Movies About Social Class Differences

From Charles Chaplin, starring Charles Chaplin, Virginia Cherrill, Florence Lee, Harry Myers
Rated G

City Lights is a 1931 American silent romantic comedy film written, produced, and directed by Charlie Chaplin. The story follows a poor tramp, played by Chaplin, who falls in love with a blind flower girl, played by Virginia Cherrill. He works hard to raise money to restore her sight, with mixed success. The film is famous for its combination of physical comedy and pathos, with Chaplin's character exhibiting a wide range of emotions throughout the story. The film also features some of Chaplin's most iconic moments, including a boxing match and a climactic scene in which the tramp reveals himself to the flower girl after she has regained her sight. City Lights was Chaplin's first film with synchronized sound and was a commercial success. It is considered a classic of early cinema, and was voted the 11th-greatest film of all time in a British poll in 1995.

From Robert Wise, starring Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Eleanor Parker, Richard Haydn
Rated G

The Sound of Music is a classic 1965 musical film directed by Robert Wise, and starring Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, and Peggy Wood. It is based on the 1959 Broadway musical of the same name, and is inspired by the true story of the von Trapp family. The film follows Maria, a young governess who is sent to the von Trapp family home to take care of the seven children. Maria brings joy and music into their home, and finds herself falling in love with their father, Captain von Trapp. As Nazi Germany invades Austria, the family is forced to make a difficult decision of whether to stay in their home or to escape. The film follows their journey as they flee to Switzerland, encountering danger and adventure along the way. The Sound of Music was an instant classic and won the 1965 Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Sound, and Best Music. It also won three Golden Globe Awards and continues to be a beloved musical today.

From Frank Capra, starring Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert, Walter Connolly, Roscoe Karns
Rated Passed

It Happened One Night is a romantic comedy directed by Frank Capra in 1934. It tells the story of an heiress named Ellie Andrews (Claudette Colbert), who runs away from her family to be with the man she loves, but is forced to hitchhike her way across the country when her family disowns her. She meets a reporter, Peter Warne (Clark Gable), who agrees to help her. Along the way, they face various obstacles, fall in love, and eventually marry. The film is known for its light-hearted comedy, memorable dialogue, and its use of iconic scenes, including the "Walls of Jericho" scene, in which Peter tears down a blanket divider between them in a hotel room. It Happened One Night was the first film to win all five major Academy Awards (Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Screenplay), making it one of the most successful films of its time.

From Guy Green, starring Sidney Poitier, Shelley Winters, Elizabeth Hartman, Wallace Ford
Rated Unrated

A Patch of Blue is a 1965 American drama film directed by Guy Green about the struggles of a young blind girl, Selina (played by Elizabeth Hartman). Selina lives in a world of poverty and neglect with her abusive, alcoholic mother Rose-Ann (Shelley Winters) and her abusive grandmother (Beah Richards). When Selina meets Gordon (Sidney Poitier), a kind African-American man who is a casual laborer, she finds a much-needed friend. Gordon helps Selina to realize her potential and to see the beauty in the world that she cannot experience with her lack of sight. Ultimately, Selina struggles to find her place in society, while also striving to overcome her difficult family life.

From Gregory La Cava, starring William Powell, Carole Lombard, Alice Brady, Gail Patrick
Rated Approved

My Man Godfrey is a classic screwball comedy from 1936, directed by Gregory La Cava. The film stars William Powell as the title character and Carole Lombard as spoiled socialite Irene Bullock. Irene and her family are having a scavenger hunt at a local dump and they find Godfrey, a "forgotten man," living among the other homeless people. Irene takes him under her wing, intending to use him to win the scavenger hunt. Godfrey, however, has other ideas, and quickly proves himself to be much more than just a scavenger hunt prize. His wit and intelligence quickly ingratiate him to Irene and her family, leading to a romantic relationship between Godfrey and Irene. Meanwhile, Godfrey's past begins to catch up to him, and the Bullock family discovers that he is not the forgotten man they thought him to be. This ultimately leads to a rousing climax in which the audience learns the true identity of Godfrey and the full extent of his intelligence.

From James Ivory, starring Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson, John Haycraft, Christopher Reeve
Rated PG

The Remains of the Day is a 1993 British drama film set in the 1930s, directed by James Ivory and starring Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson, and Christopher Reeve. It tells the story of a traditional English butler, Stevens (Hopkins), who, though loyal and devoted to his employer and household, is emotionally repressed and unable to express his true feelings. Set against the backdrop of the rise of fascism in Europe, the film follows Stevens as he takes a road trip to visit a former co-worker, Miss Kenton (Thompson). Along the way, he confronts his own feelings about his life choices and his relationship with Miss Kenton. As he comes to terms with his past, Stevens learns that it is never too late to try to find happiness and fulfillment.

From Joseph Losey, starring Dirk Bogarde, Sarah Miles, Wendy Craig, James Fox
Rated Unrated

The Servant is a 1963 psychological drama directed by Joseph Losey and starring Dirk Bogarde and James Fox. The story follows Tony, a young, wealthy Londoner who decides to hire a manservant named Barrett to look after his household. At first, Barrett appears to be a competent, if unassuming, servant. However, it quickly becomes apparent that Barrett is manipulative and controlling, gradually taking over Tony's life, his home, and even his relationship with his fiancee, Vera. Tony is unable to stand up to Barrett, and soon finds himself under the man's control. As Barrett's power increases, the relationship between the two men becomes increasingly tense and dangerous. The Servant is a powerful exploration of power and manipulation, and has been praised for its moody, atmospheric cinematography and performances.

From Preston Sturges, starring Barbara Stanwyck, Henry Fonda, Charles Coburn, Eugene Pallette
Rated Passed

The Lady Eve is a comedy-romance film directed by Preston Sturges and released in 1941. The story follows con artist and card shark Jean Harrington (Barbara Stanwyck) and her partner, Colonel Harrington (Charles Coburn), as they board a cruise liner in search of their latest target, naive and wealthy Charles Pike (Henry Fonda). Jean poses as an English aristocrat and befriends Charles, who quickly falls in love with her. But when Jean reveals her true identity, Charles is furious and wants nothing to do with her. Jean, however, is determined to win him back and devises a plan to pose as a different woman - the titular Lady Eve - in order to make Charles fall in love with her all over again. Eventually, Charles realizes he was wrong in his initial judgement of Jean and they eventually share a passionate kiss, happy to be reunited.

From John Huston, starring Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn, Robert Morley, Peter Bull
Rated PG

The African Queen is a 1951 classic directed by John Huston and starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn. It tells the story of Charlie Allnutt, a hard-drinking riverboat captain played by Bogart, and Rose Sayer, a prim and proper missionary played by Hepburn. When German forces begin occupying East Africa during WWI, Rose is forced to flee her village, which Charlie reluctantly helps her do. The two then embark on a journey down a river in a small boat, the African Queen, in an effort to bring down a German gunship stationed near Rose's village. Along the way, their differences are slowly diminished as they grow closer and develop a real friendship. In the end, they succeed in their mission and are victorious in their battle against the German forces.

From Blake Edwards, starring Julie Andrews, James Garner, Robert Preston, Lesley Ann Warren
Rated PG

Victor/Victoria (1982) is a musical-comedy directed by Blake Edwards and starring Julie Andrews, Robert Preston, and James Garner. The story centers around a struggling female singer, Victoria Grant (Andrews), who is unable to find work in 1930s Paris. In order to make money, she poses as a male singer, Victor, and becomes a star. With the help of a former lover and a club owner, Grant weaves a web of deception that becomes increasingly complicated. Meanwhile, she finds herself falling in love with a wealthy American, King Marchand (Garner), who believes that Victor is a man. As her charade unravels, she must find a way to make her dreams come true without losing herself in the process.

From Stephen Daldry, starring Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, Bruno Ganz, Jeanette Hain
Rated R

The Reader is a 2008 drama film directed by Stephen Daldry and based on the 1995 German novel of the same name by Bernhard Schlink. The film stars Kate Winslet as Hanna Schmitz, an older woman who has an affair with a much younger man, Michael Berg (Ralph Fiennes). Years later, when Michael is a law student, Hanna appears in the courtroom as a defendant in a war crimes trial. The film follows the relationship between Michael and Hanna, as he makes sense of his past, and as Hanna’s dark secrets come to light. Throughout the film, questions of guilt, morality, and justice are posed, as the audience is left to ponder whether Hanna’s actions were justified.

From Jane Campion, starring Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, Sam Neill, Anna Paquin
Rated R

The Piano is a 1993 drama film directed by Jane Campion and starring Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, and Sam Neill. The film tells the story of a mute Scottish widow named Ada (Hunter) who is sent with her daughter and her beloved piano to a remote corner of New Zealand. There, she is sold into marriage to a local man and struggles to find her voice in the society she finds herself in. Along the way, she develops an unlikely yet passionate relationship with a local man, George Baines (Keitel), who has a passion for her piano and an admiration for Ada's spirit and determination. The Piano is a lyrical exploration of the power of music and the beauty of the human spirit.

From Barry Jenkins, starring Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Trevante Rhodes, Alex R. Hibbert
Rated R

From Bruce Beresford, starring Morgan Freeman, Jessica Tandy, Dan Aykroyd, Patti LuPone
Rated PG

From Sydney Pollack, starring Barbra Streisand, Robert Redford, Bradford Dillman, Lois Chiles
Rated PG

From Clint Eastwood, starring William Holden, Kay Lenz, Roger C. Carmel, Marj Dusay
Rated R

From Garry Marshall, starring Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell, Edward Herrmann, Katherine Helmond
Rated PG

From Jean-Jacques Annaud, starring Jane March, Tony Ka Fai Leung, Jeanne Moreau, Frédérique Meininger
Rated R

From Stephen Frears, starring Saeed Jaffrey, Roshan Seth, Daniel Day-Lewis, Richard Graham
Rated R

From James Gray, starring Marion Cotillard, Joaquin Phoenix, Jeremy Renner, Dagmara Dominczyk
Rated R

From Lorenzo Vigas, starring Alfredo Castro, Luis Silva, Jericó Montilla, Catherina Cardozo
Rated Unrated

From James Ivory, starring Ralph Fiennes, Natasha Richardson, Vanessa Redgrave, Lynn Redgrave
Rated PG-13

From Luis Mandoki, starring Susan Sarandon, James Spader, Jason Alexander, Kathy Bates
Rated R

From Sydney Pollack, starring Al Pacino, Marthe Keller, Anny Duperey, Walter McGinn
Rated PG