One of the most spectacular epics of all time, even by the standards of Hollywood, the famous twenty minute chariot race alone took three months to shoot, and, along the way, Ben is given a helping hand and converted by Jesus. An unmissable slice of movie history. Won Best Picture at 1959 Academy Awards. find out more...

Multi-Oscar-winning tear-jerker with King of Hollywood Hanks as the chump, sorry, Gump in question. As America's best loved bozo, he overcomes his immense naivety to become the hero of a nation, with the help of some ground-breaking computer wizardry. Unashamedly nostalgic feel-good fodder, or reactionary Bush territory �)*&, take your pick. find out more...

An arrogant bright black Northern homicide detective travelling via a small Mississippi town becomes involved in a murder investigation after a local industrialist is found dead. Engaged in a clash of wills with the local racist cop the two eventually develop a mutual respect. Won Best Picture at 1967 Academy Awards. find out more...

Multi-Oscar winning romantic comedy that has Gable as the poor but honest hack who meets the snobbish, spoilt Colbert as she buses across the USA. He attempts to get through to her, and the byplay between the two stars is a model of skilful direction. Touching and funny in equal measure. Won five Academy Awards at the 1934 Oscars. find out more...

Winner of 8 Oscars, this is the story of a misfit who challenges the power of the tough New York Longshoremen's Union. Steiger plays his brother, caught between divided loyalties, and Eve Marie Saint plays the woman he falls in love with. Highly recommended viewing despite its political premises. NB the special pleading on behalf of informers, deriving presumably from the fact that Kazan and Schulberg named names during the McCarthy witch-hunts. find out more...

The world as a lunatic asylum. Jack Nicholson plays the anarchist determined to challenge the smug system of authority and obedience that rule the roost. The first film by Czech dissident Forman after migrating from Czechoslovakia to the United States, and a superb comment on society! Won Best Picture plus others at 1975 Academy Awards. find out more...

Guinness restores the morale of British PoWs by building a bridge which is of military value to the Japanese, and then attempts to thwart the RAF's destruction of it! A classic film which swept 7 Oscars including "Best Picture". find out more...

The famous drugs thriller as Gene Hackman plays the cop determined to fix the Marseille based heroin runners once and for all. An action-packed movie full of murders, car chases and everything else a good thriller should have - making it one of the classics and a yardstick for others since. Won Best Picture at 1971 Academy Awards. find out more...

A gangster movie that spawned a million with Coppola on top directorial form and Brando and Pacino at their very best. Brilliantly believable and detailed stories unfold complete in every scene as the movie waltzes to its violent moral climax of living and dying by the sword. find out more...

Winner of a frightening number of Oscars (Best Film, Director, Actor, Actress and Adapted Screenplay); a vulnerable FBI rookie is sent to coax much needed information from the monstrous Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter in order to stop a killer who skins his victims. Brilliant, terrifying and gripping. find out more...