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Armchair, Child Of The 60's Reveals, "My 10 Best Children's Movies Of All Time".Jul 01 '01 (Updated Jul 02 '01) Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line Timeless classic movies for children & the young at heart. I was a child of the 60's and now I have children of my own who are children of the 90's. Different times, different values, a different generation. Yet, having a mother who inflicts upon them so much of what to her is precious from what to them is 'the olden days', seems to have some certain appeal to them. They LIKE my favourite movies. The little dears sing along with me to all of the great songs. How many kids do you know who have been singing "How do you Solve A Problem Like Maria?" since age 2. (They do a mean rendition too of "Climb Every Mountain" and perhaps you think I jest, but, I kid you not). There the chit chat must cease for I am giving away to you too many clues to the list that will follow. The best 10 children's movies of all time, as seen through the eyes of a 60's child. 1. Lassie Come Home (1943) Elizabeth Taylor & Roddy McDowell are the child stars in this beautiful film set in Yorkshire about a little boy and his beloved dog separated by the grim circumstances of his family's poverty and the little girl who falls in love with the same blessed canine, Lassie. It's a feel good story to touch the most hardened heart. Adult viewers will require tissues to get through this one when Lassie comes home. 2. The Wizard of Oz (1939) A colourful musical celebration of a young girl's dream, or was it a dream at all? This film classic stars Judy Garland as the young Dorothy who follows the yellow brick road in her magical red shoes to find The Wizard of Oz. With the friends she makes along the way who are each searching for something they believe that they lack, Dorothy finds a wonderful adventure filled with witches of the good and bad variety, munchkins, and more and comes to realise that 'There is no place like home'. A timeless piece with a lovely score and nice sentiment. 3. Willy Wonker & The Chocolate Factory (early 70's) All children will LOVE this movie which, for most part is set in Willy Wonker's Chocolate Factory, and could there be a more wonderful place for a child than a magical chocolate factory where everything is made of candy. This musical film stars Gene Wilder, a favourite of mine and he is perfectly cast in the role of the mysterious Wonker. There are some nice musical moments. The Sammy Davis Junior hit "Candy Man" came from this film. It's a story about how it really does pay to be good, how a single event can change the course of a life, and wishes really can come true. 4. Mary Poppins I saw Mary Poppins as a child at the movies and was captivated. Later, I was fortunate enough to aquire the then very hip Mary Poppins Board Game. I had a Mary Poppins Carpet Bag. I loved Mary Poppins. It was a long time between drinks as they say because having seen it when it was originally released, it was many years until my second opportunity to watch it which came after it was released on video and I bought it for my little daughters. They were equally enthusiatic about Mary Poppins. The stars in this very english musical tale of magic and manners and mirth & a very special children's nanny named Mary Poppins are Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins and Dick Van Dyke as the chimney sweep Bert with Glynnis Johns as Mrs Banks. The story revolves around the Banks household and the two adorable children, Jane & Michael who aquire a new nanny in a most unconventional manner. The musical score is a highlight with such memorable songs as "Just A Spoonful Of Sugar" "Feed the Birds", "Supercalafragalisticexpeallidocious", "Let's Go Fly A Kite", "I Love To Laugh" and more. There is some good choreography across the rooftops of London. All girls & Mums & Dads will love this movie and younger boys will too! 5. ET (1982) This oscar winning Steven Spielberg film is truly a one which everybody in your family will enjoy regardless of age or gender. Spielberg created this film through the eyes of a child.It's a feel good film full of wonder. It is moving, exciting and amusing but overall wonderfully entertaining. This film featured a very young Drew Barrymore as the little girl whose brother first befriends ET. She was just gorgeous in this movie but the real star is ET himself. So you think that you cannot form an emotional attachment to an extraterrestrial being? Think again. Have the tissue box handy. ET is a beautiful film suitable for kids of all ages and the young at heart. 6. Oliver (1968) This version of the classic Dickens tale about the orphan Oliver Twist was a six times oscar winner and features the late Harry Secombe as the mean spirited Mr Bumble, the late Oliver Reed as the violent Bill Sykes, Ron Moody as Fagin, Mark Lester as Oliver with Shani Wallace as the tender hearted though tragic Nancy. It’s a big movie with magical choreography, wonderful songs a fabulous cast. The musical score is brilliant with great songs such as “You’ve Got To Pick A Pocket Or Two”, “As Long As He Needs Me”, “Food Glorious Food”, “Who Will Buy?” ,“Consider Yourself” . It is a first class musical suitable for all of the family and has adventure, suspense, singing, dancing, and a happy ending for little Oliver. My little girls love it and now know all of the songs. Our favourite is the showstopper “Who Will Buy?” which is so hugely joyful and colourful as Oliver takes in the wonders on the street below him, filled with happiness at his newfound good fortune. 7. A Little Princess (1939) & (1997) We have two versions of this at home. One is the original A Little Princess starring Shirley Temple and the other is the excellent American remake The Little Princess starring Eleanor Bron, Liam Cunningham & Liesel Matthews. The 1939 A Little Princess is the musical version with the slick song and dance routines of Shirley Temple. It is a magical film, beautifully acted with some nice musical moments. There is something about Shirley Temple which touches the heart so and this film about a little girl separated from her adoring father by the Boer war is a tear jerker. It has a happy ending of course and lots of nice moments in between as Shirley makes the best of her unfortunate circumstances despite unfair treatment by the cruel Principal of the boarding school at which she is forced to reside. It is a beautiful film with something for everyone. The 1997 remake of A Little Princess gives a new treatment to the classic tale. This is a drama, not a musical. As a film it is a feast for the eye, with wonderful performances throughout and a great script. It is a cut above the average children's entertainment fodder. There are some differences in details between the two film versions and some adjustments to the plot but each has great charm and entertainment value and my children enjoy both versions which are of course both available on video. 8. Cinderella (1950) Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs (1937) Two wonderful films of the animated kind. Hard to split them and so I give them even billing here. Cinderella, is an animated classic from Disney made in 1950. This film is so beautifully crafted. It is easy to forget that one is watching animation. The romantic fairytale, Cinderella comes to life in this enchanting musical. The animation is splendid and the charactisations of the cast who voice it are superb. There are some memorable tunes also such as "A dream is a wish your heart makes" & "Bibbidy Bobbidy Boo". This is a first class treatment of the classic tale filled with magic & wonder & birds & sparkle. Beautifully & painstakingly illustrated, this film is as relevant & as enchanting today as when it was first released and will delight young audiences. The video release features a fascinating glimpse into the history behind this movie. Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs was made in 1937 and Walt Disney was awarded an honorary Oscar for this film which was technically innovative for its time. This is again, an exquisitely animated film which is so colourful and very pleasing to the eye. Children love the tale of Snow White, the wicked queen with her magic mirror, the poison apple and the appealing seven dwarfs who love Snow White & care for her until the kiss of the handsome prince. This classic animation is pefect in it’s detail. The dwarfs are lifelike and demonstrate individual personalites and characteristics. The animators capture the innocence and gentleness of Snow White contrasted by the evil of the wicked queen who condemns Snow White after asking of her mirror, “Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of us all?” We all know what the mirror said and it wasn’t good news for the queen. There is the obligatory happy ending and a lovely soundtrack with the memorable “Whistle While You Work”, "Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho" and "Someday My Prince Will Come". 9. The Sound Of Music (1965) My favourite movie and my favourite movie for children. My children have this on video and it has been given quite a bashing. They adore it and I never tire of hearing the wonderful soundtrack. Such beautiful songs. This movie has lots of appeal for children because it is the true story of the Von Trapp family and their seven children forced to flee their beloved Austria by the Nazis. The Sound Of Music Stars Julie Andrews as Maria, the novice nun who wins the heart of the formidable, (though delectable), Captain Von Trapp, & Eleanor Parker as the rather unpleasant Baroness who almost gets The Captain. Children will also enjoy the music, the songs, many of which are especially appealing to children, the choreography and a great adventure story. I first saw this film as a child at the movies with my family and oh how I loved it! We had the LP at home and I learned all of the songs. It was to be two and a half decades before I saw it again. Since then, I must have seen it a hundred times. My children love The Sound Of Music echoed by the fact that various pets have been named after the Von Trapp children. Some of the musical highlights of this classic film are “My Favourite Things”, “Climb Every Mountain”, “So Long, Farewell”, “Doe, A Deer", “How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria”. 10. Babe (1995) I have a soft spot for this film about a very special pig who thinks she is a sheep dog and wins a farmer’s heart. This film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Film and features Magda Subanski as Mrs Hogget and James Cromwell who won an oscar for his performance as Farmer Hogget The action take place on Hogget Farm, in a very a pretty farmyard full of the most amazing animals. The Director of this film used a technique which makes the animals appear as though they are really talking and the result is that the farm animals come alive and steal the show, particularly one darling called Babe. It is a soap opera of the farmyard variety! This film is so beautiful to look at. Hogget Farm appears such a magical and pretty place. Every frame in this film is like a carefully crafted square for a quilt. Each shot is lovelier than the one preceeding it. It is a feel good film which is entertaining, funny, tender and rousing which all ages will enjoy. A sequel was made but do yourself a favour and give that a miss. Retain instead the memory of this truly special movie for children of all ages and everyone who loves animals and the triumph of an underdog against all odds! There ends my top ten children's movies of all time list. Thanks for reading. Armchair  |
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by lindaohio by Stephen_Murray
