Posted on 09/23/2004 2:14:20 PM PDT by Monterrosa-24
Many of us have complained about potty humor and other earthy humor becoming very common in films and shows made for children. To counter this, one can select to use the DVD or VHS player more than television and put better quality material in front of our children.
I feel it is something of a sin for a sixth-grader to see a movie like GREAT EXPECTATIONS before reading the book so the following list is intended only to offer some suggestions for when electronic entertainment can follow or supplement reading. Many of these films provide good starters for discussions on topics of historical and social importance.
Many Freeper parents have their own list of such films and this list will perhaps provide teacher mamas and daddys with a few more ideas.
THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL, 1982 noblesse oblige, adventure, romance and history. THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO, 1975 Give this '75 version a chance.
BEN HUR, 1959 BARABBAS, 1962 THE ROBE, 1953 Such biblical epics can also supplement the teaching of Roman history.
300 SPARTANS, 1962 Great for boys, especially 2nd graders through fifth graders.
ATTACK, 1955 The fruits of cowardice are explored. THE LAST COMMAND, 1956 Great depiction of Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett THE LONGEST DAY, 1962 IS PARIS BURNING?, 1966 LAST OF THE MOHICANS, 1992 too violent for younger children. ZULU, 1964 TORA, TORA, TORA, 1970 THE BLUE MAX, 1966 Boys are bound to love this adventure in biplanes and triplanes.
BOYS TOWN, 1938 Mickey Rooney at his youngest and finest. THE WIZARD OF OZ, 1939 Many of today's children have not seen this classic. Girls love it the most.
CROMWELL, 1972 Protestant vs. Protestant and Royalist vs. Parliamentarian themes provide for much discussion. NICHOLAS AND ALEXANDRA, 1971 The Russian Revolution from the perspective of the royal family.
HAWAII, 1966 A overly severe missionary manages to produce some good works in the rapidly changing islands.
THE SEARCHERS, 1956 TRUE GRIT, 1969 Girls will love the young, determined, and headstrong heroine playing opposite John Wayne.
GONE WITH THE WIND, 1939 Old times there are not forgotten.
TARZAN AND HIS MATE, 1934 Romance between a man and a woman "and that's the way it should be." High adventure and still a popular film.
THE SEVEN SAMURAI, 1954 In Japanese so the children still have to read the subtitles.
UP THE DOWN STAIRCASE, 1967 This film illustrates the difficulties in approaching people of different cultural expectations.
THE NUTCRACKER, 1993 There are many versions but try this Russian State Theatre Academy performance available through Kultur.
THE KID 1921. An Elian Gonzalez threatened by earlier Janet Renos. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, 1926
300 Spartans has been out of print for years. There is no video. If anybody knows a source, I want one.
You could put on your list virtually any Hollywood western, swashbuckler, action adventure or comedy made before the 1960's. They're all fine for kids - this is the stuff most of us grew up with in reruns on TV.
Add Star Wars to the list. The new DVD set rules.
I don't think little girls would enjoy 80% of these movies.
300 Spartans is available now on DVD via Amazon and other sources.
That must be new, because I looked there not too long ago.
Several of my all-time favorites are there.
THE SEARCHERS is just one of the best movies ever made, period.
ZULU is a great war movie, and, I've been told, a fairly realistic (for the time) depiction of the battle.
I can't prove this, but I swear that I saw it one day. I had an episode of Rocky and Bullwinkle going , and as they were talking with a bookcase in the background, I swear that I saw one of the titles of the books read "Sex Around the World" for a brief second. I sat there in shock for a moment, I'm sure that I wasn't imagining things...
"Old TV can also be an excellent source for kids. My faves are Have Gun, Will Travel, The Prisoner, and The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle."
Right-o !! Old TV beat new TV and more and more old stuff is being packaged in DVD sets.
I know one little girls love. I have 3 girls and they like the Sound of Music.
"I can't prove this, but I swear that I saw it one day. I had an episode of Rocky and Bullwinkle going , and as they were talking with a bookcase in the background, I swear that I saw one of the titles of the books read "Sex Around the World" for a brief second. I sat there in shock for a moment, I'm sure that I wasn't imagining things..."
I believe it. Wild men put those cartoons together and sometimes there is a lot of jigle and sway in Natasha's breasts.
John Wayne, The Cowboys. Great flick! Stars boys on a trail drive.
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