All time There’s no time like the present to enjoy some of cinema’s finest. Each of our picks delivers a heavy dose of nostalgia and are definitely some of the best classic movies to grace our screens. Expect heart-warming comfort, big laughs, and pulse-pounding suspense. These films helped to shape cinema as we know it today.
The Wizard of Oz
Starring: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr Year: 1939 There’s no place like home, and there is no classic quite like Dorothy’s adventures in Oz. An absolute masterpiece, The Wizard of Oz, follows Dorothy Gale as she is swept away to a magical land in a tornado and embarks on a quest to see the Wizard who can help her return home. Joined by Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion on an epic adventure, the three find themselves on the run from the Wicked Witch of the West and all her schemes. Described as ‘the most influential movie of all time’, this fantastical tale will win over even the most cynical of viewers.
Casablanca
Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains Year: 1942 A love story you will never forget. Set in the early years of World War II in Casablanca, this tale follows an American living in the Vichy-controlled Moroccan city. Rick Blaine’s nightclub is an oasis for refugees despite continuous warnings from local authorities. When his former love begs him for help to escape to the US with her fugitive Resistance leader husband, Blaine must decide which will win: his heart or his head. There’s a reason this is still touted as Hollywood’s greatest romance.
Gone with the Wind
Starring: Vivien Leigh, Clark Gable, Olivia de Havilland, Hattie McDaniel Year: 1939 Adapted from the 1936 novel by Margaret Mitchell and set against the backdrop of the Civil War, this award-winning classic focuses on the indomitable Southern Belle, Scarlett O’Hara. Whilst containing some problematic themes and images, it was one of a kind in its day in terms of scale and the vast number of people involved in the production. Winner of the Best Picture Academy Award as well as first Academy Award to be given to an African American for Hattie McDaniel’s best supporting role, Mammy. 12
