I finally finished my list of 102 Best Movies–at least these are my favorites. I’m going to post them on this blog ten at a time. Note that these are NOT in order from best to worst, but rather simply in alphabetical order. I’m also going to try to give you my own idiosyncratic comments concerning each movie. If I left out your favorite, make your own list. It’s not as easy as you might think.

1. African Queen (1951) I think Bogart and Hepburn are great–real chemistry. Best quote:
Charlie Allnut (Bogart):I don’t know why the Germans would want this God-forsaken place.
Rose Sayer (Hepburn): God has not forsaken this place, Mr. Allnut, as my brother’s presence here bears witness
2. Amadeus (1984) We watched this once a long time ago when Dear Husband and I were not too long married. He was somewhat embarrassed by how crude Mozart was in the movie because, as I remember it, Husband’s dad, a Baptist preacher, was watching the movie with us. Anyway, the movie isn’t biographical; I doubt Mozart was exactly as crude, rude and socially unacceptable as the movie portrays him to be (he may have been worse!). It’s about jealousy and second-rate talent recognizing genius and being content with the gifts God has given each of us (or not as the case may be).
3. Apollo 13 (1995) This one is on here for Husband’s sake–and because I know people who were actually there when the events in the movie happened.
4. Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) I love Cary Grant, and this movie is black comedy at its best. Quote: Insanity runs in my family… It practically gallops.
Another: Mortimer Brewster: Aunt Abby, how can I believe you? There are twelve bodies in the cellar and you admit you poisoned them!
Aunt Abby Brewster: Yes, I did. But you don’t think I’d stoop to telling a fib!
One more: Reverend Harper: Have you ever tried to persuade him that he wasn’t Teddy Roosevelt?
Abby Brewster: Oh, no.
Martha Brewster: Oh, he’s so happy being Teddy Roosevelt.
Abby Brewster: Oh… Do you remember, Martha, once, a long time ago, we thought if he’d be George Washington, it would be a change for him, and we suggested it.
Martha Brewster: And do you know what happened? He just stayed under his bed for days and wouldn’t be anybody.
5. Back to the Future (1985) Funny movie. It still works for me although I’m sure some of the jokes are already rather dated. Anybody want to make a movie where some guy goes back to the seventies?
6. Beauty and the Beast (1991, Disney) I just like this fairy tale, and Beuaty as a bookworm, and Mrs. Potts the teaspot with the voice of
7. Becket (1964) “King Henry II of England has trouble with the Church. When the Archbishop of Canterbury dies, he has a brilliant idea. Rather than appoint another pious cleric loyal to Rome and the Church, he will appoint his old drinking and wenching buddy, Thomas Becket, technically a deacon of the church, to the post. Unfortunately, Becket takes the job seriously and provides abler opposition to Henry than his predecessors were able to do. This leads to the famous “Who will rid me of this turbulent priest?” With Richard Burton and Peter O’Toole.
8. Ben Hur (1959) Guys watch it for the chariot race–which I’ll admit always keeps me on the edge of my seat. However, I think the story is great, and Charlton Heston is a great actor.
9. Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) It’s about war and heroism and absurdity, and I can stilll hum the theme song. (Unfortunately, I can’t whistle.)
10. Brigadoon (1954) I think I like this one partly because of Gene Kelly, partly because it takes place in Scotland, and partly because Eldest Daughter was in a local production of Brigadoon a couple of years ago.