To qualify as an American, see these movies (Part 3)

(Reader’s note: Depending on the speed of your Internet connection, the embedded trailers may take extra time to load. But they’ll be worth the wait.)

This is Part 3, click here for Part 1 (High School Diploma), and here for Part 2 (Bachelor’s Degree).

MASTER’S DEGREE

Magnolia (1999): When it rains frogs and you even think Tom Cruise is good, the film must be wonderful.

Any five Laurel and Hardy shorts: Start with Night Owls (1930), Way Out West (1937), and Pardon Us (1937), then find some more you like.

Fail-Safe (1964): The melodrama of “The Bomb.” It ruled us all for decades.

The Pride of the Yankees (1942): The Iron Man, the natural, baseball, a good wife, and summer.

White Heat (1949): Cagney, “top of the world, Ma!”

Hail the Conquering Hero (1944): We’ll throw a party for any old thing; we’ll find a hero where ever we can.

Goodfellas (1990): Martin Scorsese has done Italian gangsters many different ways. This is the best; Mean Streets is the original.

Do the Right Thing (1989): Ann Coulter may think there are only a handful or racists in America, but we know better, and Spike Lee knows best.

To visit the full list, start here with Part 1 (Introduction & High School Diploma), or click here for Part 2 (Bachelor’s).

Doctorate Degree: Coming soon!

For more of TCD’s film coverage, including Mark Metcalf’s “Moving Pictures” reviews, visit our Film Page.