‘The Best in Film: The Greatest Movies of Our Time’ Recap

On this two-hour television special, ABC helped to count down some of the best movies in film history based on people’s votes. It seems that around half a million people voted for top films in different genres as well as some of the greatest films of our time.

The show started out by revealing the best five comedies. They are:

5. Tootsie. The film’s name was also a nickname Dustin Hoffman was given by his mother. Hoffman speaks about the film, saying that he really tried to make this film unique. The basic premise is that it’s about a male actor pretending to be a female actress.

4. Young Frankenstein. This is Mel Brooks’s film that was filmed in black and white and features the hilarious talents of Gene Wilder, Peter Boyle, and Cloris Leachman.

3. Some Like It Hot. This film features the hilarious plot of two men hiding from the mob in an all girl band. Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon are in drag for this film and co-star with Marilyn Monroe.

2. Monty Python and the Holy Grail. This film could be epic since it’s about castles and knights, but they incorporate a lot of comedy and ridiculous scenes to make the film funny more than anything else.

1. Airplane. This is thought to be a classic comedy, and the overall effect comes off with such ease. No one could smile during the filming of the movie, and they also cast a lot of really good actors.

The show next introduces the best five science fiction films. They are:

5. Close Encounters of the Third Kind. This is a film that Steve Spielberg originally made when he was much younger but then decided to make it into a feature film. It’s all about aliens and is the epitome of what science fiction should be.

4. The Matrix. This film features the technique of Keanu Reeves’s character dodging bullets that’s been used in many other film and media outlets since then. The whole story of the film also intrigued audiences because it was something that hadn’t really been seen before and made viewers think about the possibility that there are different worlds to be lived in.

3. Avatar. This film was released only last year, but James Cameron’s masterpiece creates amazing visual effects with a relatable plotline. This is also the most expensive movie ever produced. Cameron has also indicated that he will make sequels to the film.

2. E.T.. Another Spielberg film features a young alien who has come to earth. This film also features a young Drew Barrymore. E.T. is a gentle and friendly alien, different from those portrayed in most sci-fi films.

1. Star Wars. The show calls this film an “instant phenomenon.” It was something that hadn’t been seen before, and George Lucas really created a cinematic masterpiece. The show also talks about the casting of the film. Not all the actors were originally set to play their roles, and Kurt Russell was even considered for the Han Solo role that Harrison Ford eventually landed. Lucas had the licensing rights to the film as well, so this enabled him to make over a billion dollars in profits just on merchandise alone.

The show moves on to the best five musicals, and it’s easy to predict some that should definitely be up there as fan favorites. They are:

5. West Side Story. This film is about people falling in love amidst conflict between street gangs, and its lively songs help to make it memorable to audiences. The film also won 10 Academy Awards.

4. Singin’ in the Rain. The film is remarkable because it features a lot of old songs from MGM in a new film with Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds.

3. The Wizard of Oz. You really can’t mention musicals without talking about this film. Judy Garland’s iconic role is what she became best known for and her performance of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” is one of the most remembered parts of the film.

2. Grease. This musical, set in the 1950s, is both funny and romantic as it brings the lives of the seniors at Rydell High to life. John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John will forever be remembered for their starring roles in this film. The show also talks about how Olivia Newton-John had to be sewn into her pants for the final scene and how the film really took a risk bringing in John Travolta to sing.

1. The Sound of Music. Julie Andrews takes the lead in this classic film about WWII in Austria. It won five Oscars including Best Picture, and this film may be one of the most recognizable musical pictures of all time.

The show takes a break from counting down movie genres to look at top movie kisses of all time. Before this is introduced, the show talks about the rules that Hollywood used to have about kisses. All of the movie kisses are narrowed down to five top choices:

5. Casablanca. The romance between Ilsa and Rick couldn’t be broken up even with the war, and the kiss between them is their one last chance to be together before Ilsa goes back to her husband.

4. An Officer and a Gentleman. It seems that the real life actors didn’t actually like working together at all, but in the end, the officer rescues the girl from a factory.

3. Lady and the Tramp. This Disney film has one of the top kissing scenes as the two dogs enjoy a bowl of spaghetti and their lips meet.

2. From Here to Eternity. The beach scene from this film is one of the most memorable movie scenes, and the beach is still apparently a tourist destination.

1. Gone with the Wind. Scarlett and Rhett’s epic love comes together in this kiss. Though they seem to go back and forth between fighting and loving each other for much of the film, this kiss is certainly passionate.

The show continues with top movie lines, calling up some of the most memorable dialogue spoken in cinema. The top five lines are:

5. “Here’s looking at you, kid.”-Casablanca. Humphrey Bogart ad libbed this in the scene, and it has now become one of the most recognized and most loved lines.

4. “I’ll have what she’s having.”-When Harry Met Sally. After Sally’s outburst in a restaurant with Harry, a woman sitting nearby wishes that she could have a similar reaction.

3. “I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse.”- The Godfather. This line combines the calm collectiveness and potential danger of Marlon Brando’s character.

2. “Go ahead. Make my day.”-Sudden Impact. Clint Eastwood appears as Dirty Harry and invites his enemy to take a shot at him.

1. “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn.”-Gone with the Wind. Writers worried about censorship for this, but luckily they kept it in the film because it has become one of the most recognized lines with the film and with film as a whole.

The show continues, next revealing the top action movies. They are:

5. Gladiator. Russell Crowe helped to put this film on top. The role was originally offered to Mel Gibson who turned it down. CGI effects really made the film because a lot of the aspects that look real are actually computer generated, but it’s this combination with the acting that makes Gladiator great.

4. Die Hard. This launched a series of Die Hard films. Bruce Willis says that one of the things that attracted people is the fact that they like to identify with the underdog.

3. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. This is the epic conclusion of Peter Jackson’s trilogy of films based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s masterpiece. The film won 11 Academy Awards.

2. The Dark Knight. Christopher Nolan’s recent hit which features Christian Bale as the Caped Crusader facing the Joker which is Heath Ledger in one of his last performances. The film features a lot of real life stunts and effects.

1. Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. Harrison Ford tells viewers that the movies were based on Saturday matinees that were often episodic and left audiences with cliffhangers. Ford also admits to not doing all of his own stunts. Regardless, this film is action packed and fast paced.

The list of top films wouldn’t be complete without thrillers and suspense movies. The top five are:

5. Pulp Fiction. An extremely violent film with some huge actors, this remains in the memory of anyone who sees it. This is a different type of gangster film.

4. The Shining. A family decides to be caretakers of a hotel, but strange things begin to happen when they’re snowed in there. Stanley Kubrick’s perfectionism and determination to get the effects right was what really made the film a success.

3. Psycho. Alfred Hitchcock made the trailer for the film and asked audiences not to reveal details to others after seeing the film, in hopes of keeping the major surprises of the film a secret until people sat down to watch it.

2. Jaws. Another Spielberg film is voted in the top films. The plot is incredibly simple, but the suspense is key in the plot. It’s the first film to earn over $100 million.

1. The Silence of the Lambs. Jodie Foster’s Clarice Starling seeks the help of Hannibal Lecter to hunt down another serial killer. The result is both creepy and suspenseful.

Finally, here are the top animated movies:

5. Fantasia. This is a musical with no dialogue, but an early masterpiece from Disney. It incorporates many different episodic parts done by hand. There was even a Fantasia 2000.

4. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The first Disney animated feature film and the start of princess films, this film is a classic in the animation world.

3. Beauty and the Beast. This is the first animated film nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. There was also a musical based on it, and since then, many other musicals have been based on animated films.

2. Toy Story. The film was all technical special effects. It marks the beginning of the team of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen as Woody and Buzz which continued for all three films in the Toy Story series.

1. The Lion King. This film features beautiful music, a great story, and a wide variety of characters from the animal kingdom.

Shortly before wrapping up the show, the top movie characters are announced:

5. Indiana Jones

4. Hannibal Lecter

3. Scarlett O’Hara

2. James Bond

1. Forrest Gump

At last, it’s time to announce the best movies of all time. Most of these were already featured in some way on the show:

5. E.T.

4. Casablanca

3. The Godfather

2. The Wizard of Oz

1. Gone with the Wind. This film is really the top film because of its epic grandeur. The film is one of the longest films of all time, and when it was first released, the city of Atlanta shut down on the day of the movie premiere, and the state of Georgia declared it a holiday. This film is beloved by fans of film and fans of the Margaret Mitchell book alike.