It's fun to watch Disney and Pixar movies with the grandchildren, but why not broaden their horizons with some fine old classics? These movies from the 30s and 40s will provide a good basis for their cinematic education. Every movie will not be a fit for every grandchild, but two or three are sure to please. You won't have to worry about vulgar language or bedroom scenes, although depictions of drinking and smoking are common. Before you buy or rent a movie, do an online search. Several of the films are available online for free.

1. City Lights (1931)

Charlie Chaplin wrote, directed and starred in this touching film in which his Tramp character falls in love with a blind girl. The plot may be sentimental, but the film contains some of Chaplin's best comic turns as well, such as the famous boxing scene and the one where Chaplin swallows a whistle and is followed by a pack of dogs. The film is, of course, black and white. It's also silent, although talkies were underway. Don't point out the lack of dialogue to the grandkids; see how long it takes them to notice. This film appears on practically every list of great movies.More »

2. Horse Feathers (1932)

Rapid-fire dialogue and sophisticated word play make the Marx Brothers films a tough go for youngsters. Still, they are a part of cinematic history, and certain children will enjoy them, especially when they are a little older. Marx Brothers fans all have their favorites, but Horse Feathers has a more kid-friendly plot than most, since it involves football and horses. Of course, it's set during Prohibition, so there are also a lot of liquor references. It's short, at around 67 minutes.More »

3. Babes in Toyland (1935)

I never cared much for the Marx Brothers, but Laurel and Hardy were a fixture on afternoon TV when I was growing up, and I have a fondness for the duo. Babes in Toyland is perfect for kids, since its plot consists of a lot of references to nursery rhymes. It's relatively short, at 70-odd minutes, and is one of the critically acclaimed Hal Roach titles. It's available in the original black-and-white or in a colorized version. In the U.S. it is most commonly sold under the title March of the Wooden Soldiers.More »

4. The Little Colonel (1935)

Of course, a list like this one has to have a Shirley Temple (or two). The Little Colonel has not only Temple but also Lionel Barrymore, Hattie McDaniel and Bill Robinson. The plot involves a Confederate belle who marries a Yankee. When she returns to the South with husband and moppet in tow, she clashes with her father, who had opposed the marriage. The folksy, mawkish plot is nothing special, but if you have grandchildren who like to dance, they'll be entranced by the footwork of Temple and Robinson, especially in the famous staircase scene.Buy from Amazon »

5. Heidi (1937)

Heidi was one of my favorite books when I was a kid, so of course I had to put it on this list, even though that makes two Shirley Temple films. This time Temple can't rely on singing and dancing, although she does a bit of both, but her affecting performance carries the day. And, just like in The Little Colonel, she gets to joust with a grouchy grandfather, played this time by Jean Hersholt. California mountains stand in for the Alps, but the spirit of the original book is deftly captured. Heidi is available in black-and-white or colorized versions.More »

6. Bringing Up Baby (1938)

This rom-com of the screwball variety might seem like an odd choice to watch with grandchildren, but it features a dinosaur-loving paleontologist and a leopard-loving heiress. Doesn't that sound like fun? Fabulous performances by Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn make it work. Reportedly Hepburn was fine working with "Baby," while Grant was terrified. Look for signs of that in the film. Another interesting bit of trivia: The film was considered a flop when it was released; today it appears on many "best films" lists.More »

7. The Wizard of Oz (1939)

You knew it was coming, didn't you? No list of must-see movies from this era could exclude The Wizard of Oz, no matter how hackneyed a choice it might be. Don't assume that the grandkids have seen it: Ask them. If they've already seen it, they may watch it again with you. When I was a kid, its annual showing on TV was a much-anticipated event. Do be aware that lots of kids (and adults) find the flying monkeys terrifying. When the film was being edited, however, it was some of Margaret Hamilton's scenes as the Wicked Witch of the West that ended up on the cutting room floor due to the fright factor.More »

8. National Velvet (1944)

Every movie list for kids needs an animal movie, and the flying monkeys don't quite cut it. What does cut it is Elizabeth Taylor as Velvet Brown, the 12-year-old who wins and rides a renegade horse named Pie to victory in England's Grand National Sweepstakes. Mickey Rooney is Taylor's capable co-star. National Velvet makes most lists of famous horse movies. If your grandchildren are animal lovers, they will enjoy this film, and it can spark interesting discussions about the power -- and the costs -- of following a dream.More »

9. Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

If Shirley Temple deserves two appearances, I have to grant Judy Garland equal time. In Meet Me in St. Louis, she's a young woman who's just fallen in love with the boy next door when her father reveals plans to relocate the family to New York City. Garland is almost upstaged by her 7-year-old co-star, Margaret O'Brien. Teens and tweens will enjoy the love story, while lively musical numbers entertain the rest of us. Especially notice "The Trolley Song," which was filmed in one take.More »

10. La Belle et la Bête (1946)

It's never too soon to teach the grandkids that foreign films are okay, or you could just show them this Jean Cocteau version of The Beauty and the Beast. It's a valuable counterpoint to the Disney version (which I also love). My oldest granddaughter watched the Cocteau version obsessively when she was five or so. Don't be surprised if your grandchildren prefer the Beast in his animal state to the effete Prince Ardent. I do, too. I like the film with subtitles, so you can hear the musical language of the original, especially the voice of Jean Marais as the Beast.More »