlands during WWII and she trained as a ballerina and she would continue this for a time before turning to acting. She had bit parts in a few films including The Lavender Hill Mob before getting her big chance as the title character of the Broadway play Gigi. It was after this that she hit the big time with her performance in Roman Holiday opposite Gregory Peck, and from that point on the film world was enamored with her.

Audrey Hepburn began as a timid yet graceful young woman who captivated audiences in films such as Roman Holiday and then Sabrina. However, over time she kept many of those qualities but also evolved into a tremendous actress and chic fashion icon. Into the 1960s she appeared in such classics as Breakfast at Tiffany’s which is possibly her most remembered role with an iconic wardrobe by Givenchy. Then, she went onto Charade with Cary Grant, and then My Fair Lady in 1964 with Rex Harrison. The first being a romantic thriller and the other a musical based off the work of George Bernard Shaw; very diverse roles to say the least. Two of her last great films came out in 1967. Wait Until Dark had her playing a blind victimized woman to perfection and then in Two for the Road she struggles through the ups and downs of a marriage with Albert Finney. Some films I did not even mention are Funny Face, Love in the Afternoon, A Nun’s Story, and How to Steal a Million. Whatever you think of her films I think it must be said that Ms. Hepburn was certainly captivating in each and every role. She is one of the icons who transcends the movies with her iconic fashion, her immense charity, and above all her humble grace.

National Film Registry Results for 2013!

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Here were the submissions to the National Film Registry this year, including a few of the films I nominated. (3 were from my top 10 and for the life of me I cannot figure out how I missed nominating the Quiet Man). Hope you enjoy and you can send in your own nominations for 2014 if you go to the National Film Registry website.

Bless Their Little Hearts (1984)
Brandy in the Wilderness (1969)
Cicero March (1966)
Daughter of Dawn (1920)
Decasia (2002)
Ella Cinders (1926)
Forbidden Planet (1956)
Gilda (1946)
The Hole (1962)
Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)
King of Jazz (1930)
The Lunch Date (1989)
The Magnificent Seven (1960)
Martha Graham Early Dance film (1931-44)
Mary Poppins (1964)
Men & Dust (1940)
Midnight (1939)
Notes on the Port of St. Francis (1951)
Pulp Fiction (1994)
The Quiet Man (1952)
The Right Stuff (1983)
Roger & Me (1989)
A Virtuous Vamp (1919)
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (1966)
Wild Boys of the Road (1933)

2013 National Film Registry December 18th!

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The National Film Registry will be announcing the inductees for 2013 on December 18th so I thought I would share the films I chose. It should be noted that I had a list of about 80 titles but I took off the newer ones because I could nominate them at a later time. My number 1 pick was the, probably, little known Go for Broke! since it tells the story of Japanese-American soldiers during WWII. The rest were relatively standard fair.


1.    Go for Broke! (1951)
2.    To Have and Have Not (1944)
3.    Gilda (1946)
4.    Judgment at Nuremburg (1961)
5.    The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
6.    Strangers on a Train (1951)
7.    The Birds (1963)
8.    The Great Escape (1963)
9.    It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963)
10. Mary Poppins (1964)
11. My Fair Lady (1964)
12. Rio Bravo (1959)
13. Rebecca (1940)
14. Harvey (1950)
15. The Magnificent Seven (1960)
16. Spartacus (1960)
17. Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967)
18. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
19. The Return of the King (2003)
20. The Circus (1928)
21. Steamboat Bill Jr. (1928)
22. You Can’t Take it With You (1938)
23. Only Angels Have Wings (1939)
24. Balls of Fire (1941)
25. The Little Foxes (1941)
26. Meet John Doe (1941)
27. The Palm Beach Story (1942)
28. The Pride of the Yankees (1942)
29. Tales of Manhattan (1942)
30. The More the Merrier (1943)
31. Star Spangled Rhythm (1943)
32. Gaslight (1944)
33. Scarlett Street (1945)
34. Spellbound (1945)
35. The Bishop’s Wife (1947)
36. The Lady From Shanghai (1948)
37. On the Town (1949)
38. The Gunfighter (1950)
39. Winchester ’73 (1950)
40. Where the Sidewalk Ends (1950)
41. Stalag 17 (1953)
42. The Caine Mutiny (1954)
43. Mister Roberts (1955)
44. To Catch a Thief (1955
45. The Killing (1956)
46. Witness for the Prosecution (1957)
47. Auntie Mame (1958)
48. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)
49. The Misfits (1961)

50. Cape Fear (1962)

Star of the Month: Humphrey Bogart

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The man with the memorable speech impediment acquired from a WWI injury, Bogart began in the movies as a bit player in gangster films such as The Petrified Forest (1936) and Angels with Dirty Faces (1938). He finally made is major breakthrough as Sam Spade in The Maltese Falcon (1941) directed by John Huston, and from that point on he never looked back. He followed it up with his trademark performance as Rick Blaine in Casablanca (1942), then two Huston classics The Treasure of Sierra Madre (1948) and The African Queen (1951). The 1940s also saw the inception of his romantic pairing and eventual marriage to Lauren Bacall. They acted together in To Have and Have Not (1944), The Big Sleep (1946), Dark Passage (1947), and Key Largo (1948). Bogart continued to star in films in the 1950s including Sabrina and The Caine Mutiny before his death in 1957. He is undoubtedly one of the cultural legends of Hollywood with so many great film credits to his name. He could be a tough guy and a softie but he did it all with that iconic face and voice. Here’s looking at you Bogey.

Star of the Month: Cary Grant

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Born in England with the name Archibald Leach, a young member of a traveling comedy troupe took the name Cary Grant when he broke into the movies. Early in his career Grant was a leading man for Mae West and he was the Mock Turtle in Alice in Wonderland (1933). Then in the late 30s he came to more prominence in romantic and screwball comedies such as Topper, The Awful Truth, Holiday, and Bringing up Baby. In 1939 he was in two more dramatic classics Gunga Din and Only Angels Have Wings. He continued to perform comedic roles in the 1940s in His Girl Friday and The Philadelphia Story. However, 1941 marked his first collaboration with Alfred Hitchcock in Suspicion, and they would go onto work together in Notorious (1946), To Catch a Thief (1955), and of course North by Northwest (1959). Later in his career Grant had a well established debonair persona and he would continue to use it, well into the 1960s. Grant was a wonderful physical comedian and I really enjoyed him in The Awful Truth. I think his two greatest films however are Notorious because he plays against type and then North by Northwest because it is simply an epic thriller.