Top Ranked Films of Vincente Minnelli

Vincente and Liza Minnelli

Vincente Minnelli
5 titles, 91st in points with 9,392

Minnelli is perhaps best known as the husband of Judy Garland that father Liza Minnelli, giving rise to one of the greatest Oscar® trivia facts ever: who is the only Oscar®-winner whose parents also won Oscars®? He is an underrated director, considered two of his films won best picture, and his most popular films have withstood the test of time, these are all over 50 years old now.

These are all the films of American director Vincente Minnelli that made the top 1000 in our 2011 update of theTop Ranked 1000 Films on the Net, all polls. In fact, these are all of the films of Darren Aronofsky, so each of his titles is held in high esteem.

1. Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) #412
2. Band Wagon, The (1953) #441
3. An American in Paris (1951) #581 [AA]
4. Some Came Running (1958) #800 Overrated, boring
5. Bad and the Beautiful, The (1952) #944 Underrated, a very good film about filmmaking

Out of the top 1000
6. Gigi (1958) #1443 [AA] I always thought it’s 10 Oscars was a bit of a joke, that it spoke more of the competition than its own merit; now it’s not even in the top 1000 films

I guess I’d put either Meet Me in St. Louis or An American in Paris at the top. Meet Me in St. Louis is the better story, and a tighter film overall, but American in Paris is a more artistic musical film with some stunning choreography by Gene Kelly, plus I grew up on George Gershwin’s music. The film won a best picture Oscar. Actually, I can always watch St. Louis, my favorite of Judy Garland’s, if for no other reason than the best Halloween in films, and the songs “The Trolley Song”, and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”. Watch during The Trolley Song as someone yells out "Hiya, Judy!", and she looks over but doesn't miss a beat in the song.

The Band Wagon is more average Hollywood big budget musical, I can hardly remember it. Some Came Running is overrated at 800, while The Bad and the Beautiful is perhaps underrated, and is one of the better films about the filmmaking industry itself. I think my complaint with it is Kirk Douglas trying to carry the film on his shoulders; I would rather have seen a stronger actor in that role, perhaps Burt Lancaster or Fredric March. A supporting actress Oscar went to Gloria Grahame in one of her more forgettable roles.

Missing: Cabin in the Sky - Minnelli's first film as a director was an all-black musical, starring Lena Horne. I'd have loved to have been in the meeting when he told them his plan.

See the full list of top ranked 100 directors here: Top Ranked 100 Directors, 2011 Edition