One of the most frequent questions I am always asked being the host of the greatest movie podcast ever (opinions may vary) is “What’s your favorite movie?” That answer has been the same since I was 11 years old. But it also isn’t as easy to explain why I love some movies more than others.

As an art form, movies are by their nature interpretative. Some people will point to a film’s box office total as a barometer for a film’s quality, this might not be true again because although it might be popular to the masses it might not appeal to you. I am looking at you Avatar, which is not one of my favorite films, not by a longshot.  

Also, if the film wins an Academy Award for Best Picture, that hardly means it’s one of my favorite films, looking at you The English Patient, in fact I hardly agree with the Academy. Having said that, I am sure that some people love Avatar and The English Patient. And that’s what makes movies so great.

I, also am not a professional critic. I love film. I try and find merit in all film. As a host of a podcast that attempts to give every movie a chance, I believe that is the best way to approach movies, let the lights go out and try and enjoy yourself. You might find a “diamond in the rough.”

When thinking of my favorite movies to share with you, my loyal listeners, I thought 100 wasn’t going to be enough. So, I am proud to present my 150 Favorite Films, right now. These will change, I know they will.

See you at the movies!

***Spoilers Ahead!***

127. The Lady Eve (1941) Directed by Preston Sturges

Sailing on an ocean liner is the beautiful con artist Jean Harrington (Barbara Stanwyk) and her two partners in crime. Her father “Colonel” Harrington (Charles Coburn) and his partner Gerald (Melville Cooper). They have their sights set on the gullible heir to a brewery, Charles Pike (Henry Fonda). Charles is returning from an expedition in the Amazon. Charles is the talk of the ship and all the women on board. Much to their chagrin, he is shy. Charles would much rather spend his time learning about snakes than the opposite sex.

Jean gets Charles’ attention by tripping him. It works as he is charmed by her. Charles’s friend and minder, Muggsy (William Demarest) isn’t buying what Jean is selling and warns Charles about her. Charles does not believe Muggsy and continues to court her.

Jean along with her father and Gerald plan on stealing money from Charles in a card game. Jean tells her father that she does not care for Charles and to continue with the con. But love is funny and Jean saves Charles from her father and the con. Muggsy finds out the truth, tells Charles, who dumps a broken-hearted Jean.

Jean, does not like being dumped and devises another con. She re-enters Charles’s life as the sophisticated Lady Eve Sidwich, the niece of Sir Alfred McGlennan Keith (Eric Blore), who just so happens to be a conman as well, and with Jean they decide to con the wealthy of Connecticut.

Jean as Lady Eve meets Charles. He is so certain that he knows her that he won’t stop tripping over himself and falling. Muggsy again does not buy what Lady Eve is selling and pleads with Charles that she and Jean are one in the same.

Charles falls for the con even more when Sir Alfred tells him not to worry, Lady Eve is the sister of Jean, hence the resemblance. Jean’s plan works and she continues to court Charles who soon marries her and they leave on a train to their Honeymoon. On the train, Charles is flabbergasted by Eve’s past and all her old boyfriends. Charles literally jumps off the train to escape her.

To finish the con, Jean is told by her guys to pursue a huge divorce settlement. Jean cannot, she still loves Charles and tells Charles’s father that if she wants no money only for Charles to say to her face that their marriage is over. But he refuses and books a trip on another ship. Jean learns of this from Charles’s father and arranges to be on the same ship. On board she trips Charles as before and when he sees Jean he is so happy he kisses her and they make their way to her cabin. Once inside Charles confesses that he is still married, Jean replies “So am I darling.”

Why I Love The Lady Eve (1941): A lot of times I will watch a movie for the star. And The Lady Eve is one of those times. My first exposure to Barbara Stanwyk is the ultimate femme fatale in Double Indemnity (more on that film much later). I fell in love with her style and her sinister demeanor. When I did a deep dive into her filmography and learned she starred in a screwball comedy written and directed by Preston Sturges, I knew it was a can’t miss.

The Lady Eve is a showcase of Stanwyk’s impeccable range. She is funny, heartbroken and tough. She is the main attraction here with several of her male co-stars bringing the goods as well. Henry Fonda is fun to see as a bumbling, no confidence to be had guy. Fonda to me will always be the badass Admiral Chester Nimitz in Midway, so it was quite a treat seeing him as just a dude.

Preston Sturges delivers the laughs with a razor-sharp script and a steady hand in directing. What I love about him is his ability to seamlessly weave between genres. Sturges showed his incredible chops not even a month earlier with the great Sullivan’s Travels. He is a force in early Hollywood comedy.

Barbara Stanwyk and Henry Fonda prove that powerhouse actors, when given some of the best dialogue in the history of movies will deliver, making The Lady Eve endlessly funny and endlessly rewatchable.