I have two ways of looking at great films --
from the production side and from the acting side. In other words, technical innovations in film making, and the talent of the actors.

Perhaps what makes the choices even more difficult are the many genres of movies now in existence. Some people think that even “slasher” films should be included – not! So I’ve tried to include “the best” of other memorable genre films, as well.

I think the "Top Five Best" must include these landmark films:

1) “Napoleon” (the silent film version. It introduced revolutionary film techniques that are still in use today. It also designated the term "epic" to film like none other).
2) “Citizen Kane” (continued the legacy of “Napoleon” with totally new camera and lighting techniques that inspired the entire industry, not to mention the stellar acting turns by American’s greatest performers).
3) “The Bride of Frankenstein” (without question the “Grand daddy” and forerunner of every great gothic horror tale to ever come out of Hollywood).
4) “Forbidden Planet” (the “King” of all Science Fiction films – from the early use of animation in film, to it’s first fully electronic music soundtrack, even to the creation of the words and phrases, “Beam,” “blaster,” “photon,” and “light speed,” this fifties classic had it all – even a very young leading man, Leslie Nielson as the space stud).
5) “A Streetcar Named Desire” / “On The Waterfront” (these two seminal films share the distinction of highlighting the early work of Marlon Brando. He brought an entirely new and astonishing level of raw power and naturalism to film making like no other single actor before, or since. Before Marlon, movies were more like theater transferred to the screen. He made motion pictures the truthful and singular medium of urgency and intimacy that it is today).

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