501 Must-See Movies: 'Blazing Saddles' to 'Bridge on the River Kwai, The'

Note: This is a pretty good set. I especially love it when my bookends are two very good movies cause then at least the title reads better. I have also come to question some of the validity of the book. For the third week in a row, I have found index errors which frustrate my attempts to build this post and make me wonder what else they are messing up. I know it happens, but we aren't even through the B's yet.

Blazing Saddles: 1974, USA (Comedy)

I have always thought of this as the greatest comedy ever made. Brook's not only spoofs westerns, but Hollywood and the Blaxploitation movement of the 70's. Endings have always seemed to be a rough spot for comedies and Brooks' especially, but the sprawling brawl out into the other sets of Hollywood just seems to work. I have always thought the open use of the N word in the movie adds a bit of guts and credibility to the film. Plus I love everything Gene Wilder does.

Bluebeard's Eighth Wife: 1938, USA (Comedy)

Ernst Lubitisch apparently made lots of great comedies in the early days of Hollywood. I was more interested to see Gary Cooper in a comedy.

The Blues Brothers: 1980, USA (Musical)

This is still the best thing to ever come out of Saturday Night Live. The film is full of quotable lines and good music. Belushi and Aykroyd some how both come off as straight men in a slap stick comedy. It is a good celebration of Chicago and over the top in its final moments. Interesting trivia from the book: There are 5 directors that appear in the film and it holds the record for most cars crashed.

Born Yesterday: 1950, USA (Comedy)

The book says this is more than a screwball comedy. Judy Holliday plays the dumb blonde that learns pretty quick or something like that.

Braveheart: 1995, USA (Action/Adventure & Epic)

This is probably the first modern day epic film. It is full of large scale battles, blood & guts, and over the top heroism. Plus this was back when Mel Gibson was still sorta sane. An all right movie in my book.

Brazil: 1985, Great Britian (Science Fiction & Fantasy)

Terry Gilliam created a dystopian future that is his therapy session on everything he hates about western culture. It sounds interesting and I like Gilliam's work usually. Need to find a copy.

The Breakfast Club: 1985, USA (Comedy)

The is probably one of the most iconic 80's movies and really invented the teen movie. It still seems relevant today which is something you can't say for most movies made in the same era. Judd Nelson in his finest moment, except for maybe the Transformers movie. His tirade of a day at his house compared to Molly Rigwald's character is classic.

Breakfast at Tiffany's: 1961, USA (Romance)

Everyone talks about this movie and most probably haven't even seen it, myself included. It seems to be more a pop culture reference than anything else. It's name instantly brings to mind that one song, yeah you know the one I'm talking about. Or the episode of Seinfeld where George ends up going to a stranger's apartment because they rented the last copy of Breakfast at Tiffany's and he needs to watch it. Still Audrey Hepburn's role is a Hollywood icon despite her feelings that she was miscast.

Bride of Frankenstein: 1935, USA (Horror)

It is noted that most believe this sequel was better than the original Frankenstein movie. I need to find some of these old Boris Karloff movies and finally experience it for myself.

The Bridge on the River Kwai: 1957, Great Britian (War)

I've seen this war classic. It is a great movie. Alec Guinness is excellent and helps to solidify in my mind why he was so heralded having on seen him in Star Wars prior to this. He leads a group of POWs that are tasked with building a bridge to help move Japanese munitions. American and British forces are plotting to blow the bridge, but Guinness's character has taken so much pride in his men for building the bridge, he works to thwart the plans of demolition.