Staff Blog: 8 Timeless Movies for Every Generation
- Kyle
- 4 days ago
- 9 min read
Timeless movies. These are the movies that remain relevant in their era and continue to resonate as time progresses. Kyle, the library's Business Manager, explores 8 timeless movies that appeal to every generation. If you haven't watched them yet, click the links provided to reserve a copy! Enjoy the viewing!
What is "Old"? Why Should I Care?
What do you consider an “old” movie? People may say anything that was released before they were born, or films in black and white, or any other qualifier that is entirely subjective, but there is no clear marker for the title. With this list, I am going to qualify “old” movies as films the 1920’s through the 1950’s. It is commonly accepted that “modern” filmmaking starts in the mid to late 1960’s with the current era of filmmaking arising in the early 1980’s. There are many films that are still worth watching from before this time, but I have chosen 8 that I find to be particularly special that you can find in the library! Before diving into these films, I find it important to try to explain why people should care about “old” movies.
Why should you watch older movies? Simply put, old movies are important to our culture and still contain universal truths about the human experience. Not every old movie is good, just like not every new movie is good, but there are countless movies from each generation that help us understand our relationship with each other and with the world. Often people will avoid older films for a lack of relatability, but there are many films from nearly 100 years before my birth that I find myself in. With this list I am trying to cover all my bases, while showing the younger generations, that old movies are still worth our time.
1920’s
While the late 1920’s introduced the “talkies”, it is the silent films that stick out the most. Here I have chosen two notable silent films that are still foundational for the movie-going experience.
Nosferatu (1922)
Directed by F.W. Murnau
At this point, Nosferatu has staked claim as arguably the most notable silent film and for good reason. Its subtitle “A Symphony of Horror” is the perfect description for the film because it is a very musical horror film. The film follows Thomas Hutter, a real estate man summoned to the castle of Count Orlock who seeks to buy a house near Hutter and his wife, Ellen. Hutter, trying to make a name for himself makes the journey to the castle, despite pushbacks from Ellen. The film follows the story of Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula’ and remains just as notable, over 100 years later. The horror still holds up even a century after its release and the film acts as an influence for many horror classics after it. ‘Nosferatu’ is a true horror film, Max Shreck’s influential portrayal of Count Orlock is still terrifying today. It uses German Expressionist film techniques to build a moody and haunting atmosphere, complete with shadows that crawl up walls and lights that intrude to the dark underbelly of the world. More than anything, ‘Nosferatu’ shows us that silent films can still be entertaining in the modern day.
The General (1926)
Directed by Clyde Bruckman and Buster Keaton
While Charlie Chaplin is the most notable silent film star, it is Buster Keaton whose influence rings the loudest. His works have influenced filmmakers and stars such as Tom Cruise and his ‘Mission: Impossible’ franchise. ‘The General’ follows Keaton as Johnny Gray, a train captain, when the Union attempts to steal his train during the Civil War. It is a magnificent achievement in filmmaking and has served as the foundation for many action and adventure films to come. While Charlie Chaplin is the face of the silent era, it is Buster Keaton who’s daring stunts and physical performances that stick out to me. The stunts in this film still look great and are as thrilling as what you will see in any major action film. ‘The General’ has not aged as gracefully as many on this list have, but it still holds up as a film. It is a product of its time, but it shows how far the medium has come and how much it has stayed the same.
1930’s
By the 1930’s the “talkies” had overtaken silent films as the standard. The talkies caught on quick and films quickly started to resemble what we see today. These two films that I have chosen have not only influenced the works you can see in theaters today, but stand up to them in quality!
The Invisible Man (1933)
Directed by James Whale
In the 1930’s Universal pictures released many films based on monsters. ‘Frankenstein’ (1931), ‘The Wolf Man’ (1941), ‘Dracula’ (1931), and many more, but the true masterpiece of the bunch is James Whale’s 1933 ‘The Invisible Man’. On a technical level, its innovation is still used at the heart of horror filmmaking. Based on an H.G. Wells novel of the same name, this film is a timeless horror classic. Dr. Jack Griffin, played by Claude Rains discovers a potion that turns him invisible. This newfound potion begins to make him mad, and he begins to rampage through town. The town police need help from his old partner to capture him. The film has aged wonderfully and remains as engaging as any horror film from the modern day. Claude Rains’ performance is another influential horror performance that’s influenced many great performers. Any horror fan who hasn’t seen ‘The Invisible Man’ should try to see this one as soon as possible.
Bringing Up Baby (1939)
Directed by Howard Hawks
Howard Hawks is recognized as one of the great American directors, but one that is consistently overshadowed by his contemporaries. Influencing the works of Clint Eastwood, Martin Scorsese, and countless other major filmmakers, Hawks worked in many different genres such as gangster films like Scarface (1932), or westerns like Rio Bravo (1959), film noir as The Big Sleep (1946), but it is his 1939 romantic comedy that stands out the most to me. The film is an absurdist, slapstick comedy in which David Huxley, a professor played by Cary Grant, while trying to get the last bone he needs for his museum dinosaur get entangled with Susan Vance, played by Katharine Hepburn. Huxley and Susan get into constant and ridiculous circumstances with a leopard named Baby. Bringing Up Baby is still hilarious all these years after release, in part due to Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn’s charming performances, but it has stuck around because the entire film is enjoyable for fans regardless of any genre.
1940’s
The 1940’s are clouded by the Second World War and the films that were released are no different. Throughout the decade, Film Noir took over as the prominent genre and films became thematically darker. I have chosen two films that I think best represent what the decade had to offer in filmmaking.
Casablanca (1942)
Directed by Michael Curtiz
This film is so notable that it is almost taken for granted, but if there was ever a film to earn such a reputation, it is ‘Casablanca’. Michael Curtiz made quite a few other good films such as ‘White Christmas’ (1954), ‘Yankee Doodle Dandy’ (1942), the Elvis starring ‘King Creole’ (1958), and the underrated ‘Breaking Point’ (1950), but his direction was never this precise. Every frame is perfectly set, every edit is precisely placed, and the camera moves in profound ways. In the film, Humphrey Bogart plays Rick Blain, an American expatriate who owns a club in Casablanca, Morocco in the early 1940s. Amidst the ramping up of World War 2, Blain’s former estranged lover Ilsa Lund, played by Ingrid Bergman, wanders into his club and complicates the cynical life he thought he had figured out. Each scene plays out exactly as the film is set, the past and the future blend in the painful present. The script is brilliant and evermore relevant 80 years later, but it is the alchemy of all the moving parts that make ‘Casablanca’ so powerful. A masterpiece if there ever has been, “Casablanca’ holds its own against any film that has come since. This is a must watch for every single person.
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Directed by Frank Capra
Known as one of the greatest Christmas movies of all time, ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ has a reputation that precedes it, but it is a truly masterful work. Movie star James Stewart plays George Bailey throughout periods of his life, from his aspirations as a college student to his struggles as the owner of a building and loan company. On Christmas Eve, the business comes up $8,000 short, sending Bailey into a spiral. The film follows Bailey realizing that his life may have meaning, after all. Frank Capra was a well-respected director of his time, making films like ‘It Happened One Night’ (1934) and ‘Mr. Smith Goes to Washington’ (1939), but it is his first film coming back from the war that has defined his legacy. Much like Capra, Stewart was also coming back from the war and wondered if he still had anything left to give the screen. He thought the war might have taken it out of him, so with this film he gave it another shot. The result is a brilliant and cathartic performance for both the audience and the actor. In my eyes, the film is even better than its reputation would suggest. It isn’t just a great Christmas movie; it is one of the all-time great movies of any genre.
1950’s
Due to the rise of television, films of the 1950’s had to get the audiences back into the theaters. Using bigger film prints and new filmmaking techniques, movies were larger in scope and more awe-inspiring than ever before. I have chosen two films that I feel best show the impact that the 1950’s had on movies and culture moving forward.
Rebel Without a Cause (1954)
Directed by Nicolas Ray
Nearly 70 years after his tragic death, James Dean is still an icon due to his transformative and powerful acting performances. Despite only appearing in 3 films, Dean’s influence has been massive on actors and teens alike. Dean stars as Jim Stark, a troubled teen in a new town who cannot keep himself out of trouble. While my personal favorite of the James Dean films is George Steven’s ‘Giant’ (1956) and ‘East of Eden’ (1955) earned him his first Academy Award Nomination, ‘Rebel Without a Cause’ is the most impactful and his iconic persona stems directly from his work in this film. A timeless film of teen angst and the pressures placed on the youth that will still connect with teens today. The film is still notorious 70 years later for a reason and it has aged as well as any.
Vertigo (1958)
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock is likely the most notable film director to have ever lived and ‘Vertigo’ is the perfect mix of all his styles. While he has made countless incredible and timeless films such as ‘Rope’ (1948), ‘Rear Window’(1954), ‘Psycho’ (1960), and ‘North by Northwest’ (1959), it is ‘Vertigo’ that is his masterpiece and one of the greatest films ever made. Movie star James Stewart plays a retired detective who gets hired as a private eye to follow a colleague’s wife. From there Hitchcock builds a massive conspiracy, full of his signature voyeuristic suspense and fit with a few of the most iconic scenes in film history. ‘Vertigo’ blends the lines between Golden age Hollywood films that Hitchcock arose and thrived in and the new era of Hollywood he inspired and pioneered. The film serves as a pillar in popular culture and filmmaking to come. Many filmmakers have cited ‘Vertigo’ as a major influence and its influence is all-over modern-day blockbusters. At its core, this film has survived and stayed so notable due to its brilliant filmmaking and overwhelming intrigue.
Final Thoughts
Film is an artists medium that is still in its infancy, only being around for 100 years or so. Early movies still contain value that cannot be replaced by the movies of today. It is important to look back on the foundations of our culture and the art of decades past. Old movies are wonderful!
A lifelong resident of Clinton and library business manager, Kyle Taylor is passionate about reading and films. For more of Kyle's recommendations, listen to the podcast, Five Favs: Kyle's Favorite Underrated Films, or explore the library blogs Predicting the Winners: Kyle's 2025 Oscar Picks and Staff Blog: Most Anticipated Movies and Books for the First Half of 2025. Even better, visit in person and have Kyle select a few movies for you on the spot!