233 of 1001 Movies: It's A Wonderful Life (1946)

It's A Wonderful Life is a Christmas classic even though it was never intended to be a Christmas movie. For ladies it's a great romance, and for men it's a story of man who sacrificed to provide for his family. Frank Capra would have one of the common actors he had star in his movies, James Stewart to lead, and from there you had a movie made that would be airing on television and a classic to own for almost 65 years. I was rewatch the movie every year, and with time I value the movie more and more.

Summary: George Bailey has always aspired to lead an adventurous life that will leave his mark on the world. A series of events though will leave him living in his hometown though after all he did to plan to leave it. To keep his dad's loan company from failing though, and landing in the hands of Mr.Potter, a corrupt banker, he stays to help manage it. He also settles down with his longtime love. Things aren't as George imagined, but things appear to be looking up at least. Until disaster threatens his life, and George questions his existence, believing it would be better if he had never been born. An angel, Clarence, is sent to help George see what would have been the fate of the town he lives in had he not been born.

99 of 1001 Movies: The Big Sleep (1946)

Howard Hawks directed The Big Sleep in 1946, and he brought to big stars together to make critics talk about it after in a positive way. Humphrey Bogart is one of the most classic, and hugest actors of his time, and he was thought to have great chemistry with on screen romance Lauren Bacall. Her deep voice, and singing talents made her a stand out to watch. The Big Sleep though stretches on for a while, and the story is really complex, almost so complex it's difficult to keep up with since it has so many characters and turns.

Philip Marlowe is a private investigator and he has been hired by the Sternwoods, a wealthy family, to find out who is behind a blackmailing. Marlowe investigates but find both the daughters have their own trouble that may be bringing it their way. Someone is definitely getting blackmailed, but it may not be in the way the man who hired him, General Sternwood, thought. Carmen is involved with men and her activities now are being threatened to leak to the public. Vivian is a gambler, and now has some debts catching up with her. Before it's all over, Marlowe will find himself wrapped up in murder and a new love.

92 of 1001 Movies: The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

William Wyler would bring the world Ben-Hur over a decade after one of his earlier hits, The Best Years of Our Lives. With an unique and interesting cast you have a lot of great acting that brings out the emotion you need for a film likes this. It's basically completely character driven, and looks at an interesting aspect of being a veteran after World War II that most of us have probably neglected to even consider. The cast though ranges from holding real life parallels to their parts to being a top notch actor meant for the role they are portraying on screen.

Fred, Homer, and Al are three veterans returning home from the war. They are all anxious to see what changes have happened during the years they spent away from their loved ones. Homer has lost his hands, and he is worried about not only how his family will treat him, but his girlfriend he had hoped to marry. Fred left a new wife just as the war started, and he is the only one who seems more excited than nervous to see what awaits him when he gets home, but once arriving he's found his wife has essentially moved on in his absence. There is also Al, who has been married twenty years, and has two children. They have grown and matured though, and he is confused by how he will fit into the new dynamics of his family. On top of this they struggle to move forward with jobs, and love as they learn their new place in society as veterans.