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Personal
Fine Films
Fine Films for the Catholic Home
In these recommendations, "Catholic homes" is not a
circumlocution for "children's videos." It is assumed that
adults can and should assess for themselves the degree to which various
characterizations, plots, dialogue, and so forth reflect sound moral thinking.
Indeed, some films, or at least certain events or characters in certain films,
teach moral lessons through a via negativa, albeit in an artistically
responsible manner. It is further assumed that
parents will decide for themselves which films or parts of films might be
unsuitable for children of various maturities and experiences. Finally, with due regard
for the fact that objective criteria for evaluating films can be, should be, and
have
been applied herein,
the maxim still applies, De gustibus non disputandum est.
The rating system here is simple. Because the films included below are already
considered "fine", a single star ( )
means it should be seen carefully at least once, two stars ()
indicates that the film well rewards a second watching, and three stars ()
means the film surely deserves three or more viewings.
Explicit Religious Themes/Characters, Non
Fiction:
Each of the following films is based on a true story. That is not the same
thing as saying that everything in these films happened exactly the way the
director portrays it. Poetic license is always in play.
| Year |
Title |
Rating |
Format
|
Director |
Stars |
| 1917 |
Joan the Woman |
|
[DVD]
[VHS
] |
De Mille |
Farrar |
| 1943 |
Song of
Bernadette |
|
[DVD] [VHS] |
King |
Jones |
| 1956 |
The Ten Commandments |
|
[DVD]
[VHS] |
De Mille |
Heston, Brynner |
| 1964 |
Becket |
|
[DVD]
[VHS] |
Glenville |
Burton, O'Toole |
| 1965 |
The Agony and the
Ecstasy |
|
[DVD] [VHS] |
Reed |
Heston, Harrison |
| 1965 |
The Sound of
Music |
|
[DVD]
[VHS] |
Wise |
Andrews, Plummer |
| 1966 |
A Man for All Seasons |
|
[DVD]
[VHS] |
Zinnemann |
Scofield, Shaw, Hiller,
McKern |
| 1977 |
Jesus of Nazareth |
|
[DVD]
[VHS] |
Zeffirelli |
Powell, Hussey, etc. |
| 1981 |
Chariots of Fire |
|
[ DVD]
[VHS] |
Hudson |
Cross, Charleson, Holm |
| 1993 |
Shadowlands |
|
[DVD]
[VHS]
|
Attenborough |
Hopkins, Winger, Mazzello |
Explicit Religious Themes/Characters,
Fiction:
| Year |
Title |
Rating |
Format
|
Director |
Stars |
| 1950 |
[Diary of a
Country Priest] |
|
[DVD][VHS] |
Bresson |
Laydu,
Arnel |
| 1953 |
I Confess
|
|
[DVD] [VHS]
|
Hitchcock |
Clift, Baxter |
| 1954 |
On the Waterfront
|
|
[DVD]
[VHS]
|
Kazan |
Brando, Malden, Cobb, Stieger |
| 1955 |
Marty |
|
[ DVD]
[VHS] |
Mann |
Borgnine, Blair |
| 1959 |
The Nun's Story |
|
[DVD] [VHS]
|
Zinnemann |
Hepburn, Finch |
| 1963 |
Lilies of the Field |
|
[DVD]
[VHS]
|
Nelson |
Poitier, Skala |
| 1971 |
Fiddler on the Roof |
|
[DVD]
[VHS] |
Jewison |
Topol, Crane, Frey |
| 1981 |
Brideshead Revisited |
|
[DVD] [VHS] |
Hogg/Sturridge |
Irons, Andrews, Quick, Olivier |
| 1984 |
Tender Mercies |
|
[DVD]
[VHS] |
Beresford |
Duvall, Harper |
| 1989 |
Babette's Feast |
|
[DVD]
[VHS] |
Axel |
Audran |
| 1989 |
Crimes & Misdemeanors |
|
[DVD]
[VHS] |
Allen |
Allen, Landau, Huston, Orbach |
| 1990 |
Alice |
|
[DVD]
[VHS] |
Allen |
Farrow, Hurt, Mantegna, Danner |
Implicit Religious Themes/Characters:
|
 Evelyn Waugh Novels on Film:
"Of all the British and
American authors of the 20th century, I think Evelyn Waugh is the only one, with
the possible exception of P. G. Wodehouse, who never went out of fashion."- Alistair Cooke
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