Movies about… movies

DAYTON, OHIO — With the release of the latest movie about movies, “Tropic Thunder,” it seemed like a good time to look back on the greatest movies about movies.

While looking over the list, you’ll notice that a lot of the films weren’t about movies per se — they were more about filmmakers or had filmmaking scenes in them. Hopefully, that makes this compilation a little more varied and fun.

1. Sunset Boulevard: Even people who haven’t seen this movie know the line “I’m ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille” … even when they don’t know who Mr. DeMille is. Bonus points: William Holden’s character works for a Dayton newspaper.

2. The Bad and the Beautiful: This is the best Hollywood movie about producing films and the behind-the-scenes double-dealings. Kirk Douglas and Lana Turner lead a great cast, with striking direction by Vincente Minnelli.

3. Singin’ in the Rain: You’ve got to have this movie on any best-of list; it’s a Hollywood law.

4. Sullivan’s Travels: This is Preston Sturges’ best film, about a director who wants to make a picture of dignity. A true canvas of the suffering of humanity - but with a little sex in it.

5. A Star Is Born: The 1954 Judy Garland version offers a dramatic look at how Hollywood can build up stars - and tear them down. Also of interest: the 1937 nonmusical and the film “What Price Hollywood,” which gave rise to this story and like “Star” was directed by George Cukor.

6. Peeping Tom: This deeply troubling journey into the dark side of film was so shocking, it ruined director Michael Powell’s career even after he directed classics including “The Red Shoes.” Its subject: a man who films his murder victims.

7. The Purple Rose of Cairo: Woody Allen’s valentine to Hollywood romanticism is the purest expression of movie love, as Mia Farrow falls for a movie character played by Jeff Daniels, who steps right off the silver screen.

8. The Aviator: The director most in tune with Hollywood’s past, Martin Scorsese, makes a movie about one of its nerviest men, Howard Hughes. This film gives us two great Kates for the price of one: Cate Blanchett plays Katharine Hepburn.

9. Who Framed Roger Rabbit: So it really does require dozens of takes to drop a refrigerator on a rabbit’s head. Cool.

10. King Kong: Remember, it is a film crew that finds Kong. The Peter Jackson remake is great; the 1933 original is greater.

Also of note …

All That Jazz: Bob Fosse directs a musical about moviemaking and death. Heavy.

Barton Fink: One of the Coen brothers’ best films shows how a writer really can’t catch a break in Hollywood.

The Blair Witch Project: It’s not about filmmaking per se, but it was a groundbreaking movie that ushered in the age of the ubiquitous camera.

Blazing Saddles: Here is more movie-within-a-movie fun, the Mel Brooks way.

Blow Out: Brian De Palma’s best film builds a suspenseful tale around a little-seen aspect of moviemaking: the sound man.

Boogie Nights: Hey, no one said this list had to be about the mainstream movie industry.

Bowfinger: This story of a scrappy filmmaking crew shooting around an unwitting superstar is the last great comedy Eddie Murphy made.

The Cat’s Meow: No filmmaking is on view here, but it’s a fascinating legend about the purported 1924 murder mystery involving Charlie Chaplin, Marion Davies and William Randolph Hearst.

Ed Wood: This is a riotous and touching biography about the worst director of all time, who had all the drive of Orson Welles but none of the talent.

Get Shorty: Look at me. This is one of the funniest movies about movies, moviemakers and movie buffs.

Gods and Monsters: Here’s a fascinating look at director James Whale (Ian McKellen), the man who was most famous for directing the classic Frankenstein movies.

Grand Canyon: Steve Martin plays a film producer who has one of the best lines: “All of life’s riddles are answered in the movies.”

The Player: From the long opening tracking shot to its hilarious ending, this film helped spark Robert Altman’s great late period.

Shadow of the Vampire: This movie is especially fascinating if you watch it as a double feature with the film the story is about: “Nosferatu,” one of the early takes on Dracula. The premise: What if the actor playing the vampire really is one?

Sherlock Jr.: The silent comedian with the greatest filmmaking skills, Buster Keaton, made this ingenious movie about a projectionist who falls asleep and enters the film he’s projecting.

The list would not be complete without mentioning some of the best documentaries about movies …

Burden of Dreams: Few directors go off the deep end more completely than Werner Herzog, and this documentary is about the making of “Fitzcarraldo,” in which he really did haul a boat over a mountain.

It’s All True: A reconstruction of Orson Welles’ aborted South American movie, made around the time he became a Hollywood pariah in the early 1940s. Even in its unfinished state, it’s fascinating.

Hearts of Darkness: Think “Apocalypse Now” was hellish and surreal? The making of it was just as torturous.

A Personal Journey Through American Movies/My Voyage to Italy: An enthusiastic, passionate Martin Scorsese makes the perfect tour guide through his favorite American and Italian films. Indispensable for film buffs.

That’s Entertainment: Many documentaries about movies are about how trying it is to make them. This series is the polar opposite: the pure joy of movies, in this case, moments from MGM musicals. All three films are worthwhile, but the first one has all the best scenes.