My favorite/best Robert Wise directed flicks…..

A Look at Wise, the director

A top director of all time, Robert Wise has been a film maker that I have enjoyed for my lifetime.  Here is my ranking of his films, a personal list based on interest, enjoyment, and his skill as a movie maker.  This reflects my take, and nothing else is implied.

Films that I have viewed:  The Sound of Music;  West Side Story; The Day the Earth Stood Still; The Andromeda Strain; The Set-Up; The Body Snatcher; The Curse of the Cat People; The Sand Pebbles; I Want to Live!; Somebody Up There Likes Me; Run Silent, Run Deep; Executive Suite; The Hindenburg; Two For the Seesaw; The Desert Rats; Tribute to a Bad Man; Destination Gobi.

I have viewed 18 of his 42 movies. I regret that I have not viewed the following:  The Haunting; Star Trek: The Motion Picture; Blood on the Moon; House on Telegraph Hill.

Top ten:

1.  The Sound of Music:  Liked it when I saw it in OKC back in 1965 at the Tower Theater. Rediscovered it a few years back when I bought the blue ray special edition. It is now a yearly favorite for this old man. Julie Andrews is a truly gifted singer and also a very fine actor.  Great songs and a beautifully looking movie.  Robert Wise’s masterpiece of film making. Highest rating here.  Highly recommended. 5 stars
2.  The Set-Up:  One of the finest boxing films ever made. Unique film as it takes place as a continous film played out from start to finish. Unlike Nolan’s “1917” as Wise uses edit cuts throughout, which Nolan had only 2 cuts in his entire flick. Highly recommended. 5 stars
3.  I Want to Live:  Susan Hayward give a strong performance as a woman that is put to death in the California gas chamber.  A chilling flick that Wise pulled on punches and another noted film of quality.  4.5 stars out of five stars.
4.  Somebody Up There Likes Me:  Not better than his other fight film (The Setup with Robert Ryan) but Newman’s performance is emotional in one of his first feature roles.  Wise uses Newman in the right way. I love this movie.  4.5 stars out of five stars.
5.  Executive Suite:  Robert Wise’s strong production/direction with a stellar cast. The acting is delicious, especially Miss Barbara Stamwyck and William Holden. A must view film that touches on what a company should emphasize while balancing the interests of the stock holders and the greater good of the employees and the customers. Highly recommended for the intelligent. Do not have the film.  4.5 stars out of five stars.
6.  The Day the Earth Stood Still:  A beloved sci-fi film that I am sure others would think I ranked too low.  I get it. It is one of the earliest films of this genre and Wise is noted  for this film more than any except “The Sound of Music” and “West Side Story.”  Four stars out of five stars.
7.  Run Silent, Run Deep:  A World War 2 submarine flick that is full of great action, great acting, and a visual treat.  Tense and all you want in this sort of war movie.  Four stars out of five stars.
8.  Two For the Seesaw:  Two masterful actors, Mitchem and MacLaine,  given some very nice dialogue from an excellent play directed by Wise, a master director, even if the work was not his best. A film from another time and place (was nine when I first viewed this in 1962), today I understand the adult themes of loneliness, relationships, and complexities of the human existence. Mitchum and MacLaine mesh and Wise knows black and white film. Totally enjoyable Do not have the flick.  Four stars out of five stars.
9.  West Side Story:  A movie that many love.  I am not in that group, but I get it.  It is a five star film for those that think the world of it. I give it four stars out of five stars.
10.  Tribute to a Bad Man:  Cagney and Wise add up to a 3.5 out of five star movie. It is worth a viewing and I liked it.

Now for the film I did not put in my top ten.  You might wonder why The Sand Pebbles ignored.  And the fact that I have viewed this film many time, I have reservations on what Wise did here.  Was 13 when I first viewed it. I have the “road show” cut, which adds some minutes to the first run print.  For some reason, the film looses its steam about two thirds through and I cannot say it is a great film.  We don’t care about the girl, and the film is now off the boat, which is, in my opinion, the primary character, along with McQueen   Bergen is a disapointment, and I think she gives nothing to this Wise film.  This is  good film by Wise, but not his best work, not close. McQueen’s performance is solid, and he gets in some emotional, or lack of emotional, blank looks, like what the hell is going on here.  Richard Crenna and Make steal the film in my opinion as they are the best actors in this one.  I wish this film was better.  Mostly forgotten and understandable except for those that love it.  3.0 out of five stars. View it and when the film gets to the action off the boat, I told you so.