Top 15 Disney/Pixar Films

What is there to say about the Disney company.....
Responsible for enchanting the lives and awakening the imaginations of children (and lets face it adults) the world over for over 7 decades.
Disney have had their ups and downs like any other studio but after joining up with its greatest competitor: Pixar, they truly couldn't be beat. Here are my favourite Disney & Pixar features.

15 - The Jungle Book (1967)

Running Time: 1 Hour 20 mins
Genre: Animation/Adventure/Family
Director: Wolfgang Reitherman
Stars: Phil Harris, George Sanders, Sebastian Cabot


The first film to be completed after Walt's death The Jungle Book has become an audience favourite. The tale of baby Mowgli raised by wolves in the jungle but with the return of a fearsome Tiger Shere Khan, the fun loving Baloo the Bear and the anxious Bagheera the panther decide its safer for Mowgli to leave the Jungle for the nearest man village. A fun story with memorable characters lots of humour and some of Disney's greatest songs; including the great 'Bare Necessities'.

14 - Bambi (1942)

Running Time: 1 Hour 10 mins
Genre: Animation/Drama/Family
Director: James Algar, Samuel Armstrong
Stars: Hardie Albright, Peter Behn, Stan Alexander

With one of Disney's most beloved characters and tragic scenes put to film. This woodland tale of Bambi the baby deer growing up in the peaceful yet dangerous world of the woodland among his friends thumper and flower and destined to become king of the forest. It is surprisingly successful despite having little plot. Colourful, sweet and heart-warming this is a great Disney classic not to be missed.

13 - Toy Story (1995)

Running Time: 1 Hour 20 mins
Genre: Animation/Comedy/Family
Director: John Lasseter
Stars: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Wallace Shawn

Pixar's first and largely considered best picture. Toy Story combined the spectacle of the new computer age a great story and a recognisable voice cast including some of Hollywood's best loved actors Tom Hanks and Tim Allen. From the incomparable John Lasseter this story explores many depths; relationships, jealousy and one of the greatest bromances on screen all within a story of toys coming to life (and who as children didn't wonder if their toys moved around when they left the room). Excellent plot and character arcs with amazing animation.

12 - Sleeping Beauty (1959)

Running Time: 1 Hour 15 mins
Genre: Animation/Fantasy/Family
Director: Clyde Geronimi
Stars: Mary Costa, Eleanor Audley, Verna Felton

Not an instant hit with audiences on it's release but with Angelina Jolie's live action Maleficent being released this film is seeing a resurgence in attention and appreciation from old and new Disney fans alike. Personally having seen Maleficent I have to say the original animation holds up, the plot; a baby is cursed by an evil fairy only to be saved by true loves kiss makes significantly more sense. But more importantly the atmosphere that is created in this film is perfect and still has a chilling affect. The style of animation and the colour tone used are visually stunning.

11 - Alice in Wonderland (1951)

Running Time: 1 Hour 15 mins
Genre: Animation/Fantasy/Family
Director: Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson
Stars: Ed Wynn, Richard Haydn, Sterling Holloway

With a significant number of adaptations of Lewis Carols fantasy children's novel Disney's kooky animation is definitely my favourite. The story of a young girl Alice who is monumentally bored with her life she dreams herself into a world that she believes will be more interesting; a world with singing flowers, talking rabbits with pocket watches and caterpillars who smoke.
Wonderland is the perfect word to describe what Disney creates with this adaptation. A host of memorable characters and full of bold colours this is a fantastic animation not given enough attention.

10 - The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)

Running Time: 1 Hour 30 mins
Genre: Animation/Drama/Family
Director: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise
Stars: Demi Moore, Jason Alexander, Tom Hulce

This is a very under-appreciated Disney classic. The story has a lot of heart, a lot of depth and moral lessons. Another classic novel that Disney has successfully adapted using colour, humour and a child-like innocence. Quasimodo is a hunchback locked away in France's Notre Dame due to his appearance, this film takes a close look at 'not judging a book by it's cover'.
It has a great voice cast and some truly beautiful songs, this is one Disney film audiences should rediscover.

09 - Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Running Time: 1 Hour 25 mins
Genre: Animation/Fantasy/Family
Director: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise
Stars: Angela Lansbury, Jerry Orbach, Paige O'Hara


This is the film credited with showing the importance of the animation film and giving them equal standing with live action. It was the first animated feature nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture. One of the last films with a non-recognisable voice cast meaning the cast is not the draw for the audience, which is now the case with modern animations in many cases. The story of Belle a young woman who discovers the beauty underneath a beastly appearance may not be an original story but with the characters and songs created this is a natural classic.

08 - Aladdin (1992)

Running Time: 1 Hour 30 mins
Genre: Animation/Adventure/Family
Director: Ron Clements, John Musker
Stars: Robin Williams, Scott Weinger, Linda Larkin

Remembered mostly for the incredible of-the-wall enthusiastic voice work of the late Robin Williams as the hilarious Genie, this is a Disney classic best remembered for its humour and a beautiful love song. Aladdin is a poor urchin living in Agrabah who on the off chance meets and falls in love with a princess (Jasmine) and also gets involved with her fathers evil advisor Jafar. In the magical cave of wonders Aladdin discovers a magical lamp which when rubbed releases the Genie who grants him 3 wishes. A continuation of great form after Beauty and the Beast this is a pure classic of the 90's revived Disney.

07 - Pinocchio (1940)

Running Time: 1 Hour 25 mins
Genre: Animation/Fantasy/Family
Director: Norman Ferguson, T. Hee
Stars: Dickie Jones, Christian Rub, Mel Blanc

Pinocchio is a childhood favourite of mine, rather like Bambi there is something very innocent about this early Disney classic. Geppetto a lonely toy maker creates a wooden puppet in the style of a little boy. He makes a wish to the blue fairy for his puppet to come to life, in return for being a great guy his wish comes true. However with a catch, Pinocchio is still made of wood, to prove himself he must be brave, honest and true (how hard could that be right?) then he will become a real boy. Another fantastic songbook, great characters and a story loaded with heart, its hard not to love this one.

06 - Finding Nemo (2003)

Running Time: 1 Hour 40 mins
Genre: Animation/Comedy/Family
Director: Andrew Stanton, Lee Unkrich
Stars: Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould

A film full of one liners that are still being repeated to this day, and a long anticipated sequel on the way. This tale of a cowardly fish named Marlin travelling the ocean in search of his kidnapped son Nemo was an instant hit. Thanks in no small part to the outstanding vocal talents of Ellen Degeneres as Marlin's unwelcome travel companion who has the unfortunate yet hilarious ailment of forgetting pretty much everything.
No songs for Pixar but with great scripts like this who needs em', I for one can't wait for Finding Dory released in June 2016.


05 - Frozen (2013)

Running Time: 1 Hour 40 mins
Genre: Animation/Fantasy/Family
Director: Chris Tuck, Jennifer Lee
Stars: Kristen Bell, Josh Gad, Idina Menzel

Disney's newest and possibly most successful feature film it recreates all the best elements of the Disney movie. It has a great story (a take on the Ice Queen) Princess Anna is the younger sister of Elsa who has the magical gift of creating ice and snow but cannot control it. With a great adventure, a love story, a talking snow man and the ultimate morality tale of accepting ones self this is a great great movie. It doesn't hurt that Josh Gad as Olaf is hilarious and Idina Menzel's Oscar winning song Let it Go is annoyingly catchy.

04 - Tangled (2010)

Running Time: 1 Hour 40 mins
Genre: Animation/ Comedy/ Family
Director: Nathan Greno, Byron Howard
Stars: Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, Donna Murphy

Many had almost given up on Disney until it suddenly found its new groove with this epic tale of Rapunzel. With all the best elements of a Disney classic; a great and recognizable voice cast, hilarious script, memorable songs and lots of heart this was a sure fire hit for the Mouse-house.
What's great about Disney is that on the surface the films are all fun and light-hearted but underneath there is a great depth and lessons in life and morality that we all want to live by. This is no exception.

03 - Brave (2012)

Running Time: 1 Hour 30 mins
Genre: Animation/Adventure/Family
Director: Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman
Stars: Kelly Macdonald, Emma Thompson, Billy Connolly

Brave is the Disney company trying to move with the times; creating a Disney princess that feminists can be proud of; a young woman who can look after herself without need of a man, and can make her own choices about who she wants to be. A great step in the right direction for Disney. The most important element of Brave for me is the mother-daughter relationship, it really drew me into the story; which centres on Merida a Scottish princess being forced into a life by her mother the queen which she does not want. She gets the help of a witch to change her fate with horrendous consequences. A lot of depth, a great voice cast and soundtrack.

02 - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

Running Time: 1 Hour 20 mins
Genre: Animation/Fantasy/Family
Director: William Cottrell, David Hand
Stars: Adriana Caselotti, Lucille La Verne, Pinto Colvig

So high on my list due to an incredibly strong sentimental memory of this being the first film I remember watching, over and over again. Something about this film is timeless, it will always be a favourite of Disney fans not only for its excellent story, characters and songs but also because as Walt Disney's first feature this was a huge leap for the film industry and animation studios. Snow White retains an innocence and somewhat less than perfect style but which defines the film.
I cannot describe how important this film was to my film education, a must see, it is purely Disney at its best.

01 - The Lion King (1994)

Running Time: 1 Hour 25 mins
Genre: Animation/ Drama/Family
Director: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff
Stars: James Earl Jones, Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons

From an early age I have always loved The Lion King, the music, the animation, the story, the list goes on and on. For me this was the Disney I remember and they were at the pinnacle of their nineties success. The story of a young lion named Simba trying to find himself and running away from his past and responsibility is a story that we can all to some extent relate to (though I don't know how many of us have evil uncles named Scar). The voice cast is incredible and it is the type of movie that you can laugh and cry with at least 5 times throughout. The music by Elton John and Time Rice has never really been topped in my opinion. This is one Disney film if no others that you have to check out. And if you haven't seen it.... really where have you been.

So there you have it my list of the best (in my opinion) Disney/Pixar features, I'm sure there will be many disputes about this list. But the beauty of a Disney film is that no matter which is your favourite you pretty much love all the rest as well. Signing out, a Disney fan for life.

All About Eve (1950)

Running Time: 2 Hours 15 mins
Genre: Drama
Awards: 14 Oscar Nominations - 6 Wins:
Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor - George Sanders, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Costume Design, Best Sound Recording.

Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Writer: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Stars: Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, George Sanders, Celeste Holm

There are many things that make All About Eve stand out in cinematic history; having the most actresses nominated for an Academy Award (Davis, Baxter, Holm and Thelma Ritter were all nominated in both Best Actress and Supporting Actress categories.) It is the first of only 2 films to ever be nominated for 14 Oscars including Best Picture (the other was Titanic (1997), All About Eve won 6 Titanic won 11, both won Best Picture). It was a come back role for the legendary Bette Davis and had some of the best scripted dialogue in film history (Fasten your seatbelts, its going to be a bumpy night!). It also happens to be one of the greatest stories about the entertainment industry in existence.

Anne Baxter in the performance of a lifetime plays Eve Harrington a young theatre fan who is so in awe of Margo Channing, the biggest star on Broadway that she sees every performance of her current play. One night Karen (Holm) the wife of Lloyd Richards (Hugh Marlowe) the plays author and good friend of Margo sees Eve in the alley way by the stage door and recognises her, after hearing she has seen every performance she takes Eve backstage to meet Margo. In her dressing room she meets the plays director also Margo's current boyfriend Bill Sampson, (Gary Merrill, whom Davis actually fell in love with, they were married not long after production ended) Lloyd, Margo and her assistant Birdie (Thelma Ritter). The group are all stunned that she has seen every performance and ask her why, Eve tells a moving story about growing up in financial difficulty and losing her husband in the war, she followed Margo to New York after seeing a performance in San Francisco. Margo is moved by Eve's tale and takes her into her home and social circle as an all round assistant.

At first Eve seems to be simply thrilled to be near Margo but there is something not quite right, no one can be that interested in a person with no apparent gain. Birdie seemingly because she is being shut out mentions her dislike of Eve to Margo who shuts her down, but it turns out Birdie's instincts are correct. Eve begins to show signs of scheming; she slyly becomes Margo's understudy, sabotages the relationship between Margo and Bill and Margo and Lloyd. Margo eventually comes to resent Eve and the others think she is simply paranoid. Eve then persuades Karen into helping her get Margo to miss a performance, knowing in advance that she will get to perform she invites all of the press to the performance, she gets rave reviews. With the help of a venomous reporter Addison DeWitt (Sanders) a scathing interview with Eve is released and in the wake of it Margo and Bill, Lloyd and Karen reunite, Eve seems alone now that the group are back together. However she black mails Karen into getting Lloyd to give her his next leading role as Margo is too old to play it. She threatens to tell Margo of Karen's part in her missing the performance if she doesn't agree.

Now that she has her own way she becomes a leading actress in the theatre, winning awards but losing every friend she has in the process, her only ally one that she does not care to have Addison DeWitt who owns her due to finding out about a shady past and her back-story of lies and deceits. In the end she has the reviews and the accolades and the adoration but it is Margo Channing who constantly worried about her age and her career that wins, with the friends and relationship as well as a career, being on top no longer mattered.

All About Eve is a spellbinding film with stunning performances. It is no wonder the film was nominated for so many Academy Awards it is only a surprise it didn't win more than the 6 it received. Perhaps showing just how great it truly is, it took another 47 years, (that is countless nominated films) before another could equal its nominations.

All About Eve is a triumph of acting, writing, directing and is a dark perhaps cynical but gripping look at the inner workings of the entertainment industry; its process its stars and the cut-throat competition involved in making it to the 'big time'. If you haven't yet seen this master piece of cinema I can't recommend strongly enough a viewing.

Top 10 Spencer Tracy Films

Spencer Tracy was a troubled soul, but he also happened to be one of the highest regarded acting talents in Hollywood. With his wise face and tough exterior he dominated the screen. He could take on any role from the tough guy to a priest.

He will best be remembered for his on-screen and off-screen partnership with Katharine Hepburn. Some of his greatest roles especially those in the comedy genre were made with her at his side.

Spencer Tracy was the type of actor who hungered for the difficult roles, those in which he could hide within and really show what he could achieve.

This is my list of my favourite Spencer Tracy performances and films. This is an incredible list of films, from an inspiring talent.

10 - Pat and Mike (1952)

Running Time: 1 Hour 35 mins
Genre: Comedy/Romance
Director: George Cukor
Stars: Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn

Pat and Mike was one of 9 films that Tracy made with Katharine Hepburn. Written by their friends Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin this film was written to show off Hepburn's athletic skills (she was an avid tennis and golf player). Her Pat could be a great sports star, says her new slightly shady manager Mike (Tracy) but the problem is her fiance, she never plays her best when he is watching. Mike's dominating character helps Pat overcome her problems as they become mutually attracted to each other and Mike tries to go straight for Pat and quit his dodgy dealings.

09 - Bad Day at Black Rock (1955)

Running Time: 1 Hour 20
Genre: Crime/Drama
Director: John Sturges
Stars: Spencer Tracy, Ernest Borgnine, Lee Marvin

A seemingly small story with a big cast this John Sturges directed classic casts Tracy as a one handed stranger (John J. Macreedy) who comes to a tiny town known as Black Rock. As soon as he steps off the train he is big news. No one ever comes to the town and the residents like it that way. Macreedy finds everyone inhospitable and hostile. It is obvious they have a secret and it turns out the person Macreedy is there to see might be at the heart of the secret they will do anything to keep hidden. A great bubbling suspence with a perfectly cast Tracy in the lead.

08 - Adams Rib (1949)

Running Time: 1 Hour 40 mins
Genre: Comedy/Romance
Director: George Cukor
Stars: Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Judy Holliday

Probably the best of all the Tracy Hepburn partnerships, this comedy written again by friends Garson Kanin and Ruth Gordon focuses on a husband and wife who both happen to be lawyers and both on opposite sides of the same case. The case in question whether a woman shot her husband causes both personal and professional tensions to rise between the couple with hilarious results.
With a great script and tow of the greatest actors in the lead roles this is a knock out! Outrageously funny, a must see comedy.

07 - Northwest Passage (1940)

Running Time: 2 Hours 5 mins
Genre: Adventure
Director: King Vidor
Stars: Spencer Tracy, Robert Young, Walter Brennan

An epic adventure film starring Tracy almost against type as Major Robert Rogers the leader of Rogers Rangers of which two friends join. The film follows the Rangers on their travels wiping out Indian villages and travelling to Fort Wentworth where they should find food and supplies but find none. Based on a book by the same name, Tracy is surprisingly good as the leader of a group of men hungry, losing faith and finding their surroundings difficult to manage.
A great Sunday afternoon film.

06 - Judgement at Nuremberg (1961)

Running Time: 3 Hours 5 mins
Genre: Drama/War
Director: Stanley Kramer
Stars: Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Richard Widmark

Judgement at Nuremberg is one of my favourite war films, though it displays no fighting or battles. Instead it takes place after the war has ended, in Germany where trials are ongoing as four Nazi judges are being tried by the American's for war crimes. Tracy plays chief judge Dan Haywood, retired and at the end of his career but with a formidable task. With a group of witnesses he must decide the fate of the four judges (including Burt Lancaster) who are accused of sterilisation amongst other crimes. A moving an dramatic piece of film. Tracy is magnificent with one of the best speeches of his career.

05 - Boys Town (1938)

Running Time: 1 Hour 35 mins
Genre: Biography/Drama
Director: Norman Taurog
Stars: Spencer Tracy, Mickey Rooney

In Boys Town based on a true story and a real figure Tracy plays Father Flanagan who creates a town for boys. A place where wayward boys can live and learn to live right with responsibility and reliability. Also starring Mickey Rooney as Whitey Marsh a young man who is heading for serious trouble unless Father Flanagan and Boys Town can straighten him out. This won Tracy is second consecutive Academy Award.

04 - Father of the Bride (1950)

Running Time: 1 Hour 30
Genre: Comedy/Romance
Director: Vincente Minelli
Stars: Spencer Tracy, Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Bennett

A great comedy Tracy is perfectly cast as the poor father Stanley T. Banks left in the cold as his family plan his daughter's wedding whilst he struggles to come to terms with the fact that his little girl is old enough to leave and start her own family in the first place. Tracy stars opposite Elizabeth Taylor and they play excellent with each other (they stayed friends until his death 17 years later). The humour of the film comes from Stanley's reactions from a financial stand point and the organization of such a huge event. Tracy is at his comedic best, (if you like this check out Father's Little Dividend (1951); the sequel).

03 - Inherit the Wind (1960)

Running Time: 2 Hours 5 mins
Genre: 2 Hours 5 mins
Director: Stanley Kramer
Stars: Spencer Tracy, Frederic March, Gene Kelly

Tracy was always strong, tough and dependable, which made him perfect to play lawyer Henry Drummond who agrees to defend a science teacher accused of the crime of teaching Darwin's theories of Evolution in a public school. Frederic March plays the prosecution, undeniably one of the best court dramas of all time, with one of the best scripts in existence (most of which was taken from the transcripts of a real case). Tracy and March give a master class in simply incredible acting. This is a must see, just for some of Tracy's dialogue alone.

02 - Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)

Running Time: 1 Hour 45 mins
Genre: Drama
Director: Stanley Kramer
Stars: Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Sidney Poitier

Remembered as the last film he ever made Tracy died just weeks after the production ended. He plays Matt Drayton one half of a solid but ageing couple who are shocked when their daughter brings home a fiancée who is a black man (Poitier). A delicate film for the time it discuss the racial issue that was at the height of many peaceful and violent debates in America at the time. But it must be remembered for Tracy's moving performance and speech which seemed incredibly close to the heart in relation to his life and relationship to partner Hepburn. She won the Oscar for her performance but always insisted it was for both of them.

01 - Captains Courageous (1937)

Running Time: 1 Hour 55 mins
Genre: Adventure/Drama
Director: Victor Fleming
Stars: Spencer Tracy, Freddie Bartholomew

Tracy stars as Manuel a Portuguese fisherman who becomes the minder of a rich, spoiled and insolent boy, Harvey (Bartholomew) who is picked up from the sea by a fishing boat just starting its season, after falling off a cruise ship. He tries to bribe them to turn back but they cannot afford to and do not believe him anyway. Harvey under Manuel's watching eye and innocent friendly manner learns the ways of the fishermen, to look after himself support other and most of all humility and kindness.
The film won Tracy his first Oscar he won his second the next year for Boys Town.


In a career spanning 37 years Spencer Tracy became like many of his characters to his loving audiences; reliable, sturdy and talented beyond measure. Any one of these films is a tribute to the great legacy he has left, he was loved by movie goers and his peers alike the latter naming him one of the best in their business. If the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra and Angela Lansbury say your the best there must be some truth in it. Check out his work you'll find yourself pleasantly surprised, and remember your watching a natural.

Top 10 Cary Grant Films

Named number #2 on the American Film Institutes Greatest Screen Legends list and rightly so. Cary Grant will forever be remembered as the suave handsome leading man that men wanted to be and women swooned over.
Coming to America from Bristol as Archie Leach, he soon got into the movie business and steadily worked his way up, with the help of screen siren Mae West.
Grant created a persona so that eventually he became it and it became him, no-one knew the real Cary Grant he was famously reported as saying "Everybody wants to be Cary Grant. Even I want to be Cary Grant"
He will forever be associated with the introduction of the screw-ball comedy in which he was always superb using his acrobatic skills from his early years. On the other end of the scale he will always be linked with Hitchcock in a masterful teaming for some of the directors greatest work. Here is my list.

10 - Charade (1963)

Running Time: 1 Hour 55 mins
Genre: Comedy/Mystery
Director: Stanley Donen
Stars: Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Walter Matthau

Despite the all too obvious age difference this spy caper is incredibly funny and why the hell would Audrey Hepburn not be chasing after him, I mean he's Cary Grant. He plays one of several men who are surrounding the widowed Hepburn after her husband stole a fortune. But can she trust Grant's Peter Joshua?
What can be better than watching Grant and Hepburn 2 of the biggest stars running around Paris - nothing.

09 - The Philadelphia Story (1940)

Running Time: 1 Hour 50 mins
Genre: Comedy/Romance
Director: George Cukor
Stars: Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, James Stewart

Grant plays C.K Dexter Haven who married Katharine Hepburn's Socialite Tracy Lord. They discover not long into the marriage that they were impulsive and divorce. He happens to reappear on the scene just as Tracy is about to remarry with a reporter (Stewart) as the wedding day nears Tracy finds herself torn between her Fiancée George, the reporter Mike and her ex-husband.
A great classic comedy with some of the biggest stars of the day, you can't go wrong with this one.

08 - Suspicion (1941)

Running Time: 1 Hour 35 mins
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Stars: Cary Grant, Joan Fontaine

One of Hitchcock's great suspense thrillers, Cary Grant worked with the auteur director 4 times all incredible pieces of film. This his first sees him playing Johnnie a charming gentleman who marries the shy English woman Lina, but it isn't long before she begins to see past his charms and suspect that he is trying to kill her.
Grant was at this time already a star and Hitchcock did not get his complete way when it came to character progression. He wanted Grant to play a conventional baddie but was overruled by the studio concerned for his image. Never-the-less a great performance.

07 - To Catch a Thief (1955)

Running Time: 1 Hour 45 mins
Genre: Crime/Romance
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Stars: Cary Grant, Grace Kelly

Grant stars as John Robie a jewel thief gone straight. Living in the South of France innocently, he is thrown again into suspicion when a number of robbery's occur. To confirm his innocence he must catch the real jewel thief. He procures a list of the richest jewels on the Riviera, the first on the list belonging to the mother of Grace Kelly's Frances Stevens who figures out who he was and is fascinated by him. After her mothers jewels are stolen she temporarily doubts him but eventually agrees to help him clear his name. A great effort from Hitchcock and Grant's third for the great director.

06 - Notorious (1946)

Running Time: 1 Hour 40 mins
Genre: Film-Noir
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Stars: Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains

The second of the 4 collaborations with Hitch, Notorious centres on Bergman's Alicia Huberman whose German father is convicted for treason against the US. She is approached by Grant's T.R. Devlin to spy on her fathers Nazi friends including Claude Rains Alexander Sebastian. A romance develops between Alicia and Devlin but it becomes strained and dangerous as she becomes ever more deeply involved in her work.
A great spy thriller, one of Hitchcock's greatest stories and a masterful performance from Grant.



05 - Monkey Business (1952)

Running Time: 1 Hour 35 mins
Genre: Comedy
Director: Howard Hawks
Stars: Cary Grant, Ginger Rogers, Marilyn Monroe

Grant is Barnaby Fulton a chemist who thinks he has created a formula for feeling and acting younger. In actuality it was one of his test chimpanzees who mixes the ingredients and adds it to the water cooler. All hell breaks loose with hilarious results when both Barnaby and his wife (Rogers) take the potion both on purpose and then accidentally not realising whilst drinking many cups of coffee that the formula is in the water making them younger with every drink they take.

04 - Bringing up Baby (1938)

Running Time: 1 Hour 40 mins
Genre: Comedy/Romance
Director: Howard Hawks
Stars: Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn

Early in his career before the Hitchcock thrillers and dramas Cary proved himself to be a master of the slapstick comedy. This was the greatest example. Paired for the second of four occasions with Katharine Hepburn, here he plays a disgruntled palaeontologist trying to raise funds for his museum whilst being pursued by frivolous and irritating heiress Susan and her pet leopard Baby.
A great family comedy that is still as great today as the day it was released.

03 - North by Northwest (1959)

Running Time: 2 Hours 15 mins
Genre: Action/Crime
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Stars: Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason

Considered by many the greatest of the Hitchcock/Grant teaming, here Grant plays Roger Thornhill an advertising man mistaken for a government agent and is kidnapped by a group of foreign spies led by James Mason's Philip Vandamm. He is framed for murder and after escaping he is followed across the country not only by his captors but also by the police. As he struggles to survive in dangerous conditions he is desperately trying to clear his name in the process. He is helped by a beautiful blonde he meets on a train Eve Kendall (Saint) who isn't who he thinks she is. Exciting, thrilling, Classic.

02 - His Girl Friday (1940)

Running Time: 1 Hour 30 mins
Genre: Comedy/Romance
Director: Howard Hawks
Stars: Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell

Long considered a Hollywood classic and one of Grant, Russell and Hawks best films individually this is a comedy that everybody should see. Cary plays Walter Burns a Newspaper man who lives for his job so much so that he lost his wife Hildy (Russell) also a journalist in the process. When she returns after four months away she tells him she is quitting and has got a divorce, not only that, she is leaving to get married to have the kind of home life she wanted from him. Not wanting to lose his star reporter or wife he plans to delay her and remind her how much she loves her job and him. One of the best comedy scripts ever written.

01 - An Affair to Remember

Running Time: 1 Hour 55 mins
Genre: Drama/Romance
Director: Leo McCarey
Stars: Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr

My personal favourite performance as a huge fan of both Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr this was the second of 3 pairings between the real life friends. Grant plays Nickie Ferrante a well known bachelor and playboy who engaged to be married meets Kerr's Terry McKay on a cruise from Europe to New York. They fall in love and despite both being in a relationship agree to meet at the top of the Empire State Building in six months where they can start their life together and get married. When an accident stops her from making it, he fears she doesn't love him any more and she is too proud to contact him and tell him what really happened, unless she can be her old self again. A great, funny and romantic classic, the pair have great chemistry and play so well off each other. This is a must see, it's even mention in Sleepless in Seattle (1993). 

A list containing not only my personal list of favourites but also some of what are regarded the best films in cinema history, you look at any list and a lot of those films are on there. That alone is reason enough to give them a go. If you haven't had the experience of watching him, or (ladies) being charmed off your feet by Cary Grant then what are you waiting for. Once you've seen one you'll never go back. Enjoy!

Top 10 Bette Davis Films

Bette Davis remains one of the highest regarded actresses of her generation. With a whip like tongue, huge eyes filled with emotion and a magnetism that keeps you glued to the screen.
Bette Davis was one of the strongest women in Hollywood, she fought for the best roles when her studio (Warner Brothers) wouldn't give her the parts she felt she deserved.

When she didn't win the role of Scarlett in Gone with the Wind the studio bought her Jezebel and so started a career of amazing roles in some of the best film from the Golden Age of Hollywood. She left Warners when they didn't give her good material and went it on her own having a successful career in horrors and thrillers in her later life.

This is my list of the incredible films of Bette Davis. Enjoy.

10 - The Little Foxes (1941)

Running Time: 1 Hour 55 mins
Genre: Drama
Director: William Wyler
Stars: Bette Davis, Teresa Wright, Richard Carlson

Davis is Regina Giddens a member of the despicable Hubbard family. She along with her brothers are conniving and sneaky involved in a shady business deal. The whole family are manipulative and thoughtless, thinking only of themselves. Davis gives a vicious performance for director William Wyler whom she would work with many times is her career.





09 - The Nanny (1965)

Running Time: 1 Hour 30 mins
Genre: Thriller
Director: Seth Holt
Stars: Bette Davis, Wendy Craig, Jill Bennett

A starring role later in her career, cashing in on the success of simmering thriller/horror What Ever Happened to Baby Jane. Davis plays the titular Nanny to a family welcoming back their little boy Joey after a stint in a facility for disturbed children after drowning his little sister. When he returns home he is extremely distrusting of the Nanny continually persisting she did it. When his mother is poisoned heads turn again to Joey but the neighbour believes his story. Davis is excellent.

08 - The Letter (1940)

Running Time: 1 Hour 35 mins
Genre: Crime/Film-Noir
Director: William Wyler
Stars: Bette Davis, Herbert Marshall, James Stephenson

The film begins with a shooting. Davis is the wife of a sugar plantation owner in Singapore, who shoots and kills a man on her doorstep. She claims self-defence and everyone naturally believes her, her story is so good. But a letter in her handwriting could be her undoing, both her and her lawyer know the truth but what will the lawyer do? Damn her or free her knowing she killed a man.
Davis is her usual stunning self, fantastic performance from all.



07 - Jezebel (1938)

Running Time: 1 Hour 45 mins
Genre: Drama
Director: William Wyler
Stars: Bette Davis, Henry Fonda, George Brent

After losing out on Gone With the Wind, Davis was given the role of Julie in Jezebel. Rather similar to Scarlett O'Hara Julie is a headstrong, vain independent Southern Belle who in her stubbornness and sometimes cruel nature loses her fiancée Preston Dillard (Fonda). But she vows to win him back, and doesn't care who she hurts or how far she goes to do it.
Davis won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance.

06 - Dark Victory (1939)

Running Time: 1 Hour 45 mins
Genre: Drama/Romance
Director: Edward Goulding
Stars: Bette Davis, George Brent, Humphrey Bogart

Davis plays Judith Traherne a young active socialite in her prime, who is plagued by headaches and sudden failing eyesight. She visits Dr. Frederick Steele who diagnosis an inoperable brain tumour. After the surgery she is told that it is successful but it appears it is not. Judith falls in love with Dr. Steele and they are to be married she finds out she will die and becomes depressed. After the advise of her horse trainer who loves her (Bogart in a small role) she marries Steele and tries to be the happy doting housewife waiting for the blindness that will sign her death.

05 - All About Eve (1950)

Running Time: 2 Hours 15 mins
Genre: Drama
Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Stars: Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, Celeste Holm

Remembered not only for being one of the truest films about the acting and fame industry but also for being possibly the greatest role of Davis' long career. She plays Margo Channing a famous stage actress who lets a besotted fan (Baxter) become part of her circle. However things turn sour when she begins to question her loving fan and her motives. Riveting performance that came in good time for Davis it was a comeback of sorts; stupendous!

04 - Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964)

Running Time: 2 Hours 10 mins
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Director: Robert Aldrich
Stars: Bette Davis, Olivia De Havilland, Joseph Cotten

Davis is an ageing Southern Belle who has a reputation for being mad after a dark family secret has made her lose her mind. When a kindly family member (De Havilland) comes to stay the past comes back to haunt her and we find out what really happened. As Charlotte becomes more unhinged her cousin's friendly manner starts to change.
A great mystery thriller that keeps you guessing until the end. Davis is at her best.

03 - What Ever Happened To Baby Jane (1962)

Running Time: 2 Hours 15 mins
Genre: Horror/Thriller
Director: Robert Aldrich
Stars: Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Victor Buono

The film that re-invented Davis for a new genre, that stemmed many copy-cats in the coming years. Davis is Baby Jane Hudson a former vaudeville child star living in an old mansion dreaming of a comeback; living in the past and trying to recreate her glory days. Not only that, she has become so demented that she torments her wheel-chair bound sister (her biggest rival Crawford) who became the bigger star as they grew up, which Jane has always resented. This is a great dramatic thriller reviving both actresses stalling careers.

02 - Mr Skeffington (1944)

Running Time: 2 Hours 25 mins
Genre: Drama/Romance
Director: Vincent Sherman
Stars: Bette Davis, Claude Rains, Walter Abel

Mr Skeffington is a film about ageing and accepting it. Davis plays Fanny Trellis known for her beauty she is popular with all the single bachelors. But she ends up in a loveless marriage to much older Job Skeffinton to save her brother from an embezzlement charge by Skeffington. Obsessed with youth and her looks, the important people in her life fall away. It is only when her looks are gone due to an illness that she realises those who truly cared for her. An excellent performance from Davis not afraid to hide her movie star looks for a great role.

01 - Now, Voyager (1942)

Running Time: 1 Hour 55 mins
Genre: Romance/Drama
Director: Irving Rapper
Stars: Bette Davis, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains

Now Voyager is remembered as a great romance but it must also be considered a great dramatic performance from Davis. She plays Charlotte Vale a Boston spinster fulfilling the Ugly Duckling role of the family repressed under the constant watch of her overbearing mother. After a breakdown she flourishes in a sanatorium and becomes a new woman. No longer under the thumb of her mother, she holidays abroad and falls in love with a man she cannot marry. Through the sanatorium she meets his troubled daughter who reminds her of herself, her way of showing her continued love is to help bring up his daughter. A classic performance from Davis, I prefer the mother daughter relationship to the romance, it truly shows what Davis could do.

A list of just 10 of the amazing roles that Bette Davis made her own during her long and successful career. I can promise you if you watch just one of the movies on this list you will be hunting for her back catalogue because you simply won't be able to get enough of her.
Let me know what you think of the list in the comments below. Would you pick differently?