Thursday List – Born Into Film : 1964 Chris Mason
It is that time in the week for another Born into Film list. This week we are visited by friend of mine Chris Mason.
It has been a serious case of attack of the young ‘uns with this series of posts. I was starting to get worried that I would be the only person posting a list PRE-1980!! Thankfully friend of mine Chris Mason form the book of face has stepped up to the plate and offered up a very interesting list indeed. If you wanted to find Mr Mason on Facebook, he is located here
The ‘Born Into Film’ series of lists is the brainchild of Mike P Williams, staff writer here at FRC. The idea is simple -
List a group of films that were released on the year you were born that you would still like to watching today. No rules on list length, it is up to you. As a bonus, list 3 people or so that were born the same year as you that you admire, either because of their acting / directing / writing skills, or even just because they are hot.
The previous weeks can be found here…
Here is Chris’ List!!
My Fair Lady
So starting with the years best film Oscar winner, ‘My Fair Lady’, staring the incomparable Audrey Hepburn, I love this movie for all its old school charm, a musical that I can pretty much sing along to in full. Still love the horse race scene when poor Eliza lets her roots slip… “Ca’am ahhnn Dover, move your bloomin arse” has me in stitches
Goldfinger
Moving on to the, in my humble opinion, best pre Craig, Bond film ever. ‘Goldfinger’ I never tire of watching this one, Connery at his best, an unforgettable villain and one of the best monikered ladies in film, you know her name…!
633 Squadron
Growing up I wanted to be a fighter pilot and my plane of choice was the Mosquito, so ’633 Squadron’ is a must watch for me when its shown on TV, one of those ‘stiff upper lip, tally ho’ films about an impossible attack on a German rocket fuel plant in a Norwegian fjord, derring do and ultimate sacrifices make for compulsive viewing.
Crack In The World
Bit of an odd one next, I remember seeing it a few times on TV in my teens, ‘Crack in the World’ a forerunner to ‘The Core’ about the consequences of fooling about with Mother Earth (will we ever learn?) sees a huge crack threatening the existence of our planet, I remember ropey special effects and an edge of the chase of a moving train “Heading towards the CRACK !!”
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Next is a film I didn’t see until my early 20′s, ‘Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb’ is a master-class of black comedy and satiricism, considering the times I was growing up in Reagan/Thatcher and the escalating cold war, the threat of Nuclear annihilation hanging over us all, its a wonder it wasn’t required viewing at school !
A Fistful of Dollars
A western next, ‘A Fistful of Dollars’ sits in the favourites section in my DVD collection, this film and its sequels made westerns worth watching, the brilliant Ennio Morricone score, the stony faced Clint Eastwood and fantastic Sergio Leone direction make them all amazing viewing. Itself an almost perfect copy of Akira Kurosawa’s film Yojimbo its has been referenced in everything from Back To The Future to The Simpsons.
The Masque of the Red Death
‘The Masque of the Red Death’ is a film that will remain with me for ever, Directed by Roger Corman its visuals have been burned into my brain, never before or since, have I been so scared by a first watch of a film, Vincent Price excels, its such a glorious looking film with a fabulous ending.
Zulu
Finally ‘Zulu’ based on a true story its another one of those films that seemed to be on TV every Bank Holiday, most widely remembered for Michael Caines’ début, Stanley Baker is my favourite in the film, closely followed by James Booths’ Pvt Hook, I always remember rooting for him, despite his ne’er do-well persona. “Stop chuckin those bl**dy spears”
Also born this year
Courtney Cox
Sandra Bullock
Mary-Louise Parker
Marisa Tomei
Nicolas Cage
Rob Lowe
Russell Crowe
Keanu Reeves
Did you enjoy Chris’ list? What films would you have chosen from 1964? Want to take part? Comment below…
Scott Lawlor
Thanks Chris for putting this together!! Us OLDIES are taking over for the next few weeks!!
You’re welcome, glad my age has finally come in use..!
Great list Chris, Dr Strangelove released the same year as Nic Cage is born,this can explain a lot,I reckon he was shown it constantly as a baby and that’s how he has turned out mental ha ha. Some top films released your year of birth
Some classics in there! Not so sure about Crack in the World though. Any forerunner to the Core had a lot to answer for. Can’t believe all those stars are the same age either. Feel like Reeves is way younger than the others for some reason!
Don’t knock it,I actually like “The Core” too, I actually missed a word out it should read “Edge of the SEAT chase…” Some people say I look younger than Keanu..*
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*Blind people.
My Fairlady was such a lovely film! Hope the remake with horrid Knightley never happens!
I’m always surprised when I’m reminded that Keanu is older than he looks.
Cool list. Nice to see some older representation in this series.
Some great movies on that list.
Very nice list. I’ve always wanted to see My Fair Lady, this is also a nice recommendation of classic. Did not know that Courtney Cox and Sandra Bullock (and Keanu Reeves) have the same age.
You should definitely seek My Fair Lady out, its a very good film.
Hi, Chris and company:
Excellent selection and critiques!
I’m with Scott…. Let’s hear it for Oldies!
Very glad to see ‘My Fair Lady’ make your list. One of the most alliterative films ever made. Superb adaptation of a stage play brought to larger life.
‘Goldfinger’ goes without saying. Still my second favorite Bond film.
’633 Squadron’ is a better than average RAF film. Augmented with excellent flight scenes with real live Mossies and notable model work.
I thought I was the only kid who saw ‘Crack in the World’. Very much the forerunner of ‘Core’. As ‘The Giant Claw’ is the forerunner of Larry Cohen’s Chicago based ‘Q’ decades later.
Saw enough Saturday matinees of ‘Dr. Strangelove’ as a kid to memorize most of its lines.
Not really surprised that ‘The Masque of the Red Death’ is mentioned. One of Price and Corman’s best collaborations.
Same with ‘A Fistful of Dollars’ and ‘Zulu’, The Battle of Rourke’s Drift doesn’t enough love!
Glad you liked the choices, I’ve not met many who’ve seen “Crack..” I don’t think its been the afternoon film since 1978 !!
Great list — it’s nice to see a 60s entry in this series!
Nice list.
Dr Strangelove will always be relevant, as long as there are precious bodily fluids to pollute.
I visited the Kubrick Archive at London Arts Uni a while back, and rifled through Stanley’s personal notes and casting letters for that film. Better than any director’s commentary. I’d totally recommend checking that place out…
For including My Fair Lady, I doff my hat to you, sir.
Thanks, its a guilty pleasure, Hepburn is fantastic in it and who hasn’t got time for Rex Harrison’s singing, Dr Doolittle anyone.. “Its a Pushme Pullyou.!”
Nice one, Chris! I LOVE ‘My Fair Lady,’ it’s one of the first classic films I saw as a kid. Wow, lots of my fave actors/actresses are born in 1964.
All the best people were Ruth..