Update: I find it very hard to believe that it has been more than eleven years have passed since my father passed away. I wrote this page very shortly after his passing. At first I thought I was crazy to write a page so soon after his passing, but this Remembering My Dad and His Top Five Movies of All-Time page has become my mother’s favorite. Copies of the page were actually at his memorial service. Dad, you are missed each and every day. Happy Father’s Day, Dad. 06/19/2022.
Unfortunately my father, Bob, just passed away, days from 2011’s Father’s Day. I have been remembering all the great things my father did for me during my life. Two things besides family that I love, are baseball and movies. Both my interest in baseball and movies are directly attributed to my father’s influence. I grew up listening to my father talking about Ted William‘s baseball career, which he fondly remembered from his childhood. His favorite players of the 1970s, became my favorite players (Nolan Ryan and Dwight Evans). On the movie side of things, my dad worked in the newspaper business, papers like The Washington Post and The Daily Press.
At The Daily Press, my dad was friends with the local movie critic. The Daily Press’s movie critic, Henry, had the great job of watching movies and interviewing the movie stars. Henry would get the opportunity to go to New York City and interview which ever movie star was pushing their current movie. Henry would return home, write the article about the latest movie, and tell my dad the behind the scenes stories. My dad would then relay the information to me. It was an awesome system. I felt like I was getting inside information and it was great.
So as I prepare for my first Father’s Day without my father I thought I would share some of his movie wisdom. The following five movies were his favorite movies. If you talked to my father long enough, the conversation would eventually stumble upon one of these five movies. 6/18/2011
My Dad’s Top Five Movies. 1940’s Northwest Passage.
This movie stars Spencer Tracy as Major Rogers, the leader of the Rogers’ Rangers, and was set during the French and Indian War. Our last name is Rogers, so as a kid I got such a kick out of the fact that I had the same name as the major. As for why my dad liked the movie so much…..we have two expert opinions.
My mom says “His mom and dad sold fruit at a stand in Los Angeles, California during the 1930s and Spencer Tracy stopped by all the time and bought fruit….. thus your father became very interested in all of Tracy’s movies”. While my uncle says ….”One of the reasons Bob was interested in the movie Northwest Passage was that it was filmed in Idaho, and our grandfather, Dan Hepburn, was gold mining in the area when they filmed it.”
My Dad’s Top Five Movies: 1949’s Twelve O’Clock High.
My father was a small boy during the entire war, and I think he was always fascinated with World War II movies. One of the best was this excellent movie based on a true story.
From IMDb “A hard-as-nails general takes over a bomber pilot unit suffering from low morale and whips them into fighting shape.”
I just watched this movie a few months ago, and it is an awesome movie, with Gregory Peck and Dean Jagger giving standout performances. Dean Jagger actually won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for this role.
My Dad’s Top Five Movies: Bridge on the River Kwai
From IMDb…”After settling his differences with a Japanese PoW camp commander, a British colonel co-operates to oversee his men’s construction of a railway bridge for their captors – while oblivious to a plan by the Allies to destroy it.”
The winner of the Oscar for Best Picture, this movie is one of the best World War II movies. I must have bought this movie 5 times for my father over the years. I think I bought the laserdisc version, the VHS version, the DVD version, the special edition DVD version and his last Christmas I got him the highly rated special edition Blu-Ray version.
David Lean directed two of my dad’s favorite movies. Lean won Oscars® for best director for Bridge on the River Kwai and Lawrence of Arabia. Both films won the Oscar® for Best Picture as well…..that probably has to be the best back to back movies ever done by a director.
My Dad’s Top Five Movies: 1962’s Lawrence of Arabia.
From IMDb….”Epic rumination on a flamboyant and controversial British military figure and his conflicted loyalties during wartime service.”
Winner of the Best Picture Oscar®, my dad seemed to always get this movie into any movie conversation. We could be talking about Disney’s Bambi with my little kids….and somehow it would turn into a Lawrence of Arabia conversation….good memories.
My Dad’s Top Five Movies: 1963’s From Russia With Love.
My dad loved all the Sean Connery James Bond movies, but From Russia With Love was his favorite (Goldfinger was a close second).
When I was younger, James Bond movies seemed to play on Sunday Night Movies pretty often. My dad would only let me stay up until Q would show up with the gadgets. Once Q showed up, off to bed I would go…..
It took me years to finish a James Bond movie. My dad thought Robert Shaw was the best villain in the entire Bond franchise.
Honorable Mentions…or the rest of My Dad’s Top 10
- Goldfinger…yep…two Bond movies in his Top 10
- The Great Escape….he loved everything about the movie
- The Guns of Navarone…he loved the action, the actors and the story
- The Man Who Would Be King…one of he reasons I am a huge Caine fan
- North By Northwest…he liked the crop dusting scene…but loved the auction scene more
The reason I am hooked on movies….I thankfully blame my dad.
June 12, 1981 is the day I got hooked on movies. On that Friday morning, my father told me we were going to see a movie that was opening that I had never heard of before. My father could tell that I was not really interested. So he tried to get me excited about the movie. He said “I know you have not heard of this movie, but the guy that made Star Wars and the guy that made Close Encounters got together and made this movie, it is supposed to be pretty good.” So we got ready and headed to an early afternoon showing of this movie.
When Raiders of the Lost Ark ended, I was convinced I had seen the greatest movie ever made. I went back that night to watch the movie a second time with some of my friends. Watching it the second time I really paid attention to the opening credits. Starring Harrison Ford (hey that’s Han Solo), story by George Lucas, and directed by Steven Spielberg. I went to bed that night thinking, there is lots to learn about movies. Almost thirty years later and I still go to bed thinking there is lots more to learn about movies. I miss talking to my dad about movies.
My dad did not believe in spending a ton of money on things. In 2011, his big screen television was a 31 inch version, and I think his DVD player had just recently replaced his VHS player. Shortly before his death, he was over for a visit, and the James Bond movie, Dr. No, was playing on my 55 inch, high-definition 3-D television. I could tell he was blown away by the quality of the picture, as he was sitting on the couch with his mouth open and eyes glued to the television…..he turned to me and said….”I have to get me one of these”.
As for great dads……I was lucky enough to “get me one of those”….you will be missed dad.
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This is what the first paragraph is supposed to say. “Update: I find it very hard to believe that more than five years have passed since my father passed away. I wrote this page the day he passed away. At first I thought I was crazy to write a page so soon after his passing, but this Remembering My Dad and His Top Five Movies of All-Time page has become my mother’s favorite page I have ever written. Copies of the page were actually at his memorial service. Dad, you are missed each and every day. Happy Birthday. 01/09/2017.”
Due to some major issues…..my website will not allow any changes to it…..that might be a problem if I want to add any more new information.
Finally the gremlins went away and I was able to finally get this update done.
I did not realize until yesterday that I had not done a review of all of your Dad’s top 5 films on letterboxd.
I think I would certainly need to rewatch Northwest Passage or From Russia with love to include them.
I have 12 O’Clock High memorized and could do it without rewatching it.
I had already done Laurence of Arabia.
But I had never done one of Bridge on the River Kwai.
I did one last night regarding not so much of the plot as about what men do to survive extreme situations like being prisoners of war.
Hey Flora….very cool. WoC got me Northwest Passage for Father’s Day….and we watched it. It was probably the first time I had seen that one in awhile….especially compared to how often I watch Lawrence, Bridge, Russia and Twelve O’Clock High. I will have to check out your Letterboxd review….thanks for checking this page out again….which is BERN1960’s alltime favorite UMR page.
I have completed at review on letterboxd for 12 O’Clock High by memory.
I do so love that movie.
🙂
Well, Bruce.
Bob Rogers is proud of his son, wherever he is.
I’ve always used my real name when writing online because my name I so close to the character actress Dame Flora Robson that people might get confused. No relation.
I’ve now seen all five of your father’s top 5 films, I’m happy to say. The last one was Lawrence of Arabia which I thankfully saw for the first time before Peter O’Toole died. I saw it with you in mind because I knew it was one of your father’s top 5 films. I’ve seen it several times since then and of course I re-watched it before I wrote my review on letterboxd.
Of course, me being a Gregory Peck fan, My Darling Greg’s film Twelve ‘Clock High is a big favourite.
I don’t think more than a couple of months go by without me watching Bridge on the River Kwai. Love that film.
From Russia With love is excellent. I love that film.
So happy I have now seen all five of your father’s top 5 films.
Flora
Thank you Flora…for the very nice words. Glad that you have seen all 5 of his favorite movies. And even better that you have enjoyed all 5. I am about to get a refresher on Northwest Passage….as I got that for an early Father’s Day present. Review coming to a letterboxd.com near you soon….though I am 26 movies behind when it comes to those reviews….seems this site has been taking up all of my time….lol.
Sad to hear about the death of Omar Sharif. I love the TCM memorial videos tributes. They are beautifully done.
Flora
Hey Flora….yep pretty sure Omar Sharif was the last living person with a connection to Lawrence of Arabia….it least of the main characters….such sad news. I saw one TCM memorial….and I agree they were beautifully done. Thanks for the comment.
Hi, Bruce. I have now seen all five of your father’s favourite films. The last one for me was Lawrence of Arabia which I saw for the first time last year. I’m glad I saw it before Peter O’Toole died. Again, the length had something to do with that, although it has been years since I saw David Lean’s other film on this list for the first time: Bridge on the River Kwai. I’v e lost track of the number of times I have seen that one.
About the films/actors in order:
Northwest Passage I’ve only seen a couple of times. I much prefer the Spencer Tracy style of acting to the Marlon Brando style of acting. I saw a documentary about Tracy recently and his peers were in awe of him and considered him the best actor of their era. And yet he was the exact opposite of whom the actors of today admire. Tracy knew all his lines, only liked a couple of takes on camera, arrived on time and expected everyone else to be the same. Hmmm….
I have a couple more Tracy/Hepburn pairings to see for the first time. I have Without Love recorded and waiting for me.
Twelve O’Clock High stars my favourite actor of all time. It’s not my favourite Peck film, but I have seen it a large number of times. I have heard that according to veterans who were bomber piolts that this film is quite accurate in its portrayal of the bond and relationships in combat.
Bridge on the River Kwai is my favourite Alec Guiness film and high on my list of other actors that appear in the film too.
From Russia With Love is a fun film. My favourite Connery film is Goldfinger, however. I own a copy of my favourite Moore Bond film: The Spy Who loved Me.
So now I have seen your Dad’s favourites.
Flora
Hey Flora….that is awesome that you have seen my dad’s Top 5. The big question is did you like Lawrence of Arabia when you saw it last year? I agree with you about Tracy’s style versus Brando’s style. Peck is pretty good in 12 O’Clock High…and that is the one I seen to watch of these 5 movies.
As for Bridge on the River Kwai…..I bought my dad the blu ray to watch….it is an awesome transfer….but we never got him over the house to watch it…..it sits on my DVD shelf unopened….one of these days I will watch that blu-ray.
A Moore Bond movie over all the Connery Bond movies…..that is blasphemy!…..actually Moore is my favorite Bond….not many people make that claim….lol. The Spy Who Love Me is Moore’s best Bond easily.
Thanks once again for stopping by and checking out my dad’s Top 5…..it is appreciated not only by me….but by my mom…..as this is easily her favorite page.
Re: Lawrence of Arabia:
Yes, I did enjoy the movie.
Omar Sharif made a fabulous entrance in this picture. He did not make a large number of films, but a lot of the films he made were important movies. Not a lot of actors can say that a large percentage of their films are considered to be works of art. Dr. Zhivago is iconic as well. Have you seen it?
Have you done any pages on supporting actors who had long careers? Claude Rains is one of my all-time favourites.
Flora
Hey Flora….glad you liked the movie Sharif’s entrance is one of the most famous ever. I finally saw Dr. Zhivago about a year ago. I liked it but it would be down my list of Lean movies to re watch. I have done some supporting actors….like Christopher Walken and …..mmmmmm Christopher Walken….so Claude Rains would be an excellent addition to the website.