Topic: Melodrama

Direction F.W. Murnau

Cast George O'Brien · Janet Gaynor · Margaret Livingston · Bodil Rosing

Synopsis Sunrise (1927) tells the tale of a contented farmer, portrayed by George O' Brien, whose life takes a dramatic turn when he encounters a charming city woman, played by Margaret Livingstone. Initially living in harmony with his devoted wife, Janet...

Direction Giuseppe Tornatore

Cast Philippe Noiret · Marco Leonardi · Salvatore Cascio · Jacques Perrin

Synopsis Cinema Paradiso (1988) tells the heartwarming tale of a young lad named Salvatore residing in a quaint Italian hamlet. His world is transformed when the local cinema operator, played by Philippe Noiret, introduces him to the enchanting world of filmmaking....

Direction John Ford

Cast Walter Pidgeon · Maureen O'Hara · Roddy McDowall · Donald Crisp

Synopsis How Green Was My Valley (1941) unfolds as a poignant tale of a Welsh valley's transformation from an untouched Eden to a coal-mining hub at the dawn of the 20th century. The narrative is recounted through the lens of Huw...

Direction Luchino Visconti

Cast Alain Delon · Renato Salvatori · Annie Girardot · Katina Paxinou

Synopsis Rocco and His Brothers (1960) chronicles the tale of an impoverished family shattered by desire and avarice. The narrative centers around Rocco (Alain Delon), a gentle and idealistic young man who faces chaos and rivalry as he and his three...

Direction Erich von Stroheim

Cast Gibson Gowland · ZaSu Pitts · Jean Hersholt · Chester Conklin

Synopsis Greed (1924) follows the story of McTeague, a former miner who becomes a dentist and wins the heart of Trina Sieppe, who is the cousin of his friend Marcus. When Trina hits a jackpot of five thousand dollars in a...

Direction William Wyler

Cast Dana Andrews · Fredric March · Myrna Loy · Harold Russell

Synopsis The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) follows the journey of three World War II veterans as they return home to a changed America. Fred Derry, a former sailor, struggles to find his place in a society that initially celebrates...

Direction King Vidor

Cast James Murray · Eleanor Boardman · Bert Roach · Estelle Clark

Synopsis The Crowd (1928) follows the life of John Sims, born on Independence Day in 1900, who initially seems destined for greatness. However, his father's untimely death during his childhood dampens his prospects. Like many others, John ventures to New York...

Direction William Wyler

Cast Bette Davis · Teresa Wright · Herbert Marshall · Patricia Collinge

Synopsis The Little Foxes (1941) is a gripping tale of ambition and deceit set in the deep South at the dawn of the 20th century. The story revolves around Regina Giddens, a ruthless woman who is determined to secure wealth and...

Direction Kenji Mizoguchi

Cast Kazuo Hasegawa · Kyôko Kagawa · Yôko Minamida · Eitarô Shindô

Synopsis The Crucified Lovers (1954) unfolds in the heart of 17th century Kyoto, where Osan finds herself in an unhappy marriage to Ishun, a prosperous yet miserly scroll-maker. When Osan is wrongfully accused of infidelity with Ishun’s most trusted servant, Mohei,...

Direction Yasujirō Ozu

Cast Ineko Arima · Kamatari Fujiwara · Setsuko Hara · Nobuo Nakamura

Synopsis Tokyo Twilight (1957) follows the lives of two sisters residing with their father in post-war Tokyo. The younger sister finds herself in a complicated romantic entanglement that results in an unexpected pregnancy. Meanwhile, the elder sister has left her husband...

Direction Victor Sjöström

Cast Lillian Gish · Lars Hanson · Montagu Love · Dorothy Cumming

Synopsis The Wind (1928) follows the journey of Letty, an innocent and impoverished young woman who ventures to the desolate Texas prairie, settling in a dusty town on her cousin's ranch. She dedicates herself to caring for the children but faces...

Direction William Wyler

Cast Olivia de Havilland · Montgomery Clift · Ralph Richardson · Miriam Hopkins

Synopsis The Heiress (1949) follows the life of Catherine Sloper, a reserved and introverted young woman residing with her father, Dr. Austin Sloper, in the bustling city of New York during the year 1849. Catherine's mother, remembered as a radiant and...

Direction David Lean

Cast Celia Johnson · Trevor Howard · Stanley Holloway · Joyce Carey

Synopsis Brief Encounter (1945) follows Laura Jesson, a suburban housewife who finds her life lacking excitement and fulfillment despite the comfort of her husband and children. Her weekly trips to town for shopping and a movie provide a brief escape from...

Direction Vincente Minnelli

Cast Lana Turner · Kirk Douglas · Walter Pidgeon · Dick Powell

Synopsis The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) follows the rise and fall of Jonathan Shields, a self-absorbed film producer played by Kirk Douglas, who stops at nothing to establish himself as the ultimate filmmaker. The narrative unfolds through the eyes of...

Direction Kenji Mizoguchi

Cast Kinuyo Tanaka · Tsukie Matsuura · Ichiro Sugai · Toshirô Mifune

Synopsis The Life of Oharu (1952) chronicles the journey of Oharu, a woman in her fifties navigating the rigid societal norms of 17th-century feudal Japan. Her life takes a dramatic turn when she becomes the paramour of a man, leading to...

Direction Kenji Mizoguchi

Cast Shotaro Hanayagi · Kakuko Mori · Kôkichi Takada · Yôko Umemura

Synopsis The Story of the Last Chrysanthemums (1939) is set in Tokyo during 1885, where Kikunosuke, the son of the renowned actor Kikugoro, is celebrated for his stage performances. However, his acclaim is largely attributed to his father's fame rather than...

Direction Max Ophüls

Cast Joan Fontaine · Louis Jourdan · Mady Christians · Marcel Journet

Synopsis Letter from an Unknown Woman (1948) unfolds in Vienna around the turn of the 20th century, where a charismatic man, Stefan Brand, returns to his apartment and informs his valet that he will depart before dawn to evade a duel....

Direction Richard Brooks

Cast Elizabeth Taylor · Paul Newman · Burl Ives · Jack Carson

Synopsis Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) is a cinematic adaptation of Tennessee Williams' renowned play, set against the backdrop of a family gathering for the 65th birthday celebration of the patriarch, 'Big Daddy'. The atmosphere is tense as not...

Direction Luis Buñuel

Cast Arturo de Córdova · Delia Garcés · Aurora Walker · Carlos Martínez Baena

Synopsis El (This Strange Passion) (1953) centers around Francisco, a wealthy and principled bachelor who, after an unexpected encounter with Gloria, becomes determined to make her his wife. Despite her initial reluctance, Francisco's persistent courtship leads Gloria to agree to marry...

Direction Arthur Penn

Cast Marlon Brando · Robert Redford · Angie Dickinson · Jane Fonda

Synopsis The Chase (1966) is a gripping tale set in a small town that becomes a hotbed of tension when a notorious local criminal manages to break out of prison. The escape triggers a wave of anxiety among the residents, who...