If you don’t see a film that should be on the list, please comment.
5. Planet of the Apes
Often regarded as one of the best films in the science fiction genre, as well as famous for its twist ending and ideas on government, ignorance and gluttony, and based on the 1963 French novel La Planète des Singes by Pierre Boulle, the plot follows Charlton Heston who plays an astronaut who finds himself in, as you may have guessed, a planet inhabited by apes.
4. Funny Girl
Barbra Streisand won the Oscar for Best Actress in this biographical musical romantic dramedy, tying with Katharine Hepburn in The Lion in Winter. Partly known for its songs, particularly the notable “Don’t Rain on My Parade” number, the film follows the fame and career of comedienne Fanny Brice as well as her personal life, mainly her relationship with gambler Nicky Arnstein played by the late Omar Sharif.
3. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
What do you do when you adapt an Ian Fleming novel, and recruit Roald Dahl to be one of the co-writers? You get Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. In this delightful family musical fantasy-adventure, Dick Van Dyke plays a father and inventor who turns a broken-down vehicle into an extravagant car, but it is not long when malevolent forces want to get their hands on the titular object.
2. The Odd Couple
Ranked as #17 in the American Film Institute’s list “100 Years…100 Laughs”, and a must-see for comedy fans, the story follows two friends, played by the late Jack Lemmon and Walter Mattheu in one of their many films together, who share an apartment together after Lemmon’s character Felix’s wife leaves him. The eponymous pair are exact opposites, for Felix is a neat-freak and Mattheu’s Oscar is a slob, and this causes chaos in a comedic fashion throughout the motion picture.
1. Yellow Submarine
Cited as a “landmark of animation”, as well as a must-see for fans of the aforementioned genre, this charming and fun animated jukebox musical comedy fantasy-adventure follows the Beatles who are recruited by Captain Fred, and travel in his yellow submarine to Pepperland so that they can defeat the music-hating Blue Meanies. Fun fact: The Beatles themselves only appear in the end credits and don’t voice their cartoon counterparts.
Do you agree with the list? What is your favourite film from 1968?
