1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 196519661967 1968 1969

1966 Movies

Take a nostalgic look back at the top movies of 1966, celebrating the films, directors and actors that defined the year and left a lasting legacy in the world of entertainment.

1966 Academy Awards

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Written by: Edward Albee, Ernest Lehman
Directed by: Mike Nichols
Starring: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, George Segal, Sandy Dennis
Country: United States of America
Outline: A middle-aged professor and his wife invite a younger couple to their home, leading to a night of psychological games that reveal deep-seated marital issues.
source: imdb.com
A Man for All Seasons
Written by: Robert Bolt
Directed by: Fred Zinnemann
Starring: Paul Scofield, Wendy Hiller, Leo McKern, Orson Welles, Susannah York, John Hurt
Country: United States of America
Outline: The story of Sir Thomas More's refusal to accept King Henry VIII as the head of the Church of England, leading to his martyrdom.
source: imdb.com
The Sand Pebbles
Written by: Robert Anderson, Richard McKenna
Directed by: Robert Wise
Starring: Steve McQueen, Richard Attenborough, Richard Crenna, Candice Bergen, Mako, Larry Gates, Simon Oakland, Charles Robinson, James Hong, Larry Haines, Michael McHale, Joe Turkel
Country: United States of America
Outline: A U.S. Navy engineer aboard a gunboat in 1926 China becomes involved in a dangerous rescue mission during the Chinese Revolution.
source: imdb.com
The Professionals
Written by: Frank O'Rourke, Richard Brooks
Directed by: Richard Brooks
Starring: Burt Lancaster, Lee Marvin, Robert Ryan, Woody Strode, Jack Palance, Claudia Cardinale, Ralph Bellamy
Country: United States of America
Outline: In the final years of the Mexican Revolution, four specialists are hired to rescue a kidnapped woman from a notorious bandit. As they journey through perilous terrain, they confront unexpected challenges that test their skills and resolve.
source: imdb.com
Grand Prix
Written by: Robert Alan Aurthur
Directed by: John Frankenheimer
Starring: James Garner, Eva Marie Saint, Yves Montand, Brian Bedford, Toshiro Mifune, Antonio Sabato, Jessica Walter
Country: United States of America
Outline: The film follows the lives of four Formula One drivers as they compete in the Grand Prix series, delving into their personal struggles and the dangers of the sport. It offers a thrilling portrayal of the high-speed world of racing.
source: imdb.com
Alfie
Written by: Bill Naughton
Directed by: Lewis Gilbert
Starring: Michael Caine, Shelley Winters, Millicent Martin, Julia Foster, Jane Asher, Vivien Merchant
Country: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Outline: Alfie is a charming yet self-centered womanizer navigating life and love in London. His carefree attitude leads him through a series of romantic entanglements, ultimately prompting him to reflect on his choices and their consequences.
source: imdb.com
Georgy Girl
Written by: Peter Nichols
Directed by: Silvio Narizzano
Starring: Lynn Redgrave, Alan Bates, James Mason, Charlotte Rampling, Bill Owen, Rachel Roberts
Country: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Outline: Georgy Girl follows the life of a young, unconventional woman in 1960s London as she navigates love, career, and societal expectations. Her journey of self-discovery leads her to unexpected choices and personal growth.
source: imdb.com
Hawaii
Written by: James A. Michener, Dalton Trumbo
Directed by: George Roy Hill
Starring: Julie Andrews, Max von Sydow, Richard Harris, Gene Hackman, John Gabriel, Barbara Luna
Country: United States of America
Outline: Set in the 19th century, Hawaii tells the story of New England missionaries who travel to the Hawaiian Islands to spread Christianity. They face cultural challenges and personal conflicts as they attempt to convert the native population.
source: imdb.com
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Written by: Luciano Vincenzoni, Sergio Leone, Fulvio Morsella
Directed by: Sergio Leone
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, Lee Van Cleef
Country: Italy
Outline: In the American Civil War, three gunslingers compete to find a fortune in buried Confederate gold. Their uneasy alliance leads to a series of confrontations and betrayals.
source: imdb.com
La battaglia di Algeri
Written by: Gillo Pontecorvo, Franco Solinas
Directed by: Gillo Pontecorvo
Starring: Bruno Cremer, Jean Martin, Yacef Saadi
Country: Italy
Outline: A depiction of the Algerian struggle for independence from French colonial rule, focusing on the Battle of Algiers. The film portrays the urban guerrilla warfare and the moral complexities faced by both sides.
source: imdb.com
Watch Out for the Automobile
Written by: Eldar Ryazanov, Emil Braginskiy
Directed by: Eldar Ryazanov
Starring: Yevgeny Evstigneev, Andrei Mironov, Anatoly Papanov
Country: Russian Federation
Outline: A comedy about a man who steals cars for a living and the complications that arise when he becomes involved with a woman who is the daughter of a police officer.
source: imdb.com
Blow-Up
Written by: Michelangelo Antonioni, Tonino Guerra, Edward Bond
Directed by: Michelangelo Antonioni
Starring: David Hemmings, Vanessa Redgrave, Sarah Miles, Jane Birkin
Country: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Outline: A London fashion photographer becomes obsessed with a series of photographs he took in a park, believing they may depict a murder. His quest to uncover the truth leads him into a complex web of reality and illusion.
source: imdb.com
Andrei Rublev
Written by: Andrei Tarkovsky, Andrei Konchalovsky
Directed by: Andrei Tarkovsky
Starring: Anatoly Solonitsyn, Ivan Lapikov, Nikolai Grinko
Country: Russian Federation
Outline: A dramatized account of the life of the 15th-century Russian icon painter Andrei Rublev, exploring his artistic and spiritual journey during a tumultuous period in Russian history.
source: imdb.com
Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo
Written by: Sergio Leone, Agenore Incrocci, Furio Scarpelli, Luciano Vincenzoni
Directed by: Sergio Leone
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, Eli Wallach
Country: Italy
Outline: In the midst of the American Civil War, three gunslingers—Blondie, Angel Eyes, and Tuco—compete to find a hidden fortune in gold. Their treacherous journey leads them through numerous challenges, culminating in a final showdown at a cemetery.
source: imdb.com
Persona
Written by: Ingmar Bergman
Directed by: Ingmar Bergman
Starring: Bibi Andersson, Liv Ullmann
Country: Sweden
Outline: An actress, suffering from a sudden and unexplained muteness, retreats to a secluded cottage with her nurse. As they spend time together, their identities and realities begin to blur, leading to a profound psychological exploration.
source: imdb.com
L'armata Brancaleone
Written by: Age & Scarpelli, Mario Monicelli, Furio Scarpelli
Directed by: Mario Monicelli
Starring: Vittorio Gassman, Gian Maria Volonté, Catherine Spaak
Country: Italy
Outline: A group of misfit knights embark on a quest to rescue a princess, facing numerous comedic and perilous adventures along the way. Their journey satirizes the traditional hero's quest and medieval chivalry.
source: imdb.com
War and Peace
Written by: Sergey Bondarchuk, Vasily Solovyov, Leonid Kasyanov
Directed by: Sergey Bondarchuk
Starring: Vyacheslav Tikhonov, Sergey Bondarchuk, Ludmila Savelyeva
Country: United States of America
Outline: An epic adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's novel, depicting the lives of several aristocratic families during the Napoleonic Wars. The film explores themes of love, war, and destiny against the backdrop of Russian society.
source: imdb.com
Au Hasard Balthazar
Written by: Robert Bresson
Directed by: Robert Bresson
Starring: Anne Wiazemsky, Walter Green, François Lafarge
Country: France
Outline: In the French countryside, a donkey named Balthazar is passed from owner to owner, each treating him with varying degrees of kindness and cruelty. The film explores the lives of these individuals, drawing parallels between Balthazar's experiences and those of his first owner, Marie.
source: rottentomatoes.com
Hunger
Written by: Henning Carlsen, Peter Seeberg, Knut Hamsun
Directed by: Henning Carlsen
Starring: Per Oscarsson, Gunnel Lindblom, Birgitte Federspiel
Country: Denmark
Outline: Set in 1890s Oslo, the film follows Pontus, a destitute writer struggling with poverty and isolation. His interactions with the local newspaper and his internal battles highlight themes of pride, desperation, and human dignity.
source: rottentomatoes.com