A guide to films of social significance and artistic merit that are available on video cassette or digital video disk from Media Materials Services in Holland Library.

 

Films Indexed by Country | Films Indexed by Director

 

 

 

Alexander Nevsky (Russia, 1938, B&W, Subtitled,112 min.) [VHS 11209]

Prince Nevsky defeats the invading Teutonic Knights on a frozen lake in the Thirteenth Century. A historical epic that blends images with music in dramatic battle scenes.

 

All about Eve (1950, B&W, 138 min.) [VHS 19007]

An aging stage actress is outwitted by an ambitious understudy who seizes her chance at stardom. A very compelling story about Broadway featuring many splendid performances.

 

All Quiet on the Western Front (1930, B&W, 130 min.) [VHS 11029]

A group of young German men enlist and are sent to the front in World War I. A vivid depiction of life and death in the trenches and a commentary on the futility of war.

 

Amadeus (1984, Color, 160 min.) [VHS 11756]

The stormy life of the young Mozart. An engrossing historical drama played out against the music of Mozart.

 

An American in Paris (1951, Color, 113 min.) [VHS 17012]

A young artist rejects the patronage of a rich woman for the love of a younger woman. A classic Hollywood musical with wonderful dance scenes.

 

Andrei Rublev (Russia, 1966, B&W, Subtitled, 185 min.) [VHS 19009]

A biographical story about a famous icon painter who is caught up in the social upheavals of medieval Russia. A meticulously crafted film by a great contemporary Russian director.

 

The Asphalt Jungle (1950, B&W, 102 min.) [VHS 17013]

An aging criminal mastermind plans his last bank robbery. A gritty character study of criminals and the underworld in the fifties that employs film noir style and themes.

 

L'Avventura (Italy, 1960, B&W, Subtitled, 145 min.) [VHS 16992]

Young people on a yachting trip visit a volcanic island and end up searching for a missing companion. A film that violates all of the rules of film narration by its lack of closure.

 

The Battleship Potemkin (Russia, 1925, B&W, Silent, 67 min.) [VHS 11208]

Sailors mutiny in Odessa during the Russian uprising of 1905. An innovative film that demonstrates the power of editing.

 

Beauty and the Beast (France, 1946, B&W, Substitled, 93min.) [VHS 19002]

A visual masterpiece, based on a fairy tale by Mme. Leprince de Beaumont, of the unrequited love of a half-human beast for a beautiful young woman. A surrealistic experience.

 

Belle de Jour (France, 1967, Color, Subtitled, 100 min.) [VHS16993]

A bored wife of a surgeon becomes a part-time prostitute. An unconventional mixture of realism and fantasy.

 

The Best Years of Our Lives (1946, B&W, 170 min.) [VHS 17015]

Three veterans return home from the war and face difficulties adjusting to civilian life. A memorable film that deals with sensitive social issues in postwar America.

 

The Big Heat (1953, B&W, 79 min.) [VHS 16995]

A detective goes undercover to find his wife's killer. A well-crafted film that was controversial, at the time, because of its realism and violence.

 

The Birth of a Nation (1915, B&W, Silent, 185 min.) [VHS 15344]

Two families are swept up in the events of the Civil War and its aftermath. An early masterpiece of cinematic technique flawed only by its racist content.

 

Blade Runner (1982, Color, 117 min). ( [VHS 11183]

In a futuristic city, a policeman is assigned the task of killing a group of highly advanced robots. The first film to blend detective and science fiction genres.

 

The Blue Angel (Germany, 1930, B&W, Subtitled, 98 min.) [VHS 11256]

A professor marries a night-club singer who soon becomes bored with him. A memorable but grim study in human degradation.

 

Bonnie and Clyde (1967, Color, 112 min.) [DVS 57]

A biographical story about two celebrated American bank robbers of the Depression era. An influential film that introduced many innovative cinematic techniques taken from New Wave films.

 

Brazil (1985, Color, 142 min.) [VHS 12939]

A bureaucrat is an oppressive futuristic government questions authority and pays the consequences. A surrealistic blend of comedy and science fiction.

 

Breathless (France, 1960, B&W, Subtitled, 90 min.) [VHS 18997]

An amoral young thief convinces a young American student in Paris to hide him from the police. A pioneer film of the New Wave film movement that introduces many cinematic innovations.

 

The Bridge on the River Kwai (England, 1957, Color, 161 min.) [VHS 14927]

British prisoners build a bridge in Burma for the Japanese but British commandos are sent to destroy it. Fine acting in an effective story about the futility of war.

 

Children of a Lesser God (1986, Color, 110 min.) [VHS 11873]

A young, deaf woman falls in love with her therapist. A slow moving melodrama with excellent acting performances.

 

Chinatown (1974, Color, 174 min.) [DVD 26]

A private detective is hired to solve a case and becomes romantically involved with his employer. A suspenseful detective story that recreates the ambiance of Los Angeles in the Thirties.

 

Citizen Kane (1941, B&W, 119 min.) [VHS 11175]

After a newspaper magnate dies, reporters attempt to reconstruct his life. A controversial film that introduced a series of radical innovations in lighting and staging.

 

A Clockwork Orange (England, 1971, Color, 136 min.) [VHS11187]

A young psychopath is released from a mental hospital after being brainwashed by his doctors. A dark and often repulsive film with obvious social and moral overtones.

 

Dangerous Liaisons (1988, Color, 120 min.) [VHS 13883]

Two French aristocrats compete with one another in arranging sexual affairs among their acquaintances. A dispassionate analysis of the dangers of passion and lust.

 

The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951, B&W, 92 min) [VHS 19010]

A visitor from another world comes to Washington, D.C. on a peace mission but gets a hostile reception. An early but classic example of the science-fiction film genre.

 

Diary of a Country Priest (France, 1950, B&W, Subtitled, 115 min.) [VHS 11645]

A young, lonely priest fails to impress his parishioners, falls ill, and dies. An austere and depressing film redeemed by beautiful cinematography.

 

Dr. Strangelove (1963, B&W, 93 min.) [VHS 13722]

A mad Air Force general launches a nuclear attack and politicians quarrel over the consequences. A black comedy about a pressing problem of the sixties.

 

Doctor Zhivago (1965, Color, 192 min.) [VHS 11034]

A young, idealistic doctor is swept up in the events surrounding the Russian Revolution. A beautifully photographed love story set in the midst of an epic revolution.

 

La Dolce Vita (Italy, 1960, B&W, Subtitled, 173 min.) [VHS 17132]

A journalist is attracted to and repulsed by the excesses of high society in Rome. A satirical melodrama that explores the consequences of hedonism.

 

Double Indemnity (1944, B&W, 107 min.) [VHS 19001]

An insurance saleman and an attractive woman conspire to kill her husband for his insurance. A classic example of the film noir detective genre.

East of Eden (1955, Color, 115 min.) [VHS 14870]

A young man fails to gain acceptance from his father and seeks out his mother, who runs the local brothel. A complex character study with excellent acting.

 

The Exterminating Angel (Mexico, 1962, B&W, Subtitled, 93 min.) [VHS 18999]

The wealthy guests at a dinner party are inexplicably unable to leave and eventually reveal their baser natures. An allegorical comedy by one of the great directors of modern film.

 

Fanny and Alexander (Sweden, 1982, Color, Subtitled, 188 min.) [VHS 15053]

A wealthy Swedish family comes together at Christmas. A visually stunning character study of an entire family.

 

Fantasia (1940; Color, 135 min.) [VHS 14338]

A fanciful tale that serves to integrate animated sequences with classical music. There is no plot worth mentioning but the juxtaposition of the images and the music is captivating.

 

The Four Hundred Blows (France, 1959, B&W, Subtitled, 97 min.) [VHS 17037]

  • Dir. & Scr.: François Truffaut; Scr.: Marcel Moussy; Cin.: Henri Decaë
  • Cast: Jean-Pierre Léaud, Claire Maurier, Albert Rémy
    • A teenage boy, unhappy at home, is detained by the police but escapes and keeps running. An engaging view of Paris as seen through the eyes of a child.

     

    The French Connection (1971, Color, 104 min.) [VHS 19000]

    Two undercover New York City narcotics agents cover a plan to ship a huge load of heroin from France. An absorbing and frenetic view of criminal activity at the street level.

     

    Gandhi (England, 1982, Color, 188 min.) [VHS 11035]

    A biography of the lawyer turned political leader who leads India to independence. A compelling story of epic proportions with excellent acting.

     

    The Garden of the Finzi-Continis (Italy, 1971, Color, Subtitled, 94 min.) [VHS 18995]

    The members of a wealthy Jewish family in Italy attempt to go about their lives until they are arrested and deported to Germany. An evocative film by one the most innovative Italian directors.

     

    The General (1927, B&W, Silent, 75 min.) [VHS 17021]

    A confederate train engineer rescues his train and his girlfriend from Union soldiers. One of the funniest films ever made with hilarious sequences of sight gags.

     

    Glory (1989, Color, 122 min.) [VHS 18314]

    A history of the first black regiment in the Civil War. A somewhat romantic but still compelling account of a little known chapter in American history.

     

    Gold Rush (1925, B&W, Silent, 72 min.) [VHS 11001]

    A prospector arrives in the Yukon and finds both adventure and his fortune. An engaging mixture of physical humor and pathos by the master of silent comedy.

     

    The Godfather (1972, Color, 175 min.) [VHS 18387]

    Members of a close-knit Italian-American family murder the members of rival families in the Mafia. A moody evocation of life and death inside the Mafia.

     

    The Godfather, Part II (1974, Color, 200 min.) [VHS 18388]

    The members of a Mafia family attempt to enter legitimate businesses. Not as compelling as the original Godfather but still engaging.

     

    The Grand Illusion (France, 1937, B&E, Subtitled, 95 min.) [VHS 11665]

    Two French airmen are shot down and captured but attempt to escape from a German P.O.W. camp. A poetic film about the effects of war on otherwise decent people.

     

    The Grapes of Wrath (1940, B&W, 129 min.) [VHS 11193]

    An ex-convict and his family are forced to leave their farm during the Depression and move to California. A moving and lyrical film about a troubled period of American history.

     

    High Noon (1952, B&W, 85 min.) [VHS 11195]

    A retiring town marshal fails to get any help from townspeople in his confrontation with vengeful gunmen. An effective drama paced to equate screen time with real time.

     

    Hiroshima, Mon Amour (France, 1954, B&W, Subtitled, 88 min.) [VHS 19008]

    A Japanese architect and a French actress have an affair and exchange memories of their experiences during the war. An influential film that skillfully counterposes images of love and war.

     

    His Girl Friday (1940, B&W, 92 min.) [VHS 17011]

    A newspaperwoman, whose editor is her ex-husband, aids in the escape of a man falsely convicted murder. A very fast-paced black comedy loaded with social commentary.

     

    It's a Wonderful Life (1946, B&W, 129 min.) [VHS 11146]

    A man is prevented from committing suicide by his guardian angel, who shows him the importance of his life to others. A superbly crafted blend of comedy, drama, and fantasy.

     

    Imitation of Life (1959, Color, 124 min.) [VHS 17661]

    A successful actress loses her best friend but, as a result, is reconciled with her own daughter. An effective melodrama that deals with issues of racism.

     

    Ivan the Terrible (Russia, 1942, B&W, Subtitled, 188 min.) [VHS 11210]

    The life and times of a tsar in 16th-century Russia. An often slow-moving but visually stunning historical drama.

     

    Judgment at Nuremberg (1961, B&W, 190 min.) [VHS 11437]

    A judge struggles with his conscience during War Crimes trials of the Nazi leaders in postwar Germany. An overly long but engaging melodrama.

     

    The Lady Vanishes (England, 1938, B&W, 97 min.) [VHS 18445]

    Two young people investigate the mysterious disappearance of an old woman from a train. A stylish blend of comedy and suspense by the master of suspense.

     

    The Last Emperor (Italy, Hong Kong & England, 1987, Color, 160 min.) [VHS 15152]

    The last emperor of China becomes a puppet of the Japanese and later the Communists. A visually breathtaking tour of a tumultuous period in Chinese history.

     

    The Last Laugh (Germany, 1924, B&W, Silent, 91 min.) [VHS 17024]

    The old doorman of a luxury hotel is demoted to lavatory attendant but finds a fortune and gets his revenge. An ironic tale told almost entirely in images with very little dialogue.

     

    Lawrence of Arabia (England, 1962, Color, 221 min.) [VHS 10034]

    A young, eccentric British officer is sent to help the Arabs fight the Turks in World War I. A sprawling historical epic that captures the austere beauty of life on the desert.

     

    M (Germany, 1931, B&W, Subtitled, 118 min.) [VHS 11679]

    A psychopathic child murderer eludes the police but is finally caught by other criminals. A mesmerizing display of German expressionist film at its best.

     

    The Magnificent Ambersons (1942, B&W, 88 min.) [VHS 15126]

    The proud young scion of a wealthy family is humiliated after the family loses its fortune. An imaginatively staged and shot period drama.

     

    The Maltese Falcon (1941, B&W, 101 min.) [VHS 16994]

    A private detective, whose partner is murdered, becomes involved in the search for a priceless statuette. An effective detective drama with superb acting performances.

     

    A Man for All Seasons (England, 1966, Color, 120 min.) [VHS 15699]

    Sir Thomas More opposes the divorce of his friend, King Henry VIII, and forfeits his life. A well-crafted historical drama with excellent acting performances.

     

    The Manchurian Candidate (1962, B&@, 129 min.) [DVS 18]

    A decorated former prisoner-of-war from the Korean War discovers that he has been brainwashed. This is a compelling mixture of reality and symbolism with heavy moral overtones.

     

    The Marriage of Eva Braun (Germany, 1978, Color, Subtitled, 102 min.) [VHS 18996]

    A young woman in post-war Germany strives for material wealth at the expense of human values. An allegorical story by one of the pioneers of the New German Cinema movement.

     

    M*A*S*H (1970, Color, 117 min) [VHS 19004]

    A comedy about the daily activities of the surgeons and nurses operating a mobile field hospital in the Korean War. A skillful melding of unlikely plots and zany personalties.

     

    Meet John Doe (1941, B&W, 123 min.) [VHS 11690]

    A tramp, who is duped into leading a phony political movement for the common man, almost commits suicide. A dark but often compelling drama with political overtones.

     

    Metropolis (Germany, 1926, B&W, Silent, 90 min.) [VHS 16201]

    In a futuristic society, workers are incited to rebellion by a young girl created by a mad scientist. Although slow at times, this film is still able to evoke terror and excitement.

     

    Midnight Cowboy (1969, Color, 113 min.) [VHS 11178]

    An aspiring gigolo meets a con man and discovers life on the streets in New York. A brutal glimpse of the underside of life in a great city.

     

    The Miracle (Italy, 1950, B&W, Subtitled, 45 min.) [VHS 17004]

    A simple-minded girl, who is seduced by a shepherd, believes her baby is the result of immaculate conception. A simple but controversial story that enraged the Catholic Church.

     

    Mon Oncle (France, 1956, Color, Subtitled, 116 min.) [VHS 11697]

    A young boy from an affluent but sterile home discovers the joys visiting his eccentric uncle. A warm and inventive satire about family relationships.

     

    Mutiny on the Bounty (1935, B&W, 135 min.) [VHS11204]

    A young British naval officer leads a mutiny against a tyrannical captain. An epic story that still captures the imagination.

     

    The Nasty Girl (Germany, 1990, Color, Subtitled, 92 min.) [VHS 16294]

    A young girl is scorned by her neighbors after she begins asking questions about events in her town during the Nazi era. A political satire shot to resemble a documentary.

     

    Ninotchka (1939, B&W, 110 min.) [VHS 17016]

    A Paris playboy falls for a Communist agent sent to sell crown jewels. A sparkling romantic comedy based on an old theme.

     

    Oliver Twist (English, 1948, B&W, 116 min.) [VHS 17018]

    A young orphan falls in with thieves but is rescued by a kind old man. A brilliant adaptation of a literary classic with excellent acting performances.

     

    On the Waterfront (1954, B&W, 108 min.) [VHS 17001]

    A dock worker turns against his corrupt friends after they murder his brother. A moody thriller about union corruption shot entirely on location near the docks.

     

    One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975, Color, 134 min.) [VHS 11048]

    An exuberant nonconformist struggles against authority in a state mental hospital. A comedy that becomes a sinister drama with serious social and political overtones.

     

    Ossessione (Italy, 1942, B&W, Subtitled, 140 min.) [VHS 19014]

    A young drifter falls in love with the wife of the owner of a roadside restaurant. A precursor of the Italian Neo-Realist film movement in its use of everyday locales and situations.

     

    Patton (1970, Color, 171 min.) [VHS 11037]

    A biography of the most colorful and celebrated general in World War II. A brilliant character study of a fascinating historical figure.

     

    The Philadelphia Story (1940, B&W, 112 min.) [VHS 17006]

    A snobbish heiress, about to marry for a second time, has a change of heart and marries her first husband again. A delightful romantic comedy with excellent acting performances.

     

    A Place in the Sun (1951, B&W, 122 min.) [VHS 17014]

    A poor young man falls in love with a rich cousin but is arrested for murdering his old girlfriend. A visually striking melodrama with social overtones.

     

    Psycho (1960, B&W, 94 min.) [VHS 11196]

    Visitors at a lonely motel are apparently murdered by the mother of the young motel clerk. A simple suspense plot that is made effective by innovative cinematic techniques.

     

    Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, Color, 115 min.) [VHS 11214]

    An archaeologist and explorer vies with the Germans to recovery a religious artifact with magical powers. An adventure film that is short on both plot and character development.

     

    Ran (Japan, 1985, Color, Subtitled, 161 min.) [VHS 15722]

    A Japanese version of King Lear with an aging king warring with his three sons. A visually stunning epic with plenty of action and violence.

     

    Rear Window (1954, Color, 112 min.) [VHS 19441]

    A magazine photographer observes his neighbors and begins to suspect that one of them is a murderer. A suspense film with little action but with a great plot and great acting.

     

    Rebel Without a Cause (1955, Color, 111 min.) [VHS 17017]

    A teenage boy from a respectable family gets into trouble with his friends and the police. A somewhat dated but engaging melodrama about the problem of juvenile delinquency.

     

    Reds (1981, Color, 196 min.) [VHS 12550]

    The adventures of a radical American journalist and his wife during the Russian Revolution. An historical epic that captures the excitement of a country in revolution.

     

    The Right Stuff (1983, Color, 193 min.) [VHS 15745]

    An historically accurate account of the early American space program. Very well done historical drama that contains surprisingly little action or drama.

     

    The Rules of the Game (France, 1939, B&W, Subtitled, 113 min.) [VHS 17005]

    A count organizes a weekend shooting party that leads to a series of affairs involving guests and servants. A satirical and bleak view of the activities of the upper class in France.

     

    Scarface (1932, B&W, 99 min.) [VHS 16996]

    The rise and fall of a ruthless gangster in Chicago during the twenties. One of the most violent and controversial of the early gangster movies.

     

    The Seven Samurai (Japan, 1954, B&W, Subtitled, 210 min.) [VHS 17138]

    Villagers in feudal Japan hire a samurai warrior to protect them from bandits. A vivid and violent adventure film that spawned many imitations.

     

    Shane (1953, Color; 118 min.) [VHS 11191]

    A mysterious gunman protects a family of homesteaders who are being threatened by the neighboring rancher. A slow paced but engrossing drama.

     

    Shanghai Express (1932, B&W, 84 min.) [VHS 17144]

    A British officer and his former lover meet on a train that is captured by Chinese bandits. A visually stunning melodrama with more character development than action.

     

    Shoot the Piano Player (France, 1960, B&W, Subtitled, 80 min.) [VHS 11714]

    The piano player in a bar becomes involved with criminals, which leads to death of his girlfriend. A skillful homage to American film noir.

     

    Stagecoach (1939, B&W, 99 min.) [VHS 16977]

    An unlikely group of travelers are thrown together in a stagecoach that is threatened by an Indian war party. A landmark western that combines action with character development.

     

    Sullivan's Travels (1942, B&W, 90 min.) [VHS 16998]

    A director tires of making comedies and leaves Hollywood in search of real life experiences. A blend of drama and comedy that examines the motion picture industry.

     

    Sunset Boulevard (1950, B&W, 110 min.) [VHS 17002]

    An unsuccessful screenwriter comes to live with an aging but slightly demented actress. An moody melodrama, with fine performances, that explores the opportunism of Hollywood.

     

    Taxi Driver (1976, Color, 114 min.) [VHS 11176]

    A troubled taxi driver becomes deranged by the squalor of street life in New York. A moody and troubling view of life in the streets of New York.

     

    The Third Man (England, 1949, B&W, 100 min.) [VHS 11722]

    A writer, visiting post-war Berlin, tries to find his friend, who has mysteriously disappeared. A very moody and romantic mystery shot on location in Berlin.

     

    The 39 Steps (England, 1935, B&W, 87 min.) [VHS 11723]

    A man falsely accused of murdering a spy must elude the police and find the real villains. A fast-paced and moody combination of comedy and suspense.

     

    To Kill a Mockingbird (1962, B&W, 129 min.) [VHS 11188]

    A lawyer defends a black man accused of rape, as seen through the eyes of his young daughter. An engrossing drama that captures the atmosphere of the South in the thirties.

     

    Tom Jones (England, 1963, Color, 129 min.) [VHS 14926]

    An orphan in 18th century England is raised by a squire and marries his daughter. A face-paced comedy that captures the details of everyday life during this period.

     

    Touch of Evil (1957, B&W, 168 min.) [VHS 18998]

    A narcotics officer and his wife become implicated in a murder by a corrupt policeman in a border town. An film noir detective story directed by the brilliant enfant terrible of American film.

     

    Twelve Angry Men (1957, B&W, 95 min.) [VHS 11192]

    A jury of twelve men must decide the fate of a defendant in a murder trial. A compelling character study with most of the action occurring in a small jury room.

     

    2001: A Space Odyssey (England, 1968, Color, 141 min.) [VHS 11174]

    A mysterious monolith is discovered on an uninhabited planet. Realistic special effects draw the audience into an often incomprehensible plot.

     

    Ugetsu Monogatari (Japan, 1963, B&W, Subtitled, 94 min.) [VHS 19003]

    In feudal Japan, two men travel to the city to seek their fortunes but their wives pay the consequences. A morality tale that contrasts, through editing, the lives of men and women.

     

    The Wild Bunch (1969, Color, 179 min.) [DVD 1] [DVD 50]

    A group of turn-of-the-century American mercenaries agree to deliver a load of weapons to a ruthless Mexican general. A cynical and violent film that changed the Western genre forever.

     

    Wild Strawberries (Sweden, 1957, B&W, Subtitled, 93 min.) [VHS 17025]

    An aging professor takes a trip that causes him to contemplate his life. A beautifully paced and acted film that is laden with symbolism.

     

    Wings of Desire (Germany & France; 1987, Color, 127 min.) [VHS 16295]

    An angel falls in love with a circus performer and decides that he wants to be a human being. A beautiful investigation of human nature in the context of recent German history.

     

    Witness for the Prosecution (1957, B&W, 114 min.) [VHS 18435]

    An aging English lawyer defends a man accused of murder and finds deceit everywhere. An often witty melodrama with many plot twists.

     

    The Wizard of Oz (1939, Color, 102 min.) [VHS 14897]

    An unhappy girl runs away from home, is swept up in a tornado, and is deposited in a strange new world. A terrific fairy tale with excellent acting, set design, and music.