Letters to the Editor

Volume VI Number 37
September 17-23, 1998

More Movies: Reader's Top 10

Dear New Bay Times~Weekly:

I'll be the first to admit my movie tastes don't conform to the general public's or successful film critics' lists. But all of the films I've listed are ones I never get tired of seeing. Since I have been in broadcasting for nearly a quarter of a century (I am currently program director of WMJS 92.7fm), it should not be surprising that three of my film choices deal with broadcasting. There is also a Western, a baseball movie, three war pictures, a gangster flick, a courtroom story, a chiller and five films with political aspects. Musicals are okay. Romance is great and science fiction is okay. But none of those types made my list. Also, none of my picks have car chases.

1. Inherit the Wind

Spencer Tracy and Frederick March are terrific along with a cast of great character actors. One flaw: Gene Kelly as H.L. Mencken doesn't dance.

2. The Godfather

Brando and Pacino star with Cazale and Alex Rocco part of a great supporting cast. How did that horse's head get there?

3. From Here to Eternity

Great cast, great story; love that black and white.

4. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Wouldn't it be great if more politicians did what Claude Rains does at the end of this one?

5. Mr. Roberts

Lemmon and Cagney are great. Flaw: Those goofy enlisted men.

6. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

Great cast, terrific story.

7. Pride of the Yankees

Lou Gehrig was the greatest and saddest story in sports.

8. Good Morning, Vietnam

Robin Williams was great, but Bruno Kirby gets the gold star for his role as the sorriest deejay in the business.

9. Play Misty for Me

What can I say? I'm a deejay. This one scared the dickens out of me.

10. A Face in the Crowd

Kazan's least remembered work is a curio because of its cast: Andy Griffith, Water Matthau, Patricia Neal, Lee Remick - before they were stars. Loved it from start to finish. I think it was better than Network.

Thank you for giving the readers of NBT opportunity to submit our lists.

-Marty Madden, Prince Frederick

Dept. of Corrections

As Calvert County reader Joyce Flaherty pointed out in last week's feature story, "The Best of the Movie's First Century," it was Raymond Burr who pounced on Jimmy Stewart in the movie Rear Window. Aaron Burr shot Alexander Hamilton, author of The Federalist Papers, in a duel.

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