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Most people find watching
movies one of the most fulfilling and satisfying experiences, a great way
to relieve stress. If you are one of those people, you will love the
compiled list below of some all-time favorite Oldies - English movies that you must
see.
1.
The Sound of Music
Category:
Family
Starring:
Julie Andrews,
Christopher Plummer
Co
Starring:
Peggy Wood, Eleanor
Parker, Richard Haydn
Produced and Directed: Rodgers & Hammerstein's
The Sound of Music is
truly one such timeless classic that should be passed down from generation
to generation - a true classic masterpiece. Julie Andrews plays the
role of Maria while Christopher Plummer of Captain Von Trapp. The movie, a
true life story, brilliantly depicts how fate brings two completely
different people together - Maria a young woman who leaves the Convent to
become a Governess, and the seven children of Captain Von Trapp's family,
a widowed autocrat.
Set in the beautiful and
picturesque Salzburg, Austria, the movie is best known and remembered for some of
the most loved songs such as Maria Makes Me Laugh, Edelweiss, I Have
Confidence In Me, Do re Me, Sound of Music etc.
Awards
& Recognition
: 5 Academy Awards
2. Roman Holiday
Category:
Romance
Starring:
Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck
William Wyler's Production
Set in the awe-inspiring
city of Rome, Roman Holiday is a romantic movie that presents Audrey
Hepburn in her first starring role as a modern day princess. Gregory Peck
plays the role of an American newspaper reporter who slowly realizes that
he has fallen in love with this beautiful princess who is hiding her true
identity. Roman Holiday is a heart
warming romantic movie that captures the heart.
Awards
& Recognition : The movie was
nominated for 10 Academy Awards. Audrey Hepburn bagged the Best Actress
Award.
3. Houseboat
Category:
Family, Comedy
Starring:
Sophia Loren, Cary Grant
Co Starring: Martha Hyer, Harry Guardino,
Eduardo Ciannelli
Produced By: Jack Ross Directed By:
Melville Shavelson
Houseboat is a lovable
urban comedy about Cary Grant, a widowed government attorney and father of
three unruly children. He hires Sophia Loren to take care of his houseboat
and his kids. This light and entertaining movie reassures the belief in
happy endings.
Awards
& Recognition : Oscar
Nominated film
4. Send
Me No Flowers
Category:
Comedy, Romance
Starring:
Rock Hudson, Doris Day, Tony
Randall, Edward Andrews
Directed & Produced By:
Norman Jewison (1964)
This is a hilarious,
romantic comedy starring the imitable Rock Hudson and Doris Day. The
equation between Rock and Tony Randall, two friends and neighbours is
truly worth a watch. Rock Hudson plays the role of George, a hypochondriac
who thinks that he is dying. The rest of the movie is about the
misunderstandings that take place next leading to hilarious consequences.
Awards
& Recognition : Has won 2
awards.
5. Gone
With The Wind
Category:
War, Drama, Romance
Starring:
Vivien Leigh, Thomas Mitchell,
Barbara O'Neil, Ann Rutherford, George Reeves, Brent Tarleton
Directed By: Victor Fleming
(1941)
Based on the book "Gone
With The Wind" by Margaret Mitchell, Gone With The Wind is a romantic
classic based during the times of the American Civil War and
Reconstruction. The movie traces the life of Scarlett O'Hara, who is the
daughter of an Irish immigrant.
Awards
& Recognition : Won 8 Academy
(Oscars) awards as well as 6 other awards & 5 nominations.
6.
Ben-Hur
Category:
Epic,
Historical, Mythology
Starring:
Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Haya
Harareet, Stephen Boyd, Hugh Griffith
William Wyler's production
(1959)
Being an Epic film, Ben-Hur
is a must-see for all those who value the past. The movie brilliantly
portrays the power of faith and belief in God. It traces the story of
Judaah Beh-Hur played by Charlton Heston - his trials and tribulations as
well as the the insensitivities and torturous behaviour of the Roman
empire on the Jewish people in Jerusalem. The highpoint of the movie is
the Chariot Race as well as the scene where Judaah meets Jesus Christ.
Awards
& Recognition : Won 11 Academy
Awards including 17 other awards and 5 nominations
7.
Lawrence of Arabia
Category:
Adventure, War, Biography
Starring:
Peter O'Toole, Alec Guinness,
Anthony Quinn, Jack Hawkins, Omar Sharif
Directed By: David Lean
(1962)
Based on the life of T.E.
Lawrence played by Peter O'Toole, Lawrence of Arabia can be easily called
a British epic film and a definite must-watch. The movie traces the
experiences and life of Lawrence while in Arabia during World War 1.
Awards
& Recognition : Won 7 Academy
Awards and 12 nominations
8.The Bridge On The River Kwai
Category:
War, Adventure
Starring:
William Holden, Alec Guinness, Jack
Hawkins
Produced By: Sam Spiegel Directed By:
David Lean
This is one of the best war
time movies set in the period of the British World War II.
Awards
& Recognition : Winner of 7
Academy Awards in 1958. Some winners include Best Picture, Best Director
and Best Actor - Sir Alec Guinness.
9. Hatari
Category:
Safari, Adventure
Starring:
John Wayne, Hardy Kruger, Gerard
Blain, Elsa Martinelli, Red Buttons
Directed & Produced By: Howard
Hawkins
This is an all time
favourite Safari Adventure Movie about a group of professional Game
Hunters in Africa. "Hatari" in Swahili means danger. A must see for all
adventure lovers!
10. The
Omen
Category:
Suspense,
Horror
Starring:
Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, David
Warner, Harvey Stephens
Directed By: Richard Donner
(1976)
The Omen is a very
interestingly made movie about Damien, the son on an American ambassador
who is believed to be an Anti-Christ (demonic child). Following Omen, 5
more parts were made Omen I, II, III, IV, V which traced the horror of
Damien as he grows up into a teenager and life after.
Awards
& Recognition : Won an Academy
(Oscar) award and has won 2 other awards and 8 nominations.
11. Evil
Under The Sun
Category:
Murder Mystery, Crime
Starring:
David Suchet, Hugh Fraser, Philip
Jackson, Pauline Moran, Michael Higgs, Tamzin Malleson, Louise Delamere,
Tim Meats, Marsha Fitzalan, Carolyn Pickles, David Mallinson.
Directed By: Brian Farnham
As with all Agatha
Christie's Murder Mysteries, Evil Under The Sun is a very well made movie
that sees private detective Hercule Poirot solving the mysterious death of
guest and heiress Arlena Stewart at an island resort - "Burgh Island", in
Devon. Arlena is found strangled to death on a secluded beach and the
genius Poirot, one by one narrows down to the real murderer amongst the
many guests at the resort.
12. The
Birds
Category: Thriller, Mystery
Starring:
Rod Taylor, Jessica Tandy, Suzanne
Pleshette, Tippi Hedren, Veronica Cartwright, Ethel Griffies.
Story By: Daphne De Maurier, Directed By:
Alfred Hitchcock (1963)
This is a nail-biting
thriller, brilliantly directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Set in a small town of
Northern California, the movie progresses to show how ordinary birds
become dangerous as they start attacking the town folk including the aged
and the children. The movie is guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your
seat.
Awards
& Recognition : Nominated for
the Academy Award
13.
Annie
Category:
Children, Musical, Family
Starring:
Albert Finney, Carol Burnett, Ann
Reinking, Tim Curry, Bernadette Peters, Aileen Quinn
Directed By:
John Huston (1982)
Annie is one of the most
loved movies of all times about a little Orphan girl called Annie who
awaits the return of her parents one day who will take her away from the
Orphanage and live with her as a real family. How she escapes from the
torturous life of the orphanage and meets Mr. Warbucks who later adopts
her as her own daughter forms the rest of the plot. Being a musical, the
movie has some very lovable songs including Tomorrow.
Awards
& Recognition : Nominated for
Academy Awards
14.
Willie Wonka And The Chocolate Factory
Category:
Children, Family
Starring:
Gene Wilder, Jack Albertson, Peter
Ostrum, Roy Kinnear, Julie Dawn Cole, Leonard Stone, Denise Nickerson
Directed & Produced By: Mel
Stuart
Children as well as adults
who like to watch movies about hope, adventure and fun will love this one.
Based on the Book 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' by Roald Dahl, this
is a 1971 movie about poor little Charlie Bucket who happens to win a
Golden Tickets hidden inside one of the millions of Wonka Chocolate Bars.
The movie progresses to trace the adventures thereafter once Charlie
enters Willie Wonka's Chocolate factory.
Awards
& Recognition : Nominated for
the Academy Award.
15.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Category:
Children, Musical, Family
Starring:
Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes,
Lionel Jeffries, Gert Fröbe, Anna Quayle, Benny Hill, James Robertson
Justice
Based on the book by :
Ian Flemming, Directed By:
Ken Hughes (1968)
When the eccentric
professor invents a magical car, he creates not just a dream toy for his 2
kids but also becomes the talk of the town.
Awards
& Recognition : Nominated for
Academy Awards
SPECIAL
MENTION:
The Pursuit of Happyness
Category:
Drama, Biography
Starring:
Will Smith, Jaden Smith, Thandie Newton, James Karen, Brian Howe
Directed By: Gabriele Muccino
(2006)
This is one of the most
brilliantly made movies of these times that uncovers the story of Chris
Gardner who is a struggling salesman. The movie traces his life, all the
trials and tribulations that he faces due to extreme poverty. A definite
inspiration to everyone who watches the movie, Will Smith shows just how
one can fight averse situations by having the motivation to keep trying
and moving forward. His own son plays the role of his reel son who acts as
a constant support to his father who eventually makes it big in a
life-changing professional endeavor.
Awards
& Recognition : Nominated for
Oscar and won 9 other awards as well as received 17 nominations.
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