It may seem odd to end this list with a top 17, but when I reviewed it, those films were just that little bit ahead of the rest….
17 North by Northwest (1959 / Alfred Hitchcock)
Hitchcock’ best American film contains some of his finest sequences (the crop dusting plane and the Mount Rushmore climax for example) and Cary Grant is at his most suave. I was lucky enough to see this on a re-issue on a big screen, and that is the best way to experience it.
16 Manhattan (1979 / Woody Allen)
Allen came into his own as a director in the mid to late 70s, and this beautiful looking film is my favourite of his mature comedies.
15 The Godfather Part 2 (1974 / Francis Coppola)
Miraculously it improves on the original thanks to stunning performances from Pacino and De Niro.
14 Twelve Angry Men (1957 / Sidney Lumet)
Lumet went on to make so many great films, as you can see from the rest of my list, but this debut remains my favourite. Great acting all round, but Henry Fonda, as the lone juror who thinks an accused man is innocent, tops all of them.
13 The Maltese Falcon (1941 / John Huston)
Humphrey Bogart was in many ways an unlikely superstar, but he was a magnificent screen presence. None more so than in this classic detective yarn.
12 Crimes And Misdemeanours (1990 / Woody Allen)
There’s been a lot of Woody Allen on this list, but this is my favourite of his, just! Intertwining stories about love and infidelity, it deserves to be better known.
11 Short Cuts (1993 / Robert Altman)
An absolutely stunning effort from Altman. Using his trademark technique of presenting multiple storylines and making them into a coherent whole, he delivers his best movie concerning various Los Angeles residents.
10 A Touch of Evil (1958 / Orson Welles)
Mostly famous for its brilliant opening tracking shot, but there is so much more to this story about murder and corruption in a Mexican border town. It features my favourite performances by both the director and Janet Leigh. Charlton Heston as a Mexican is interesting casting but it doesn’t spoil my enjoyment!
9 Once Upon a Time in the West (1968 / Sergio Leone)
Everything comes together for Leone’s typically sprawling epic western. Still feels fresh and Henry Fonda shocks in an atypical riole.
8 Rashomon (1950 / Akira Kurosawa)
Revolutionary story telling for its time – showing the same events from multiple viewpoints – this is, for my money, Kurosawa’a crowning achievement.
7 Citizen Kane (1941 / Orson Welles)
It seems almost a cliché to include Citizen Kane, but it is a film that is generally dismissed by those who haven’t seen it. Yes, it has pioneering techniques, but the story of what happens after a publishing tycoon dies is truly compelling too
6 Duck Soup (1933 / Leo McCarey)
No film has made me laugh more. Pure Marx Brothers without an unnecessary subplot or musical numbers.
5 39 Steps (1935 / Alfred Hitchcock)
This early sound film from Hitchcock is the ultimate adventure movie about an innocent man going on the run. Fast paced, the perfect action pic.
4 All the President’s Men (1976 / Alan J Pakula)
If you have read all of this list you will know my fascination for films about politics and this is the ultimate example. Based on real events but as tense as any fictional thriller. The book it is based on is a must read too.
3 The Big Sleep (1946 / Howard Hawks)
There have been few films with a more twisty plot – even the author of the original story was unsure who committed one of the murders! The screen practically sizzles when Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall appear on screen together sharing some very saucy dialogue…
2 Les Enfants du Paradis (1945 / Marcel Carné)
Carné is not the most celebrated French director, but he is my favourite. Set in 1840’s Paris, the film is dominated by a luminous performance by Arletty, a woman loved by many men.
1 The Seventh Seal (1957 / Ingmar Bergman)
The fact that it has been parodied many times (hello Bill & Ted) does not diminish the power of this amazing film. When people ask me what it is about, an answer of life, death, the existence of God (or not) doesn’t really do it justice. Just watch it!