Classic Movies on Netflix: What You Can Watch While Self-Quarantining
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| Actors Al Mulock, Jack Elam, Woody Strode, and Charles Bronson demonstrate proper social distancing technique in Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in the West |
We are living in an unprecedented time in which world events (the COVID-19 pandemic) and modern life have combined in such a way that we are shut off from each other physically yet never more connected virtually through the internet, social media, and steaming culture. While our human interactions are limited, our need to connect with people hasn't changed, nor has the brain stopped needing stimulus. That is where movies, television shows, and books come in: they help to stimulate the parts of our brain that keep us thinking and creating and while they don't fully replace human interaction, they help us to think of others in the world, create empathy, give perspective, and at times provide necessary escapism as well.
Many lists have been published in recent days about what new TV shows to binge or which movies to watch, though most have focused only on recent decades. I decided it might be helpful to suggest some classic movies available on streaming services you likely already have, so here goes.
Netflix
For the king of streaming services, classic movie selections are actually quite thin, but there are still some interesting entries:
The Stranger (1946) dir. Orson Welles
Though it is probably Welles worst movie - it's uneven and overdone - The Stranger is still a quite entertainingly little film noir post-war thriller with several moments of the genius Welles would have on full display elsewhere. There is also a certain modern relevance to the film's story in the way that characters either accept or reject Kindler/Rankin: how accepting and forgiving are we as a people just for the sake of "moving on" and "letting the healing begin." Also, pay special attention to the ways that light and space are manipulated in the film's more suspenseful moments.
Let There Be Light (1946) dir. John Huston
Another post-War film form 1946, Let There Be Light is a documentary about the soldiers returning from war that are suffering from PTSD. Their struggles are shown in detail, as is their treatment and road to recovery. Now obviously, this certainly isn't light, escapist fare but it is quite a powerful experience that can lend a little perspective as well. Just as interesting as the movie itself is how the American armed forces responded to it: faced with the need to restock the armed forces for post-War occupations, the military feared that showing ex-GIs suffering from PTSD would make men less likely to enlist. Since the military commissioned, funded, and distributed the film, they were able to suppress it and did so until 1981 when it was finally released. Besides being a moving documentary, Let There Be Light is also an important reminder that government institutions are frequently incentivized to place their goals over the good of individuals, which is sadly relevant to the current pandemic situation we find ourselves in.
Five Came Back (2017) dir. Laurent Bouzereau
Based on Mark Harris' tremendous 2014 book about Hollywood and World War II, this documentary series focuses on the experience and influence of five Hollywood directors - John Huston, Frank Capra, John Ford, William Wyler, and George Stevens - who enlisted in the military during World War II and made documentaries (including Let There Be Light) to the help the war effort. While the tone of the series is a little bit more celebratory than the book's in-depth analysis and criticism, film luminaries like Steven Spielberg, Guillermo del Toro, Francis Ford Coppola, Lawrence Kasdan, and Paul Greengrass keep things entertaining and informative.
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) dir. Sergio Leone
Leone's followup to the famous The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966) is an even more extreme exercise in his style: slow, deliberate pace and editing, juxtaposed long-shots and massive close-ups all used to build almost unbearable tension before the sudden release of violence. Like most westerns made during the 60s, Once Upon a Time in the West eschews traditional good-vs-evil characters and plot, instead choosing to focus on the seedier, gritty aspects of the American west. As such, it is considerably darker and more adult than other classic westerns. It's also a so-called spaghetti western, made by an Italian director and shot partially in Italy, Spain, and the United States, thus you have the clearly Italian Claudia Cardinale playing "Jill McBain," and a variety of Italian actors in supporting roles. As was the custom of Italian films of this period, Once Upon a Time in the West is heavily dubbed, so if you noticed a little bit of awkwardness with the dialogue synchronization, that is why. Also, pay special attention to the musical score, composed by the great Ennio Morricone.
The Wicker Man (1973) dir. Robin Hardy
No, not that Wicker Man. This classic horror film is still scary and effective, though much of its plot has likely leaked already into your consciousness, even if you've never seen it. Still, it isn't the story that makes the film so creepy so much as the atmosphere and contrasting of images and tone: bright and festive May Day celebrations that eventually begin to break into fear and paranoia. It's one of the great examples of how a horror movie can make you feel uneasy along with the protagonist. Even if you already know the ending, The Wicker Man has a way of getting under your skin. Note: definitely not for children or the horror averse!
The Twilight Zone (1959 - 1964) presented by Rod Serling
This is a show that has become ubiquitous in popular culture, frequently referenced and spoofed, but how many of the show's original 156 episodes have you actually seen? This is a very consistent show with few duds (though there are some) and many, many episodes that rank with the best that have ever aired on American television. It is also a show that remains remarkably relevant to our times with episodes addressing prejudice, racism, xenophobia, consumerism, paranoia, vanity, hubris, and pretty much every aspect of human nature and society. If you don't want to dive directly into a full 1 to 156 watch, here's ten classic episodes to start with:
1. "The Monsters are Due on Maple Street" (Season 1, Episode 22)
2. "A Stop at Willoughby" (Season 1, Episode 30)
3. "The After Hours" (Season 1, Episode 34)
4. "Eye of the Beholder" (Season 2, Episode 6)
5. "The Invaders" (Season 2, Episode 15)
6. "It's a Good Life" (Season 3, Episode 8)
7. "The Changing of the Guard (Season 3, Episode 37)
8. "In His Image" (Season 4, Episode 1)
9. "Living Doll" (Season 5, Episode 6)
10. "The Masks" (Season 5, Episode 25)
If you like what you've read here, be sure to check out the book I've written!
Also, consider donating to the Art-House America campaign, which is raising money to keep independent movie theaters afloat during this crisis.
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