The UK’s Total Film has compiled a list of the top 50 Best British Films. The list is available is this month’s issue, but thanks to The Scotsman, I’m able to present the top 26 (since many of these British films are my own favorites too). The list is notable in its exclusion of such prestige pictures as The English Patient, Ghandi, and Chariots of Fire — but I’ve always liked lists where the respondents include movies they like rather than titles they assume they should choose.And the winners are…
01. Get Carter (1971)
02. A Matter of Life and Death (1946)
03. Trainspotting (1996)
04. The Third Man (1949)
05. Life of Brian (1979)
06. The Wicker Man (1973)
07. Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
08. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
09. From Russia With Love (1963)
10. Naked (1993)
11. Billy Liar (1963)
12. A Clockwork Orange (1971)
13. Withnail & I (1987)
14. Great Expectations (1946)
15. If… (1968)
16. Kes (1969)
17. Brighton Rock (1947)
18. Dont Look Now (1973)
19. Sexy Beast (2000)
20. Brazil (1985)
21. Blowup (1966)
22. The 39 Steps (1935)
23. The Servant (1963)
24. Peeping Tom (1960)
25. Made In Britain (1982)
26. Four Weddings & a Funeral (1994)
All in all, a very good list. #2 has been a favorite of mine for many years, and was one of the reasons I bought a PAL DVD player (since Columbia/Tri Star still has not released a US DVD). Obviously I’m pleased to see #5 on the list, since I am a devotee of all things Python. #6 is also a lifelong favorite — a deliciously creepy movie, but the less said the better. #7 is a lot of fun, especially since it allows this post-Star Wars fan to revel in Alec Guinness’s laudable acting range. #8 is still epic, even on a TV screen; though I admit the second half pales to the first. #12 is Kubrick at his best: bizarre, off-center, colorful, and with plenty of boobies. #14 has a well-deserved berth on the list simply for how sublimely beautiful Jean Simmons is. #18 is one of my dad’s favorites. What I said for #5 goes for #20, and it doesn’t hurt that the movie is more timely than ever (then again so is #5).
I suppose I should mention I have also seen numbers 3, 4, 9, 15, 21, 22, 24, and 26 of the above list.
