It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

 

An angel helps a compassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman by showing what life would have been like if he never existed.

A sentimental fantasy tale is turned into a beloved masterpiece by Capra's assured directorial expertise and a perfect cast; a Christmas classic ever since.

On rewatching: I watch it every Christmas, and it's fully worth it.

Halliwell****: "Superbly assembled small-town comedy drama in a fantasy framework; arguably Capra's best and most typical work."

Maltin****: "Sentimental tale...Only Capra and this cast could pull it off so well; this film seems to improve with age." 

 

Ward Bond

Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ward_Bond

Young Mr. Lincoln (1939)

A fictionalized account of the early life of the American president as a young lawyer facing his greatest court case.

Basically a courtroom mystery this movie has more to offer with its beautiful and poetic cinematography and a splendid cast, and Henry Fonda's portayal of Abraham Lincoln is meticulous.

Halliwell***: "Splendid performances and period atmosphere are rather nipped  in the bud by second-feature courtroom twists, but this is a marvellous old-fashioned entertainment with its heart in the right place."

Maltin***1/2: "Not so much a historical document as a slice of Americana, filtered throuth the sensibilities of director Ford and screenwriter Lamar Trotti. The early episodic portion of the film, covering Abe Lincoln's formative years, includes some of Ford's most lyrical moments, luminously photographed by Bert Glennon."

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

An angel helps a compassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman by showing what life would have been like if he never existed.

A sentimental fantasy tale is turned into a beloved masterpiece by Capra's assured directorial expertise and a perfect cast; a Christmas classic ever since.

Halliwell****: "Superbly assembled small-town comedy drama in a fantasy framework; arguably Capra's best and most typical work."

Maltin****: "Sentimental tale...Only Capra and this cast could pull it off so well; this film seems to improve with age."

The Quiet Man (1952)

A retired American boxer returns to the village of his birth in Ireland, where he finds love.

Johnny Guitar (1954)

A strong-willed female saloon owner is wrongly suspected of murder and bank robbery by a lynch mob, when she helps a wounded gang member.

Fascinating no holds barred Western with the two female leads calling the cards in a confrontation overheated with an otherwordly hatred.

Halliwell*: "Weird Freudian Western notable for a running catfight between its lady protagonists; the title character is decidedly secondary. Not exactly a good movie, butmemorable because it's almost always over the top."

Maltin***1/2: "The screen's great kinky Western...Simply fascinating with symbolism rampant throughout."

Rio Bravo (1959)

A small-town sheriff in the American West enlists the help of a cripple, a drunk, and a young gunfighter in his efforts to hold in jail the brother of the local bad guy.