When was the last time you made a bowl or two of popcorn and sat down with your WHOLE family to watch a movie? Granted that Disney and Dreamworks have made some great films in recent years that both children and adults can enjoy, but for the most part Hollywood targets films to specific audiences, often leaving some members of your family looking for something else to do for the evening.

Boston Globe movie critic Ty Burr has given this problem some thought, and after watching Mulan one too many times, decided that, for him, the old classic movies were the answer. So Ty sat down and wrote a book about watching classic films with modern children called The best old movies for families : A guide to watching together (Anchor Books, 2007, MAM 791.4375 B). In it he selects films that mom, dad, and the kids can watch and enjoy together and discuss afterwards. The actors are talented, the storylines are fresh, and black and white ain’t so bad once you get used to it. Best of all you’ll find no explicit sex, graphic violence, raw language, or marketing tie-ins with Coke, Hasbro, or Burger King. Perfect!

Ty’s book begins with “Starter Kits” – the first old movies to watch with your children. He breaks these down by age. For toddlers (ages 3-6) he suggests fast-paced stories that are simple without being dumbed down such as:

Bringing Up Baby (B&W; 1938) with Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant
Meet Me in St. Louis (Color; 1944) with Judy Garland
Singin’ in the Rain (Color; 1952) with Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor
Stagecoach (B&W; 1939) with John Wayne

For tweeners (ages 7-12) he suggests “killer stories” such as:

The African Queen (Color; 1951) with Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn
The Day the Earth Stood Still (B&W; 1951) with Michael Rennie and Patricia Neal
North by Northwest (Color; 1959) directed by Alfred Hitchcock with Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint
Ohayo/Good Morning (Color; 1959) directed by Yasujiro Ozu
Some Like It Hot (B&W; 1959) with Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis and Marilyn Monroe

And for teenagers (ages 13+) he suggests some of the classics that contemporary films that teens love are based upon such as:

Metropolis (B&W; 1927) directed by Fritz Lang
Psycho (B&W; 1960) directed by Alfred Hitchcock with Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh
The Seven Samurai (B&W; 1954) directed by Akira Kurosawa

In all, his book reviews over 100 of the old classics by genre: Comedy, Drama, Action, Horror, and Foreign, with an index that organizes the best old movies by age group. Each film review includes recommended ages, "The sell" to kids, a plot outline, "Pause-button explanations" regarding questions your child might have, and suggestions for what to watch next. Ty recommends that the first old movie you watch with your child should be a comedy. He also renders advice on old movies NOT to watch with your children and why.

The Nashua Public Library maintains a large collection of classic films many of which have been remastered, and we’re pleased to report that we own most of the titles Ty recommends. Here's a sampling of more of Ty's suggestions that you'll find at the library:

For ages 3 and up

The Court Jester (Color; 1956) with Danny Kaye
Safety Last (B&W; 1923) with Harold Lloyd

For ages 8 and up

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (Color; 1953) with Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell
High Noon (B&W; 1952) with Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly
It Happened One Night (B&W; 1934) with Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert
Roman Holiday (B&W; 1953) with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck

For ages 12 and up

Breakfast at Tiffany's (Color; 1961) with Audrey Hepburn and Mickey Rooney
On the Waterfront (B&W; 1954) with Marlon Brando, Eva Marie Saint, Rod Steiger and Karl Malden
The Searchers (Color; 1956) with John Wayne and Natalie Wood
Sunset Blvd. (B&W; 1950) with Gloria Swanson and William Holden
The Third Man (B&W; 1949) with Orson Welles

Not a fan of Black & White or Classic films? The Nashua Public Library has sections of films on both VHS and DVD designated for family viewing in the Music, Art & Media Department. These films are generally rated no higher than PG. We also carry other guide books listing family-friendly films such as:

The New York Times essential library : Children's movies : A critic's guide to the best films available on video and DVD (Times Books, 2003, MAM 791.4375 N) and
What can we watch tonight? A family guide to movies (Zondervan, 2003, MAM 791.4375 N)

or, just check our Family Friendly Film Guide for web sites to help with your selections. Happy viewing!