The easy accessibility of streaming services today has changed the game for cinephiles across the world. In quarantine, it’s safe to say, these services have also become our saviours. If there’s anything they have taught us, especially while we are all sitting at home, it's that there is no dearth of quality content to consume. However, there’s only so much drama you can binge watch, even if it’s in Spanish. No matter how engaging or gripping the narratives of new-age drama series are, they fall short of the experience of re-watching cult-classics -- taking that walk down memory lane of having watched it while you were younger or simply revisting quality cinema. Hence, we’ve curated a list of six classic Hollywood films that never get old. Each one of these delivers a heady dose of nostalgia as well as entertainment.
Grease (1978)
Directed by Randal Kleiser, Grease is an adaptation of the 1971 Chicago-to-Broadway musical of the same name. With a young Travolta in all his glory, playing Danny Zuko and Olivia Newton-John as the Australian immigrant Sandy Olsson, Grease is the quintessential high-school romantic comedy. Along with the ostentatious 50’s nostalgia and a remarkable soundtrack, Danny and Sandy’s summer romance is sure to cure those lockdown blues.
Where to watch: Netflix
Casablanca (1942)
A timeless classic set during World War II, Casablanca chronicles the romance between an American expatriate, played by Humphrey Bogart, and the wife of a Czech resistance leader, played by Ingrid Bergman. Directed by Michael Curtiz and based on the unproduced stage play, Everybody Comes to Rick's, Casablanca is arguably one of the greatest films ever made.
Where to watch: Mubi
Taxi Driver (1976)
The cult 1976 neo-noir psychological thriller, directed by Martin Scorsese, is a must watch. Set in a morally bankrupt New York City, post the Vietnam war, Taxi Driver has a dark political significance. It follows the journey of a mentally unstable Vietnam war veteran who takes up a job as a taxi driver and his descent towards insanity. The lead role is played by the exceptional Robert De Niro in what is arguably said to be one of his best roles. Don’t miss out on the cameo made by Scorsese in the movie, if you do watch it!
Where to watch: Mubi
Psycho (1960)
A masterpiece when it comes to the genre of psychological horror and one of Alfred Hitchcock’s finest works, the film centers around an encounter between a secretary, Marion Crane, played by Janet Leigh, who ends up at a secluded motel after absconding from her job, and the motel’s owner, Norman Bates played by Anthony Perkins. It’s safe to say that the nail-biting plot that unfolds will force you to forget about the quarantine, at least for the night, and showers will never be the same again.
Where to watch: Netflix
Citizen Kane (1941)
Directed, produced and also starring Orson Welles, this American drama is a landmark in the history of films, especially known for its brilliant cinematography. A quasi-biographical film, it examines the life and legacy of Charles Foster Kane, a character inspired by the publishing tycoon, William Randolph Hearst. A subversive and scathing critique of powerful institutions, Citizen Kane will leave a lasting impression. However, you will have to watch it to see what exactly 'Rosebud' means.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
A science-fiction movie of radical scope and ambition, 2001: A Space Odyssey, directed by Stanley Kubrick, was way ahead of its time and is widely regarded as one of the most influential films ever made. Starring Keir Dullea as Dr. David Bowman, this masterpiece of ingenuity and technical superiority will make you question if it was really made 50 years ago. The impeccable details of filmmaking and the amazingly accurate futurism, linger in the minds of the viewer long after watching it.
Where to watch: Netflix
Text Samadrita Khasnabis