The bfi 100: 31-40

31. Zulu (1964)

Directed by Cy Endfield

Cast: Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Michael Caine, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Nigel Green, Ivor Emmanuel, Paul Daneman, and the voice of Richard Burton

An epic account of the true story of under-strength British forces defending an isolated African mission at Rorke's Drift against hordes of Zulu warriors. Stanley Baker (who also co-produced with director Cy Endfield) impresses as the officer in charge, whilst a then scarcely known Michael Caine adopts an upper-class accent. The spectacular second half of the film is almost totally taken up with the battle, as the Zulus look to overpower the mission and reclaim their land. The stirring music score is by John Barry, the narration by Richard Burton.

32. Room at the Top (1958)

Directed by Jack Clayton

Cast: Laurence Harvey, Simone Signoret, Heather Sears, Donald Wolfit, Ambrosine Philpotts, Donald Houston, Raymond Huntley, John Westbrook, Allan Cuthbertson, Hermione Baddeley, Mary Peach

A remarkable screen adaptation of John Braine's novel, with Laurence Harvey perfectly cast as the young man determined to break social barriers and get ahead by marrying the factory boss's daughter. Jack Clayton did a marvellous job of pulling the film together, though Oscars went to Simone Signoret, for her performance as the older woman thrown aside as Harvey plots to move onwards, and screenwriter Neil Paterson.

33. Alfie (1966)

Directed by Lewis Gilbert

Cast: Michael Caine, Vivien Merchant, Shirley Anne Field, Millicent Martin, Jane Asher, Julia Foster, Shelley Winters, Eleanor Bron, Denholm Elliott

A tour-de-force performance by Michael Caine, who brilliantly brings to life Alfie, the swaggering Cockney romeo out to charm as many 'birds' as possible. Caine narrates directly to camera as he sets about his cold-hearted romancing of a marvellous cast of actresses. Adapted from his own material by Bill Naughton and well directed by Lewis Gilbert in his first collaboration with Caine, Alfie boasts a terrific score by Sonny Rollins.

34. Gandhi (1982)

Directed by Richard Attenborough

Cast: Ben Kingsley, Candice Bergen, Edward Fox, John Mills, John Gielgud, Trevor Howard, Martin Sheen, Rohini Hattangady, Ian Charleson, Athol Fugard, Saeed Jaffrey, Roshan Seth, Amrish Puri, Ian Bannen, Michael Bryant, Richard Griffiths, Bernard Hepton, Michael Hordern, Richard Vernon, Shane Rimmer, Daniel Day-Lewis

Richard Attenborough's epic film traces 56 of the 79 years of Gandhi's life, showing his transformation from the passionate young lawyer Mohandas K. Gandhi into the spiritual and political leader of India, who became a symbol for peace around the world. Ben Kinglsey, in his first leading film role, gives a remarkable performance as The Mahatma, and Attenborough handles the scale of his long-cherished project with skill, especially perhaps the vast funeral sequence. The film won eight Oscars^®, including Best Picture, Director, Actor and Screenplay (by John Briley). Low down the cast is a young Daniel Day-Lewis, playing 'Colin', one of three youths who grab Gandhi in the street.

35. The Lady Vanishes (1938)

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

Cast: Margaret Lockwood, Michael Redgrave, Dame May Whitty, Paul Lukas, Basil Radford, Naunton Wayne, Catherine Lacey, Cecil Parker, Linden Travers, Googie Withers, Mary Clare, Philip Leaver

Another terrific Hitchcock, this time also blessed with a deliciously witty script by Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat. Shot entirely at Gainsborough, this is a perfect comedy-mystery, taken from Ethel Lina White's novel The Wheel Spins. Dame May Whitty is Miss Froy, the elderly woman who disappears, Lockwood and a young Redgrave the couple who team up to find her, and the fabulous Basil Radford and Naunton Wayne are the cricket-mad eccentrics Charters and Caldicott who help in their own sweet way. A dizzying and thoroughly enjoyable experience.

36. The Italian Job (1969)

Directed by Peter Collinson

Cast: Michael Caine, Noel Coward, Benny Hill, Raf Vallone, Tony Beckley, Rossano Brazzi, Maggie Blye, Irene Handl, John Le Mesurier, Fred Emney, Graham Payn, Robert Powell

A highly entertaining caper movie, recently re-released on its thirtieth anniversary, which reached cult status thanks to Michael Caine, a trio of Mini Coopers and a sense of 1960s fun that is back in fashion. Caine plays Charlie, a petty criminal who inherits the plans to a $4 million gold bullion robbery in Turin. Masterminded by the patriotic Mr Bridger (Coward) from his prison cell, Charlie's men create the biggest traffic jam ever seen. Their getaway across the piazzas and rooftops involves wild car chases (stunt driving was supervised by Remy Julienne, who later worked on several Bonds), followed by a much-imitated cliff-hanger ending.

37. Local Hero (1983)

Directed by Bill Forsyth

Cast: Burt Lancaster, Peter Riegert, Denis Lawson, Peter Capaldi, Jennifer Black, Jenny Seagrove, Fulton Mackay, John Gordon Sinclair

Magical, moving comedy-drama from writer-director Bill Forsyth, working again in his native Scotland. An ambitious young executive (Riegert) from Texas-based Knox Oil & Gas is despatched to a small Scottish village to negotiate the purchase of the whole place as the location for a new refinery. But the residents are wily Scots, who resolve to hold out for a high price. Unfortunately for all, the beach is owned and inhabited by old Ben (Mackay), so the Knox chairman (a lively, if eccentric, Lancaster) flies in to take over negotiations himself. This is a gem of a film, full of gentle humour, perfect performances and thoughtful insights, with an atmospheric music score by Mark Knopfler.

38. The Commitments (1991)

Directed by Alan Parker

Cast: Robert Atkins, Michael Aherne, Angeline Ball, Maria Doyle, Dave Finnegan, Bronagh Gallagher, Felim Gormley, Glen Hansard, Dick Massey, Johnny Murphy, Kenneth McCluskey, Andrew Strong

Alan Parker's funny and extremely satisfying story of a group of young Dubliners who form a band determined to sing 1960s soul music. They are gathered together from all walks of life by the ambitious Jimmy Rabitte (Atkins): perhaps the finest scene is the procession of wannabes who come to his front door for interviews. The real discovery, though, is the amazing vocal talent of Andrew Strong, who plays the heavyweight singer Decco Cuffe. With a script by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, based closely on Roddy Doyle's novel, the film is full of great music and great characters.

39. A Fish Called Wanda (1988)

Directed by Charles Crichton

Cast: John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline, Michael Palin, Maria Aitken

Inspired farce from John Cleese (who stars and wrote the script) which combines moments of Python-style outrageousness with the structure of a classic Ealing comedy. Veteran director Charles Crichton (who made The Lavender Hill Mob and The Titfield Thunderbolt) also deserves credit for this story of a British barrister (Cleese) who gets involved with a sexy con artist (Curtis) and her mindless roughneck boyfriend (Kline) and their robbery plans. Full of wonderful moments, with Kline earning his Oscar for an hysterical, over-the-top performance.

40. Secrets & Lies (1995)

Directed by Mike Leigh

Cast: Timothy Spall, Phyllis Logan, Brenda Blethyn, Claire Rushbrook, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Elizabeth Berrington, Michele Austin, Lee Ross

The film that finally secured recognition for Mike Leigh in the international market place. It gained Oscar nominations and acclaim around the world as once again Leigh used his considerable talents to marshal a fine cast of actors to tell what is on one level a simple story, but on another an honest look at the complexity of human relationships. Brenda Blethyn and Marianne Jean-Baptiste received much of the acclaim, but topcast Timothy Spall's performance also deserves attention. Moving and funny in equal measure, Secrets & Lies remains a remarkable film.