The Spectator's 50 Essential Films - Page 2

"...a selection of the very best that cinema has to offer. This isn't just a celebration of motion pictures, but also a testament to The Spectator's own passion for the medium and respect to the silver screen. We've been guided by this wider legacy, as much as by our present deliberations, in choosing the final 50 films. A premium has been placed on wit, Britishness and intelligence — to distinguish this effort from other film lists. There are some notable absentees from our list: you won't find Casablanca, It's a Wonderful Life or Lawrence of Arabia anywhere; their absence is lamented, though we remain unapologetic. The 50 films that we're left with are a distinguished bunch: high points in modern cultural history and essential viewing. In the end, we hope that we've captured something of the breadth, mystery, intelligence and magic of the movies. As Jean-Luc Godard put it: 'Cinema is the most beautiful fraud in the world.' Now it's time to be deceived — and gladly."