Six Favorites from the '60s

Happy National Classic Movie Day! To celebrate the classic film community's favorite day, I'm taking part in the Six from the '60s Blogathon, hosted by the Classic Film and TV Cafe. You can check out what choices other bloggers made here.

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The Apartment (1960)

How can a film be so full of heartache and yet also be so life-affirming? Billy Wilder's dramedy is a mesmerizing blend of sadness, hilarity, and romance. It looks gorgeous. The script by Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond is beyond fantastic. Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, and Fred MacMurray are all incredible, and that final scene always makes my heart melt. It's just a perfect film.

You can read my full review here.

One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)

Oddly enough, although I definitely saw this film as a kid, I didn't fall in love with it until I revisited it about five years ago and thought, "Oh my god. Was this film always this cool?" The animation takes my breath away, with its cluttered spaces, messy coloring, and detail after clever detail. The world that is created is so vivid and lived-in, and each character, no matter how minor, has their own personality. There is a coziness and a warmth to this film that envelops me every time I watch it, which is kind of weird when you consider that its main plot involves adorable puppies being kidnapped so a crazy woman can make them into a coat... But that's Disney for you.

Also, I will never get over the fact that Rod Taylor is the voice of Pongo.

You can read my full review here.

Come September (1961)

There is just nothing like a breezy '60s rom-com. They have this restorative power for me where I can watch one and I instantly feel better about whatever is going on in my life. One of my favorites from this period is Come September, a completely underrated gem that boasts magnificent locations, laugh-out-loud comedy, fabulous costumes, and a cast that includes Sandra Dee, Bobby Darin, Walter Slezak, Gina Lollobrigida, and, in one of his funniest performances, Rock Hudson.

You can read my full review here.

Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)

If I'm being honest, this entire list could just be my six favorite Audrey Hepburn movies from the '60s. She made so many fantastic films during this decade, which made compiling this list even more difficult. Although I was thisclose to choosing Charade instead, Breakfast at Tiffany's has my heart in a way that Charade doesn't.

Ignoring the Mickey Rooney of it all, this film is such a wonderful portrait of the complexities of a woman who masks her loneliness and fear with sophistication and quirkiness. There is an ache to this film, a deep, abiding ache, but there is also fun and silliness and love. And Audrey. I adore her Holly Golightly, partly because it is a performance unlike anything else Audrey did. Her interpretation of "Moon River" is the only interpretation I accept. The way she internalized the lyrics just make it sound so personal to her that I have a hard time believing anyone else when they sing it. 

This film is just so much more than its iconic image of Audrey and her black dress. Henry Mancini's score is absolutely perfect; Blake Edwards's direction shines; the costumes are timeless; the cast (with one exception) is superb... I could go on and on.

Sunday in New York (1963)

I tried my best to not repeat actors on this list, which is why I limited myself to one Audrey film, but I had to make an exception when it came to Rod Taylor. Like One Hundred and One Dalmatians, Sunday in New York is thoroughly '60s and yet also has a modern sensibility that has allowed it to endure as a sparkling example of the romantic comedy. Like most of the films on this list, I'm obsessed with Sunday in New York and the world it builds, a world where Peter Nero's impossibly cool score follows you as you wear gorgeous frocks and fall in love with the devastatingly handsome man you met on the bus. This film is exactly what a rom-com should be: delightfully screwball, endlessly witty, aesthetically pleasing, and deeply, genuinely romantic.

You can read my full review here.

The Pink Panther (1964)

It is surprising to realize that The Pink Panther isn't just one over-the-top gag after another and it isn't all about Inspector Clouseau, although both of those things would change as the film turned into an entire series. There is romance, gorgeous locations and sets, chic costumes, a terrifically top-notch cast, and a dash of intrigue. The skill with which director and co-writer Blake Edwards balances everything is masterful, no question. And that Henry Mancini score! Listening to any part of this score immediately takes me to a cozy Italian villa, where I'm wearing a big knitted sweater and drinking champagne cocktails with David Niven.

You can read my full review here.

EDIT: I just realized I forgot Bells are Ringing, which I always think was released in 1959 instead of its actual year, 1960. So, this may be cheating, but I would definitely replace The Pink Panther with Bells are Ringing. Vincente Minnelli's film and especially Judy Holliday's performance are so dear to me, I can't imagine leaving them off of this list. The tremendous songs and the work of Holliday and Dean Martin make it not only one of my very favorite musicals but one of my very favorite films period.

You can read more of my thoughts about it here.

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Honorable Mentions: The Nutty Professor (1963), Goldfinger (1964), My Fair Lady (1964), Viva Las Vegas (1964), The Notorious Landlady (1962), Lover Come Back (1961), What a Way to Go (1964), Bye Bye Birdie (1963), How to Steal a Million (1966), Charade (1963), Paris When It Sizzles (1964)