A List So Large It Could Fill A Theater THIS BIG!
Yes, my “Movie A-Z” countdown has hit another letter packed with classic films. It seems like every time I post I leave something great off due to the limitation I put upon myself originally, which is to focus on ten movies with a variety of genres and popularity – part of the fun in a list like this is to be able to tell you about films you may not have heard of!
There were so many “L” movies I had to leave THESE off among many others: Lenny, Living Out Loud, Little Big Man, Let It Be, Little Miss Sunshine, the entire Lone Wolf and Cub series, AND Lady Snowblood, just to name a few!
Oh my, NO “LADY SNOWBLOOD”!?!?!?! Well, these ten that I have chosen had better be great, right?
Well they are, so let’s talk about ten great films that begin with the letter “L”!
10 – “The Long Good Friday”
Bob Hoskins and Helen Mirren star in this terrific 80’s gangster film. A London mobster uses some very unorthodox techniques on his competitors:
However, the times are changing, and Hoskins has to learn to adapt or else. Check out the trailer:
Check out the trailer:
This is Hoskins’ greatest performance – and Helen Mirren is also terrific – here is more about this classic gangster film:
https://johnrieber.com/2012/08/08/bob-hoskins-retires-celebrate-this-great-long-good-friday-star/
Here’s a very obscure psychological horror film from the early 70’s:
9 – “Let’s Scare Jessica To Death”
Jessica had a breakdown. Now she is recovering. but her dreams are back, quickly becoming nightmares. Check out the trailer:
Thanks to Warner Archive, this is now on home video – it’s worth a look – here is more on the cast, along with some fun trivia about the movie:
The “L” list includes many films that are on my top fifty of all time, including this “L.A> Noir” from the late 70’s – starring Art Carney!
8 – “The Late Show”
Carney may be best known for his comedic work on “The Jackie Gleason Show”, but he excels in this part – a workout private Detective hired by Lily Tomlin to find her cat – here is the trailer:
Lily Tomlin is also terrific in the movie, which was written and directed by Robert Benton – whose next film would be the Oscar-winning “Kramer Vs. Kramer”.
I cannot recommend this more highly – and it’s on DVD as well – see more trivia here:
Albert Brooks is one of America’s most under-appreciated Directors, and here’s one reason why:
7 – “Lost In America”
Brooks wrote, directed and stars in this comedy about 80’s America – here is the trailer:
From Julie Hagerty’s obsession with the number “22” at the craps table, to Brooks’ desire to get “lost in America” and “touch Indians”, this is a perfect look at life in 1980’s America.
Criterion just released a great Blu-Ray release – see details here:
Some of our legendary Hollywood Actors were known for certain things – Walter Matthau as a comedy legend, for example – but did you know he also starred in a string of gritty 1970’s police thrillers?
6 – “The Laughing Policeman”
Yes, Matthau starred as a Detective trying to find out who shot up a San Francisco city bus late at night. Here is the trailer:
Bruce Dern excels as his partner – who is just as happy beating suspects up as helping crime victims out – you can read more about Walter Matthau, Action Hero, here:
Speaking of cops and crime, time to head to “L.A” for one of the best film noir about the city ever made:
5 – “L.A. Confidential”
Director Curtis Hansen tells the story of a corrupt L.A. police department – and the young Detective out to solve a vicious murder – in the 90’s classic “L.A. Confidential”:
Guy Pearce, Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe and Oscar-winning Best Supporting Actress Kim Basinger are great in this crime thriller. Every time I watch this film I grow to love it more.
Another “L.A. Noir” was directed in 1973 by the legendary Robert Altman:
4 – “The Long Goodbye”
Elliott Gould stars as Private Detective Philip Marlowe – here is the trailer:
Altman shot part of the film from L.A.’s legendary “Hollywood Hightower” – see more inside trivia about this legendary movie location – and classic cult film by clicking here:
Robert Altman was a great Director, but far from the more prolific. In fact, that honor may belong to the Director of this classic “L” film:
3 – “Lorna The Exorcist”
Yes, Director Jess Franco made more than a hundred movies! Many starred his lifelong partner Lina Romay, who is spellbinding as the young woman who may be possessed:
Jess Franco loved to make movies, Lina Romay loves to get naked, so they were a “Euro-sleaze” match made in cinematic heaven! Read more about his moody, erotic gem here:
I love all of these films on this list for one reason or another – but this next film is on my “top ten of all time” list:
2 – “The Last Of Sheila”
Legendary Broadway Showman Stephen Sondheim and “Psycho” Actor Tony Perkins loved games, so they created a murder mystery that was played by the biggest names in Hollywood….here is the trailer:
What an all-star cast: James Coburn, Raquel Welch, Richard Benjamin, Ryan Cannon and more star in this twisty, devilish fun mystery with a side helping of Hollywood shade!
Read more about this incredible movie here:
Finally, I am a huge fan of Director Steven Soderbergh, and this film is one of the best, another “L.A. Story”:
1 – “The Limey”
Terence Stamp stars as a British mobster who comes to L.A. to find his missing daughter – here is the trailer:
Stamp is mesmerizing in the role, and Peter Fonda stars as the last man to see the daughter alive – this is classic film noir, and another of my favorite films…read more about it here:
https://johnrieber.com/2013/11/14/the-limey-night-moves-classic-action-noir/
There you go, ten GREAT GREAT GREAT films that begin with the letter “L”…it’s been fun looking at every letter of the alphabet through a cinema filter, like my look at the letter “K”:
Sadly, Jerry Lewis just passed away – his performance in “The King Of Comedy” is so great – you can see that film and all of my “killer K” choices here:
You can always click on “movies” in my list of categories on the main page to see all of my lists, but here is a link to “Movies A-F”, a compilation of those first posts:
Let me know your favorite “L” film!
