My viewing for 2014 covered the years 1939 to 1945. I also viewed 66 films noir during Noir Month in July and watched other films as part of my membership in the 1001 Films You Must See Before You Die Blog Club. I stopped counting films sometime during the year. My letterboxd account shows I’ll have around 200 movies between September 15 and the end of the year so I guess I saw something like 500, taking into account several movieless trips.
I’m not much for rankings since my memory plays tricks on me, but as of today here is the list, in reverse order, of my favorite ten of the films I saw for the first time in 2014.
10. Side Street (1950, directed by Anthony Mann
9. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945, directed by Elia Kazan)
8. In Which We Serve (1942, directed by Noel Coward and David Lean)
7. Into the Wild (2007, directed by Sean Penn)
6. Gaslight (1940, directed by Thorold Dickinson)
5. The Children Are Watching Us (1944, directed by Vittorio de Sica)
4. A Canterbury Tale (1944, directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger)
3. The Prowler (1951, directed by Joseph Losey)
2. Act of Violence (1948, directed by Fred Zinnemann)
1. Jammin’ the Blues (1944, directed by Gjon Mili) – I watched many films I rated 10 out of 10 stars in 2014, but this was the only one I was seeing for the first time. Those interested are in luck! It is only 10 minutes long and available on YouTube.
A list of my 50 top new-to-me favorites is available here.
Thanks for this unusual and personal list!
I guess it is pretty personal. If I had ranked the “best” of all the movies I had watched last year, the list would probably have looked mighty familiar.
I like this list better!
Great list!
Why thank you!
Wasn’t sure where to put this so here we go….. here
(a) just noticed (sloooowww) it’s been 2 weeks since a blog, hope things are (sorta) OK
(b) unseen but one reviewer – “I found it listed in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, it was rated well by critics”
(c) puzzled me that it seemingly isn’t here (and weren’t you a busy Bea – hadn’t realised that you’d covered sooo many movies from this era…before I saw ya and joined I guess) so it’s either despised or missed.
(d) you’re on an older movies binge
(e) the movie, (note the written reviews are stronger than the rating – MOSTLY) unseen by me – The Baker’s Wife (1938)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030127/
(f) BEST WISHES
Sorry I have been such a flake. My life distracts me sometimes. Current plan is to get back on track next Monday.I would LOVE to see The Baker’s Wife. But alas it was not available to me will have to try again. So glad you like Jammin’ the Blues. It really impressed me.
Never a need to apologise, I was just a tad worried & now glad to hear from ya!
I’m getting back on track as of today with reviews of films I saw two weeks ago!
and….
(g) Thanks for Jammin’ the Blues, new to me. Spent some time in the sidebar too…note author updated 10 months ago,,,(QUOTE)
Currently, it’s only available in standard definition (480p) – so I have spent a while upscaling it to 2K and 60 fps, and enhancing it to try and do this beautiful film the justice it deserves.
(h) cannot flag for alerts for replies, get
“Sorry, but the provided signature isn’t valid.”
(i) changed browser, seems to have solved “Sorry, but the provided signature isn’t valid.” Sorry for false alarm!
…no still an alert problem (will reply only if unsuccessful this time!)