6 Films 6 Decades Blogathon

It's National Classic Movie Day and to celebrate the occasion Rick at the Classic Film and TV Cafe is hosting the 6 Films 6 Decades Blogathon. Participants are asked to list six favorite films spanning six decades. Quite a difficult task to do! My sister Diana wanted to join in on the fun, too, so she added her favorites as well...without the commentary.  

We're just going with personal favorites here. If one was to choose a favorite film from each decade that represented the best of the best, this would be an altogether different list! 

1930s

The Adventures of Robin Hood ( 1938 ) 

There were so many great films made in the 1930s, from the Universal horror classics to the MGM costume dramas to the Paramount comedies, it was a decade rich in variety! This was the era that launched a number of excellent series too ( Andy Hardy, Dr. Kildare, The Thin Man, Sherlock Holmes ) so what a tough choice to make. The Adventures of Robin Hood stands out even among such classics as Gone With the Wind and The Wizard of Oz. Who can resist Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland.

1940s

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir ( 1947 )

A childhood favorite. This film has such a wonderful atmosphere! The turn-of-the-century seaside setting is great in itself but when you add in a handsome ghost ( Rex Harrison ) and the beautiful Gene Tierney, yum! Also of note is the music score - the fantastic composer Bernard Herrmann penned one of his greatest movie themes for The Ghost and Mrs. Muir.

1950s

Gigi ( 1958 ) 

The 1950s featured some of the best films ever made, epics such as Ben-Hur, dramas like Imitation of Life, and great comedies like Harvey. But the 1950s was also the golden age of musicals, and when I think of musicals, Gigi always ranks top. This film captures the spirit of France and the carefree days of summer. The musical score is scrumptious and Louis Jourdan and Leslie Caron are adorable. 

1960s

The Chalk Garden ( 1964 )

Undoubtedly, the hardest decade to pick a favorite film from! The Pink Panther, Good Neighbor Sam, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang were all vying for the top-spot, but I ended up choosing the little known dramatic thriller The Chalk Garden. Why? It was shot in beautiful Technicolor, was set in England, features a great script with a cat-and-mouse theme, and stars two favorite actresses ( Deborah Kerr and Hayley Mills ). 

1970s

The London Connection ( 1979 )

Most of the films from the 1970s I find uninteresting so, when it comes to this decade, Walt Disney pictures always win out. The studio made a lot of really fun ones, too including Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Snowball Express, The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again, Freaky Friday, and The Strongest Man in the World. But once again, I went with an underdog here. The London Connection is one that I never tire of. It features a young James Bond-style agent who teams up with a friend to rescue a Soviet defector and capture the dangerous Mr. Minton. 

1980s

A View to a Kill ( 1985 ) 

Roger Moore had made seven James Bond films since he took over the role of the dapper secret service agent in 1973. A View to a Kill was the last in his series and Bond was showing his age, but I always thought this film packed quite a punch. It boasted great location shooting in Paris and at the Château de Chantilly and was one of the rare films where Bond got to spend some time in the States. It was a childhood favorite and remains so after numerous viewings. 

Diana's Picks

1920s - Safety Last! ( 1923 )

1930s - Paradise for Three ( 1937 )

1940s - The Ghost and Mrs. Muir ( 1947 )

1950s - To Catch a Thief ( 1955 ) 

1960s - Charade ( 1963 ) 

1970s - North Avenue Irregulars ( 1978 )