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Since its initial release ROCKY has been elevated to cinematic myth. And four sequels later, it may be easy to forget ROCKY'S roots. But this gentle tale of an Italian southpaw from the Philadelphia slums is worth returning to. An old fashioned story about the potential for every underdog to achieve greatness. Sylvester Stallone wrote the screenplay in only ten days, when he was little more than a bit performer in low budget films, and its success led him to become one of the most recognized movie stars in the world. His quiet unassuming portrayal of the Italian Stallion, an innocent boxer who gets a shot at the heavyweight title of the world is always intensely moving. A film that is both edgy and sensitive at the same time, ROCKY is every guy's STEEL MAGNOLIAS. And for anyone who's had to fight for what they believe in, it is guaranteed to draw a tear.

Hitchcock came to America in 1939 and in 1940 he released REBECCA and FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT. REBECCA went on to win the Oscar for best picture, and FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT was sadly forgotten. But it remains one of Hitch's most entertaining, gleefully original thrillers, boasting many imaginative adventure sequences including the Windmills, the murder among the umbrellas, and a climactic plane crash. A top notch script by Robert Benchley and Charles Bennet, this is one of Hitchcock's tightest and most suspenseful films. A must for any fans of the master or the genre!

Fritz Lang's M retains its ability to shock almost 70 years after its conception. This stylized german production by one of the greatest filmmakers of the 20th century, works on the senses in the most methodical insinuating way. A perfect model of subtlety, that provides a powerful counter-argument to the gory modern horror film. M shows us just enough onscreen action to frighten us, and forces us to make up the rest in our mind. By portraying the Peter Lorre child murderer as a sad little wretch of a man, the material becomes twice as disturbing as it would be, if Lang had chosen to exploit his subject. And as a result, we are presented with a timeless film, that has much to say about society. To add to its successes, M suggests its ideas through the images and using early sound techniques to truly chilling effect. Some of the images are unforgettable, and Lorre gives the performance of his career. Do not be put off by the subtitles, this film is a first rate character study and one of the most profoundly disturbing psycho thrillers ever made.