High and Low – Contempt – Borom sarret – The Leopard – The Birds – This Sporting Life – Scorpio Rising

1963: World Premieres
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The Movies of 1963: World Premieres
 By Title // By Grade // By VOR  (what's this?) // Last update: September 21, 2025

Full Listing of Films Screened
= Full Review   /   = Capsule   /   = Feature or Blog Post   /   = Grain of Salt

⑤  Indispensable to film fans, even if it's flawed

Dir. Federico Fellini. Marcello Mastroianni, Anouk Aimée, Claudia Cardinale A–
Barren Lives Dir. Nelson Pereira Dos Santos. Átila Iório, Gilvan Lima B+
The Birds Dir. Alfred Hitchcock. Tippi Hedren, Rod Taylor, Jessica Tandy A–
 Borom sarret Dir. Ousmane Sembène. Ly Abdoulaye, Albourah A
Contempt Dir. Jean-Luc Godard. Michel Piccoli, Brigitte Bardot, Jack Palance A–
 I Fidanzati Dir. Ermanno Olmi. Carlo Cabrini, Anna Canzi A–
Flaming Creatures Dir. Jack Smith. Francis Francine, Sheila Bick, Joel Markman B+
High and Low Dir. Akira Kurosawa. Toshirō Mifune, Tatsuya Nakadai A
 Hud Dir. Martin Ritt. Paul Newman, Brandon de Wilde, Patricia Neal A
The Leopard Dir. Luchino Visconti. Burt Lancaster, Alain Delon, Paolo Stoppa A
Mothlight Dir. Stan Brakhage. Abstract experimental short with wings and debris A
Scorpio Rising Dir. Kenneth Anger. Bruce Bryson, Ernie Allo, Frank Carifi A
The Servant Dir. Joseph Losey. Dirk Bogarde, James Fox, Wendy Craig A–
 The Silence Dir. Ingmar Bergman. Ingrid Thulin, Gunnel Lindblom B

④  Good or bad, this is risky and original work

 America America Dir. Elia Kazan. Stathis Giallelis, Harry Davis, Elena Karam B
Billy Liar Dir. John Schlesinger. Tom Courtenay, Julie Christie, Mona Washbourne B
Blow Job Dir. Andy Warhol. DeVeren Bookwalter, Willard Maas B+
Charade Dir. Stanley Donen. Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, Walter Matthau
The Haunting Dir. Robert Wise. Julie Harris, Richard Johnson, Claire Bloom B
Lilies of the Field Dir. Ralph Nelson. Sidney Poitier, Lilia Skala, Isa Crino B
 Shock Corridor Dir. Samuel Fuller. Peter Breck, Constance Towers, Larry Tucker C–
This Sporting Life Dir. Lindsay Anderson. Richard Harris, Rachel Roberts B+
Tom Jones Dir. Tony Richardson. Albert Finney, Susannah York, George Devine B
Towers Open Fire Dir. Anthony Balch, William S. Burroughs B+

③  Try to make time, but don't cry if you miss it

 The Balcony Dir. Joseph Strick. Shelley Winters, Peter Falk, Lee Grant, Jeff Corey C–
 The Cardinal Dir. Otto Preminger. Tom Tryon, Raf Vallone, Josef Meinrad B
A Child Is Waiting Dir. John Cassavetes. Judy Garland, Burt Lancaster B–
Cleopatra Dir. Joseph L. Mankiewicz. Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton C–
Kiss Dir. Andy Warhol. Rufus Collins, Johnny Dodd, Freddie Herko B
Love with the Proper Stranger Dir. Robert Mulligan. Steve McQueen

②  Even if it's good, it's hardly groundbreaking

 Captain Newman, M.D. Dir. David Miller. Gregory Peck, Angie Dickinson C+
Irma La Douce Dir. Billy Wilder. Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Lou Jacobi C–
 Twilight of Honor Dir. Boris Sagal. Richard Chamberlain, Nick Adams C

①  Low ambition, little originality, easy to forget

The V.I.P.s Dir. Anthony Asquith. Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Louis Jourdan D