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The ultimate classic movie gift guide

With the holidays upon us, you’re likely spending a lot of time pondering gifts for your loved ones. That’s where my ultimate classic movie gift guide comes in.

Classic films are a great gift because they’re personal and affordable. You don’t need to be a classic film aficionado to enjoy them. Who doesn’t love watching a fabulous flick in the comfort of home?

Just tailor your pick to the person’s interest — with six genres spanning five decades, you’re guaranteed to find something for everyone.

1. For the romantic comedy admirers who perpetually believe in a happy ending:

How to Marry a Millionaire (1953):Lauren Bacall, Betty Grable and Marilyn Monroe (Amazon, $10)

Pillow Talk (1959): Doris Day and Rock Hudson (Amazon, $10)

Some Like it Hot (1959): Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe (Amazon, $10)

Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961): Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard (Amazon, $8)

Barefoot in the Park (1967): Jane Fonda and Robert Redford (Amazon, $8)

2. For the romance realists who know all great love stories start with passion:

Casablanca (1942): Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart (Amazon, $20)

Roman Holiday (1953): Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck (Amazon, $6)

Splendor in the Grass (1961): Warren Beatty and Natalie Wood (Amazon, $8)

Love Story (1970): Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal (Amazon, $5)

The Way We Were(1973): Robert Redford and Barbra Streisand (Amazon, $5)

3. For the singin’ and dancin’ fools who love a good show tune:

Swing Time (1936): Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers (Amazon, $11)

Singin’ in the Rain (1952): Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor and Debbie Reynolds (Amazon, $8)

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953): Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell (Amazon, $10)

West Side Story (1961): George Chakiris and Natalie Wood (Amazon, $12)

Funny Girl (1968): Omar Sharif and Barbra Streisand (Amazon, $7)

4. For the slapstick comedy gurus who want to laugh out loud:

Bringing Up Baby(1938): Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn (Amazon, $8)

The Thin Man(1934): Myrna Loy and William Powell (Amazon, $9)

It Happened One Night(1934): Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable (Amazon, $9)

The Philadelphia Story (1940): Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn and James Stewart (Amazon, $8)

The Long, Long Trailer(1953): Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball (Amazon, $5)

5. For the suspense seekers who enjoy a pulse pounding thrill:

Notorious (1946): Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant (Amazon, $10)

Rear Window (1954): Grace Kelly and James Stewart (Amazon, $8)

Vertigo (1958): Kim Novak and James Stewart (Amazon, $8)

North by Northwest (1959): Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint (Amazon, $29)

Charade (1963):  Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn (Amazon, $10)

6. For the dramatic devotees who get wrapped up in a sweeping story:

Gone with the Wind (1939):  Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh and more (Amazon, $12)

To Have and Have Not (1944): Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart (Amazon, $6)

The Best Years of Our Lives (1946): Dana Andrews, Myrna Loy and more (Amazon, $10)

A Place in the Sun (1951): Montgomery Clift and Elizabeth Taylor (Amazon, $30)

From Here to Eternity (1953): Montgomery Clift, Deborah Kerr, Frank Sinatra and more (Amazon, $7)

So, go ahead and check gifts off your list. Every time somebody watches the film you gave them, they’ll think of you.

Happy shopping and Happy Holidays.

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