Student Book World - Favourite Films From The 1930's.

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Favourite Films From The 1930's.

	All Quiet On The Western Front [DVD] [1930] Buy new: £4.98 This film is considered a realistic and harrowing account of warfare in World War I, adapted from the Erich Maria Remarque novel, its a towering achievment by Lewis Milestone in 1930.
	Animal Crackers [DVD] Buy new: £4.58 / Used from: £1.03 One of many films by the brilliant Marx Brothers, this one is about a painting that goes missing during a party, "I shot an elephant in my pyjamas, how he got in my pygamas, I dont know!!
	City Lights [DVD] [1931] [US Import] Buy used from: £40.00 Brilliant movie from the master of the silent screen where Charlie falls for a flower seller and she mistakes him for a millionaire, so he trys to keep up the pretence.
	Monkey Business [DVD] Buy new: £4.08 / Used from: £1.75 This one takes place mostly on an ocean liner, where the brothers are persuaded to help 2 feuding gangsters. Fave scene is where they all do Maurice Chevalier impressions, so funny!
	Grand Hotel [DVD] [1932] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC] Buy used from: £4.29 The film that houses that classic line from Greta Garbo "I want to be alone". Such a great cast, John & Lionel Barrymore, Joan Crawford and Wallace Beery are all here. It won the oscar for Best Film
	Laurel & Hardy Volume 15 - Pack Up Your Troubles/Related 'Adopt A Child' Shorts [DVD] [1932] Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £1.50 Second full feature length film from this genius comedy duo. They are drafted into WW1 and promise a friend who is killed that they will look after his daughter, problem is, she's called Smith!
	Duck Soup [DVD] [1933] Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £4.99 Not very well received at the time but has now been recognised as a masterpiece, the last film to feature Zeppo. This one is famous for it's mirror scene with Harpo and Groucho, it's just amazing!
	King Kong - The Eighth Wonder Of The World [DVD] [1933] Buy used from: £11.94 Forget all remakes and digitally enhanced colour versions, watch this original in full black and white glory. A totally miraculous achievment in film for the time. You feel sorry and sad for Kong.
	It Happened One Night [DVD] [1934] Buy new: £3.98 / Used from: £9.67 Rich girl falls for a rogue reporter whilst running away from her Father. One of the few films that swept the board of Oscars. It has the then daring hitchhiking scene where Claudette shows her garter
	The Scarlet Pimpernel [DVD] [1934] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC] Buy used from: £3.00 The first of many films that portrayed the elusive Pimpernel, Leslie Howard sets the standard as far back as 1934. Merle Oberon, Ray Massey and 'Dr Watson' Nigel Bruce co star in this version.
	The 39 Steps [DVD] [1935] Buy new: £6.88 / Used from: £1.50 Hitchcock original that has the brilliant Robert Donat as Hannay. This film is regularly voted as one of the best British films of all time. Hitchcock seemed to like the genre of innocence on the run.
	A Night At The Opera [1935] Buy used from: £14.95 First Marx Bros film for MGM which has the brothers helping a young couple to succeed in love as well as opera. Buster Keaton co wrote the script. Verdi's Il Trovatore is the featured opera.
	Top Hat [DVD] [1935] Buy new: £5.98 / Used from: £2.69 Fred & Ginger's most famous film together, songs by Irving Berlin that include 'Top Hat''White Tie And Tails' and 'Cheek To Cheek' which is the scene most remembered by film buffs like me!
	Charlie Chaplin - Modern Times [1936] [DVD] Chaplin's own social comment on the Great Depression of the 30's, originally planned as a talkie, he abandoned the idea and reverted to silent. This is his best work during a very depressing time.
	Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs (2 Disc Platinum Edition) [DVD] [1937] Buy new: £14.68 Groundbreaking achievment in cinematic history as the first full length animated film of the Brothers Grimm fairytale. The fact that it's the 70th anniversary addition is testament to its popularity.
	Laurel And Hardy - Way Out West [DVD] [1937] Buy used from: £14.99 More comedy mishaps from Laurel & Hardy where we get the song 'Trail Of The Lonesome Pine' that made No.2 in the UK charts 38 years later. Best quote: "every cloud has a silver lining"
	You Only Live Once [DVD] [1937] Buy new: £7.88 / Used from: £6.99 Early example of a film noir where almost 15 minutes of the film were cut due to it's graphic violent scenes. Henry Fonda gives another superb performance as Eddy in this Bonnie & Clydesque thriller.
	The Adventures Of Robin Hood [DVD] [1938] Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £3.50 The film that type cast Errol Flynn's image as Robin Hood for the rest of his career. A Superb supporting cast that included Olivia De Haviland, Basil Rathbone and Claude Rains.
	Angels With Dirty Faces [1938] Fantastic film with a memorable performance by James Cagney as the tough guy gangster idolised by youngsters only to cry at his execution as a favour to the priest, so they wont follow suit.
	The Citadel (1938) Another slice of Donat brilliance, Oscar nominated but unsuccessful this time round, here he plays a young Scottish doctor who is misguided as he moves to London. Rex Harrison also in an early role.
	Gone With The Wind [1940] [DVD] Buy used from: £9.85 Fabulous achievment, when seasonally adjusted is still the most successful film of all time in America & the UK. Has that classic line said by Clark Gable " frankly my dear....I dont give a damn"!
	Goodbye Mr Chips [1939] [DVD] Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £4.99 This film is my favourite film of the 1930's, not only does it contain my favourite actress Greer Garson, but Robert Donat's performance as Chips is nothing short of an acting masterpiece.
	The Wizard Of Oz [1939] [DVD] Buy used from: £17.98 This has to be in this list purely for it's groundbreaking special effects, Judy Garland gives a splendid performance as Dorothy. 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow' being the ultimate feel good song.
	Mr Smith Goes To Washington [DVD] [1939] Buy new: £3.98 / Used from: £2.63 Frank Capra's last film for Columbia which made a star out of James Stewart. Controversial at the time about one man's effect on US politics. Jean Arthur also stars. Won the Oscar for screenplay
	The Hound Of The Baskervilles [DVD] [1939] First and best of 14 Rathbone & Bruce movies about Arthur Conan Doyle's popular super slueth. Filmed entirerly on Dartmoor it still has the power to raise the hairs on my neck!!