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Dave's Essential 300 - An Exploratory Guide

Author	Comment
Dave Sindelar		#21	[-]
(11/07/09 12:03 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Doc Dynamo wrote: This is a good idea. I hope after you finish it, you do Dave's Inessential 300 - your list of the worst films out of the 3,000. Actually, some of the worst films will appear on my Essential list, since it's not strictly intended to be a list of the best 300 movies I've covered. Though it will mostly consist of the better movies, I'm hoping that overall it gives a good cross-section of the great variety of material out there, and some bad movies are as essential as the good movies. For example, I plan to have at least one movie each from Ed Wood, Hershell Gordon Lewis, Andy Milligan and Jerry Warren, because they're as much a part of the picture as James Whale, Val Lewton, or Mario Bava. However, I may make a list of the fifty lousiest movies I've seen, for anyone who really wants to investigate the dregs... He always carries his guitar with him, because he never knows when he'll be called on to sing.
Dave Sindelar	Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)	#22	[-]
(11/07/09 12:11 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	#7 Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) In some ways, this movie is similar to THE OLD DARK HOUSE and SPIDER BABY, thought the major difference is that the family in this one seems sweet and normal to the outside world in a way that those other families don't. Though I have some qualms with this production of the story, it remains a touchstone for horror comedies. He always carries his guitar with him, because he never knows when he'll be called on to sing. Last Edited By: Dave Sindelar 11/07/09 4:56 PM. Edited 1 times.
Dave Sindelar	The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1954)	#23	[-]
(11/07/09 11:52 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	#8 The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1954) Though he did a lot of work on MIGHTY JOE YOUNG, this is the movie I always think of as his real debut. I also consider it one of his best black-and-white efforts overall; it manages to hold my interest even when the special effects aren't on display. Though it may not really be a great movie, it is definitely a landmark movie. He always carries his guitar with him, because he never knows when he'll be called on to sing.
hermanthegerm		#24	[-]
(11/08/09 9:55 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Arsenic is my first surprise. Are you doing them in any particular order? Not that its bad, just that it should be way lower. "There is a lot of money tied up in this film and people expect to hear a boom when something blows up, so I'll give them a boom." George Lucas as quoted by Harlan Ellison's WATCHING
Dave Sindelar		#25	[-]
(11/08/09 10:11 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Right now I'm kind of skimming off the top in alphabetical order, concentrating less on personal favorites and more on movies that I just can't see myself omitting. ARSENIC is not my favorite, but I do see it as significant enough to include at this point. The titles that I'm adding aren't in any particular order of quality. He always carries his guitar with him, because he never knows when he'll be called on to sing.
Dave Sindelar	Beauty and the Beast (1946)	#26	[-]
(11/09/09 8:06 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	#9. Beauty and the Beast (1946) Jean Cocteau's wondrous, bizarre and surreal rendering of the classic fairy tale is inspired, brilliant and full of indelible imagery. It's his greatest work, and how many directors save their best work for a fairy tale? He always carries his guitar with him, because he never knows when he'll be called on to sing.
Dave Sindelar	The Birds (1963)	#27	[-]
(11/09/09 11:33 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	#10. The Birds (1963) One of Alfred Hitchcock's more overt horror movies, this one still packs a punch. Not only does it reach a pitch of nail-biting suspense, but the ending is one of my very favorite scenes of all time. He always carries his guitar with him, because he never knows when he'll be called on to sing.
CAPTAINCOMPANY		#28	[-]
(11/10/09 3:15 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Hey Dave! Good to see "The Birds" get its due...even though its considered a "classic", its often unfairly neglected due to standing in the shadow of "Psycho" (and is virtually as influential as) I'm also glad to see "Arsenic and Old Lace", easily the FUNNIEST "black comedy" of its (and just about any) era (if only they could have gotten the "real" Karloff...) Bryan
Dave Sindelar	The Black Cat (1934)	#29	[-]
(11/10/09 11:43 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	The Black Cat (1934) Edgar G. Ulmer directs Karloff and Lugosi in their first movie together. The plot is something of a confusing mess, but it has some great dialogue, and it's easily the most bizarre of the Universal classics of the time. I find it irresistible. He always carries his guitar with him, because he never knows when he'll be called on to sing.
oldmanster		#30	[-]
(11/11/09 2:38 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	I have absolutely no objection to any of the titles you've listed thus far, Dave. Arsenic and Old Lace deserves wider recognition for its combination of horror and comedy. ... Reed
Dave Sindelar		#31	[-]
(11/11/09 8:30 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	I don't foresee much objection to my choices for a while, because I'm going to be sticking to the safe ones for a bit. As I get further on, my choices will probably get quirkier, more bizarre, and a bit controversial, I suppose. He always carries his guitar with him, because he never knows when he'll be called on to sing.
Dave Sindelar	The Blob (1958)	#32	[-]
(11/12/09 12:14 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	#12. The Blob (1958) Right now, I'm just going down the alphabetical list of the movies I've done and looking out for ones that pop out with a certain prominence. This is one that popped out, and though I was tempted to pass it by and save it for later, it seemed such a quintessential monster movie that I just couldn't bypass it. Sure, it's on the goofy side, and I'm sure there are those who will question this choice, but this is one I knew I'd be adding sooner or later, so why not now? He always carries his guitar with him, because he never knows when he'll be called on to sing.
Dave Sindelar		#33	[-]
(11/12/09 11:39 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	#13. The Body Snatcher (1945) Boris Karloff gave one of his finest performances in his first collaboration with Val Lewton, and this movie marks a high point for both of them. It also marks the last collaboration between Karloff and Bela Lugosi, who, despite being saddled with a somewhat thankless role, still manages to do a fine job. Throw in a great turn from Henry Daniell and you have one of the horror highlights of the forties. He always carries his guitar with him, because he never knows when he'll be called on to sing.
Dave Sindelar	The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)	#34	[-]
(11/14/09 12:11 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	#14. The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) Did anyone seriously think I would omit one this one? He always carries his guitar with him, because he never knows when he'll be called on to sing.
Dave Sindelar	The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)	#35	[-]
(11/15/09 12:40 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	#15. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) Very influential silent horror thriller is a triumph of style, plus it gives us one of Conrad Veidt's most famous roles. He always carries his guitar with him, because he never knows when he'll be called on to sing.
Dave Sindelar	Carnival of Souls (1962)	#36	[-]
(11/16/09 12:04 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	#16. Carnival of Souls (1962) This eerie little cult item is like an extended Twilight Zone episode. It was made on a very low budget by a company who primarily made eduational films. It is wonderfully atmospheric and makes truly eerie use of an abandoned amusement park. He always carries his guitar with him, because he never knows when he'll be called on to sing.
Dave Sindelar	Castle of Blood (1964)	#37	[-]
(11/17/09 12:12 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	#17. Castle of Blood (1964) Maybe I'm jumping the gun a little placing this one so early, but if this movie isn't often considered in the top line of horror classics, I think it should be. It's one of the eeriest and most unsettling ghost stories out there and features one of my all-time favorite endings. If I had to pick a favorite Barbara Steele movie, this would be it. He always carries his guitar with him, because he never knows when he'll be called on to sing.
evilskippy		#38	[-]
(11/17/09 10:19 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Dave Sindelar wrote: #17. Castle of Blood (1964) Maybe I'm jumping the gun a little placing this one so early, but if this movie isn't often considered in the top line of horror classics, I think it should be. It's one of the eeriest and most unsettling ghost stories out there and features one of my all-time favorite endings. If I had to pick a favorite Barbara Steele movie, this would be it. No arguements from me on this one. When I first saw this in 1968 (maybe early 69) it just blew me away. "Some days its not worth the effort of chewing through the restraints".
hermanthegerm		#39	[-]
(11/17/09 9:36 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Just to comment that I hate those 'best' and 'essential' lists that have only movies of the last ten years! What are these people thinking of? "There is a lot of money tied up in this film and people expect to hear a boom when something blows up, so I'll give them a boom." George Lucas as quoted by Harlan Ellison's WATCHING
CreepingBride		#40	[-]
(11/17/09 9:54 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Dave Sindelar wrote: #17. Castle of Blood (1964) Maybe I'm jumping the gun a little placing this one so early, but if this movie isn't often considered in the top line of horror classics, I think it should be. It's one of the eeriest and most unsettling ghost stories out there and features one of my all-time favorite endings. If I had to pick a favorite Barbara Steele movie, this would be it. The first surprise so far and one that I heartily applaud!

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