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Some of the most influential films in movie history can now be downloaded online. I've handpicked 10 of the finest, and they're embedded below for you to watch.
1. M 1931, Fritz Lang
A series of child murders shakes a German city. The police are so overwhelmed by the case that it disrupts the activities of local criminals, prompting the city's underworld to band together to track down the killer.
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The agony of a martyr, Jeanne D'Arc (1412-1431), is depicted. Jeanne faces a trial where Cauchon interrogates her and d'Estivet spits on her. She predicts her deliverance but is taken to her cell, where judges fabricate evidence against her. In her cell, priests interrogate her while judges deny her the Mass. She endures threats in a torture chamber and is later offered communion if she renounces her beliefs, which she refuses. At a cemetery, before a crowd, a priest and her supporters plead for her to recant, which she does, and Cauchon announces her sentence. In her cell, she reflects on her change of heart and receives communion. Ultimately, she is burned at the stake in the courtyard at Rouen castle, as soldiers turn on the protesting crowd. Maria Falconetti's portrayal is widely regarded as one of the greatest screen performances of all time.
3. Nosferatu1922, directed by F.W. Murnau
An unapproved adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel (The legal heirs did not grant permission), which led to name changes. However, this wasn’t enough: The widow of Bram Stoker won two lawsuits (1924 and 1929) demanding the destruction of all copies of the film. Nevertheless, by that time, the film had already spread too widely to be completely eradicated. Eventually, Universal Studios overcame her opposition to the film. Count Orlok's relocation to Wisburg (clearly inspired by 'Wismar') brings the plague, tied to his dealings with the realtor Thomas Hutter. The Count becomes fixated on Hutter’s wife, Ellen, who alone holds the power to end the evil.
4. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington1939, directed by Frank Capra
Naive and idealistic Jefferson Smith, the leader of the Boy Rangers, is appointed to the Senate as a joke by his state's spineless governor. He reunites with the state’s senior senator, presidential hopeful, and childhood hero, Senator Joseph Paine. Upon arriving in Washington, however, Smith uncovers many flaws in the political system, and his innocent plan for a national boys’ camp brings him into conflict with the state’s political boss, Jim Taylor. Taylor initially attempts to corrupt Smith and later tries to destroy him through a scandal.
5. It Happened One Night1934, directed by Frank Capra
Rebellious socialite Ellie Andrews marries King Wesley, but her wealthy father has the marriage annulled. Fed up with her father’s control, she escapes by jumping off the family yacht in Miami, heading to New York. On the bus, she encounters streetwise reporter Peter Warne. They travel together, with Warne seeking a great story and Ellie needing his practical assistance. As they near New York, with their adventures coming to a close, they find themselves reluctantly falling in love, yet both are too afraid to admit it. After mistakenly believing that Warne has abandoned her, Ellie returns to King Wesley, but for how long?
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Union forces have captured The General, a Confederate train driven by Johnnie Gray, who couldn’t enlist in the Confederate army because his expertise as an engineer is vital. The Union plans to use the train to support its soldiers in a covert strike against the Confederates. Now, it falls to Gray and his beloved, Annabelle Lee, to recover The General, cross back through enemy lines, and alert the Confederates.
7. Begotten1991, E. Elias Merhige
God performs a self-disembowelment with a straight razor. From this, the Mother Earth spirit rises, journeying through a desolate and empty world. The Son of Earth, trembling and vulnerable, is attacked by faceless cannibals.
8. The Gold RushIn 1925, Charles Chaplin stars in a silent film where a solitary prospector embarks on a journey to Alaska in search of gold. Along the way, he encounters rough characters and falls deeply in love with the captivating Georgia, doing his best to win her affection with his unique charm.
A solitary prospector journeys to Alaska, driven by the promise of gold. Along his adventure, he crosses paths with tough individuals and falls in love with the enchanting Georgia, attempting to win her heart with his extraordinary charisma.
9. It’s a Wonderful LifeIn 1946, Frank Capra directs a story about George Bailey, a man who sacrifices his dreams for the good of Bedford Falls. As he reflects on his life during a Christmas Eve crisis, he becomes despondent after an $8000 loan goes missing and the wicked Mr. Potter makes his life harder. With the help of his guardian angel, Clarence, George learns how his town, family, and friends would have turned out without him. Realizing his deep impact on the lives of others, George must reconsider whether he can abandon everything.
George Bailey dedicates his life to putting others before his own ambitions, transforming the town of Bedford Falls. On Christmas Eve, overwhelmed by an $8000 mistake and the villainous Mr. Potter's interference, he contemplates suicide. His guardian angel, Clarence, shows him how the world would be without him, revealing his immense value to those around him. This heartfelt lesson leads George to reflect on the worth of his life and whether he should really give it all up.
10. All Quiet on the Western FrontIn 1930, Lewis Milestone directed this adaptation of the novel by German author Erich Maria Remarque. The film follows a group of German schoolboys who, urged by their nationalist teacher, enlist at the onset of World War I. The story unfolds from the perspective of these young soldiers, revealing the personal horrors of war. As they are exposed to death and suffering, their previous ideas of 'enemy' and the morality of war shatter, leaving them confused and enraged. A pivotal moment occurs when Paul fatally wounds a French soldier and, trapped in a shell hole with the body, struggles with guilt and grief. The film emphasizes the brutality and absurdity of war, contrasting the glorified idea of combat with its cruel reality.
In the aftermath of the Atomic War, the globe is split into three rival states. London, the heart of Oceania, is governed by a party that oversees every aspect of its citizens' lives. Winston Smith, a clerk in charge of altering historical records, inadvertently starts a rebellious affair with Julia. Their illicit love forces them to evade the all-seeing surveillance of Big Brother, though it's clear that no one is ever truly free from the Party's reach.
Bonus: 1984 1984, Michael Radford
In a post-apocalyptic world divided into three superstates, London is the capital of Oceania, where a totalitarian party exercises absolute control over its people. Winston Smith works as a low-level bureaucrat tasked with rewriting history for the Party. However, his life takes a dangerous turn when he falls in love with Julia, committing the ultimate crime in a regime where privacy is forbidden. Together, they try to evade Big Brother's omnipresent surveillance, but as expected, no one can truly escape the ever-watchful eyes of the state.
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