Just What Makes a Classic, a Classic?

It's a Wonderful Life

Have you ever had some one tell you a movie is a classic and you have never seen it, let alone heard of it? Or if you did see it you didn't think it was that good. Well it still may be a classic. To be a classic movie a movie has to simply stand the test of time. It must be embraced by each new generation. I read a review where a "professional" critic wrote "..an instant classic." about a newly released movie. Hello arrogant nimrod! It is society and not the critics who decides what is and what is not a classic.

I think everyone will agree that Its A Wonderful Life is a classic. It is watched by millions of people every christmas on TV, video or dvd. New generations continue to get and enjoy its message. I remember when I was a kid in the 70's and Gone With The Wind was making its network debut. It was major entertainment news. It was in magazines and newspapers. But what I remember most was some neighbor kids talking about it the next day. I remember one girl who kept going on about how good looking Clark Gable was. Years later one of my brother inlaws had to watch it in high school. He thought Mammy was very funny.

Some movies are classics because of repeat viewing. How many times have you seen The Wizard Of Oz?

Others are classic because of cultural references. So many lines from Casablanca have been used in other movies and tv shows that I doubt anyone could count them all. One movie that I would consider classic that you may disagree with is Gilda with Rita Hayworth. Before you disagree consider this: In an episode of Mad About You they have a scene in a movie theatre where they are watching Gilda. Stephen King wrote a short story called "Rita Hayworth And The Shawshank Redemption". The movie version features scenes from Gilda. In Notting Hill Julia Roberts quotes Rita Hayworth "men go to bed with Gilda and wake up with me." A few years ago Demi Moore wore Rita Hayworths black dress from Gilda to the Oscars. Like it or not the movie is still alive in our culture and thus is a classic.

You do not personally have to enjoy a movie for it to be a classic. I know several people who could spend an afternoon watching John Wayne movies. Westerns are not my favorite genre but to many people they are classic.

Orson Welles in Citizen Kane.

One movie I completely disagree with as far as classic status goes is Citizen Kane. Yes, I know, it is always on the top of every best of film list. However, put it to my test. Do people, other than film students, ever watch this movie? Does the general public ever make references to it? Other than the overly dramatic "rosebud" line is there anything that anyone remembers about this movie. This is an example of classic movie status simply because the critics, not the viewers, over the years have deemed it so.

Childrens movies have the best chance of remaining classics. The Wizard Of Oz, Willy Wonka and most of the Disney cartoons are still being enjoyed by mine and millions of other children. In fact it is with my children that I am discovering what movies will continue to be classics. They both love Young Frankenstein. They each laugh at Igor and Gene Wilders antics. They are both in awe of Indiana Jones as much as I first was 20 years ago.

Recently I purchased the DVD to Some Like It Hot. One of my all time favorite movies. My sons watched it with me and I am happy to write that they both laughed hysterically. The train scene with Jack Lemmon in drag in bed with Marilyn Monroe and lots of other girls brought belly laughs from them. I find it interesting that a comedy made over 40 years ago can still create laughter. Now that is classic.