What’s The Most Important Movie You’ve Never Seen?
I asked this to a friend of mine and he immediately said The Godfather. That’s pretty big. I’d have to say mine is either Casablanca or Gone With The Wind (hangs his head in shame). What are yours?
Posted on June 19, 2006, in DVD, Film. Bookmark the permalink. 67 Comments.
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I never saw The Birth of a Nation. I also never saw One flew over the cuckoo’s nest.
Anyone in NYC might want to head down to the Film Forum (or head up, from Brooklyn) for Pandora’s Box, the silent film starring Louise Brooks. The 7:45 showings have live piano accompaniment.
I have “Apocalypse Now” waiting at home courtesy of Netflix.
By the way, “The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada” is pretty good.
what do you mean, Rusty? I mean, Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark are important movies. What’s important for your purposes? Moving? Politically important? Crucial to the history of cinema?
What’s that Spielberg movie about the holocaust? Never seen that.
Never seen Spinal Tap, either.
Rusty, what’s with this movie post? KB is a sports-talk blog.
I haven’t seen Casablanca or GWTW either. Can’t say it bothers me too much. I’ve read The Godfather, but not seen any of the movies in their entirety. I haven’t seen Birth of a Nation, or Apocalypse Now, or One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, or The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada.
On the other have, I have seen A Christmas Story more times than I can remember.
Deep Throat.
I don’t know what “important” means in this context, but I’ve never seen: Titanic, any of the Lethal Weapon movies, Silence of the Lambs, Thelma & Louise, Deliverance, Aliens, The Passion of the Christ, The Shawshank Redemption, Lawrence of Arabia, Sunset Blvd (it’s on my Netflix queue), or Reservoir Dogs.
Oh yeah, and I haven’t seen From Justin to Kelly either.
SG,
You can define important as you please.
Susan,
How can you be Susan M and have not seen Spinal Tap???? You must immediately run out and not even rent it, BUY it and watch it tonight. DO it.
Greg,
Deep Throat, that’s hilarious.
BTD Greg,
The only ones in your list that I HAVE seen are Titanic, Passion and Shawshank. It appears we have a lot we need to watch.
I’ve also never seen Johnny Lingo.
I wish I could have not seen Titanic.
You guys haven’t seen Aliens????? Oh man! it’s a great, fun fun fun movie. A+. Recommend. Possibly in the top 3 action movies of all time. James Cameron’s best, hands down, including T2.
Aliens, is overrated. Alien, is great.
There are very few great movies I’ve not seen, or don’t own. However, there are some great movies that I own, but haven’t ever watched, like Yokimbo and Tokyo Story.
Sorry for the typo — Yojimbo.
D,
I was going to mention in my post that your answer to this question would contain movies that I hadn’t heard of. I was right.
The original Apocalypse Now is much better than the redux version. Unfortunately only the much longer (and more poorly paced) redux version is typically available. Unfortunately so. I have both versions. I also wish that the redux version had Coppala’s wife’s documentary on the making of the film Hearts of Darkness. A lot of the redux footage was in that but the making of the film is nearly as interesting as the film itself. (And, in a way, parallels Condrad’s book in its own way)
Yojimbo is great, but I think everyone should see Ikuru as it is a better film in most ways. It’s a little slowly paced. But once you make it to the end it’ll be one of your favorite Kurosawa films.
As for Samurai flicks, I think Ran will always be my favorite.
Heh, Rusty, Tokyo Story is in the top ten of the BFI Best 100 list — I think it’s the top-rated Japanese film.
Tokyo Story? Or the other classic Tokyo movie: The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift?
Amen as to Ran.
D., don’t get me wrong — I like Alien too. But as an action movie, Aliens is at the top of the genre. Now, it’s a limited genre, but still it’s important.
Most important movie: The 400 Blows.
Hmm. I don’t agree about Truffaut, either. The most important movie is undoubtedly Citizen Kane.
Citizen Kane? Hmmm…. I’ll see your Citizen Kane and raise you Greed.
…if only because of Zasu Pitts.
wait…. that we’ve never seen. hmmm.
An American In Paris. At least, not the whole way through. Or The Great Dictator.
Apparently I haven’t seen anything. Never seen Casablanca, although I’ve tried repeatedly to stay awake long enough to make it through. Haven’t even tried to watch The Godfather, Alien, Apocolypse Now, Reservoir Dogs . . .
Maybe it’d be faster to mention the movies y’all haven’t watched that I have: Gone With the Wind, Silence of the Lambs, Titanic, Birth of a Nation, Citizen Kane, Spinal Tap (I only slept through a bit of it).
Wizard of Oz. And now that I’m 32, it’s a quest to NOT ever watch it!
Someday when I have time to watch movies I’m gonna collect all of Judy Garland’s movies. She’s one of my faves.
Finding Nemo.
Here’s a list of my Judy Garland DVDs (in reverse chronological order, since I picked it up from IMDB):
I Could Go on Singing (1963) …. Jenny Bowman
A Child Is Waiting (1963) …. Jean Hansen (TCM copy)
Gay Purr-ee (1962) (voice) …. Mewsette
Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) …. Mrs. Irene Hoffman Wallner
A Star Is Born (1954) …. Vicki Lester (Esther Blodgett)
Summer Stock (1950) …. Jane Falbury
In the Good Old Summertime (1949) …. Veronica Fisher
Easter Parade (1948) …. Hannah Brown
The Pirate (1948) …. Manuela (TCM copy)
Till the Clouds Roll By (1946) …. Marilyn Miller
Ziegfeld Follies (1946) …. The Star in ‘A Great Lady Has An Interview’
The Harvey Girls (1946) …. Susan Bradley
The Clock (1945) …. Alice Mayberry (TCM copy, brilliant movie!)
Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) …. Esther Smith
Girl Crazy (1943) …. Ginger Gray (TCM copy)
Presenting Lily Mars (1943) …. Lily Mars (TCM copy)
For Me and My Gal (1942) …. Jo Hayden
Babes on Broadway (1941) …. Penny Morris (TCM copy)
Life Begins for Andy Hardy (1941) …. Miss Betsy Booth (TCM copy)
Ziegfeld Girl (1941) …. Susan ‘Sue’ Gallagher
Little Nellie Kelly (1940) …. Nellie Kelly/Little Nellie Kelly
Strike Up the Band (1940) …. Mary Holden (TCM copy)
Andy Hardy Meets Debutante (1940) …. Betsy Booth (TCM copy)
Babes in Arms (1939) …. Patsy Barton (TCM copy)
The Wizard of Oz (1939) …. Dorothy Gale
Listen, Darling (1938) …. ‘Pinkie’ Wingate
Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938) …. Betsy Booth (TCM copy)
Everybody Sing (1938) …. Judy Bellaire (TCM copy)
Thoroughbreds Don’t Cry (1937) …. Cricket West
Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937) …. Betty Clayton
Pigskin Parade (1936) …. Sairy Dodd
Every Sunday (1936) …. Judy
Chinatown.
The Searchers.
Pulp Fiction.
I just got my husband Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid for father’s day, (’cause it’s one of his favorites), and I haven’t watched it yet either.
Susan, I too cannot believe it about Spinal Tap.
D., we used to have Tokyo Story on video and so I’ve seen it a fair number of times, but trust me, you have to be in the mood for this one! (read: can be tedious).
That’s Ikiru, not Ikuru, if you’re trying to look it up.
Is there a good DVD print of it, anyone? I saw it on VHS, and the transfer was terrible.
Don’t watch Titanic. See A Night To Remember.
Any japanophiles seen Taxing Woman, Tampopo, or other Juzo Itami greats?
I have also never seen Godfather.
btw, I’ve always thought Pulp Fiction was overrated. See Brazil, instead.
Taxing Woman and Tanpopo are both great. The latter makes me crave a good bowl of ramen, though.
Gabby, is there any reason you’re avoiding The Wizard of OZ?
Not really. I never thought it was weird that I hadn’t see it until college. Now I just don’t have a desire. (Plus I love watching certain people’s veins bulge when they find out. It cracks me up.)
Pele, I always felt that Brazil while good simply couldn’t sustain repeated viewings. I think Gilliam’s best film is arguable The Fisher King. His last one, Brothers Grimm, was terribly disappointing.
Pulp Fiction constantly surprises me with repeated viewings. Tarantino may be a bit of a freak as a person but he really can take stuff from B-movies and transcend the genre. Of course my favorite of his is Reservoir Dogs and I think the script of True Romance is fantastic. (And it remains Tony Scott’s best film)
Whoops. Sorry about that Bryce. Imagine misspelling my favorite film. C’est la vie. I’m sick today.
I saw it on a Criterion DVD. Reasonably good transfer all things considered. (i.e. it’s a very old film without a lot of orignals)
Forgive me for saying so, D., but you’re not really doing much to break down stereotypes by owning all the films on that list.
And honestly, I’m a little shocked and appalled at the lack of film literacy demonstrated here.
I’m not even snooty, ask anybody, but some of the films you people haven’t seen, it staggers a film school graduate’s mind!
If you haven’t seen any of the following (all films mentioned on this thread) do yourself a favor and see these movies. Some classics disappoint. I don’t think these will.
The Godfather (might as well see Part 2 while you’re at it)
Casablanca
Wizard of Oz
This is Spinal Tap
Apocalypse Now
Ikiru
Sunset Boulevard
Chinatown
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
These others might disappoint, but are definitely worth seeing:
Citizen Kane (it’s great, but a lot of people scratch their heads after watching it and wonder why it has the reputation it does)
Gone With the Wind
Tokyo Story
The Searchers
And these are classics I think you can skip and not have to worry:
Birth of the Nation (too racist)
Greed (way too long, the restored version is over four hours, Stroheim wanted it to run eight, the original print was lost, I pray it stays lost)
An American in Paris (just see Singin’ in the Rain again)
The most important film I haven’t seen is probably Renoir’s Rules of the Game, but I have seen Grand Illusion, which is proof I’m not a total barbarian.
The Sting, Taxi Driver, any of the Alien movies and Raging Bull…
I can’t beleive how many of you haven’t seen The Godfather- I mean, the rest of them are excusable (except maybe Sunset Boulevard!), but The Godfather? Holy Cow!! Watch it already!
I must have been watching the same movies as Rusty because a lot of mine are the same as his: Casablanca, Gone With the Wind, The Wizard of Oz (I’ve seen parts on TV), pretty much anything before the mid-1960s.
I saw “E.T.” and “Chariots of Fire” in the theater when I was five. I don’t remember a single thing about either one. I’ve never had any desire to watch E.T. since.
As for unimportant movies I haven’t seen, I might be the only person my age NOT to see “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” “Who Killed Roger Rabbit?” and “The Lion King.” Oh, and I’ve never seen “Armageddon.” Jealous?
Hey Ned, the Lion King is good.
Heh, Brian G., I’m a film school grad too, and I STILL haven’t seen Chinatown and the Searchers. That’s why I put ‘em on my list — I’m so ashamed! I have all the others though. But Rules of the Game? It’s great! I’ve never seen Greed, but I agree with the others on the “OK-to-Skip” list. Let’s add Dr Mabuse to that too!
I agree, about Brazil, clark, but I can’t watch the nihilistic horror of Pulp Fiction more than once, either. I’m always not into violence much, anyway.
Grand Illusion is a moral shifter, right up there with The Bicycle Thief. If you haven’t seen that, you also need to see The Icicle Thief. They are all very, very important.
By the way, I’ve always wanted to ask someone: what’s the preferred order to watch Blue, White, and Red, film school experts?
I’m not a film school expert, but I don’t think the order would matter much. Of the three, I prefer Blue.
I believe they were made in the order Blue, White, Red (like the French flag) and there are subtle cross-references in each film to the others, but they can easily stand alone.
BrianG, I’m not offended, though I’d like to point out, I own all the Scorsese films too, all the John Ford westerns, all the Disneys, all the Bergmans and Kurosawas, and some Tarantinos. Don’t limit me to those films you think I might like. I like movies of every category, particularly when they’re good.
Pele, Blue should come first, and not just because of Juliette Binoche. Bill’s right in his No. 43.
I’ve seen most of the films mentioned–when I decided to become a movie geek, I started with the AFI’s top 100 lists and went from there. The ones I haven’t seen already mentioned: Ikiru, Tokyo Story, Yojimbo, and Grand Illusion.
I’d say the most “important” movie I haven’t seen is Fellini’s 8 1/2. Or the second most-famous Bergman, which ever one deserves that title.
Brian G (#32): I don’t think Birth of a Nation should be skipped. It is horrible rascist, yes, but from a technological standpoint and really what it signifies as a film (but not as a narrative) is important to the history of film. All told, though, I think “Intolerance” is the better Griffith film.
Thanks — about Blue, White, Red. I actually preferred Red overall, if only because Irene Jacob was less self-conscious of herself as being a good actor. But yes, the movies are woven together by the boat incident, mainly.
Back to the topic, however…the most important movie I never saw for a long time was La Strada. I did finally see it, but I must recommend not watching during emotionally vulnerable times. Of course, the only time you’re in the mood for La Strada is when you’re bummed out…oh well.
Amendment: I haven’t seen any of Ingmar Bergman’s films. Also, I strongly disliked Fellini’s 8 1/2. As a film geek, I’m probably hopeless.
See only Wild Strawberries. The others are overly-ruminative and tiring. IMO.
I’ve never seen Top Gun!
also on my never seen list:
Brazil
Gone with the Wind
Chinatown
The Usual Suspects (though I own it)
The Maltese Falcon
12 Angry Men (own it)
Fight Club (my wife sent it back to Netflix)
Das Boot
Fargo
I could go on and on…
Oh! Oh! Speaking of Das Boot, see Sink The Bismarck to understand the British version of imperialism. Then see Mrs. Miniver to jolt you out of the cynicism you might have developed after Bismarck.
On the British end as well Kind Hearts and Coronets is, imo, the best of Alec Guinness
Regard the colors trilogy (which I haven’t seen in quite some time) White is first. Then Blue. Finally Red. Although there is a bit of a scene in Blue that some might wish to FF through.
Regarding Pulp Fiction being nihilistic. I’d strongly disagree. There’s a strong atonement theme in the movie as well as the central themes of forgiveness and repentance. It’s actually an extremely strong moral play. Definitely moreso than any of Tarantino’s other films.
#49: Nonsense!
That’s all I have to say about that.
Clark, you’re mistaken about the order. Krzysztof KieÅ›lowski shot them and showed them in the order of the colors of the French flag: Bleu, Blanc, Rouge.
oops, I was thinking Smiles of a Summer Night, not Wild Strawberries. Duh.
The speilberg movie about the holocaust is Schindler’s List. I haven’t seen it either. I just can’t bring myself to. I barely made it through Life is Beautiful.
I’ve never seen:
Full Metal Jacket
Platoon
Saving Private Ryan
…the list goes on.
I usually try to avoid war movies. I’m not that fond of the violence/patriotism/propoganda cocktail. Gives me a headache.
Not very big on violence at all really, although I have a deep fascination with mob movies.
I think it’s the code of honor and machavallian romance of it all.
12 angry men (Henry Fonda) is one of the best movies ever.
(#54) By order I meant in order of how good they were, not the intended viewing order.
(#56) Jennifer, I’d have hard time saying Platoon or Full Metal Jacket are all about patriotism. Far from it. I suppose they can be seen as propoganda though. Saving Private Ryan is much more of a straight film though. I think it ultimately inferior to the miniseries Band of Brothers (produced by Spielberg and Hanks) but it’s opening does deserve the praise it has. Even if the rest of the film is, on reflection, lacking overall.
I should add that I think Full Metal Jacket isn’t primarily about war. Rather the Viet Nam war is a metaphor for something more basic.
I too have never seen Schindler’s List, Apocalypse Now, The Godfather, etc.
But the most important movie that I have never seen that one would think I’d be most likely to see (because I have seen many of the b&w classics) is Citizen Kane.
And I still have yet to view my VHS copy of “God’s Army.”
In case anyone is wondering whether to see Cry in the Dark (otherwise known as “That Dingo Ate My Baby”), don’t bother.
Here’s an interesting topic (memo to self: this might make a good blog post): What movies are important simply because lines from the movie have become ingrained in popular culture.
My nominees:
Cry in the Dark: “That dingo ate my baby!”
Citizen Kane: “Rosebud”
Apocalypse Now: “I love the smell of napalm in the morning”
To Have and Have Not: “You do know how to whistle, don’t you?”
Gone with the Wind: “Frankly, my dear…”
Ruben and Ed: “My cat can eat a whole watermelon”
Here are a couple more, except they are always misquoted:
Casablanca: “Play it again, Sam”
Treasure of the Sierra Madre: “Badges? We don’t need no stinking badges!”
How many people actually know the film Ruben & Ed?
I am the king of the echo people!
I don’t know, but I had to throw that one in.
Howard Hesseman and Crispin Glover’s finest work, IMO.
I would love to see a Moviedrome showdown between Ruben & Ed and some other super-low-budget campy cult classic. I’m trying to come up with one that would be a fair match…
Anybody ever seen The Conqueror, with John Wayne (as Genghis Khan) and Susan Hayward? It’s THE camp classic of all time.
Just bought it today.
re. #63
Tremors?
My friends have been telling me to watch Ruben and Ed for years.
I have never seen the Godfather either. or Pocahantas.
Andy Warhol sucks a big one!
“Apocalypse Now”? Pretty good movie. But the weird ’80s synthesizer music detracted. Wonder if they’ll make an Iraq War version. They’d have to find another version of Kilgore because there’s no surfing in Iraq.