All-Time Top 40

Not my pick of the flicks, but yours, the films viewed most often since the Blog began in June 2020. There’s no shaking Ann-Margret, a brace of her movies retaining the same top two spots as last year. Other standouts – i.e. more than one entry in the list –  include Raquel Welch, Gina Lollobrigida, Charles Bronson, Alain Delon, Angie Dickinson, Roger Moore and Jean Seberg.

The figures in brackets represent the previous year’s position and New Entry is self-explanatory.

1. (1) The Swinger (1966). All hail Ann-Margret, second year in a row at number one. Bouncy sex comedy that manages a sprinkling of innocence. 
2. (2) Stagecoach (1966). No prizes for guessing that it’s the presence of Ann-Margret (again) rather than Alex Cord that has hit a chord in this decent remake of John Ford’s famous western.
3. (4) Fraulein Doktor (1969). Grisly realistic battle scenes and a superb score from Ennio Morricone help this Suzy Kendall vehicle in which she plays a World War One German spy going head-to-head with Brit Kenneth More and taking time out for romantic dalliance with Capucine.
4. (34) In Harm’s Way (1965). Under-rated John Wayne World War Two number. Co-starring Kirk Douglas, Patricia Neal, Tom Tryon and Paula Prentiss. Director Otto Preminger surveys Pearl Harbor and after.
5. (7) Fireball XL5. The famous British television series (1962-1963) from Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, now colorized. “My heart will be a fireball…”
6. (6) Once Upon a Time in the West (1969). Along with The Searchers (1956) now considered the most influential western of all time. Sergio Leone rounds up Claudia Cardinale, Henry Fonda and Charles Bronson and that fabulous Morricone score.
7. (3) Jessica (1962). Angie Dickinson as a young widow incurring the wrath of wives in a small Italian town.
8. (New Entry) Thank You Very Much/ A Touch of Love (1969). Sandy Dennis as academic single mother in London impregnated by Ian McKellen.
9. (13) Pharoah (1966). Delighted to see this holding fast, climbing back up the table this year. Polish epic set in Egypt sees the country’s ruler at odds with the religious hierarchy.
10. (11) Baby Love (1969). Controversy was the initial selling point but now it’s morphed into a morality tale as orphaned Linda Hayden tries to fit into an upper-class London household.
11. (5) The Sins of Rachel Cade (1961) Angie Dickinson (again) as African missionary falling foul of the locals and Commissioner Peter Finch. Roger Moore in an early role.
12. (10) Vendetta for the Saint (1969). A more typical trademark role from Roger Moore. Two television episodes of the popular series combined sees our hero tackle the Mafia.
13. (New Entry) The Appointment (1969). Inhibited lawyer Omar Sharif discovers the secrets of Anouk Aimee in under-rated and little-seen Italian-set drama from Sidney Lumet.
14. (12) The Sisters / My Sister, My Love (1969). Incest rears its head as Nathalie Delon and Susan Strasberg ignore husbands and lovers in favor of each other.  
15. (21) Go Naked in the World (1961). Gina Lollobrigida finds that love for a wealthy playboy clashes with her profession (the oldest). Look out for highly emotional turn from the usually taciturn Ernest Borgnine.
16. (New Entry) Diamond Head (1962). Over-ambitious hypocritical landowner Charlton Heston comes unstuck in love, politics and business in Hawaii. George Chakiris, Yvette Mimieux and France Nuyen turn up the heat.
17. (9) Moment to Moment (1966). Hitchcockian thriller set in Hitchcock country – the South of France – as unfaithful Jean Seberg is on the hook for the murder of her lover.  Also featuring Honor Blackman.  
18. (20) The Golden Claws of the Cat Girl (1968). Cults don’t come any sexier than Daniele Gaubert as a French cat burglar.
19. (22) Pressure Point (1962). Nazi extremist Bobby Darin causes chaos for psychiatrist Sidney Poitier. Stunning dream sequences.
20. (New Entry) Young Cassidy (1965). Julie Christie came out of this best, winning her role in Doctor Zhivago as a result. Rod Taylor as Irish playwright Sean O’Casey.
21. (14) Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humpe and Find True Happiness? Fellini would turn in his grave at the self-indulgence of singer Anthony Newley who manages to lament that women falling at his feet cause him so much strife. Joan Collins co-stars.
22. (8) The Secret Ways (1961). The first of the Alistair MacLean adaptations to hit the big screen features Richard Widmark trapped in Hungary during the Cold War. 
23. (New Entry) The Chalk Garden (1964). Wild child Hayley Mills, trying to break out of her Disney straitjacket, duels with governess Deborah Kerr.
24. (23) A Dandy in Aspic (1968). Cold War thriller with Laurence Harvey as a double agent who wants out. Mia Farrow co-stars.  
25.  (16) Pendulum (1968). Fast-rising cop George Peppard accused of murdering unfaithful wife Jean Seberg
26. (25) Once a Thief (1965). Ann-Margret again, in a less sexy incarnation, as a working mother whose ex-jailbird thief Alain Delon takes a detour back into crime.
27. (New entry) Fathom (1967). Raquel Welch models a string of bikinis as a skydiver caught up in spy malarkey.
28. (New entry) Farewell, Friend / Adieu L’Ami (1968). A star is born – at least in France, the United States a good few years behind in recognizing the marquee attractions of Charles Bronson. Alain Delon co-stars in twisty French heist thriller featuring Olga Georges-Picot and Brigitte Fossey.
29. (New Entry) Woman of Straw (1964). More sub-Hitchockian goings-on as Sean Connery tries to frame Gina Lollobrigida in a dubious scheme.
30. (28) The Girl on a Motorcycle / Naked under Leather (1968). How much you saw of star Marianne Faithfull depended on where you saw it. The U.S. censor came down heavily on the titular fantasizing heroine, the British censor more liberal. Alain Delon co-stars.
31. (New entry) Claudelle Inglish (1961). Diane McBain seeks revenge for being stood up at the altar in the Deep South.
32. (15) The Best House in London (1969). David Hemmings tries to do right by Victorian sex workers.
33. (19) Lady in Cement (1969). Raquel Welch models more bikinis as the gangster’s moll taken on as a client by private eye Frank Sinatra in his second outing as Tony Rome.
34. (30) She Died with Her Boots On / Whirlpool (1969). More sleaze than cult. Spanish director Jose Ramon Larraz’s thriller sees kinky photographer Karl Lanchbury targeting real-life MTA Vivien Neves.  
35. (New entry) Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 (2024). So I wasn’t the only one to enjoy Kevin Costner’s majestic western that became one of the biggest flops of the year.
36. (New entry) Prehistoric Women / Slave Girls (1967). Raquel Welch look away now. Martine Beswick attempts to steal the One Million Years B.C. crown.
37. (New entry) Five Card Stud (1968). Entertaining Henry Hathaway western thriller with Dean Martin, when not dallying with Inger Stevens, investigating a serial killer. Robert Mitchum as a preacher.
38. (31) The Misfits (1960). Last hurrah for Clark Gable, fabulous turns from Montgomery Clift and Marilyn Monroe in John Huston tale of losers. 
39. (New entry) Plane (2023). Die Hard on a desert island with Gerard Butler as a pilot tackling terrorists in the Pacific.
40. (32) Rage (1966). Glenn Ford and Stella Stevens combat pandemic in Mexican town.