4.) Cimarron (1930-1931)

On a Scale of 1 to 10: 3

“Cimarron,” which means wild or unruly, begins in the late 1880s, spanning 40 years in the lives of an American frontier family. Yancey Cravat (Richard Dix), newspaper editor and born wanderer, thrills at the prospect of building a new life from scratch. He uproots his wife, Sabra (Irene Dunne), and moves to Osage, Oklahoma, a dangerous new settlement in the “southwest.” Yancey is a multi-faceted hero: gun-fighter, defender of truth, etc., but his wanderlust leads him away for years at a time, leaving his wife to attend to the children and the newspaper alone.

Director: Wesley Ruggles. Starring Richard Dix, Irene Dunne, Estelle Taylor. Genre: Western/Drama. Runtime: 131 min. B&W. (No MPAA rating but definitely equivalent to PG)

3.) All Quiet on the Western Front (1929-1930)

On a Scale of 1 to 10: 3

This Best Picture winner is a surprisingly violent, somewhat graphic, anti-war film based on the novel of the same name by Erich Maria Remarque. It has a simple message: War is not glorious but nightmarish. This black-and-white film follows a group of German youth who are encouraged to enlist in World War I by hometown propaganda that fills them with heroic, idealistic misconceptions about war. “All Quiet on the Western Front” depicts their horrible enlightenment. Louis Wolheim and Lew Ayres star in the film. (And though the movie follows German soldiers, there are no subtitles. It is filmed in English.)

Director: Lewis Milestone. Starring Louis Wolheim, Lew Ayres, John Wray. Genre: War. Runtime: 133 min. B&W. (No MPAA rating but equivalent to PG)

2.) The Broadway Melody (1928-1929)

On a Scale of 1 to 10: 4

Hank (Bessie Love) and Queenie (Anita Page) are a sister act that decides to try to make it on Broadway. Eddie (Charles King) invites them to come to New York to help him promote his new hit, “The Broadway Melody.” Eddie and Hank are an item, but complications ensue when Eddie meets and falls in love with Hank’s sister, Queenie. This movie is a story of love, great personal sacrifice and unhealthy relationships that runs fairly deep for a musical. “The Broadway Melody” is the first sound film to win Best Picture.

Director: Harry Beaumont. Starring Charles King, Anita Page, Bessie Love. Genre: Musical/Drama. Runtime: 110 min. B&W. (No MPAA rating but equivalent to PG)

1.) Wings (1927-1928)

On a Scale of 1 to 10: 6

“Wings” is a story about friendship, love and World War I (particularly aerial warfare). Mary Preston (Clara Bow) loves Jack Powell (Charles “Buddy” Rogers), but the feeling isn’t mutual. Jack loves Sylvia, but she’s in love with David (Richard Arlen), and the feeling is mutual. Jack and David, who are initially jealous competitors, go off to fly fighter planes together in World War I. “Wings” is the first film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture and is a black-and-white silent movie. Surprisingly, this film depicts blood, which is a result of war violence, and very brief partial nudity.

Director: William A. Wellman. Starring Clara Bow, Charles “Buddy” Rogers, Richard Arlen. Genre: War/Drama. Runtime: 141 min. B&W, silent. (No MPAA rating but equivalent to PG)