My Favorite King Vidor Films

by John Charet

* * * * (Out of * * * *)

1.   The Crowd (1928) 

2.   Our Daily Bread (1934)

3.   The Big Parade (1925)

* * * 1/2 (Out of * * * *)

1.   Show People (1928)

2.   The Patsy (1928)
(no relation to the 1964 Jerry Lewis film)

3.   Bardelys the Magnificent (1926)

4.   La Boheme (1926)

5.   Street Scene (1931)

6.   Not So Dumb (1930)

7.   Our Daily Bread (1934)

8.   Duel in the Sun (1946)

9.   Hallelujah (1929)

10. Billy the Kid (1930)

11. Bird of Paradise (1932)

12. Stella Dallas (1937)

13. The Champ (1931)

14. The Citadel (1938)

15. H.M. Pulham, Esq. (1941)

16. The Wedding Night (1935)

17. The Texas Rangers (1936)

11 thoughts on “My Favorite King Vidor Films”

  1. I have never thought to list his varied films. But I do have fond memories of The Champ, Duel In The Sun, and Stella Dallas. (I see you didn’t mention that last one. I always enjoy Stanwyck)
    Best wishes, Pete.

  3. I have a fondness for Duel in the Sun. Yes, it’s a bit overdone–it’s a melodrama after all–but the story is epic and the ending is beyond even that. It made me weep as a child. Though Pete would disagree, I would be open to a remake with the right director and cast. I could see Damien Chazelle (La La Land & Whiplash) directing…

  4. Speaking of Vidor’s films, you have to check out The Crowd because it ranks as one of the many great Silents films of that era. According to wikipedia’s entry on the film, the legendary Jean-Luc Godard was one time asked why more films about average everyday people were not being made and his response was: “The Crowd had already been made, so why remake it?” Interesting isn’t it? 🙂 Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂

  5. Your views on Duel in the Sun mirror mine 🙂 Interesting piece of trivia: According to wikipedia’s entry on the film, Duel in the Sun was the first film Martin Scorsese saw as a child, which he also mentions in that documentary series on American cinema entitled “A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies.” Both me and John Greco (a regular visitor to your site) are huge fans of that documentary series). As for remaking this, I think Damien Chazelle would do better making something. from his heart whether the result would be good, bad or in-between. I could see Paul Thomas Anderson remaking it though. Anyway, thanks for dropping by and keep those comments coming 🙂

  6. Yes, I thought of PTA but I don’t think he has the romantic spirit necessary for this film. Chazelle does, though of course Duel in the Sun is a tragic romance.
    I’ve read where Scorsese reveres Duel in the Sun because it was the first film he remembers really watching and because it broke his heart. That resonates with me because I watched it with my mom when I was very young. It had a big impact on me too. I like the film, but my fondness for it is more personal than due to it’s merit. There are a lot better melodramas out there. Once again IMHO. Ha!

  7. On second thought, you do have a valid point on Paul Thomas Anderson. Nevertheless, one wonders how he would reimagine it because he seems like the type of filmmaker, who would not so much remake as reimagine. As for a traditional albeit very different remake, Chazelle would probably do something fascinating with it at the very least. I also agree that it is hard to rank Duel in the Sun as the greatest melodrama ever made when it faces very tough competition with other equally great melodramas. Duel in the Sun was indeed poignant for me as well. I mean as the plot rolls along, you get a frequent or occasional hunch that things are not going to end well. Anyway, keep those comments coming 🙂

  8. I will John. I was wondering…this has nothing to do with Duel in the Sun…I didn’t see any Mel Brooks films on your blog. No love for Young Frankenstein? Blazing Saddles? The Producers? Say it isn’t so…

  9. Mel Brooks has directed a film that I adore and two that I admire. Here they are:

    1. Young Frankenstein (1974) (* * * * out of * * * *)
    2. Blazing Saddles (1974) (* * * 1/2 out of * * * *)
    3. The Producers (1968) (* * * 1/2 out of * * * *)

    In order to get on my favorite directors list, one needs to have 3 or more * * * * star films. How I came to that conclusion was from an old interview with either Francis Ford Coppola or someone else where he implied that If you direct 3 great films, you are considered a good director and If you direct five great ones, you are considered a great director. Maybe in the future, I should relax on that rule, but I decided to live by it cause I did not know what other route to go. Nevertheless, I do recognize a great film when I see it and maybe when I am finished with everything on my favorite directors list, I should do one of directors, who have had their moments for lack of better word. Anyway, keep those comments coming 🙂

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