Rich and imposing widower, Maxim de Winter (Laurence Olivier) quickly marries a lower class introvert (Joan Fontaine). The Second Mrs. de Winterâthatâs the only name sheâs givenâhas problems fitting in at Manderley, his ancient estate, and is constantly doubting herself, afraid that her husband can only love his dead first wife, Rebecca. Mrs. Danvers (Judith
The Magnificent Ambersons (1942)
In 1873, the Ambersonâs are at the height of society. Nearly undefined daughter Isabel (Dolores Costello) is wooed by the young men of the town, in particular bland (though weâre not supposed to think heâs bland) Eugene (Joseph Cotton). Though we are told she loves him, sticking with the old ways, she marries some guy
Battleground (1949)
During the Battle of the BulgeâDecember 1944âthe 101st Airborne Division is moved to Bastogne. We follow a number of soldiers (Van Johnson, James Whitmore, Douglas Fowley, George Murphy, Herbert Anderson, Ricardo Montalban, Don Taylor, John Hodiak, Marshall Thompson) as they fight, suffer, die, and try to survive in the days they are trapped, surrounded by
Johnny Belinda (1948)
We are in the far off dark land of post-war Canada, where a deaf-mute is assumed to be unable to think and feel by the primitives that live there. Enter Doctor Noble Dogoodery (Lew Ayres). He wanders about, doing good, until he meets virginal deaf-mute Belinda (Jane Wyman). She has never been taught anything in
Trader Horn (1931)
A White ivory trader and âhunterâ known as Trader Horn (Harry Carey) heads down the river with his oblivious friend Peru (Duncan Renaldo) and his loyal Black âgun bearerâ to trade with the savages in the deepest part of that mysterious continent of Africa. Along the way they run into Edith Trent (Olive Careyâthe star’s
San Francisco (1936)
Blackie (Clark Gable) is a pleasant, heroic, good guy who runs an exceptionally nice night club but is somehow thought of as scandalous. Huh. That doesnât make sense, but onward. Blackie spends his time, when not doing the most respectable disreputable things possible, with old friend Father Mullin (Spencer Tracy). Into his club comes prissy
On the Waterfront (1954)
Terry (Marlon Brando) is a failed prize-fighter that now acts as muscle for the corrupt longshormenâs union. Heâs sent by his brother, Charley (Rod Steiger), and boss, Johnny Friendly (Lee J. Cobb), to trap a squealer who is then murdered. The dead manâs sister, Edie (Eva Marie Saint), and the local priest (Karl Malden) wonât
The Dark Knight (2008)
District attorneyâand current boyfriend of Rachel (Maggie Gyllenhaal taking over for Katie Holmes)âHarvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), is the new star of Gotham City. He joins with Lieutenant Gordon and Batman to take down the mob by targeting their banking. The mob strikes back by unleashing the Joker (Heath Ledger), whose desire for anarchy is not
Solaris (1972)
Something has gone wrong at the Soviet space station around the planet Solaris. The planet has a sentient ocean that may be creating hallucinations and that idea frighten those in charge. Kris Kelvin (Donatas Banionis), an unpleasant and simple man who is supposedly a psychologist, but never displays that in any way, has been chosen
The Misfits (1961)
Recent divorcĂ©e Roslyn Taber (Marilyn Monroe) and her divorce-enabling friend Isabelle Steers (Thelma Ritter) run into Gay Langland (Clark Gable), an aging and bitterly nostalgic he-man cowboy, and Guido (Eli Wallach), a lost widower. The men immediately start competing for her. Though neither of them exhibit any qualities sheâs interested in, she moves in to
Spartacus (1960)
Gladiatorial-trainee slave Spartacus (Kirk Douglas) inadvertently kicks off a slave rebellion when Varinia (Jean Simmons), the girl heâs fallen for, is sold to a Roman senator. Spartacus leads a growing army that eventually includes Cixus (John Ireland), David (Harold J. Stone), Antoninus (Tony Curtis) and an escaped Varinia. Their goal is to reach the coast
A Man For All Seasons (1966)
In 16th Century England, King Henry VIII (Robert Shaw) wants a divorce from his second wife to marry his third. Sir Thomas More (Paul Scofield), Chancellor, who found his way to go along with the first divorce, finds his Catholic faith wonât allow him to support this one. He trusts that the law, and careful