The Wizard of Oz1939Philippians 4:8
Living Films
A hand-kept canon of living films for the family shelf.
Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.Philippians 4:8
Living Films is a hand-kept canon for families who want the screen to sit beside Scripture, worship, and living books. The films are chosen for what they honor: courage, repentance, a whole household, gratitude for America, and music and pictures worth keeping.
Philippians 4:8 names the standard. These stories are here because their center of gravity is sound, and because they are worth talking about when the lights come up.
This list is not a queue to empty, but a pantry to draw from slowly.
The shelf holds 224 films. We lead with the disc. A shelf at home stays where you put it.Read the philosophy.
This week
The Wizard of Oz1939This weekThe Wizard of Oz
The Sound of Music1965This weekThe Sound of Music
Mary Poppins1964This weekMary Poppins
Pollyanna1960This weekPollyanna
Swiss Family Robinson1960This weekSwiss Family Robinson
The Adventures of Robin Hood1938This weekThe Adventures of Robin Hood
Old Yeller1957This weekOld Yeller
Treasure Island1950This weekTreasure Island
National Velvet1944This weekNational Velvet
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs1937This weekSnow White and the Seven Dwarfs
It's a Wonderful Life1946This weekIt's a Wonderful Life
The Princess Bride1987This weekThe Princess BrideOne film for the week, the same in every house, walking in order through the Start here list. Put it on Friday, or choose another. Then leave the shelf alone.
Start here
A door into the canon, chosen by hand. The age band is on each card. Take one film.
The Wizard of Oz1939The Sound of Music1965The Sound of Music
Mary Poppins1964Mary Poppins
Pollyanna1960Pollyanna
Swiss Family Robinson1960Swiss Family Robinson
The Adventures of Robin Hood1938The Adventures of Robin Hood
Old Yeller1957Old Yeller
Treasure Island1950Treasure Island
National Velvet1944National Velvet
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs1937Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
It's a Wonderful Life1946It's a Wonderful Life
The Princess Bride1987The Princess Bride
A shorter row
A few titles that show the range of the shelf. The age band is on the card.
What we look for
The shelf is arranged by virtue and craft. The definitions sit with the list.