Must-see Movies
By Jill Rigby Garner
Must-see Movies
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Directed by:
Starring:
Frank Capra
Jimmy Stewart
Donna Reed
Lionel Barrymore
George Bailey spends his entire life giving up his big dreams for the good of his town, Bedford Falls, as we see
in flashback. But in the present, on Christmas Eve, he is broken and suicidal over the misplacing of an $8000
loan and the machinations of the evil millionaire, Mr. Potter. His guardian angel, Clarence, falls to Earth,
literally, and shows him how his town, family, and friends would turn out if he had never been born. George
finds that his life did make a difference to many in his town. He finds that his years of serving others bring
others to him in his time of need. He discovers he is the richest man in town, because he has more than money
can buy. Perfect movie for December.
Citizen Kane (1941)
Directed by:
Starring:
Orson Welles
Joseph Cotton
Dorothy Comingore
Agnes Moorehead
A film from the past that is more applicable in today’s society than it was in the forties. The opening scene
captivates the audience as the camera takes us inside a magnificent castle in the middle of Xanadu, the estate of
the world’s wealthiest man. Charles Foster Kane takes his final breath as he utters the name, “Rosebud.” He has
spent his life amassing a fortune that did not satisfy his soul. Told through the eyes of a reporter who examines
Kane’s quest for happiness as he uncovers his motivations, yearnings, and disappointments.
Twelve O’Clock High (1949)
Directed by:
Starring:
Henry King
Gregory Peck
Hugh Marlowe
Gary Merrill
"12 O'Clock High" tells the story of an American Bomber Group low on morale and performance after heavy
losses over the skies of Germany. General Frank Savage, a desk bound staff chief, is sent to the group after the
Bomber Commander is relieved of duty. At first encountering resistance, Savage eventually shows the pilots
how to take pride in their unit and serve above and beyond the standards of the Army Air Corps. Doubting
themselves and their own abilities, Savage teaches the men that excellence is born in the heart. Actions will
follow the lead of the heart. If you believe in your heart that you can win, you cannot be defeated.
Manners of the Heart 215 Royal Street | Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802 | Phone: 225.383.3235 | Fax: 225.383.3239 | www.mannersoftheheart.org Must-see Movies
By Jill Rigby Garner
Sergeant York (1941)
Directed by:
Starring:
Howard Hanks
Gary Cooper
Walter Brennan
June Lockhart
True story of a hillbilly sharpshooter drafted in WWI. Despite his claim to be a pacifist, he fights with his heart
becoming a war hero. Many say the greatest movie of all time…A hard working, honorable man, York does the
right thing, because it’s the right thing to do. Teaches students that doing the right thing for the right reason is
often the hardest thing to do, but brings with it the greatest rewards.
Braveheart (1995)
Directed by:
Starring:
Mel Gibson
Mel Gibson
Sean Lawlor
James Cosmo
Yes, this is a violent movie, but it is not violence for the sake of shock, but violence depicting a fight for
freedom. In 13th century Scotland William Wallace is a rebel who leads an uprising against the cruel English
ruler Edward the Longshanks, who wishes to inherit the crown of Scotland for himself. The Scots are none too
pleased with the brutal English invaders, but they lack leadership to fight back. Wallace becomes their
uncompromising leader because of his deep rooted beliefs that men are entitled to freedom. He courageously
stands for his people and inspires them to defend themselves. The message of this movie is powerful, lifechanging. One man can change the fate of an entire country. You may have the next brave heart sitting in your
classroom waiting to be inspired!
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)
Directed by:
Starring:
Stanley Konan
Jane Powell
Howard Keel
Jeff Richards
Adam, the eldest of seven farm brothers, grows tired of living without a helpmate and goes to town in search of
a wife. Returning the same day with Milly who agrees to marry him the following day spurs his six brothers to
want the same. The problem…they need a bit of refining first. Milly sets to work on the brothers, but finds
they’re more difficult to tame than Adam. The gentleness and innocence of the brothers in their search for the
“perfect” brides are a stark contrast to the relationship building of today’s teenagers. Not only is the story line
entertaining, your students must be exposed to at least one musical and this is the best of the best. The dance
numbers are superb and the songs are exuberant. Entertainment at its old-fashioned best!
Manners of the Heart 215 Royal Street | Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802 | Phone: 225.383.3235 | Fax: 225.383.3239 | www.mannersoftheheart.org Must-see Movies
By Jill Rigby Garner
Sea Biscuit (2003)
Directed by:
Starring:
Gary Ross
Jeff Bridges
David McCullough
Chris Cooper
Based on a true story, a half-blind ex-prizefighter and mustang breaker team up with a millionaire and his
rough-hewn, undersized horse, SeaBiscuit. This unlikely trio of men brings SeaBiscuit to incredible heights,
helping him earn Horse of the Year honors in 1938. No greater story has ever been told of perseverance against
all odds. Tears will be shed watching the painful disappointments that are endured in the quest for victory. Your
class will break into applause when Sea Biscuit, who didn’t know he was too little to compete, crosses the finish
line. Your students learn that perseverance turns dreams into accomplishments.
Remember the Titans (2000)
Directed by:
Starring:
Boaz Yakin
Denzel Washington
Will Patton
T. C. Williams High School overlooking the nation’s capitol faced integration in 1971 along with the rest of the
country. Some of the citizens of Alexandria, Virginia were reluctant to accept the “new” kids from across town,
until their beloved football team taught them that the color of one’s skin has little to do with the heart and mind.
Working through the uncertainties of change the coaches find there is much to learn from one another. In the
end winning became more important than their differences. They found when they stood united, they could not
be defeated.
High Noon (1952)
Directed by:
Starring:
Fred Zinnemann
Gary Cooper
Lloyd Bridges
Grace Kelly
The ultimate tale of courage and bravery in the face of certain defeat. All odds were against Will Kane, the
recently retired sheriff of a small Western town on his wedding day. News arrived that a bitter desperado was
coming back seeking revenge. Faced with a citizenry of cowards, Kane must make a decision to take a stand
alone or run. As his new bride and a handful of others urge him to retreat, he knows the only thing he can do to
ensure their safety is to wait. The uncertainty of the outcome of his decision adds to the power of the message.
The deliberate thoughts of this brave man offer a contemplative pattern of decision making for the viewers.
Manners of the Heart 215 Royal Street | Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802 | Phone: 225.383.3235 | Fax: 225.383.3239 | www.mannersoftheheart.org Must-see Movies
By Jill Rigby Garner
Men of Honor (1952)
Directed by:
Starring:
Fred Zinnemann
Gary Cooper
Lloyd Bridges
Grace Kelly
The ultimate tale of courage and bravery in the face of certain defeat. All odds were against Will Kane, the
recently retired sheriff of a small Western town on his wedding day. News arrived that a bitter desperado was
coming back seeking revenge. Faced with a citizenry of cowards, Kane must make a decision to take a stand
alone or run. As his new bride and a handful of others urge him to retreat, he knows the only thing he can do to
ensure their safety is to wait. The uncertainty of the outcome of his decision adds to the power of the message.
The deliberate thoughts of this brave man offer a contemplative pattern of decision making for the viewers.
Men of Honor (2000)
Directed by:
Starring:
George Tillman, Jr
Cuba Gooding, Jr
Robert de Niro
Charlize Theron
A true story of the first African-American Navy diver who faced unrelenting opposition in his quest to succeed.
Carl overcame his lack of education through hard work and round-the-clock study to enter the ranks of Navy
divers. With great determination, Carl offered respect time and again in the face of unprecedented disrespect
from his trainers who resorted to sabotage to stop his quest. Undaunted, Carl’s tenacity and character enabled
him to live forward, never losing his focus. In the end, Carl gained the respect of his fellow navy officers and
made history in the process, not only as the first African-American diver, but also as the first amputee diver.
Following an accident which severed his left leg below the knee, Carl returned to diving and continued in
service to our country for another nine years. We use Carl’s story in our Leaders by Example® training to show
our students it is possible to choose a respectful attitude in all situations.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
Directed by:
Starring:
Andrew Adamson
Georgia Henley
Skandar Keynes
Manners of the Heart 215 Royal Street | Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802 | Phone: 225.383.3235 | Fax: 225.383.3239 | www.mannersoftheheart.org Must-see Movies
By Jill Rigby Garner
Anna Poppellwell
William Moseley
Much more than a movie for children. This is serious entertainment for the entire family. While playing hideand-seek in a rambling English countryside home, four children - Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter, happen upon
an old wardrobe that beckons them to come inside. When Lucy decides to step through the wardrobe, the other
children follow into the “alternate universe” of Narnia. There they find adventure that echoes the struggles of
everyday living we all experience. An excellent adaptation of the classic by C.S. Lewis.
Toy Story 3 (2010)
Directed by: Lee Unkrich
Starring:
Tom Hanks
Tim Allen
Joan Cusack
If you enjoyed Toy Story, you’ll love Toy Story 3. More humor, more suspense. Stronger story line and deeper
life lessons learned. The plot focuses on Andy’s toys and their friends dealing with an uncertain future as Andy
prepares to leave home for college. The toys feel like they are being abandoned because Andy has not played
with them for years. He decides to take Woody with him to college and sets him aside. He puts the rest of the
toys in a trash bag to go back into the attic. The trash bag accidentally gets put on the street as garbage. Now,
the toys feel they are no longer wanted and plan an escape. They find their way to a donation box for the
Sunnyside Daycare. Woody is the only toy who knows what actually happened to his friends, so he tries to help
out. Between the tears you’ll discover a deeper appreciation of the short years from birth to graduation.
Hugo (2011)
Directed by:
Starring:
Martin Scorsese
Asa Butterfield
Chloe Grace Moretz
Ben Kingsley
Hugo is an orphaned boy who lives in the walls of a Paris railway station in the 1930’s.He learned to fix clocks
and other gadgets from his father and uncle. The only thing that he has connecting him to his dad is a robot that
doesn’t work. Kids who watch will take away worthwhile messages about perseverance and overcoming fears.
Manners of the Heart 215 Royal Street | Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802 | Phone: 225.383.3235 | Fax: 225.383.3239 | www.mannersoftheheart.org