Can't beat the old black and white films, they didn't have an X million pound special effects budget and they weren't allowed to show sh**ging so they had to make up for it with acting and storyline instead. Even once they went colour there were a few gems before it all went to sound and fury signifying nothing...
As soon as I see an old war movie and names like John Mills, Sylvia Sim (she was damn nice looking in her day too!) and Alec Guiness I know I'm in for a movie with a 90% chance of being a goodie :-)