Movies About Social Class

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

City Lights is a beloved silent classic and one of Charles Chaplin's most acclaimed films. The film tells the story of "The Little Tramp," Chaplin's iconic character, and his love for a blind flower girl. He meets a wealthy man who, in his drunkenness, mistakes him for a millionaire. The man makes a pact with The Little Tramp to help him win the heart of the flower girl. To do so, he gives him money to help her regain her sight. The Little Tramp goes on a series of adventures to pay for the operation, encountering a variety of characters along the way. Ultimately, the flower girl regains her sight, but does not recognize The Little Tramp. After a series of misadventures, The Little Tramp finds himself back in the flower girl's life as her benefactor, and the two come to love each other. City Lights is a delightful comedy, full of charmingly slapstick moments and heartfelt emotions.

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

The Sound of Music is a classic 1965 musical directed by Robert Wise. The film tells the story of Maria Rainer, a young nun from an Austrian convent who is sent to be the governess of the seven Von Trapp children. Despite the initial animosity between the two, Maria's enthusiasm and joy of life soon win over the children and their widower father, Baron Von Trapp. As World War II looms, the Baron’s patriotism for Austria soon clashes with his growing affection for Maria. The Von Trapps eventually flee Austria, with the help of Maria, as the Nazis occupy the country. As they flee, they sing the famous songs such as “Do-Re-Mi”, “My Favorite Things”, and “The Sound of Music”, bringing joy to their escape. The film ends with the Von Trapps singing together on their mountainside, in freedom and with love.

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

It Happened One Night is a romantic comedy classic released in 1934 and directed by Frank Capra. The film follows a spoiled heiress, Ellie Andrews (Claudette Colbert), who runs away from her father to marry a man he disapproves of. She falls in with a reporter, Peter Warne (Clark Gable), who agrees to help her reunite with her husband if she will provide him with the exclusive story of her adventures. Along the way, the two begin to fall in love and eventually reunite Ellie with her husband. The film was a major financial success and was the first film to win all five major Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Writing.

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

A Patch of Blue is a 1965 drama film directed by Guy Green and starring Sidney Poitier, Shelley Winters and Elizabeth Hartman. The film tells the story of Selina D'Arcey (Hartman), an 18-year-old blind girl living with her grandmother and her abusive father. After meeting the kind, determined Gordon Ralfe (Poitier), Selina begins to discover the world outside her small apartment. Through Gordon's help, she sees the beauty of the world and can finally gain the courage to stand up to her father and break free from her oppressive home life. A Patch of Blue was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning Best Actress In A Supporting Role for Winters. It is an inspiring and heartwarming tale of courage and friendship.

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

My Man Godfrey is a classic screwball comedy starring William Powell as Godfrey, a “forgotten man” who is hired by wealthy socialite Irene Bullock (Carole Lombard) as her family’s new butler. Godfrey is an experienced and resourceful man who quickly wins over the Bullock family with his wit and charm. As the story progresses, Godfrey’s true identity is revealed and his relationship with Irene deepens. The film follows Godfrey and Irene’s journey as they learn to trust each other and find love. Along the way, the audience is treated to a series of madcap hijinks and a memorable cast of characters. The film ends with a surprise twist that leaves the audience laughing and satisfied.

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 and starring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson. Based on the 1989 novel by Kazuo Ishiguro, the film follows a repressed and devoted butler, Stevens (Hopkins), who strives to maintain a professional demeanor while working for the arrogant Lord Darlington (James Fox). Despite his loyalty to his employer, Stevens is forced to reflect upon his life and his choices after he meets a housekeeper (Thompson) who reminds him of what it means to be truly living. The film explores the themes of loyalty, love, and regret, and how those can intersect with one's desire to do the right thing. The film was well-received and earned eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture.

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

The Servant is a 1963 British drama directed by Joseph Losey, starring Dirk Bogarde and James Fox. Adapted from a 1948 novel of the same name by Robin Maugham, the film follows the story of Barrett, an upper-class Englishman who hires a manservant, Tony, to take care of his household. Initially, Tony proves to be an efficient and capable servant, but gradually reveals a hidden agenda; he gradually takes over the household, undermining Barrett's authority and manipulating the social dynamics. As the story progresses, Barrett is increasingly dominated by his servant, whose power and influence grows until it eventually surpasses that of his master. The film paints a disturbing portrait of the changing power dynamics between master and servant, and explores themes of class, power, and manipulation.

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

The Lady Eve is a 1941 romantic comedy directed by Preston Sturges. The film tells the story of a con-artist, Jean Harrington (Barbara Stanwyck), and an heir to a brewery fortune, Charles Pike (Henry Fonda). After meeting on a luxury cruise liner, they quickly fall in love, but when Charles discovers Jean’s true identity, their romance is thrown into chaos. The Lady Eve is widely considered to be one of Sturges’s best comedies, and is notable for its witty dialogue, screwball comedy, and sharp social commentary. The film is widely recognized for its timelessness and charm, making it an enduring classic of the Hollywood golden age.

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

The African Queen is a 1951 adventure film directed by John Huston and starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn. Set in German East Africa during World War I, the film follows a riverboat captain, Charlie Allnut (Bogart), and a missionary, Rose Sayer (Hepburn), as they team up to take on a German warship. Along their journey, they form a bond and eventually fall in love. In the end, they succeed in destroying the warship and are able to escape. The African Queen is an adventure-filled tale of courage, love, and survival.

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

Victor/Victoria is a 1982 American comedy film directed by Blake Edwards and starring Julie Andrews, James Garner, Robert Preston, Lesley Ann Warren, Alex Karras, and John Rhys-Davies. The film tells the story of a struggling female singer, Victoria Grant (Andrews), who finds work in Paris as a female impersonator. She is soon discovered by an arrogant, wealthy nightclub owner, King Marchand (Garner), who, after learning of her deception, decides to help her become a star. With the help of Marchand, Victoria finds success as a female impersonator, unaware that her kind-hearted benefactor is actually in love with her. In the end, they both find happiness and success.

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

The Reader is a drama film directed by Stephen Daldry and released in 2008. It stars Kate Winslet as Hanna Schmitz, a former Nazi guard, and Ralph Fiennes as Michael Berg, a German lawyer. The film follows the relationship between the two, beginning when Michael is a teenage boy in post-war Germany, and Hanna is a woman in her 30s. As their relationship develops, Michael discovers that Hanna had a dark past as a concentration camp guard. The film shows how their relationship is affected by the knowledge of Hanna's past and the consequences of her actions. In the end, Michael must decide whether to forgive Hanna and move on with his life or condemn her for her actions and seek justice. The film was nominated for several Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and won for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Kate Winslet.

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

The Piano is a drama film directed by Jane Campion and starring Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, Sam Neill, and Anna Paquin. The film follows the story of a mute Scotswoman, Ada McGrath (Hunter), who is sent with her daughter and her piano to a remote corner of New Zealand for an arranged marriage. Ada's passion for playing the piano is reignited when she meets a rugged local frontiersman, George Baines (Keitel), and agrees to play the piano for him in exchange for lessons. As their relationship deepens, Ada is forced to make a difficult choice between her new found freedom and her obligations to the husband and daughter she left behind. The Piano is an emotionally resonant and lyrical exploration of the power of music, passion, and identity.

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