My 150 Favorite Movies - #30

The Wizard of Oz (1939)


That illustrious year, 1939, may have been the high point for all of motion-picturedom. Wuthering Heights, Gone With the Wind, The Women, Gunga Din, and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, among many other classics, were released in 1939. But perhaps none was more beloved than The Wizard of Oz. Through annual showings on television, this film has wormed it's way into the hearts of all. Based on the beloved children's classic by L. Frank Baum, The Wizard of Oz tells the story of  Dorothy Gale of Kansas, who, along with her small dog, Toto, gets swept up in a tornado, and somehow winds up in a magical land called "Oz." Boasting a wonderful score by E.Y. Harburg and Harold Arlen, the film includes wonderful performances by such stalwart character actors as Frank Morgan, Bert Lahr, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley and Margaret Hamilton. But of course it will most of all be remembered for the performance at the center of the action, Judy Garland as Dorothy. This is the film that catapulted Judy to stardom and rightfully so. Anyone who has seen this film cannot help but fall in love with her.

My 150 Favorite Movies - #31

Laura (1944)

Laura is quintessential Hitchcock-style film noir, except it wasn't directed by Hitchcock, but by Otto Preminger. Starring one of the screen's most beautiful actresses, Gene Tierney, Laura concerns itself with a young designer whose presumed death leads to a murder investigation and even further mystery. Starring a stellar list of colorful character actors, including Clifton Webb, Vincent Price, Dana Andrews  and Judith Anderson, it also contains some of the most scintillating dialogue east of the Mississippi. One sample: "I don't use a pen. I write with a goose quill dipped in venom." Blessed with a gorgeous theme song by David Raksin (you can listen here), Laura was voted one of the top five mysteries by the American Film Institute.

My 150 Favorite Movies - #32

The Great Race (1965)

I've written about The Great Race previously on this blog here.