Best from Black & Whites to 2001 Jul 09 '01 (Updated Jul 18 '01)    Write an essay on this topic. Tweet Popular Products in Movies 1776 From $8 Alias - The Complete Fifth Season From $20 The Bottom Line To sum up motion pictures in "10 Best" is impossible. These are in no special order. They are equally fine movies, all be it, totally different. I am 44 years old, thus my tastes may be odd to the younger crowd. I would encourage younger folks to seek out some of the black and white movies I have listed here. 1. Raising Arizona (1980s) This movie shows off Cage's quirky behavior better than any thing else he has made. His emotions drip off the screen--the burden of his sudden "fatherhood"--he is in pain I tell you!! Co-stars are all excellent. Story is so ridiculous. I am not sure I laugh harder at any movie. 2. Life With Father (1940s version) "I will not be baptized!"--I can still hear "father" saying it. This movie captures a wealthy (VERY odd) family in the late 1800s with perfection. Tensions (funny ones) between the mother and father with children adding more, just make it a movie I could watch every Saturday afternoon and feel happy. NOT a formula picture. 3. Oh Brother Where Art Thou (2001) Well, I absolutely love all the stars abilities to portray their respective characters in this--watch it several times and watch a different character each time. The facial expressions, daffy conversation and costumes are a movie goers delight. 4. Little Women (1990s version) Much better than the original 1930s version--that is an unusual thing for me to say. The modern actors have captured the spirit of the book, which I read when I was a small child, better than the old black and white. I do not like to cry during movies, but somehow I do not mind on this one. 5. A Christmas Story (1980s) This movie really FEELS the late 1950s. My dad, who started our family in 1955, LOVES this movie. If you want to know what the 50s were, if you want to see the way it REALLY was--rent this. It is funny, really funny! 6. What About Bob (1990s) Dreyfus and Murray are totally a scream! If you are down in the dumps, rent this and I can promise you that you will have a different outlook on life by the end. This may be my actual #1 of all movies. 7. Its A Wonderful Life (1940s) How many movies can you watch every December, 5 or 6 times, and still feel the tears coming at the ending? What can I say? Classic, simple times and pure emotions. 8. Pride and Prejudice (1940s) If you have never seen this, please go and rent it. This is a love story that will open you eyes to many things. The actors all did wonderful characters. 9. Return to Me (2000) As far as love stories go, this is one that "does it for me". Driver made me believe the emotions of her character. The story line suspended me in a make-believe world where things really do turn out beautiful. 10. To Kill A Mockingbird (1960?) I can feel the sweaty night air and the tension even as I write this sentence. If you desire to really look at the lives of the white man and the black man during the late 1950s, then this is a study in those cultures. View it and let yourself feel something. Honorable mentions: Regarding Henry (1980s) Romancing The Stone (1980s) Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte (1960s) Arsenic and Old Lace (1940s) Green Leaves (1920s) Uncertain of title--all black cast. Gentle Persuasion (1950s) UPDATE------The title of the "Green Leaves" movie is actually GREEN PASTURES, and was made in 1936. Although some reviews of it say it is a derogatory movie for african americans, I do NOT. It is a beautiful story and a cultural study for that era.

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