greatest-ever-made's - Rented List
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Renowned filmmaker Douglas Sirk directed this internationally acclaimed story of the very, very rich whose lack of morality and character leads to ruin and death. The stunningly photographed films stars Robert Stack as Kyle Hadley, the never-do-well son of Texas magnate Robert Keith whose dynasty begins to crumble due to the activities of his pleasure-seeking brood. Along for the downhill ride is an all-star cast that includes Lauren Bacall as Stack's unfortunate wife, Rock Hudson as his best friend and Dorothy Malone who picked up a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her portrayal of Kyle's nymphomaniac sister. - Director:
- Douglas Sirk
- Cast:
- Rock Hudson, Lauren Bacall, Robert Stack
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Get Nick! Big shot Steve Case knows only one man can shape up his troubled banana-republic plantation - fireball foreman Nick Butler. But Nick may be a little distracted. He's just met stranded American Lee Donley, a chanteuse who can hold her own at a card table. Especially if she's dealing. Off-screen pals James Cagney and Pat O'Brien team for the eighth time in this snappy action comedy. In a role widely cited as putting her on the movie fan's map, Hollywood's "Oomph Girl" Ann Sheridan portrays wisecracking Lee. Now add superb support, zippy repartee, plus 950 banana trees planted over 5 backlot acres and the heat is on. "You and your 14-carat oomph", Cagney says in the film's final clinch. - Director:
- William Keighley
- Cast:
- James Cagney, Ann Sheridan, Pat O'Brien
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In this hysterical satire of Reagan-era values, written and directed by Albert Brooks, a successful Los Angeles advertising executive (Brooks) and his wife (Julie Hagerty) decide to quit their jobs, buy a Winnebago, and follow their Easy Rider fantasies of freedom and the open road. When a stop in Las Vegas nearly derails their plans, they're forced to come to terms with their own limitations and those of the American dream. Brooks's barbed wit and confident direction drive 'Lost in America', an iconic example of his restless comedies about insecure characters searching for satisfaction in the modern world that established his unique comic voice and transformed the art of observational humor. - Director:
- Albert Brooks
- Cast:
- Albert Brooks, Hans Wagner, Julie Hagerty
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5 Against the House (1955)Five Against the House
When five college pals partying in Reno devise the perfect casino heist, they decide to go through with their plan and then return the cash, just to prove they can get away with the high-stakes prank. But when distraught Brick (Brian Keith) betrays them and plots to keep the money for himself, he imperils them all. - Director:
- Phil Karlson
- Cast:
- Guy Madison, Kim Novak, Brian Keith
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711 Ocean Drive (1950)Blood Money
A telephone repairman in Los Angeles uses his knowledge of electronics to help a bookie set up a betting operation. When the bookie is murdered, the greedy technician takes over his business. He ruthlessly climbs his way to the top of the local crime syndicate, but then gangsters from a big East Coast mob show up wanting a piece of his action. - Director:
- Joseph M. Newman
- Cast:
- Edmond O'Brien, Joanne Dru, Otto Kruger
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Is there love after death? Acerbic everyman Albert Brooks finds a perfect balance between satirical bite and romantic comedy charm as the writer, director, and star of this wonderfully warm and imaginative existential fantasy. After he dies suddenly, the hapless advertising executive Daniel Miller (Brooks) finds himself in Judgment City, a gleaming way station where the newly deceased must prove they lived a life of sufficient courage to advance in their journey through the universe. As the self-doubting Daniel struggles to make his case, a budding relationship with the uninhibited Julia (Meryl Streep) offers him a chance to finally feel alive. Buoyed by a pitch-perfect supporting cast that includes Rip Torn, Lee Grant, and Buck Henry, 'Defending Your Life' is a rare feat of personal, philosophical filmmaking that happens to also be divinely entertaining. - Director:
- Albert Brooks
- Cast:
- Albert Brooks, Meryl Streep, Rip Torn
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The marriage of Princess Diana (Kristen Stewart) and Prince Charles (Jack Farthing) has long since grown cold. Though rumors of affairs and a divorce abound, peace is ordained for the Christmas festivities at the Queen's (Stella Gonet)'s Sandringham Estate. There's eating and drinking, shooting and hunting. Diana knows the game. But this year, things will be profoundly different. 'Spencer' is an imagining of what might have happened during those few fateful days. - Director:
- Pablo Larraín
- Cast:
- Kristen Stewart, Timothy Spall, Jack Nielen
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Drive a Crooked Road (1954)Little Giant
Eddie Shannon (Mickey Rooney) is an undersized, sports-car mechanic who dreams of racing an expensive car in a European meet. He meets and falls in love with Barbara Mathews (Dianne Foster), and thinks she loves him. She introduces him to Steve Norris (Kevin McCarthy) and Harold Baker (Jack Kelly), who ask him to drive the getaway car in a bank robbery they are planning. He refuses, but changes his mind after some gentle persuasion from Barbara. The job is pulled off and, following a wild getaway, Eddie learns that Barbara was just using him and that Steve and Harold have plans to kill him. Gritty retribution is just around the corner. - Director:
- Richard Quine
- Cast:
- Mickey Rooney, Dianne Foster, Kevin McCarthy
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The Garment Jungle (1957)Garment Center
When Korean War vet Alan Mitchell (Kerwin Mathews) returns home to work for the family clothing manufacturing company, he discovers that his father (Lee J. Cobb) is in cahoots with gangsters to squelch a fledgling union movement within the shop. When the anti-union goons become murderous, Alan turns against his father to help organize the shop's labor force. - Director:
- Vincent Sherman
- Cast:
- Lee J. Cobb, Kerwin Mathews, Gia Scala
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Dark City (1950)No Escape
Once a decorated war hero, Danny Haley (Charlton Heston) now leads a group of small-time card sharks who know a sucker when they see one. They cheat their latest mark, Arthur (Don DeFore) out of $5000 at the poker table; but when Arthur hangs himself in despair, his unstable, hulking older brother (Mike Mazurki) seeks violent revenge on the grifter's responsible. As the bodies pile up, Danny and his lover, nightclub singer Fran (Lizabeth Scott), flee to Las Vegas...but Danny is about to learn he can't hide from the consequences of his actions. - Director:
- William Dieterle
- Cast:
- Charlton Heston, Lizabeth Scott, Viveca Lindfors
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In this engaging melodrama, Stanton Carlisle (Tyrone Power) is a lowlife working in a carnival. Knowing a good con when he sees one, he learns the tricks of a mind-reading act from Zeena (Joan Blondell), then tosses her aside. In time, he becomes "The Great Stanton", star attraction of swanky nightclubs and the darling of society. But with all his notoriety built on lies, it's only a matter of time before exposure brings Stanton's world crashing down around him. - Director:
- Edmund Goulding
- Cast:
- Tyrone Power, Joan Blondell, Coleen Gray
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In a time when a man's life wasn't worth the price of a bullet, ruthless cattleman Blaise Starrett (Robert Ryan) begins a feud with local towns folk that can only escalate towards violence. But when renegade army officer Jack Bruhn (Burl Ives) rolls into town with his sadistic gang of cold blooded killers and starts taking hostages, action must be taken and differences put aside in the name of survival. "Day of the Outlaw" is an engrossing, tense and occasionally somber film filled with stark imagery and dark heroes. Men are pitted against each other in the cruel, unforgiving elements of a bleak, isolated far west. - Director:
- André De Toth
- Cast:
- Robert Ryan, Burl Ives, Tina Louise
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House of Wax (1953)The Wax Works
In the gleefully wicked performance which made the gothic master of the macabre. Vincent Price is Professor Harry Jarrod, a renowned wax sculptor plunged into insanity when an arsonist destroys his life's work. Unable to use his flame-scarred hands, he comes up with a new way of restocking his House of Wax. Aided by Igor (Charles Bronson), he dips his hapless victims in wax! Jarrod's new creations are widely praised, but a lone voice cries murder. When the dauntless Sue Allen discovers a wax figure strongly resembling a missing friend (Carolyn Jones), Jarrod decides to line up the very same fate for her! It's anyone's guess who will end up in the bubbling cauldron. But that doesn't lessen the sweat dread and sheer fun of this all-time classic. - Director:
- André De Toth
- Cast:
- Vincent Price, Frank Lovejoy, Phyllis Kirk
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Nosferatu (1922)Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens
Made in 1922, on location in the Carpathians and several Baltic Towns, Nosferatu is in all but name Bram Stokers Dracula with the lead names changed. Starring Max Schrek as Nosferatu the film relies heavily on lighting, shadow and pictorial compensation. Following closely Bram Stokers novel. Stokers wife took offence and won her case against the producers forcing them to destroy all prints. Luckily a couple survived. - Director:
- F.W. Murnau
- Cast:
- Max Schreck, Greta Schröder, Ruth Landshoff
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Trapped (1949)The Film Noir Collection: Trapped
Convicted counterfeiter Tris Stewart (Lloyd Bridges) is offered early release from prison in return for helping the US Treasury Agents track down his former partners-in-crime. Unwilling to cooperate, Stewart manages to escape, unwittingly playing straight into the T-Men's hands. Directed with style and a documentary feel by Richard Fleischer, no-one is quite what they seem! 'Trapped' is superbly lit, with crisp, intelligent dialogue - a top notch Film Noir with an explosive ending. - Director:
- Richard Fleischer
- Cast:
- Lloyd Bridges, William Woodson, Barbara Payton
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