Where to Start with Classic Movies? Roadmap for Beginners

When many people think of "classic films", they think of slow, boring, black-and-white and theatrically acted films. However, countless films, from the most entertaining comedies to the most tense thrillers in the history of cinema, have determined the language of the productions we watch today. The problem often starts with the wrong movie, not the classics themselves. Entering a period you are not familiar with with the heaviest, longest movie is like starting a new language with a literary classic, not a dictionary. In this guide, we offer a method for you to get used to classical cinema easily, and we recommend films selected from time to time, suitable for the first step.

Set expectations first

Knowing a few differences when watching old movies will help you see them as "different" rather than "bad":

Tempo: In older movies, scenes are held longer and editing is less rapid. This is not a deficiency, it is the trust in the attention of the audience. After the first twenty minutes, most people easily get used to this rhythm.
Acting: Hollywood acting of the 1930s and 1940s relied on sharper and faster speech. But since the 1950s, with actors like Marlon Brando, a natural acting language that is very close to today has been established.
Black-white: Black and white is not a restriction, it is an artistic choice. Images created with light and shadow are often more striking than color films.
Values of the period: Some old movies may contain stereotypes that are offensive today. It is a healthy approach to see them as a document of the period, but not to hesitate to criticize them.

Golden rule: Start with the genre you love

If you watch thrillers today, start with Hitchcock; if you like comedy, start with Billy Wilder or Chaplin; if you like action, start with Kurosawa. It is much easier to learn an ancient language in a familiar genre than in a completely foreign genre. The following recommendations are therefore grouped by genre and period.

Charades: More fun than you think

City Lights (1931)

Charlie Chaplin's story between the character Charlie and a blind flower girl was shot without dialogue, even though the sound film era had begun. The last scene of the film, which brings together comedy and sadness in the same scene, is considered one of the most touching moments in the history of cinema.

Modern Times (1936)

This film, in which Chaplin tells the story of a worker trapped between factory machines, is both a funny and thought-provoking comment on industrial society. It is one of the easiest movies for the first step into silent cinema.

The General (1926)

Buster Keaton's comedy, set during the American Civil War, is an action-comedy whose dangerous train stunts still amaze people today. Keaton is known for his scenes shot without using a stunt double.

Classic Hollywood

Casablanca (Casablanca, 1942)

Michael Curtiz's film tells the story of Rick (Humphrey Bogart), who runs a nightclub in Morocco during World War II, and encounters his old love. Love, humor, political tension and unforgettable dialogues come together; It is perhaps the safest choice for the first step into classical cinema.

Some Like It Hot, 1959

Billy Wilder's comedy, about two musicians who disguise themselves as women and infiltrate a women's orchestra after witnessing a mob murder, still makes you laugh out loud with the performances of Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon.

Singin' in the Rain, 1952

It is a cheerful musical about Hollywood's transition from silent cinema to sound cinema. His clever jokes about the film industry are as enjoyable as the scene where Gene Kelly dances in the rain.

Citizen Kane (1941)

Orson Welles' first film is the story of a journalist investigating the meaning of the last words of a deceased newspaper boss. It changed the language of cinema with its use of deep space, bold camera angles and fragmented narrative. Even though it's important, we don't recommend it as your first classic movie; When you watch it after a few movies, it becomes clear why it is so praised.

Hitchcock: Master of suspense

Alfred Hitchcock is one of the easiest gateways into classic cinema; because his films established almost all the rules of today's thrillers. Rear Window (Rear Window, 1954) tells the story of a photographer who cannot leave the house because his leg is broken and suspects a murder while watching his neighbors in the apartment building across the street. pervert (Psycho, 1960) is one of the turning points of horror cinema; For other faces of the horror genre horror subgenres You can look at our article. North by Northwest (1959) is the ancestor of all subsequent spy films, with its cross-country escape of an advertiser who is mistaken for the wrong person. Although Hitchcock's famous "Vertigo" (1958) is at the top of most lists, it will be more enjoyable to watch after these three films.

Classics of world cinema

Seven Samurai (Shichinin no Samurai, 1954)

Akira Kurosawa's film, about seven samurai hired to protect a village against bandits, is extremely fluent despite its nearly three and a half hour duration. This is where the origins of many films of today's "a team gathers and the mission begins" structure lie. Kurosawa's Rashomon (1950) won the Golden Lion in Venice, with the same event being told differently by different witnesses, and introduced Japanese cinema to the world.

Bicycle Thieves (Ladri di biciclette, 1948)

Vittorio De Sica's film, which tells the story of a father who needs his bike to continue his job in post-war Rome and searches for his stolen bike with his son, is the symbol of Italian Neorealism. It was shot on real streets, with largely non-professional actors.

The Seventh Seal (Det sjunde inseglet, 1957)

Ingmar Bergman's film, about a knight playing chess with Death in plague-ridden medieval Sweden, asks serious philosophical questions but also contains an unexpected amount of humor.

400 Coups (Les quatre cents coups, 1959)

François Truffaut's first film, which tells the story of Paris through the eyes of an incomprehensible child, is one of the starting works of the French New Wave and won the best director award at Cannes.

Tokyo Story (Tōkyō monogatari, 1953)

Yasujirō Ozu's film, which tells the story of an elderly couple visiting their children in the metropolitan city, is a calm and slow film; but what he says about family relationships is universal. It is recommended to watch after making some progress in the classical world.

New Hollywood: Bridge from classical to modern

If you still haven't warmed up to black-and-white movies, the "New Hollywood" period between the late 1960s and 1970s is a perfect stopover. During these years, the power of the studio system diminished, censorship rules relaxed, and young directors began to make more personal films influenced by European cinema. Francis Ford Coppola father The movie (The Godfather, 1972) tells the story of a mafia family as a family drama and criticism of the American dream. Steven Spielberg Jaws (1975) is considered the ancestor of today's summer blockbusters. Martin Scorsese Taxi Driver (Taxi Driver, 1976) is one of the harshest portraits of urban loneliness.

These films are both colorful and very close to today in terms of acting and editing; but it also carries the rhythm and patience of classical cinema. So it acts as a great bridge for beginners. As you move back from here to the 1940s and 1950s, the language of old movies will become more and more familiar to you. Stanley Kubrick 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) is also a product of the same period; However, due to its slow and dialogue-free nature, it would be better to keep it later in the list.

Classics of Turkish cinema

Classical cinema is not just about Hollywood. Metin Erksan's Thirsty Summer (1963) won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival in 1964 with its drama about sharing water in a village. Yılmaz Güney's hope (1970) is considered one of the turning points of realistic expression in Turkish cinema. For a more comprehensive list best Turkish movies You can take a look at our article.

Top ten recommended movies

Casablanca (1942)
Rear Window (1954)
Some Like It Hot (1959)
Modern Times (1936)
Under the Rain (1952)
Seven Samurai (1954)
Bicycle Thieves (1948)
400 Blows (1959)
Thirsty Summer (1963)
Citizen Kane (1941)

When you watch this list two or three movies a week for a month, you will see how quickly the language of classical cinema begins to become familiar to you. If you want to focus on a specific movement, such as film noir Our guide to film noirIf you want to progress reward-oriented Our guide to Oscar movies It may be the next step for you.

Tips for watching classics more enjoyable

Opt for restored versions. Many classics have been rescanned and published in high resolution. A bad copy will make the film look much older and tired than it is.
Remove distractions. Old movies easily become boring when left on in the background. When followed with full attention, its rhythm can be felt.
Read a little after watching. Learning about the period in which the film was shot and the impact it had will enrich the next viewing.
Watch together. A classic comedy is much funnier when watched with a crowd.

frequently asked questions

When is a movie considered a "classic"?

There is no precise definition. Generally, productions that have been around for at least a few decades, have proven their value over time, and have influenced subsequent films are referred to as classics.

Is it right to watch black and white movies in color form?

Post-colourized versions distort the film's original visual design. Since the director and cinematographer set the lighting according to black and white, it is recommended to watch it in its original form.

Are silent movies boring?

Chaplin and Keaton's comedies, in particular, are extremely fast-paced and entertaining even today. The musical accompaniment and visual humor make up for the lack of dialogue.

Where can I find classic movies?

Many classic films can be found on legal digital platforms, and some can be found in legal archives with public domain status. Because current access has changed in our legal tracking guide You can benefit from the tips.

To follow your classic movie journey, you can add these movies to your watch list on neizlicez, mark them as you watch them and create your own cinema map.