Topic: Favourite 5 British films ever

[Scottymuser]

Just been reading the guardians (from March) ranking of the Best Ealing Studio comedies, with Kind Hearts obviously been #1, and it got me thinking where it (and the others) stand in a list of 5 favourite British movies ever made.  So here goes (the ranking is entirely subjective, and there are 2-3 honourable mentions which could easily be in there too):

5.  Shaun of the Dead  - Really close one, but I had to put one of Edgar Wrights films in, and chose this one a smidgen above Hot Fuzz as it was the original.  Just a simply superb comedy.

4.  Kind Hearts and Coronets - My favourite Ealing Comedy, and my favourite Alec Guiness film, a true timeless masterpiece.  There were a couple of other Ealing comedies I would consider (and would probably be in an extended top 20) - Passport to Pimlico and the Lavender Hill Mob; but Kind Hearts is just sublime.

3.  Withnail and I  -  One of my most watched films ever, a brilliant laugh riot.  Emminently quotable, and a fantastic script. 

2.  A Matter of Life and Death  -  Only saw it for the first time this year (in the cinema) and fell in love with this film.  Utterly brilliant, David Niven puts in one of the best performances of all time.

1.  Monty Python and the Life of Brian  -  Probably has to be number 1 for impact on what I love in comedy, Python had to be in this list, and this one is slightly better than Holy Grail.

Honourable mentions:  Along with the other Edgar Wright, Lady Killers and Python films mentioned above that were close contenders, Brazil (if it counts), Brief Encounter and the Third Man.

[Sir Capon of Debaser]

A Square Peg
Went the Day Well?
Come On George!
The Ghost Train (1941)
Hell Drivers
A Christmas Carol

I know its 6 but hopefully the bizzies wont find out

[Sir Capon of Debaser]

Theres a fleem that was on quite a bit when i was a kid. Black n white. 1950s i think. From what i remember theres a fella living above a pub. He might be in the IRA (Dont think its The Gentle Gunman from images ive looked at) End scene is a man walking either injured/shot or pissed  towards the docks at night stumbling through the streets. No talking for aboot the last 5 or 10 minutes an it just ends

[Sir Capon of Debaser]

A Square Peg

Eddie Murphys got shit on Norman in this Fleem

[Alan_X]

5 (and an honorable mention) that may not be the best ever but I'd watch them all again and again.

Kes
A Hard Days Night
Performance
The Long Good Friday
Dead Mans Shoes

The Bofors Gun

[Sir Capon of Debaser]

Theres a fleem that was on quite a bit when i was a kid. Black n white. 1950s i think. From what i remember theres a fella living above a pub. He might be in the IRA (Dont think its The Gentle Gunman from images ive looked at) End scene is a man walking either injured/shot or pissed  towards the docks at night stumbling through the streets. No talking for aboot the last 5 or 10 minutes an it just ends

Odd Man Out (1947)

[Qston]

The Cruel Sea
Local Hero
Trainspotting
Life of Brian
In Bruges (does that count ?)

[Alan_X]

Odd Man Out (1947)

I don’t think I’ve seen that. Looks fantastic.

[Sir Capon of Debaser]

I don’t think I’ve seen that. Looks fantastic.

From what i remember it was.  Loved it as a kid. Id come home from playing footy an the house would be empty an it seemed to be on quite a bit. That , Hell Drivers an a few others. Used to watch em with my parents an all. Especially Hell Drivers an Moby Dick. Love them ol black n whites

[Sir Capon of Debaser]

Saturday afternoons used to have some really good old fleems on.

[Qston]

From what i remember it was.  Loved it as a kid. Id come home from playing footy an the house would be empty an it seemed to be on quite a bit. That , Hell Drivers an a few others. Used to watch em with my parents an all. Especially Hell Drivers an Moby Dick. Love them ol black n whites

Certain B&W films get seared on your memory as a kid. The original great expectations is seared onto mine after watching it with my dad as young child.

[Sir Capon of Debaser]

Certain B&W films get seared on your memory as a kid. The original great expectations is seared onto mine after watching it with my dad as young child.

Yeah, the Elephant Man was much later(80s?) and that was done well/ memorable for that reason amongst other stuff obviously. The director knew exactly what they were doin making it like that. La Haine, Man Bites Dog also cracking modern fleems done the same way

[Kenny's Jacket]

Trainspotting
The Long good Friday
Kes
Twin Town
Trainspotting 2

[Draex]

Deadmans Shoes is brilliant.

This is England
Hunger
Trainspotting
A Clockwork Orange

[Saltashscouse]

1. Kind Hearts and Coronets
2. A Christmas Carol ( Alistair Sim )
3. Hue and Cry
4. The Bulldog Breed
5. Rita Sue and Bob Too

Kes would be in there but been mentioned loads

[kaesarsosei]

Withnail And I
Get Carter - this is the best British movie of all time
Trainspotting
Hot Fuzz (superior to Shaun Of the Dead IMO, actually gets better with every rewatch)

Fifth slot I don't have anything right now, but those are my top 4.

[Elmo!]

Trainspotting is definitely on it, that's the only one that immediately stood out.

[A-Bomb]

Any of the Monty Pythons?

You got the likes of the Full Monty and Billy Elliot that were both big hits.

[Baby Huey]

Not in any order of preference.

Distant Voices, Still Lives.

The Fallen Idol.

Peeping Tom.

The Red Shoes.

A Matter Of life And Death.

With a nod to Lean's brilliant films, Brief Encounter, Hobsons Choice and Great Expectations.

[Mumm-Ra]

Deadmans Shoes is brilliant.

This is England
Hunger
Trainspotting
A Clockwork Orange

Bit of a dark list there 

[Wild Romany Boy]

If I started trying to list 5 then I'd end up listing 100.

But number one, for always and probably ever, is The Long Good Friday.

[Kenny's Jacket]

If I started trying to list 5 then I'd end up listing 100.

But number one, for always and probably ever, is The Long Good Friday.

At last,  was beginning to think Im on my own

[Only Me]

Of time and the city
The offence
A room for Romeo Brass
Don’t look now
Distant voices still lives

Honourable mentions to:
Wicker Man
39 steps

Anyone picking Withnail and I needs to sit down and have a stern word with themselves. Just have a think about what you’ve done, you weirdos 😀

[John_P]

A Matter Of Life And Death
Kind Hearts and Coronets
The Ladykillers
Hot Fuzz
(can't decide on a 5th so will leave it here for now)

[Kenny's Jacket]

My favourite Simon Pegg film is Man Up

Im begining to think I might be weird

[9 kemlyn road]

Kes
Get carter
10 rillington place 
Oh mr porter 
The 39 steps ( the 1935 version )

[classycarra]

Some big love for Powell and Pressburger here, great to see!

To add to some of the classics already mentioned, got to have The Third Man and Lawrence of Arabia on any longlist.

Not sure I spotted any Hitchcock's - obviously one of britain's best ever, but maybe people count most of his better films as not british

[Wild Romany Boy]

Some big love for Powell and Pressburger here, great to see!

To add to some of the classics already mentioned, got to have The Third Man and Lawrence of Arabia on any longlist.

Not sure I spotted any Hitchcock's - obviously one of britain's best ever, but maybe people count most of his better films as not british

I'd probably have The Third Man and The Lodger tbf. As you say, Hitchcock, when he moved to Hollywood, probably made movies that weren't technically British. If you count him as director as enough to be British then I would probably add Rear Window as well.

[Baby Huey]

Some big love for Powell and Pressburger here, great to see!

To add to some of the classics already mentioned, got to have The Third Man and Lawrence of Arabia on any longlist.

Not sure I spotted any Hitchcock's - obviously one of britain's best ever, but maybe people count most of his better films as not british

Of the Hitchcock films I'd suggest Sabotage,The Lady Vanishes, and especially The 39 Steps, are all steller Hitchcock films. If we're talking British films, Kubrick is missing from everyone's list. Not many better English language film makers than Stanley.

Five picks is about 45 too little.

[jillcwhomever]

Laurence of Arabia
The Ladykillers
The Day of the Jackal
Great Expectations
A Man for All Seasons

[Trump's tiny tiny hands]

Withnail and I
The Third Man
Trainspotting
Zulu
Space Odyssey

[Draex]

Bit of a dark list there 

Explains a lot! 

[CHOPPER]

Carry on Screaming
Trouble in Store
Oh, Mr Porter
Summer Holiday
Mutiny on the Buses

[Party Phil]

Carry On Doctor
Carry On Matron
Carry On Camping
Carry On Don't Lose Your Head
Dead Man's Shoes

[Dr. Beaker]

The Admirable Crichton deserves a mention.

[Draex]

Carry On Doctor
Carry On Matron
Carry On Camping
Carry On Don't Lose Your Head
Dead Man's Shoes

Confessions of a window cleaner.

[Sir Capon of Debaser]

Carry on Screaming
Trouble in Store
Oh, Mr Porter
Summer Holiday
Mutiny on the Buses

Now that’s a fucking list

[dimwit]

Life Of Brian
The meaning of life
The holy grail
And now for something completly differrent

And I'd guess 5th has to be trainspotting.
or 28 days later, can't decide between them.

[CHOPPER]

28 trains later?

[Wabaloolah]

A Square Peg
Went the Day Well?
Come On George!
The Ghost Train (1941)
Hell Drivers
A Christmas Carol

I know its 6 but hopefully the bizzies wont find out

Went the Day Well is a great film, my Dad used to love it and introduced me to it and he peaked my interest in all things to do with the second world war