{"id":11866,"date":"2026-04-28T18:41:52","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T23:41:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=11866"},"modified":"2026-04-28T19:02:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T00:02:13","slug":"my-favorite-best-robert-wise-directed-flicks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=11866","title":{"rendered":"My favorite\/best Robert Wise directed flicks….."},"content":{"rendered":"

A Look at Wise, the director<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n

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A top director of all time, Robert Wise has been a film maker that I have enjoyed\u00a0for my lifetime.\u00a0 Here is my ranking of his films, a personal list based on interest, enjoyment, and his skill as a movie maker.\u00a0 This reflects my take, and nothing else is implied.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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Films that I have viewed:\u00a0 The Sound of Music;\u00a0 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.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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I have viewed 18 of his 42 movies. I regret that I have not viewed the following:\u00a0 The Haunting; Star Trek: The Motion Picture; Blood on the Moon; House on Telegraph Hill.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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Top ten:<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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  1. \u00a0The Sound of Music:\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Great songs and a beautifully looking movie.\u00a0 Robert Wise’s masterpiece of film making. Highest rating here.\u00a0 Highly recommended. 5 stars<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n
  2. \u00a0The Set-Up:\u00a0 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<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n
  3. \u00a0I Want to Live:\u00a0 Susan Hayward give a strong performance as a woman that is put to death in the California gas chamber.\u00a0 A chilling flick that Wise pulled on punches and another noted film of quality.\u00a0 4.5 stars out of five stars.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n
  4. \u00a0Somebody Up There Likes Me:\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Wise uses Newman in the right way. I love this movie.\u00a0 4.5 stars out of five stars.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n
  5. \u00a0Executive Suite:\u00a0 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.\u00a0 4.5 stars out of five stars.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n
  6. \u00a0The Day the Earth Stood Still:\u00a0 A beloved sci-fi film that I am sure others would think I ranked too low.\u00a0 I get it. It is one of the earliest films of this genre and Wise is noted\u00a0 for this film more than any except “The Sound of Music” and “West Side Story.”\u00a0 Four stars out of five stars.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n
  7. \u00a0Run Silent, Run Deep:\u00a0 A World War 2 submarine flick that is full of great action, great acting, and a visual treat.\u00a0 Tense and all you want in this sort of war movie.\u00a0 Four stars out of five stars.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n
  8. \u00a0Two For the Seesaw:\u00a0 Two masterful actors, Mitchem and MacLaine,\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Four stars out of five stars.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n
  9. \u00a0West Side Story:\u00a0 A movie that many love.\u00a0 I am not in that group, but I get it.\u00a0 It is a five star film for those that think the world of it. I give it four stars out of five stars.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n
  10. \u00a0Tribute to a Bad Man:\u00a0 Cagney and Wise add up to a 3.5 out of five star movie. It is worth a viewing and I liked it.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Now for the film I did not put in my top ten.\u00a0 You might wonder why The Sand Pebbles ignored.\u00a0 And the fact that I have viewed this film many time, I have reservations on what Wise did here.\u00a0 Was 13 when I first viewed it. I have the “road show” cut, which adds some minutes to the first run print.\u00a0 For some reason, the film looses its steam about two thirds through and I cannot say it is a great film.\u00a0 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\u00a0 \u00a0Bergen is a disapointment, and I think she gives nothing to this Wise film.\u00a0 This is\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Richard Crenna and Make steal the film in my opinion as they are the best actors in this one.\u00a0 I wish this film was better.\u00a0 Mostly forgotten and understandable except for those that love it.\u00a0 3.0 out of five stars. View it and when the film gets to the action off the boat, I told you so.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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    A Look at Wise, the director     A top director of all time, Robert…<\/p>\n

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