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My lists
This is my page of vanity, reflecting a fond but perhaps delusional thought that someone may be interested. Unfortunately I have not had the time recently to devote to it, but hope that will change. I propose (eventually) to explain why I have made these individual selections.
Favourite novels
Our Mutual Friend, Charles Dickens
Bleak House, Charles Dickens
Great Expectations, Charles Dickens
Brideshead Revisited, Evelyn Waugh
The Sword of Honour Trilogy, Evelyn waugh
Persuasion, Jane Austen
Emma, Jane Austen
The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien
The Heart of the Matter, Graham Greene
Favourite (recent) Non-fiction books
What's So Great About Christianity, Dinesh D'Souza
A Catholic Replies to Professor Dawkins, Thomas Crean, O.P.
Ungodly Rage: The Hidden Face of Catholic Feminism, Donna Steichen
The Da Vinci Hoax: Exposing the Errors in the Da Vinci Code, Carl E. Olson & Sandra Miesel
Corrupting the Youth: as History of Philosophy in Australia, James Franklin
Goodbye, Good Men: How Liberals Brought Corruption into the Catholic Church,
Michael S. Rose
The Life of Evelyn Waugh, Douglas Patey
A Little Learning, Evelyn Waugh
Evelyn Waugh: A Biography, Selina Hastings
The Scope of Philosophy, John Young
The Great Melody: A Thematic Biography and Commented Anthology of Edmund Burke, Conor Cruise O'Brien
Favourite philosophy works
Confessions, St Augustine of Hippo
The City of God, St Augustine of Hippo
The Political Ideas of St.Thomas Aquinas: Representative Selections,
Edited with Introduction by Dino Bigoniari
Aquinas, F.C. Coppleston
Reflections on the Revolution in France, Edmund Burke
Appeal from the New to the Old Whigs, Edmund Burke
Rationalism in Politics, Michael Oakeshott
Favourite Papal writings
Immortale Dei: The Christian Constitutions of States, Pope Leo XIII
Libertas Praestantissimum: Human Liberty, Pope Leo XIII
Rerum Novarum: The Condition of the Working Classes, Pope Leo XIII
Veritatis Splendor: The Splendour of the Truth, Pope John Paul II
Laborem Exercens: On Human Work, Pope John Paul II
Sollicitudo Rei Socialis: On Social Concerns, Pope John Paul II
Centisimus Annus: The Hundredth Anniversary of Rerum Novarum, Pope John Paul II
Deus Caritas est
Spe Salvi
Caritas in Veritate
Favourite Australian autobiography
Homebush Boy, Thomas Kenneally
The Education of Young Donald, Donald Horne
My Life as Me, Barry Humphries
Over the Top with Jim, Hugh Lunn
Afternoon Light, Sir Robert Menzies
Santamaria: Against the Tide, B.A. Santamaria
Favourite television series
Brideshead Revisited, Granada
The best television production of a classic novel. Must watch it at least
once a year.
Our Mutual Friend, BBC
Bleak House, BBC
Martin Chuzzlewit, BBC
Pride and Prejudice, BBC 1985 version
with David Rintoul and Elizabeth Garvie adapted by Fay Weldon
Emma, BBC 1972 version with Doran Goodwin & John Carson
Yes, Minister
Yes, Prime Minister
The Good Life
Upstairs and Downstairs
Favourite Televisions comedies/family
McHales Navy
The Dick Van Dyke Show
Leave it to Beaver
My Three Sons
Get Smart
The Flintstones
Steptoe and Son
The Sullivans
Favourite all time films
Ben-Hur **
Casablanca ***
Robin Hood (Errol Flynn) **
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy ***
Citizen Cane ***
(this list is incomplete, of course)
Favourite Comedies - including Romantic Comedies
The Court Jester ***
A spoof on Robin Hood with Danny Kaye never funnier or more in control of
the script.
As Good As it Gets ***
Jack Nicholson at his best with great support from Greg Kinnear and Helen
Hunt. Have to watch this one once a year.
You've Got Mail **
Prefer to Sleepless in Seattle - depiction of the book industry and its
stereotypical characters completely accurate. Great chemistry between Meg
Ryan and Tom Hanks. No longer know the number of times I have seen it.
Harry Met Sally **
Billy Crystal not my favourite, but just right for this film. Meg Ryan at
her most attractive before the lip job. She reached her pinnacle with You've
Got Mail. Her interview with Michael Parkinson crippled her image in my
view.
Notting Hill **
Julia Roberts seems to be playing herself. Hugh Grant suits her perfectly
and carries the film together with a bunch of English character actors.
My Best Friend's Wedding **
Julia Roberts' best performance aided by great script and actors
The Jane Austen Book Club ***
A surprisingly engaging film despite the inaccurate interpretations of Jane
Austen's novels. It is one of few films that I began watching directly after it had finished.
Clueless ***
Had to see this film twice before I appreciated it. Brilliant performance by
Alicia Silverstone. Quite a good modern version of Austen's Emma, showing
how far society had dived since then.
What Women Want - Mel Gibson & Helen Hunt **
Pillow Talk - Doris Day & Rock Hudson **
Favourite political thrillers/mysteries
Body of Lies - Russel Crowe & Leonardo da Caprio
The Pelican Brief - Julia Roberts & Denzel Washington
Favourite Musicals
Singin' In the Rain ***
Unequalled in this genre. Gene Kelly's dancing and singing the title number
is the best ever filmed.
White Christmas **
I was horrified to hear Bill Collins claim this film the worst he has ever
seen. For its type I have seen far worse. Vera-Ellen's dancing with Danny
Kaye to "Good Things Happen When You're Dancing" is as good as any dance/song
number I've seen in film (except for Singing in the Rain). That's not to mention some of the other dance
numbers with Vera-Ellen who was considered at the time to be one of
Hollywood's most accomplished dancers. I think Bill must have had a brain
explosion on the night of the Logies during which he was inducted into the
Hall Of Fame.
Favourite Kids films
Treasure Island
Peter Pan
Pollyanna
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Snow White and the Seven Dwarves
Favourite kids books
The whole series of THE FAMOUS FIVE - Enid Blyton
The Mystery series - Enid Blyton
The Lion Annual 1955 - 1961
The Tiger Annual 1956 - 1961
There's more to come, but no doubt I have confirmed in this limited selection the pernicious influences that have made me a total embarrassment to my own generation - the Sixties.