100 Must See Movies: The Essential Men’s Movie Library

Art of Manliness ^ | July 13, 2009 | Brett & Kate McKay

[Colonel_Flagg]

Twelve O’Clock High is one of my all-time favorites.

“I’m choppin’, but no chips are flyin’...”

One movie I have always wanted to see but somehow haven’t is “The War Lover”. I’ve seen most of your list, and I’m also a big Bogie fan.

[Colonel_Flagg]

You’d kick out Gary Cooper? High Noon was a masterpiece.

[SuzyQue]

I liked “The Book of Eli”, but it got sort of lame at the end. Like Hollywood didn’t know what to do with a God-theme.

I would have to add 13th Warrior, Breaker Morant, The Straight Story, and Tender Mercies. The last two aren’t action movies, in then traditional sense, but damn good movies about being a man. (Forget Crazy Heart - it was almost good, but didn’t quite make it beyond bland).

[Sherman Logan]

Recently watched Butch Cassidy for the first time in 40? years.

I remembered it as a really great movie.

Boy, some movies just don’t stand up. Among other things, the soundtrack is quite appallingly intrusive.

[Hodapp]

Any “Manly” movie list that doesn’t include “The Man Who Would Be King” is automatically suspicious.

And “Network” needs to be in there somewhere.

[Krankor]

Sorry, but High Noon is horribly overrated. The score is almost unbearable and continuously showing the clock is incredibley hokey. I’d replace it with Cooper (and Jean Arthur) in the much superior The Plainsman.

[Mich Patriot]

“Citizen Kane” - I realize this is supposedly one of the top films of all time, but for me, it’s two hours of my life I’ll never get back. It’s a sled dude, get over it.

“Gone With the Wind” belongs on every important movie list, IMO.

I recognize several classic film titles that I’ve never taken time to watch, so I’ve added them to my Netflix Queue. I’m sure I’ll be thankful for some of them.

[Jack Deth]

You noted:

the Coen brothers’ ‘Miller’s Crossing’, Alan Ladd’s ‘The Glass Key’
They're the same movie

I've been saying that for years, Krankor. If not the same film, then a very strong hommage to the former.

Glad someone else has noticed too. Though I still prefer Bill Bendix's 'Jeff' punching out Alan Ladd in 'The Glass Key'. J.E. Freeman's Eddie Dane gets all of the best lines while tuning up Gabriel Byrne's Tom Reagan in 'Miller's Crossing'

I'd also toss 'The Outsiders' for Steve McQueen in 'Hell Is For Heroes' and 'Gentlemen's Agreement' for Gregory Peck and Dean Jagger in '12 O'Clock High'.


Jack.

[Sherman Logan]

In the face of a decree claiming that any black man caught fighting for the Federal Army would be hanged and any white officer leading those men would also be executed

May have been in the movie, but not what happened in real life.

The CSA actually stated that captured black soldiers would be enslaved, while their white officers (only) would be hanged. The idea was they were pirates/bandits promoting the horrors of servile insurrection rather than honorable officers.

Davis gave up the idea when Lincoln stated he would hang a randomly chosen CSA officer prisoner in retaliation for each Confederate murder of a Union officer.

[Colonel_Flagg]

Well, then we’ll have to agree to disagree. I have always seen the clock in High Noon as a metaphor for everyone who has had to face a fear and dreads it. Though ‘The Plainsman’ is wonderful as well.

[Kartographer]

"Too many PC choices mixed in."

"Kate McKay's influence on this list pretty much ruined it...a list of men's movies should have been drafted by men. No chicks."

CORRECT!

As far as all the Costner bashers I have to more or less agree, but to me Costner redeemed himself when he made 'Open Range'! Now that's a MAN's movie! Also a man's movie list needs to be more John Wayne heavy with movies like 'In Harm's Way', 'Hondo','The Sands of Iwo Jima' and the 'Man who shot Liberty Valance'.

I would also add the movie 'Secondhand Lions':"Hub: Sometimes the things that may or may not be true are the things a man needs to believe in the most. That people are basically good; that honor, courage, and virtue mean everything; that power and money, money and power mean nothing; that good always triumphs over evil; and I want you to remember this, that love... true love never dies. You remember that, boy. You remember that. Doesn't matter if it's true or not. You see, a man should believe in those things, because those are the things worth believing in."

My list would have the following as well: 'The Patriot'
'Saving Private Ryan'
'Caddy Shack'
'Uncommon Valor'
'Red Dawn'
'Big Trouble in Little China'
'The Natural'
To name a few.

[BenLurkin]

I was going to spam this thread by suggesting some fruity movies — but that list is already chock full of fruity movies.

[rockrr]

Good choices.

Since I quit watching the Boob-Toob (actually just the insipid programming) I just view movies and am always looking for more titles to add.

They (mostly) don’t make ‘em like they used to.

[Tonytitan]

WHERE ARE THE TOM CLANCY MOVIES??!!

The Hunt for Red October

Patriot Games

Clear and Present Danger

"Paging Jack Ryan! Dr. Jack Ryan!"

[yuleeyahoo]

Sorry, but High Noon is horribly overrated. The score is almost unbearable and continuously showing the clock is incredibley hokey. I’d replace it with Cooper (and Jean Arthur) in the much superior The Plainsman.

If you must remove "High Noon", replace it with "Outland" with Sean Connery as the marshall on a space staion.

[william clark]

American Beauty? Gandhi? Seriously?

A lot of good ones on the list, but a lot could easily be replaced by:

Rollerball (original)
Planet of the Apes (again, original)
The Thing (either, but mostly the remake)
Big Trouble in Little China
Escape From New York
The Big Lebowski
Red River
The Maltese Falcon
Goldfinger
Mad Max
Batman
Iron Man
Our Man Flint
Tombstone
The Wild Bunch
Papillon
Nate and Hayes
Jaws
King Kong (original)
Jason and the Argonauts
Point Blank
Ronin
Shaft (original)
Where Eagles Dare
The Stunt Man
Blazing Saddles
Memento
The Longest Yard (original)
Deliverance
Mutiny On the Bounty (either, but mostly the original)
The Dirty Dozen
Yojimbo (although I personally prefer Sanjuro)
Tora Tora Tora
L.A. Confidential
The Wild One
The In-Laws (original)

Of course, I did a quick scroll through, so it’s possible that a couple of these are on the list and I just went too fast.

[Grizzled Bear]

There’s somethin’ kinda funny ‘bout that ham...

[Future Snake Eater]

Good list, but I would replace “Batman” with the two newer Chris Nolan films. Vastly superior in every way.

[Daffynition]

LOL....t's one of those fancy turkey/hams.

Turhamken are too much wrok.

[Moltke]

Tony Scott’s Man on Fire.

Great film, but not if you've read the books (the Creasy series). Freepmail me if you don't have them/can't find them (out of print).