Mark Best wrote In my opinion, everyone is taking this list too seriously. It is like picking the year's top ten, or five films nominated for best picture. As far as I can see, the list is a good thing in that it will stimulate discussion, and maybe inspire people to sample previously unseen films. If a Generation X movielover who has seen Top Gun 23 times is inspired to rent Only Angels Have Wings because of this list, then it is serving a constructive purpose. Yes, it is commercialized, but isn't that the history of American film? Art was a by product of commerce. The Warners, the Mayers, the Cohns, were businessmen. From their business came art. Were it not for the commercial viability of Ford, Hawks, and Hitchcock we would not have The Searchers, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, or Rear Window. So let us stop trashing the list for it flaws, and utilize it as a tool of discussion and illumination. Remember, most of us developed our love of classic cinema watching old movies on commercial TV. That a late showing of Out of the Past was sponsered by Crest did little to dull our apperciation of it. Mark Best ---- Screen-L is sponsored by the Telecommunication & Film Dept., the University of Alabama. Sorry But I could not disagree more. AFI has claimed this is list by BLUE RIBBON Film Historians which is nuts. They are useing it to make a profit very little of which will go to the vital areas of film preservation and screening. Every day fewer and fewer classic films are available in 16 & 35 mm yet AFI spends its time on celebrity party events like this. Is it really OK to tell the American Public that film historians think PRETTY WOMAN and THE GOODBYE GIRL are among America's best films while ignoring dozens of great films which NEED the attention. Jessica Rosner Kino International Corporation 333 W. 39th St. Suite 503 New York, NY 10018 (212)629-6880 fax: (212)714-0871 ---- To sign off SCREEN-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF SCREEN-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask]