What makes a cinema classic? I’d answer: Popularity! Especially present-day popularity. That definition puts "Citizen Kane" top of the heap. With critics and fans, this seminal movie has rated number one for many years. 2008 is no exception.


Movies that likewise have always enjoyed a considerable cult following but have lately gained in recognition include: "Algiers", "All That Money Can Buy", "Anna and the King of Siam", "Bird of Paradise", "Blithe Spirit", "Blood and Sand", "Body and Soul", "The Canterville Ghost", "Cover Girl", "Dixiana", "A Double Life", "Five Graves to Cairo", "49th Parallel", "For Whom the Bell Tolls", "Frenchman’s Creek", "Gaslight", "George Washington Slept Here", "The Grapes of Wrath", "The Great McGinty", "The Harvey Girls", "Hello, Frisco, Hello", "Henry V", "Holiday Inn", "The House on 92nd Street", "Johnny Eager", "Key Largo", "Lady Be Good", "The Late George Apley", "Leave Her to Heaven", "Lloyds of London", "Lost Weekend", "The Love Parade", "The Mask of Dimitrios", "Million Dollar Legs", "Miracle on 34th Street", "Monte Carlo", "Moonrise", "The More the Merrier", "Movie Crazy”, "My Gal Sal", "Nob Hill”…


I could go on, listing titles in this book, but you get the idea. All the movies are not only reviewed in depth, but detailed with full cast and behind-the-camera credits, plus release and other background information.


Of course, one of the reasons for the continuing or new-found popularity of these films lies in the fact that many have lately been televised or have been re-issued on DVD.