16. Casablanca (1942)

Director: Michael Curtiz

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid

Other Oscar Wins: Best Director, Best Writing

Other Oscar Nominations: Best Actor in a Leading Role (Humphrey Bogart), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Claude Rains), Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Score

Favourite Line: "Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine."

Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca.

Casablanca is an undeniably brilliant film, and is one of my all time favourites. It is full of romance, intrigue, action, and exceptional acting, and of course includes the timeless song, "As Time Goes By". This film is set in Casablanca, Morocco during the Second World War, a dangerous city full of refugees trying to escape to the new world. American saloon owner Rick Blaine must decide between staying with the woman who once broke his heart, and helping her husband, a prominent leader of the resistance, to escape.

Art by Olly Moss.

The story itself is enough to make a wonderful film, but it's the performances of all the actors that really makes it. Humphrey Bogart as the hard and secretly sentimental Rick is stunning, delivering one of the most memorable film performances of all time. Ingrid Bergman is also incredible, despite her being a little uncomfortable throughout the filming over the fact that the script was not finished until the last minute and she did not know whether her character ends up with Rick or Victor Laszlo. My favourite character, however is the selfish and yet strangely charming Captain Renault, played to perfection by Claude Rains. He makes what could be a very dislikable character someone who the audience still feels for to some degree.

Casablanca is one of history's greatest films. An undeniable classic, which has woven itself into popular culture, with some of the most famous lines of all time; "We'll always have Paris", "Play it Sam", "Round up the usual suspects", and of course, "Here's lookin' at you, kid". This nearly perfect film is one that should be watched over and over again. It lives up to it's reputation, and will endure for years to come.

15. Mrs. Miniver (1942)

Director: William Wyler

Starring: Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon

Other Oscar Wins: Best Actress in a Leading Role (Greer Garson), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Teresa Wright), Best Director, Best Writing, Best Cinematography

Other Oscar Nominations: Best Actor in a Leading Role (Walter Pidgeon), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Henry Travers), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Dame May Whitty), Best Sound, Best Film Editing, Best Effects

Favourite Line: "I know how comfortable it is to curl up with a nice, fat book full of big words and think you're going to solve all the problems in the universe. But you're not, you know. A bit of action is required every now and then."

The cast of Mrs Miniver.

Mrs. Miniver is a beautiful and moving film about a middle class British family, trying to make it through the Second World War. It is thoroughly touching and optimistic, despite showing the toll that war can take on common people.

The most stunning thing about this film is the astounding number of incredible acting performances. It's no wonder it includes 5 Oscar nominations for acting alone, and two of those won. Mrs. Miniver is in fact the first film to have so many acting nominations. I personally cannot single any one performance, as all of them were very moving, lovely, and nuanced.

Art by Olly Moss.

 Interestingly, director William Wyler openly admitted that he made this film as a sort of propaganda to cause American audiences to be more sympathetic to the British during World War Two. He joined the army himself after filming was completed, and was oversees the night he won his Oscar. The final speech of the film was used extensively for the war effort in America. It was printed in magazines such as "Time" and "Look", and it was also broadcast on the Voice of America by order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Copies of the speech were dropped over Europe. Winston Churchill in fact once said that Mrs. Miniver did more for the war effort than a flotilla of destroyers. 

All in all, Mrs. Miniver is a wonderful film that I would highly recommend seeing, particularly if you are interested in the Second World War, or simply if you wish to see a showcase of excellent acting.