Favorite Short Films
Ranging from classics to pet pleasures, these remain my prime choices of the short film medium.
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- DirectorLuis BuñuelStarsPierre BatcheffSimone MareuilLuis BuñuelLuis Buñuel and Salvador Dalí present 16 minutes of bizarre, surreal imagery.
- DirectorChuck JonesStarsMel BlancThe short-tempered Daffy Duck must improvise madly as the backgrounds, his costumes, the soundtrack, even his physical form, shifts and changes at the whim of the animator.
- DirectorChris MarkerStarsÉtienne BeckerJean NégroniHélène ChatelainThe story of a man forced to explore his memories in the wake of World War III's devastation, told through still images.
- DirectorErnest PintoffStarsMel BrooksMel Brooks is an old man watching abstract animations. He doesn't understand them, so he heckles with strange commentary, to the annoyance of those around him.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsPeter BernuthIn the process of shaving, a young man cuts himself. A lot.
- DirectorTerry GilliamA bizarre comedy short by Terry Gilliam telling various absurdly comic stories.
- DirectorLes BlankA short film made for the world's second-largest poultry produce to promote the modern assembly-line approach to mass-manufacturing food. Music recorded by Les Blank of a local group playing all the chicken songs they knew.
- DirectorLenny BruceJohn MagnusonStarsLenny BruceTells how the Lone Ranger hooks up with Tonto. With Lenny Bruce doing all the voices, this animation of a Bruce routine begins with local folks upset at the Lone Ranger because he won't stay around to be thanked after a good deed. So, he stays and finds he likes hearing "Thank you mask man." When their attention starts to shift elsewhere, he shocks and disgusts the townspeople with a final request.
- DirectorCaroline MourisFrank MourisStarsFrank MourisOne soundtrack features the animator narrating an autobiography; the other features him reading a list of words beginning with the letter 'F'. The images on screen tie these two soundtracks together.
- DirectorEunice MacaulayJohn WeldonStarsSandy SandersonJean MarchandA hapless husband neglects to clear the icy walk, which leads to the mailman slipping and breaking his neck. A comedy of errors results from his attempts to hide the body.
- DirectorJohn LambStarsTom WaitsDonna GordonWaits sings on the streets.
- DirectorLes BlankStarsWerner HerzogTom LuddyMichael GoodwinA short documentary in which directors Werner Herzog and Errol Morris make a bet which results in Herzog being forced to eat his own shoe.
- DirectorJohn PaizsStarsJohn PaizsDean DackoRobert WaksdaleNick has a hard time fitting in with his suburban life and conforming to the macho stereotypes expected of him, unlike his rival, Corny Blower.
- DirectorGus Van SantStarsFrank BirneyDavid WordenKen ShapiroGus Van Sant's early short film about "The Discipline of D.E.," which is an extremely efficient way of doing things.
- DirectorTerry GilliamStarsSydney ArnoldGuy BertrandAndrew BicknellA group of down-and-out accountants mutiny against their bosses and sail their office building onto the high seas in search of a pirate's life.
- DirectorBryan GordonStarsJohn AchornTim ChoateJoe D'AngerioIn this short film, our unemployed hero finds that getting that great job depends a lot on whom you choose to dance with at Ray's Male Heterosexual Dance Hall.
- DirectorBill PlymptonStarsMaureen McElheronA man's head transforms and contorts bizarrely as he sings "Your Face," an original song.
- DirectorDean ParisotStarsSteven WrightRowan AtkinsonLaurie MetcalfDennis Jennings is an introverted daydreamer, sleepwalking through life. He is a professional waiter and has an equally-dull girlfriend, Emma. In an attempt to release his pent-up feelings of isolation, he begins seeing a psychiatrist, only to discover that the doctor is somewhat less than interested in what he has to say. After finding his doctor sharing his intimate secrets with a group of fellow psychiatrists at a bar, he then learns the doctor has a another more unprofessional involvement in his life.
- DirectorMike LeighStarsAlison SteadmanSylvestra Le TouzelDavid ThewlisA short comedy by Mike Leigh about the romance between a young woman and a man who communicates only through jokes and humor. The story is told as a series of very short vignettes between her and the man and her and her doting mother, a hairdresser.
- DirectorNick ParkStarsJulie SedgewickA humourous and thought provoking view of what animals in zoos might be thinking about their captivity and surroundings.
- DirectorJean-Pierre JeunetStarsDominique PinonChick OrtegaMarie-Laure DougnacA 9 minute comedy starring Dominique Pinon (Delicatessen). Featuring muted colors with a sepia black and white, Pinon takes the viewer through various examples of what he "likes and dislikes". The music is by Carlos D'Alessio and Special Thanks is given to Claudie Ossard.
- DirectorBill PlymptonStarsChris HoffmanAs a brave couple demonstrates, the narrator uses quotes, examples and advice to help us all reach the highest heights in the art of kissing.
- DirectorAlison MacleanStarsTheresa HealeyPeter TaitAnnagretta ChristianA woman finds something quaint in her kitchen sink and feels strangely captivated towards it.
- DirectorAdam DavidsonStarsScotty BlochClebert FordBernard JohnsonA woman misses her train and buys lunch in a café. When she returns to her table, a man is eating her salad.
- DirectorDavid AndersonStarsRussell HobanBy turns comic and scary, the film documents activities in a floating globe filled with doors, keys, and a bickering couple whose actions appear to lead to what Hoban's narrator calls "the end of snivvelyzashuns" (civilisation).