Movies that should be seen at least once (films, Hollywood, scene)

[Mouldy Old Schmo]

What movies would you recommend should be watched at least once and why? Here's a few I recommend:

High Noon - first major Western to offer realistic view of humanity
Queen of Outer Space - campy "battle-of-the-sexes" commentary
War of the Worlds (the 1953 version) and When Worlds Collide - proof that great special effects were possible in a pre-computer era
Munchhausen (1943 version) - also great f/x, and unsettling when you consider it is an escapist fantasy contrived by Nazi Germany during World War Two.

[harry chickpea]

Just a smattering:

Barbarella - wonderfully scientifically correct views of outer space... oh wait... make that views of Jane Fonda before she got involved in politics.
2001: A Space Odyssey - THAT was the one with wonderfully scientifically correct views of outer space without the use of cartoonlike CGI. It created the public demand for a continuation of space exploration and the shuttle.
Metropolis - both an original and the Moroder versions. Just to show how modern films really owe homage to classics.
Wizard of Oz - Why? Because because because because, because of the wonderful things it does.
Godfather - How to tell an epic story with film.

[Lamplight]

Grave of the Fireflies -It shows war from a perspective you don't normally (ever?) see, plus it really challenges the notion that animation is just for kids (if anyone still believes that).

[chilaili]

My all-time favourite: All About Eve - the brilliant depiction of an actress in her 40s threatened by a conniving, sociopathic and younger newcomer with absolutely brilliant dialogue thro'out
Also (in no particular order)
The Maltese FalconCasablanca
The Magnificent Seven
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
The Devil's Backbone (this is how you do a horror movie, Hollywood!)
The Music Man (the 1960s version - Robert Preston was a genius)

[Wise_Owl]

The Sound of Music.


No, don't laugh - that's cruel.

[skel1977]

American Me

[Mouldy Old Schmo]

Powell-Pressburger movies from the 1940s: colorful, arty, and highbrow stuff that "proves" the British are smarter than Americans.

[Cape Cod Todd]

For popular culture everything by Quentin Tarantino.
Star Wars
The Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns.
My favorite "300"
Apocalypse Now. Full Metal Jacket.
Jaws #1
Alien yes all 4 of them.
Rambo 1+2
The "Rocky" Movies
and of course the classic like Cassablanca and most of the Bogart flicks.
There are so many..............

[MystMoonstruck]

Gone with the Wind ~ It retains its emotional power even after nearly 75 years. No one else could have been Rhett Butler! In keeping with Black History Month, Hattie McDaniel was the first black person to be nominated for an Academy Award. She won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. The category is supposed to have been created because the Academy admired her work in "Alice Adams", only she was in a supporting part.
The Adventures of Prince Achmed ~ This beat Disney to first feature-length animated film and is absolutely stunning.
The Right Stuff ~ It makes history thoroughly enjoyable and shows the not-so-heroic side as well as moments that make you proud. Their suited-up walk down the corridor to rousing music has been mimicked almost as much as the "Chariots of Fire" running-to-Vangelis scene.
1776 ~ Again, history can be enjoyable, funny and quite touching. From "Mama, Look Sharp" to "Is Anybody There?", the music serves the story of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Who'd have thought such a musical was possible?
Jason and the Argonauts (1963) ~ Here's another one to prove that CGI has nothing on old-style special effects. To many, THIS is Ray Harryhausen's masterpiece: Talos, the Harpies, the Hydra and THE skeleton battle of all time. Add to that Bernard Herrmann's brilliant music and you have one of the greatest fantasy adventures of all time.
Psycho ~ Alfred Hitchcock delivered this shocker in 1960, sadly paving the way for mostly amateurish, schlocky slasher movies that replaced suspense and horror with gallons of gore and gratuitous nudity and sex. But, "Psycho" retains a lot of power thanks to Anthony Perkins' balanced performance, Bernard Herrmann's score (another triumph), and, of course, Hitch's vision.
The Haunting (1963) ~ This remains one of the eeriest, creepiest, most chilling films. "Exorcist" is just a stomach-turner with weak effects. Slasher movies are wearily repetitious. Zomboid movies are the same ol' same ol'. "The Haunting" raises goosebumps with sounds and shadows. The remake failed in every way except designing a fantastic-looking house. However, they neglected to have anything worthwhile happening in it. "The Haunting" reminds me of Val Lewton's productions. In fact, I've heard that it was a bow to his style.

I agree with a number of suggestions, including "The Wizard of Oz" (love the reason!), "Casablanca", "2001", "Barbarella", etc. People are listing some great films and such a variety.

[Columbia Blue]

Vertigo-Wonderful spellbinding film about love and obsession. The film was panned when first released, but now is considered a classic. Every film lover should at least watch it once.

A Matter of Life and Death- Someone already mentioned Powell and Pressburger, and virtually any of their films are worth watching. But this is one of the special ones. Absolutely fantastic opening grabs a hold of you from the start. The film also is a little disconcerting the way it merrily bounces back and forth between black and white and color. This film is beautifully made and everyone should see it at least once. Also called Stairway to Heaven.

The Gold Rush- Charlie Chaplin is still reasonably well known while almost all his contemporaries are forgotten. This film is one of the reasons. Still entertaining. Watching this will show you a performer who was one of the best known people in the world for decades.