A Billy Wilder film, based on Charles R. Jackson’s novel about the desperate life of a chronic alcoholic, followed through a four day drinking bout. Starring Ray Milland, Jane Wyman and Phillip Terry.

Don Birnam, long-time alcoholic, has been “on the wagon” for ten days and seems to be over the worst; but his craving has just become more insidious. Evading a country weekend planned by his brother Wick and girlfriend Helen, he begins a four-day bender. In flashbacks we see past events, all gone wrong because of the bottle. But this bout looks like being his last…one way or the other.

Full Movie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITC5R56CAVg&feature

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A film by Otto Preminger, starring Dana Andrews as police detective, who falls in love with the woman whose murder he’s investigating, Laura, played by gorgeous Gene Tierney.

Detective Mark McPherson investigates the killing of Laura, found dead on her apartment floor before the movie starts. McPherson builds a mental picture of the dead girl from the suspects whom he interviews. He is helped by the striking painting of the late lamented Laura hanging on her apartment wall. But who would have wanted to kill a girl with whom every man she met seemed to fall in love? To make matters worse, McPherson finds himself falling under her spell too. Then one night, halfway through his investigations, something seriously bizarre happens to make him re-think the whole case.

Trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJRp5C15PgE

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“Casablanca” is a timeless classic, directed by Michael Curtiz. Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman became icons after this. A sweet and sad love story of two people, set in unoccupied Africa during the early days of World War II. Amazing cast, memorable dialogs, unforgettable story. (Won 3 Oscars)

Plot:

In Casablanca, Rick Blaine (Bogart), exiled American and former freedom fighter, runs the most popular nightspot in town. The cynical lone wolf Blaine comes into the possession of two valuable letters of transit. When Nazi Major Strasser arrives in Casablanca, police Captain Renault does what he can to please him, including detaining Czech underground leader Victor Laszlo. Much to Rick’s surprise, Laszlo arrives with his wife Ilsa (Bergman), Rick’s one time love. Rick is very bitter towards Ilsa, who ran out on him in Paris, as he was fleeing the oncoming German occupation, but when he learns she had good reason to, they plan to run off together again using the letters of transit.

Trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INBmVxAsdFE

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During the Nazi occupation of Rome, the resistance leader Giorgio Manfredi aka Luigi Ferrari (Marcello Pagliero) is chased by the Gestapo. His friend Francesco (Francesco Grandjacquet), who is going to marry the widow Pina (Anna Magnani), together with the priest Don Pietro Pellegrini (Aldo Frabrizi) help him to get a new identity and leave Rome. However, Manfredi is betrayed by his lover Marina Mari (Maria Michi) and arrested by the Germans.

“Roma, Città Aperta” is among the best movies of the cinema history, a milestone of the Italian Neo-Realism and was filmed by Roberto Rossellini when the economical and social structure of Italy was completely destroyed due to the World War II. Rossellini did not have money even to buy the negatives, which were given by his friends. He used ordinary people and real locations to shot the film, making a very authentic and realistic movie as if it were a documentary.

Trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn1ayrlnmZ4

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A movie everyone interested in film should watch. It’s not only a classic because of the great story, a lyrical masterpiece (Lamberto Maggiorani and Enzo Staiola play a father and son, who search for his stolen bicycle vital for his job) but also because of Vittorio De Sica, who directed every scene with a beautiful sense of control and balance. It’s unbelievable that this movie was only nominated for one Oscar (screenplay) and then didn’t even win. De Sica’s career is most impressive, being involved in nealy 200 films, 165 of them as an actor. This film remains one of his greatest achievements. Italian cinema at it’s best.

A poor young father in postwar-ravaged Rome who finally finds work putting up Rita Hayworth posters around town, only to have his precious bicycle stolen the first day on the job. Now the father and his young son chase after the thief.

Trailer:

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi4035510553/

Won 4 Oscars

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An Orson Welles film starring Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten and Dorothy Comingore. What can you say about the cinematography and direction and acting, that hasn’t already been said? The lighting, the camera angles, the new visual techniques and trick photography used for the first time in an American movie to great effect. Welles and Herman J. Mankiewicz won an Oscar for best writing. See it for what it is: a fantastic piece of story-telling firstly, only then can you see its greatness.

Plot:

A group of reporters who are trying to decipher the last word ever spoke by Charles Foster Kane, the millionaire newspaper tycoon: “Rosebud.” The film begins with a news reel detailing Kane’s life for the masses, and then from there, we are shown flashbacks from Kane’s life. As the reporters investigate further, the viewers see a display of a fascinating man’s rise to fame, and how he eventually fell off the “top of the world.”

Trailer:

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi568630553/