Friday, November 4, 2011

List #1: Ed's Movies


Consider this post a public service, courtesy of my father, Edwin R. Ambrose. My parents loved checklists. This is the first of my father's lists that I will share with you. This is by far my father's longest list, which also took him the longest to create, maybe ten or fifteen years. My parents loved movies and they loved The New York Times. For the four years my parents lived in Botswana, they missed both. When they came back to the States in 1992, they had a lot of catching up to do, so my dad started his "want to see" movie list.

This record contains more than 300 movies that I expect were mainly recommended by The New York Times. My dad added movies by his favorite directors (Malle, Rudolph, Kurosawa), and actors (Lombard, Dietrich), and authors (Sturges). He would update this list often, with his little Macintosh computer, adding new movies and deleting ones they'd seen and wouldn't want to see again. This was long before Netflix, back in the olden days of video stores. If they wanted to watch a movie they'd drive over to the only video store in Edgartown and look through the VHS or DVD choices. 

If you love foreign films you've hit the jackpot here. My only complaint is that there are very few chick flicks on this lineup. When my mother would go to the store to pick up a movie, or if she were browsing her local library shelves, she would feel obligated to bring "the list" with her. You see, my father would only watch movies on "the list". He would sometimes try and sit through a movie that wasn't on "the list", but he usually wouldn't last that long – unless he was watching a movie with the grandchildren – and he'd eventually retreat to the living room alone to read a book. Or was it The New York Times?

Ed's Movie List
  1. 29th Street - 1991
  2. 35 Up - 1991
  3. Afterglow - 1997
  4. Amarcord - 1973  Fellini
  5. An Angel at my Table - 1990
  6. Andrei Rublev - 1966
  7. Angel Dust (Jpn) - 1994
  8. Animals Are Beautiful People - 1974
  9. Antonia’s Line - 1995
  10. Ascension pour L'Echafaud (Elevator to the Gallows) - 1958 Malle
  11. Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman - 1974
  12. Autumn Tale (Fr) - 1998 Eric Rohmer 
  13. Babe - 1995
  14. Backtrack (Catchfire) - 1990
  15. Ballad of Narayama, The - 1983
  16. Il quartetto Basileus - 1983
  17. Battle of Little Jo, The - 1993
  18. Before Sunrise - 1995
  19. Before The Rain - 1994 Manchevski
  20. Berlin Alexanderplatz - 1980
  21. Beyond Rangoon - 1995
  22. Beyond the Clouds - 1995
  23. Birgit Haas Must Be Killed - 1981
  24. Black Orpheus - 1959
  25. Black Robe - 1991
  26. Blood and Wine - 1996
  27. Blood Simple - 1984
  28. Bob le Flambeur - 1956
  29. Bopha!  - 1993
  30. Boudu Saved From Drowning - 1932
  31. Breathless - 1960
  32. Brother From Another Planet - 1984 Sayles
  33. Brother's Keeper - 1992
  34. Burnt By The Sun - 1994
  35. Calcutta - 1969 Malle
  36. Camouflage - 1977 Zanussi
  37. Carmen - 1984
  38. Casino - 1995
  39. Cat and Mouse - 1975
  40. Caught - 1996 Robert M. Young
  41. Celebration, The - 1998 Thomas Vinterberg
  42. Character - 1997 Van Diem
  43. Chikamatsu Monagatari (The Crucified Lovers) - 1954
  44. Children of Paradise, The - 1944
  45. Chloe In The Afternoon - 1972 Rohmer
  46. Choose Me - 1984 Alan Rudolph
  47. City of Hope - 1991 John Sayles
  48. Claire's Knee - 1970 Rohmer
  49. Close to Eden - 1991 Nikita Mikhalkov
  50. Contempt - 1963 Godard
  51. Couch in New York, A - 1996
  52. Vacas (Cows) - 1992
  53. Cross My Heart (Fr) - 1990 
  54. Crossing Fields - 1997 James Rosenow
  55. Crossing Guard, The - 1995
  56. Daughters of the Dust  - 1991 Julie Dash
  57. Dazed and Confused - 1993
  58. Dead Calm - 1989
  59. Death and the Maiden - 1994 Polanski
  60. Deconstructing Harry - 1997
  61. Dersu Uzala - 1975 Kurosawa
  62. Designated Mourner, The - 1997
  63. Devil in a Blue Dress - 1995
  64. Diary of a Lost Girl - 1929 Pabst
  65. Dick - 1999
  66. Dieu Seul Me Voit (Only God Sees Me) - 1998
  67. Dr. Bethune - 1990
  68. Dreamlife of Angels, The - 1998 Erich Zonca
  69. Floating Weeds (Jpn) - 1959
  70. Eat Drink Man Woman - 1994
  71. Eel, The - 1997 Imamura
  72. El Mariachi - 1992
  73. El Norte - 1983
  74. End of Violence, The - 1997
  75. Eternity and a Day - 1998 Angelopoulos
  76. Europa, Europa - 1990
  77. Eve’s Bayou - 1997
  78. Exterminating Angel, The - 1962 Buñuel
  79. Eye of God - 1997
  80. Fairy Tale: A True Story - 1997
  81. Farewell My Concubine - 1993
  82. Fearless - 1993
  83. Fierce Creatures - 1997
  84. Fire Within, The - 1963 Malle
  85. Flirting With Disaster - 1996
  86. Following - 1998 Nolan
  87. Gambler, The - 1997 M. Gambon
  88. Gas Food Lodging - 1992 Allison Anders
  89. General, The - 1998 John Boorman
  90. Ghost and the Darkness,The - 1996 Stephen Hopkins
  91. Godfather I & II & III
  92. Grand Illusion - 1937 Renoir
  93. Hairdresser's Husband, The - 1990
  94. Hanging Garden, The - 1997
  95. Happiness - 1998
  96. Hasards du coincidence (Fr) - 1998
  97. Hav Plenty - C.S. Cherot - 1997
  98. Hearts of Darkness - 1991
  99. Henry Fool - 1997
  100. High and Low - 1963
  101. Home and the World - 1984
  102. Hotel de Love - 1996 Craig Rosenberg
  103. How To Make an American Quilt - 1996
  104. Ice Storm, The - 1997
  105. Idiot, The - 1951 Kurosawa
  106. Ikiru - 1951 Kurosawa
  107. Illuminata - 1998 John Turturro
  108. In the Company of Men - 1997
  109. In The Name of the Father - 1993
  110. In The Soup - 1992 Alexandre Rockwell
  111. Insomnia (Norw.) - 1997
  112. Intervista - 1987 Fellini
  113. Into The West - 1992
  114. Inventing the Abbotts - 1997 Pat O’Connor
  115. Irma Vep (Fr) - 1996 Olivier Assayas
  116. It's All True - 1993 Orson Welles
  117. Jeanne and the Perfect Guy (Fr) - 1998
  118. Jefferson in Paris - 1995
  119. Jesus of Montreal - 1989
  120. King of Masks, The - 1997 Chinese
  121. King of the Hill - 1993 Soderbergh
  122. L.A. Confidential - 1997
  123. La Vie de Boheme - 1992 Kaurismaki
  124. Lacombe, Lucien - 1974 Malle
  125. Last Days of Disco - 1998
  126. Last Seduction, The - 1994
  127. Liebestraum - 1991
  128. Life and Nothing But - 1989
  129. Life Is Sweet - 1990 Mike Leigh
  130. Lion In Winter, The - 1968
  131. Little Mermaid - 1989 Disney
  132. Little Women - 1933
  133. Live Flesh - 1997 Pedro Almodovar
  134. Living End, The - 1992 Gregg Araki
  135. Living in Oblivion - 1995
  136. Lola Montes - 1955
  137. Los Olvidados - 1950
  138. Love and Anarchy - 1973 Wertmuller
  139. Lovers of the Arctic Circle - 1998 Medem
  140. Lumiere and Company - 1995
  141. M - 1931 Lang
  142. Madame Rosa - 1977
  143. Magnificent Seven,The - 1960
  144. Man For All Seasons - 1966
  145. Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The - 1962 Ford
  146. Manon of the Spring - 1986
  147. Map of the Human Heart - 1993
  148. Masculine Feminine - 1966 Godard
  149. Match Factory Girl, The - 1990
  150. Matewan - 1987 John Sayles
  151. Meantime - 1984 Mike Leigh
  152. Menace II Society - 1993
  153. Mephisto - 1981
  154. Metropolis  - 1927 Lang
  155. Metropolitan - 1990
  156. Midnight Clear, A - 1992
  157. Midwife’s Tale, A - 1995
  158. Million Dollar Hotel - 2000 Wenders
  159. Miracle of Morgan's Creek - 1944 Sturges
  160. Misery - 1990
  161. Mission Impossible - 1990
  162. Mississippi Mermaid (restored) - 1969 Truffaut
  163. Moderns, The - 1988 Alan Rudolph
  164. Moebius (Argentina) - 1996
  165. Mondo (Fr) - 1995
  166. Mongolian Tale (China) - 1997
  167. Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle - 1994 Alan Rudolph
  168. Music of Chance, The - 1993
  169. Music Teacher, The - 1988
  170. My Father's Glory - 1990
  171. My Mother's Castle - 1990
  172. My Mother’s Courage - 1995
  173. Nenette and Boni - 1996
  174. Napoleon - 1927
  175. Nasty Girl - 1990
  176. Nazarin - 1959 Bunuel
  177. Newton Boys, The - 1998
  178. Next Stop Wonderland - 1998
  179. Night On Earth - 1991
  180. Nightmare Before Christmas, The - 1993
  181. Nixon - 1995
  182. Now Voyager - 1942
  183. Ossessione - 1943
  184. Official Story - 1985
  185. Once Were Warriors - 1994
  186. One False Move - 1992 Carl Franklin
  187. Opposite of Sex - 1998 Don Roos
  188. Orlando - 1992 Sally Potter
  189. Oscar and Lucinda - 1997
  190. Overland Stage Raiders - 1938
  191. Oyster and the Wind, The - 1997 Walter Lima
  192. Paris is Burning - 1990
  193. Party, The - 1968 Blake Edwards
  194. Pascali's Island - 1988
  195. Passion in the Desert - 1997
  196. Passion of Joan of Arc, The - 1928
  197. Pelle the Conqueror - 1987
  198. According to Pereira - 1995 Marcello Mastroianni
  199. Persuasion - 1995
  200. Phantom India - 1969 Malle
  201. Pierrot Le Fou - 1965 Godard
  202. Playing by Heart - 1998 Carroll
  203. Pope of Greenwich Village - 1984
  204. Pretty Baby - 1978 Malle
  205. Prisoner of the Mountains - 1996 Sergei Bodrov
  206. Prix de Beaute (Beauty Prize) - 1930
  207. Queen of Hearts - 1989
  208. Red Corner - 1997
  209. Red River - 1948
  210. Red Sorghum - 1987
  211. Regret to Inform - 1998 Sonneborn
  212. Reincarnation of Golden Lotus,The - 1989 
  213. Return of Martin Guerre, The - 1982
  214. Restoration - 1995
  215. Rio Bravo -  - 1959 Hawks
  216. Rough Magic - 1995 Clara Peploe
  217. Rules of the Game, The - 1939
  218. Search For One-Eye Jimmy - 1994 Kass
  219. Secret Garden, The - 1993
  220. Secrets and Lies - 1996 Mike Leigh
  221. Self-Made Hero, A - 1996
  222. Sergeant Bilko - 1996
  223. Seven Beauties - 1975 Wertmuller
  224. Seven Samurai - 1954 Kurosawa
  225. Seventh Seal, The - 1957 Bergman
  226. Shadow, The - 1994
  227. Sharaku - 1995
  228. Shoot The Piano Player - 1960 Truffaut
  229. Short Cuts - 1993 Altman
  230. Simple Plan, A - 1998
  231. Single Girl, A - 1995 Benoit Jacquoit
  232. Six Degrees of Separation - 1993 
  233. Small Change - 1976 Truffaut
  234. Smiles of a Summer Night - 1955 Bergman 
  235. Soldier of Orange - 1977 Verhoeven
  236. Somewhere in Time (Mackinac Island) - 1980
  237. Sophie - 1992
  238. South Central - 1992
  239. Stangers On A Train - 1951 Hitchcock
  240. Stolen Kisses - 1968
  241. Story of Qui Ju, The - 1992
  242. Strictly Ballroom - 1992 Baz Luhrmann
  243. Striking Distance - 1993 Willis
  244. Sunday - 1997 D. Suchet
  245. Sweet Hereafter - 1997
  246. Swindle, The (Fr) - 1997
  247. Swing Time - 1936 Stevens
  248. Swoon - 1992
  249. Taste of Cherry, A - 1997 Kiarostami
  250. Tender Mercies - 1983 
  251. Testament (Fr) - 2004
  252. Testamento (Napomuceno's Will) - 1997
  253. That Old Feeling - 1997 Carl Reiner
  254. Thief (Princess) and the Cobbler, The - 1993
  255. Thief of Paris, The - 1967 Malle
  256. Three Seasons (Vietnamese) - 1999
  257. Tree of the Wooden Clogs - 1978
  258. To Kill A Mockingbird - 1962
  259. Tombstone - 1993
  260. Touch of Evil, A - 1995
  261. Tous Les Matins du Monde - 1991
  262. Traveler, The - 1974
  263. Trouble in Mind - 1985 Alan Rudolph
  264. True Romance - 1993
  265. Twilight - 1998 Paul Newman
  266. Ulysses’ Gaze - 1995 Angelopolous
  267. Umberto D. - 1952
  268. Un Coeur En Hiver - 1992
  269. Unstrung Heroes - 1995
  270. Untouchables- 1987
  271. Vanishing, The - 1988
  272. Vanya on 42nd Street - 1994
  273. Variete (Jealousy) - 1925
  274. Venus Beaute (Institut) (Fr) - 1999
  275. Very Private Affair, A - 1962 Malle
  276. Vincent, Francois, Paul & the Others - 1974 Sautet
  277. Virgin Spring, The - 1960 Bergman
  278. Viridiana - 1961 Bunuel
  279. Visions of Light - 1992
  280. Viva Maria! - 1965 Malle
  281. Wages of Fear, The - 1953
  282. Walk on the Moon, A- 1999
  283. Waterdance, The - 1992
  284. Wedding Banquet, The - 1993
  285. Western- 1997
  286. Westfront 1918 - 1930 Pabst
  287. What's Love Got To Do With It - 1993
  288. Wild Bunch,The - 1969 Peckinpah
  289. Wilde - 1997
  290. Wind - 1992
  291. Wind in the Willows (Mr. Toad's Wild Ride) - 1996
  292. Windhorse (Tibetan) - 1998
  293. Winds of Courage - 1995
  294. Wings of the Dove, The - 1997
  295. Witness - 1985
  296. Woman in the Dunes (Jpn) - 1964 Tashgahara
  297. Wyatt Earp - 1994
  298. Zazie Dans le Metro - 1960 Malle
Classic Movies


Carole Lombard
  • Mr. & Mrs. Smith - 1941 
  • Bolero - 1934
  • Hands Across the Table - 1935 
  • In Name Only - 1939 
  • Made For Each Other - 1939 
  • My Man Godfrey - 1936
  • Nothing Sacred - 1937 
  • The Princess Comes Across -1936 
  • Vigil in the Night - 1940 
Marlene Dietrich
  • Destry Rides Again - 1939 
  • Foreign Affair, A - 1948 
  • Morocco - 1930 
  • Shaghai Express - 1932 

Preston Sturges
  • Easy Living - 1937 
  • Great McGinty - 1940 
  • Hail the Conquering Hero - 1944 
  • If I Were a King - 1938 
  • Imitation of Life - 1934 
  • Never Say Die - 1939 

3 comments:

  1. I *totally* approve of your father's inclusion of 'Into the West' (which was only shown in smaller cinemas here in Australia, so most people missed this delightful movie) and 'To Kill a Mockingbird' (one I can watch over and over again).

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Judy! I will have to check it out. I'm afraid I never saw 'Into the West.'

    ReplyDelete
  3. I enjoy movies but I'm not what you'd call an avid movie watcher. It's pretty obvious when I looked at your dad's list and found that I'd watcher or heard of only about a dozen of the movies he listed. I'll have to watch one or tow, then come back again to see what else he recommended. Thanks for the list.

    ReplyDelete