Dawn's Updated "Top 10" movies.

Ian,  has requested my list of  "Top 10" films, which are always fun to put together.. I do not know if you are like me,  but... it seems my favorites change from year to year.

10.  Romance On The High Seas. This is my favorite Doris Day's movie and her sparkling personality launched one of Hollywood's most successful film careers. 

9.Mr. Skeffington.

I thought Claude Rains was wonderful as the very patient husband Job Skeffington. Bette Davis,  really seemed to take her part as Fanny very seriously.  Even though this may not be one of the best movies of Bette Davis acting career, it is one of my favorite movies.

8.Sunset Boulevard.


I really enjoyed watching the film Sunset Boulevard. I was surprised by the depth of characters. Especially the outrageous Norma's fragile/enormous ego. The story is dark and twisted with Norma's character coming out at the most surprising moments. Cinematography and lighting are wonderful. A movie I will never forget.

7. Vertigo.
The wonderful performances of Novak and Stewart make this one of my favorite films. Hitchcock, is on the mark for creating hypnotic scenes and a sense of tension which will keep you on the edge of your seat! Also.. the film's wonderful score of Bernard Herrman is very important in help creating the atmosphere of one of my favorite films..

6. The Age of Innocence.

I was amazed at the wonderful attention to details Martin Scorsese showed in the film. I thought it was amazing how he brought out the hidden emotion of his characters. One of my favorite scenes is when:  Newland Archer (Daniel Day-Lewis) waits for the Countess Olenska at her home, looking at the paintings on the wall, and her small collection of treasures from around the world. Through what he sees and what he touches he sees the Countess in his mind. Then we hear the arrival of a carriage, he still seems to be under her spell.((((sigh))) I love this movie. I loved all the beautiful 1870’s Victorian costumes.

5.Tombstone.

One of the things that stood out most in the movie for me was the friendship between Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday. The performances of Kurt Russell (as Wyatt Earp) and especially Val Kilmer, for his performance as the dying Doc Holliday, is my favorite on screen performances..

4.Leave Her To Heaven.

In my opinion, not only was Gene Tierney beautiful, she was a very versatile in her movie performances. She was equally wonderful in what ever role she would perform in. From her role in, Heaven Can Wait, to her performance in, Leave Her to Heaven. Where she played one of the most heartless characters I have ever seen on film.

3. The Ghost and Mrs Muir.

This is a wonderful romantic fantasy that tells the story of young widow (Gene Tierney), who moves into what turns out to be haunted seaside cottage of the late Captain Gregg ( Rex Harrison), with her young daughter (played as a child by Natalie Wood, by Vanessa Brown as an adult).The captain first tries to scare the widow away, but soon they team up to write a novel so that she can stay at the cottage. They talk about everything except their feelings for each other. When Miles Fairley, a ladies man, enters Lucy's life offering her a chance for happiness in the real world, the Captain loves her enough to leave her. Unfortunately, Miles is found out for what he is and for the next thirty years Lucy lives in the Cottage alone, waiting.... Will she ever see her Captain again?

2.The Illusionist

A period drama written and directed by Neil Burger. Cast: Edward Norton, Jessica Biel, and Paul Giamatti. Based on Steven Millhauser's "Eisenheim the Illusionist".
The film is seen through Chief Inspector Uhl eyes.

When Eisenheim was a young boy, he meets a traveling magician sitting under a tree beside a road. The magician performs several tricks for him and then, right before his eyes.. both the magician and the tree vanish. From that day on, Eisenheim becomes obsessed with magic tricks. He falls in love with Sophie, the Duchess von Teschen, well above his social class. Young Eisenheim makes Young Sophie a puzzle locket, when twisted shows a small, picture of Eisenheim. The two are forbidden to see each other, they meet secretly in the woods, where Eisenheim tells her of his plans to go to China to learn magic, Sophie wants to go with him. On the day that they are planning on leaving, the police come looking for Sophie. The two hide and Sophie begs Eisenheim to make them both disappear. He is unable to perform the trick.

Eisenheim leaves his village to travel to China. He returns 15 years later as a master illusionist. When magician Eisenheim begins to perform his amazing illusions in Vienna, word quickly spreads of his amazing powers. Crown Prince Leopold, believes the illusionist is a fraud. Leopold attends one of Eisenheim's shows, not being very much of a gentleman, he has his fiancee Sophie von Teschen, assists the magician onstage. Eisenheim and Sophie recognize each other from their childhoods and realize that they are still in love.

Eisenheim and Leopold begin fighting over Sophie, it quickly becomes obvious that they will go to any length for her. Vienna's Chief Inspector Uhl, is demanded by Leopold to expose Eisenheim, even while the magician gains a devoted following. With Uhl searching for the reasons behind the illusions, Eisenheim performs his greatest illusion.

This film is filled with suspense, romance and twists and turns.. The special effects are amazing. The music becomes a part of the movie, telling the story when there is no dialogue. The cast all gave an awesome performance.

Video: full length movie..

 

1.Gone With The Wind.

Vivian Leigh and Clark Gable, are possibly the best known classic romantic movie couples of all time. Also, the movie Gone with the Wind, in my opinion is one of the most romantic stories of all time.