There are some movies on Jaman that are undisputed classics. Some were award winners in their day, others were too much to be absorbed in their present climates but have had such an influence that they have become classics. The movies that, love'em or hate'em, are so entrenched in the firmament of cinema that they're universally accepted as must-sees for both casual fans and die-hard cineastes.
This is the thread where you can post links to those films on Jaman, and post bits of discussion on them.
Mother India, directed by Mehboob Khan, was one of Indian cinema's major international breakthroughs - its tale of a woman's struggles with various forces (including corrupt government officials and natural disasters) resonated with viewers all over the world (in parts of Spain, for example, it ran for months). In India it was a popular sensation, earning Filmfare Awards (the Hindi Oscars) for Best Picture, Director, and Actress (for Nargis' stunning lead performance).
For further reading, an excellent article here examines one of the film's songs in the context of the movie's whole (and within Bollywood traditions).
Going over Jaman's offerings, I've culled a list of classics (and others I've deemed canon-worthy), all of which can be clicked in the list below. Let us know your thoughts!
I'd say if a cinephile can't recognize at least 50% of these 16 gems, then he or she needs to start brushing up on the film front immediately or hand over the cinephile title.
My personal thoughts on the above titles:
Charade: With any other contemporary actress in Audrey Hepburn's role, you'd have a bimbo/undercover agent love story. In this case, Ms. Hepburn is delightful in her blessed state of innocence, borderline oblivion.
Alfie: The 60's were all fun and games, especially for light-hearted playboys but this film is a showcase for Michael Caine's heyday as a cinema star. Watch the Cold War-themed "The Ipcress File" afterwards and then try telling me what other actor can shift gears that swiftly?
Chinatown: I still have no idea what this movie is actually about but it’s to Roman Polanski’s credit that he created a mystery that survives well after the end credits roll.
The Conversation: (See my comments for “Chinatown” except substitute Polanski with Coppola and slightly amp up the “I figured it out” factor.)
His Girl Friday: I watched this movie and immediately thought, “Oh, people are just not this sharp anymore.” You must have off-the-charts IQ to produce this kind of dialogue and maybe a slightly less impressive IQ to follow along the rat-a-tat speech pattern that matches the clicks of Rosalind Russell’s high heels.
The Third Man: You’ll probably find the seeds of Cold War thrillers in this movie and the great thing is that Europe never looked so alluringly sinister. Alida Valli probably has much to do with this. It’s utter blasphemy to admit I prefer this film with Orson Welles over his own baby “Citizen Kane.”
The Blue Angel: The film captures the strange erotic decadence of Berlin right before the Nazis marched in and ruined the after-hours party --- which Christopher Isherwood somewhat salvaged in his writings.
The 39 Steps: Who doesn’t love a black-and-white spy thriller with an innocent uptight British fellow at the heart of it?
Thanks DavidRobson for this lovely walk down memory lane . . . .
posted 3 years ago by a Jaman admin ( 
