As I noted before, my love of movies comes from my mother.  It’s not uncommon for us to have long telephone conversations while watching the same movie.  A few years ago, we started a game:  if you were stuck on a deserted island (and, naturally, had access to electricity or could have the Professor from Gillian’s Island build you something), what 10 films would you want to have with you, i.e., what movies could you watch over and over and over again and never tire of them?

Depending on my mood, my list may vary slightly, but there are five titles I ALWAYS have.  These are, in no particular order of preference:

• Singin’ in the Rain – a great satire of the advent of sound to motion pictures, and some of the best dancing on screen; it’s not uncommon for me to rewind Moses and watch it once or twice again (which makes up for always fast-forwarding through You Were Meant for Me and some portions of Broadway Melody)
• Casablanca – just about a perfect film; six – count ‘em 6 – of AFI’s  100 best movie quotes are from Casablanca (see the full AFI list by clicking here)
• 1776 – I was hooked in 1971 when my dad took the family to see the stage version in Chicago and we nearly wore out the original cast album; I often annoy family no end by reciting lines verbatim
• Pride and Prejudice – this absolutely must be the Colin Firth version (but if that one weren’t available, the 1940 version with Laurence Olivier would place a VERY close second, even if it’s not exactly accurate to the book)
• The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby  – but it has to be the 8½ hour filmed version of the Trevor Nunn’s theatrical extravaganza ; I’ve watched it at least three dozen times (yes, all the way through) and even seen it twice in the theater; like 1776, I know most of this by heart (complete with dialects)

These are the movies that, when on television, I get suckered into watching even though I own them on DVD and (with the exception of Nickleby) are also on my iPad.

Think about it and get back to me. Which movies would YOU list??