Ten Movies Guaranteed to Light Up Your Life Review

It wasn't that long ago that some of us were rhapsodizing about famous depressing films we had enjoyed.  I herewith submit my list of suggestions for movies which are guaranteed to ... well ... move you.  They aren't always light-hearted or easy to watch but in the truest sense, they are survival flicks.  You can't watch these movies without feeling better about the odds for survival of the human race.  (You might want to pull up a box of Kleenix before hitting "Play" -- it's okay to cry at the end of these films.)

Here we go, in no special order ....

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

The original 1945 black and white version directed by Elia Kazan which starred Dorothy McGuire, James Dunn, Peggy Ann Garner, and a troup of excellent supporting characters led by Joan Blondell.  Her father may have been an alcoholic who only owned one suit of clothes but poverty and tragedy were not about to destroy the dreams of little Francie and her gallant family.  Based on the life story of a famous author and the experiences of countless of unsung others who stepped up to the plate and fought for the American Dream in the early part of the 20th century.

Places in the Heart

A great Depression era film.  After her husband is inadvertently killed, it is left to a young widow (Sally Field) who doesn't even know how to write a check to keep herself and her two children afloat in a small economically hard-hit Texas town.  Thanks to a great team including characters played by Danny Glover, John Malkovich, and talented supporting cast members, the family struggles in the face of almost impossible odds to harvest and sell enough cotton to save the day.

The Color Purple

Two young Black sisters doing their best to cope with a period in our country's history which wasn't always kind to women are determined that "nothing will keep us apart."  Whoopi Goldberg steals the show here, closely followed by Danny Glover, Oprah Winfrey, and others in this great Steven Spielberg blockbuster. 

The Miracle Worker

Little Helen Keller (Patty Duke) had a brilliant mind but she might as well have been living like an animal, isolated and afraid in a cold dark place.  Then Annie Sullivan (Ann Bancroft) rescued her, leading her into the light and warmth of those who loved her and helping to vest in the little girl a quality of grace and intellect which Helen would pay forward to everyone else she met during the rest of her remarkable life.

Friendly Persuasion

The story of a gentle Quaker family whose world has been transformed into an arena of combat.  The movie stars Gary Cooper, Dorothy McGuire, Anthony Perkins, and a great supporting cast in this artistic triumph about the Civil War.  This may be one of the best films ever made about that great (and scary) American conflict.

To Kill a Mockingbird

What list of inspiring movies would be complete without this wonderful tribute to a small 1930's Southern town and an unforgettable father (Gregory Peck).  Look sharply at the end of the movie (before the tears begin to flow) for what might have been the first film appearance of Robert Duvall. 

War Games

In this fun and fictional adventure, a brilliant young hacker (Matthew Broderick) working alone from a home computer inadvertently accesses the Defense Department's website and nearly brings the country to the verge of nuclear war.  It takes a lot of teamwork (to say nothing of a supporting cast including Ally Sheedy and others) to rescue us all from the brink in this entertaining cliffhanger.

Fame

You're going to end up really caring about what happens to the young talented students of the New York High School for the Performing Arts.  This great movie starred Irene Cara and a lot of other talented young people, many of whom we never saw again, but the roles they helped create will live forever and the musical numbers are really special.

Seabiscuit

For some reason, horse races and their associated drama are the stuff that great movies are made of.  This 2003 film based on Laura Hillenbrand's book of the same title is no exception to that rule.  An unlikely band of brothers including an ungainly jockey (Toby Maguire), a broken down old trainer (Chris Cooper), a grieving millionaire (Jeff Bridges) and the unlikeliest of horses team up to produce a great Depression success story that really happened.

Champions

An obscure English film which is one of my personal favorites, this is the true story of British jockey Bob Champion (John Hurt) and the grueling medical treatments he endured in his courageous battle with cancer.  Meanwhile, also fighting back from the brink of existence is somebody's horse who is recovering from a grievous injury.  Bob and the horse are pretty much given up for dead by everyone but both heroic characters recover and in an ending which will make you want to stand up and cheer, cooperate in a heroic effort to bag first prize at the famous British steeplechase race known as the Grand National.

Well, that's MY list and I must say that it was difficult to select just ten.  When it comes to movies that are guaranteed to let the sun shine in, I have barely begun to scratch the surface.  I know that you all can come up with great lists of your own and I would love to read them.