I must admit that the scene where Raymond Burr spotted Stewart through the windows gave me a real chill, but I can't put it on my 10.
1) Bride of Frankenstein....1st by a mile
2}King Kong
3}Wizard of Oz
4}Psycho
5}Bringing up Baby
6}The Exorcist (What an event that was!}*
7}Gone with the Wind **
8)Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
9)Johny Guitar (yeah, I said it!)
10)Mighty Joe Young
*A big fan of the book I had doubts the film could hold up, but I decided to go on opening nite in an honest to god blizzard in St. Louis....the line was literally around the block in spite of the weather, and a good deal of chat and camaraderie was going on in the long wait, over an hour.
When I got to the ticket window, 2nd from the front she told the couple ahead of us "Sold out"...I said bullshit to that and grabbed my date's hand and pushed right past the ticket tearing guy! Others must have followed as the place was packed, with dozens and dozens of people sitting in the isles.
My date, a nice girl from the burbs was thrilled by my bold actions and told me her heart was pounding. (I kinda surprised myself there) So we got to see it for free in this packed house!
I can't express the feeling in that room from the point where Reagan yanked her mother's head to her bloody crotch and all that followed. That movie had 2,000 plus people held fast in terror. Jesus, you had to have been there!
At any rate I'm sure if I had seen this film on TV the 1st time it would not have even made my top 50 list.
**"Wind" was SUCH an event back in '39...the the whole country had been waiting for years to see who would play the top charactors, and if it could live up to the hype. It did. Selznick did an unreal job. If I had seen this movie in a theater in '39 It would be higher on my list, I'm sure.
I recommend everyone to watch "The Making of Gone with the Wind"....just fascinating! It's on You Tube.
I waited 'till my 30th birthday to "treat" myself to Citizen Kane. Lord, what a boring piece of shit that was after hearing all that "best movie ever" talk for years! Not on my top 100 list.
Honerable mention: Rio Bravo..."And no one run in here, huh?-(smash!)"
Thanx for reading my lengthy ramblings, but movies are my passion. Would talk 'em for days if I could.