BEST 20TH CENTURY FOX MOVIES
“The Grapes of Wrath” (1940) The social conscience of the 20th Century Fox studio became well-known with Oscar-winning director John Ford’s version of the John Steinbeck novel about a migrantworker family.
“How Green Was My Valley” (1941) John Ford also directed this memorable drama of a Welsh mining family, reflected through the eyes of its youngest member (Roddy McDowall).
“Gentleman’s Agreement” (1947) Director Elia Kazan’s drama about prejudice, starring Gregory Peck as a reporter experiencing the subject, furthered Fox’s reputation for social relevance.
“All About Eve” (1950) Leading off a Turner Classic Movies salute to 20th Century Fox on Wednesday, Oct. 6 – and coordinating with the release of a new book about the studio’s history by Scott Eyman – this backstage drama finds an actress (Bette Davis) threatened by a devotee (Anne Baxter). The film was written and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, a great-uncle of TCM host Ben Mankiewicz.
“The Day the Earth Stood Still” (1951) This science-fiction landmark from director Robert Wise brings an alien (Michael Rennie) to Earth with a warning ... and a large and lethal robot named Gort. “The Robe” (1953) This historical epic about ancient Rome has a special place in film history for its introduction of CinemaScope, the widescreen process then intended to retain theater audiences as television started to take hold and keep them at home.
“The Longest Day” (1962) Former Fox chief Darryl F. Zanuck made a huge investment, in every sense, in this D-Day dramatization that seemed to feature every major male star of the time.
“The Sound of Music” (1965) The Rodgers & Hammerstein musical about the von Trapp family and governess Maria (Julie Andrews), one of the most popular of all movie musicals, saved Fox financially after the huge cost of “Cleopatra.”
“Planet of the Apes” (1968) The sci-fi tale of astronauts stranded in a world ruled by simians launched a hugely successful franchise.
“Patton” (1970) George C. Scott won – and famously refused – a best actor Oscar for his portrayal of the controversially independent World War II general.
“M*A*S*H” (1970) Director Robert Altman’s Korean War comedy remains arguably the most irreverent military movie ever ... and set the stage for an iconic, Fox-produced television series.
“The French Connection” (1971) This gritty police drama from director William Friedkin earned Gene Hackman an Oscar as drug-dealer-chasing New York cop “Popeye” Doyle.
“Star Wars” (1977) After other studios turned it down, Fox struck an enduring gold mine with George Lucas’ fantasy of “a galaxy far, far away.”
“Die Hard” (1988) Action movies were reinvented by this Bruce Willis vehicle, which set the template for a hero trapped by enemies in a building/plane/ train/store/etc.
“Titanic” (1997) Co-produced with Paramount Pictures, director James Cameron’s saga of the illfated voyage – one of the biggest money-makers in film history – made superstars of Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.