The poll was carried out by the British Film Institute's Sight and Sound magazine

Citizen Kane is praised for its innovation, and many of the tricks used by Welles - who directed, wrote and starred in the film - are now commonplace in modern movies.

However, the movie only achieved 28th place in a poll of film-goers carried out by Empire magazine last year.

Who is right - the movie-makers or the movie-goers? What is your favourite film of all time, and why?

This Talking Point has now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

Pulp Fiction. For great story telling, excellent direction, innovative comedy and the very definition of cool soundtrack. It was the one film that had me participating in figuring out what's happening. Other films give it to you on a silver platter.
Tam, UK

I find these lists patronising

Bronagh, UK

I find these lists patronising and the elitists' pathetic attempt at making the rest of us feel somehow inferior to their "cinematic knowledge". A lot of people trying to outdo each other in obscure references. Watching a film can and should be a very personal experience. While we can identify technical brilliance, what makes a "good film" is undefinable. I won't bore you with my favourite - you don't really want to know, do you?
Bronagh, UK

To me it has to be the Titanic (1997). I'm not intrigued by the love story, but more by James Cameron's ability to recreate history - well, minus Leo and Kate Winslet of course! It opened my eyes to an event which otherwise would have been just another shipwreck. This movie really moved me to tears.
Hafizi Azmal, Malaysia

The best films are those that really shake your perception of the world you live in - and much of this occurs in youth. Films like Time Bandits and Brazil (Gilliam) helped me feel less isolated and Kubrick's Shining twins made my ten year old mind comprehend true terror for the first time. Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka was altogether something else still...
Chris Green, England

Two words. Apocalypse Now.

Parvez, London

Two words. Apocalypse Now. How can anyone not even give this movie a mention. I've seen it too many times to know a number, and when the Re-Dux version was released, I managed to see it at the Empire Leicester Sq for the full cinematic experience. One man's journey down a river into the depths of his own soul, to meet the personification of war. There's humour, darkness and a whole load of freaky stuff. What more do you need??
Parvez, London, UK

Fight Club - #1 film of all time. When has a more fitting social commentary for its time ever been made? Coupled with superb acting from Brad Pitt and Edward Norton, and some of the best CG effects I've ever seen. Astounding.
Sam, UK

It is far too emotive for any one film to be considered 'the best'. My favourites list is quite long but three of them are : Withnail and I , Excalibur, The Shootist
Ian, England

I think Crimes and Misdemeanours by Woody Allen is the best movie I've seen
Tom, USA

Passion, excitement, action

Amish Amin, Harrow, England

I believe the best film ever made was Rocky since it contained, passion, excitement, action and loads of raw emotion.
Amish Amin, Harrow, England

The best film of all time is Three Colours Red. No other film comes anywhere near it in terms of its sheer humanity.
Alfonse, UK

For teenage kicks, time and time again, The Breakfast Club!
Hana Queldi, Pakistan

Great effects, great action

Demosthenes, USA

"Predator" has got to be one of the best films ever made. It has great effects, great action, and one of the most original and scary monsters in movie history.
Demosthenes, USA

What about Charlie Chaplin's movies, especially Modern Times. It's so old but so funny, touching and true.
Chris, Belgium

Schindler's List - this is the only movie I have ever seen where the audience left the auditorium at the end in total silence. That's impact.
Carl Ball, UK

The original cinematic experience in terror. Four letters. J-A-W-S.
Nomadic Simes, Poland

The classic anime film Akira has yet to be mastered in terms of visual style of kinetic verve.

Kieran Kennedy, Scotland

Why has no one mentioned Asian cinema? The classic anime film Akira has yet to be mastered in terms of visual style of kinetic verve. Or how about the work of Ringo Lam and Tsui Hark? Once Upon A Time In China 2 is beautifully shot, well-paced and the spectacular fight scenes makes Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon look like a Golden Girls battle royale.
Kieran Kennedy, Scotland

My vote is for Richard Attenborough's Gandhi. The true-to-life screenplay, Attenborough's masterful and moving direction, and some stellar acting by Ben Kingsley, Roshan Seth, Saeed Jaffrey and Alyque Padamsee made Gandhi my all time favourite.
Mary Ann, USA

Citizen Kane is classic and without gimmicks, utilising basic story elements of love and greed at the centre. The fact that Welles was able to make such a quality film with actors who had little screen work in their backgrounds speaks volumes for his talent and those he surrounded himself with. The cinematic elements used by Welles showed his sensitivity to perception of power and status in the United States.
Wil Page, Tucson, AZ, USA

My favourite film is The Swimmer, made in 1968, starring Burt Lancaster and directed by Frank Perry. I like the film for the dark sub-text and surrealistic plot, and for Lancaster's superb performance as the old friend who swims through the pools of his neighbours gardens on his way home from 'we don't know where' to 'we don't know what'. This film was not a success in it's day and rarely makes it onto the TV, but if you are a fan of Lancaster then try and find yourself a copy.
Pete Shep, UK

I am amazed that Mel Brooks has not been mentioned.

Roger B, UK

I am amazed that Mel Brooks has not been mentioned. His comic genius as displayed in Young Frankenstein (sorry, Fronkensteen)and Blazing Saddles must rank alongside other classics such as Dr Strangelove and The Life of Brian.
Roger B, UK

Citizen Kane is all right, but it seems to be one of those films which everyone says is a classic because they've heard that a lot of other people like it. Personally I prefer just about anything made by Hitchcock, particularly Rear Window. He knew how to put people on the edge of their seats, and keep prodding them with a pointed stick.
Pete Hazell, UK

Every year these lists get announced, and invariably Star Wars or Citizen Kane top the poles, despite the latter being dull and the former being just plain bad. What about American Beauty, Glory, Dead Poets Society and the best sci-fi/action film ever, Terminator 2?
Iain, UK

A great film to me is one that stirs emotion in the audience. Two films stand out - The Elephant Man and Meet Joe Black (an extremely underrated film!). Co-incidentally they both have Anthony Hopkins in, showing that when he appears in a well written film he is second to none.
Neil, Wales

The best film ever? Grease... Obviously.
Liz, UK

I can still hear the clock ticking

Pete Thorpe, England

For me Brando in On The Waterfront; his screen presence was amazing. Then there's Gary Cooper in High Noon, I can still hear the clock ticking. The Color Purple moved me greatly. Withnail and I is one of the most underrated movies of all time, and if you've not seen it, you must.
Pete Thorpe, England

Repo Man for sheer insanity... along with Monty Python's Holy Grail and Life of Brian. Lord of The Rings is one of the best looking films. I always found Midnight Express took me on a long journey from which you needed time to 'come back' once the film had finished.
Robin, UK

Wow! And I thought I had Joe Public taste. Maybe Joe doesn't respond to such surveys. Mine would be ET, Rosemary's Baby, American Beauty, Capricorn 1 and It's A Wonderful Life.
Dai Yown, Bahrain

It is understandable why the industry voted for Kane, it was innovative. Then so was every Hitchcock movie. How about The 39 Steps or The Birds or Vertigo? George Lucas took us to a new plain of movie excellence. But for me the 20th century was dominated by the art form of the century animation, magical dream worlds created by Walt Disney.
David, UK

I can't watch his work for five minutes without feeling annoyed

Susan W, Wyoming, USA

I've always found Welles' direction so self-conscious and overdone - can't watch his work for five minutes without being reminded of the director and feeling annoyed by him. My all time best list starts with Truffaut's 400 Blows and Jean Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast.
Susan W, Wyoming, USA

My all time favourite film is Dances With Wolves - great screenplay, moving storyline, stunning panoramic landscapes. I can watch it time and again and never fail to be moved.
Richard Speight, S. Yorks, UK

How about The Blues Brothers for its perfect comic timing?
Icy, UK

Amores Perros immediately spits you onto Mexico City's mean streets in a way Scorsese could only dream of - interlocks a story of such stunning grace that makes Tarantino look like something off of Saturday night ITV and kicks it home with a violence and passion rarely seen on the screen.
Stenso, UK

I can't decide whether the film is a Western, film noir or drop-out comedy

Ross, Scotland

My favourite film tends to be overlooked in these votes. The Big Lebowski by the Cohen brothers looks and sounds beautiful, and the double act of Jeff Bridges and John Goodman is second to none. I can't decide whether the film is a Western, film noir or drop-out comedy. Amazing.
Ross, Scotland

One of my most favourite movies of all time has to be The Deerhunter. Who can forget the hauntingly captivating theme tune Cavatina? And the final scene where Robert De Niro goes to Vietnam to bring his best friend Christopher Walken home reduces me to tears every time!
Mo Shah, Birmingham, UK

The Talented Mr Ripley, directed by Anthony Minghella, is one of the best films I've ever seen - chilling, ambiguous and superbly acted.
Frank, UK

Nobody puts Baby in a corner

Gareth, UK

There are so many films on this list because people want to be considered a cool film critic. What about modern films? Saving Private Ryan is a classic, and what about ET? And the best film ever, Dirty Dancing: "Nobody puts Baby in a corner."
Gareth, UK

Citizen Kane is the forgettable, amateurish first effort of a director and cast who had no previous experience of film-making. The flashback narrative is badly structured and incoherent in places, and the audience is inflicted with two hours of exaggerated ham-acting. Sure it has interesting stylistic touches - but so would a film directed by Edward D. Wood Jr. if he'd had a state-of-the-art studio and technical expertise placed at his disposal like Welles did.
Leo Enticknap, UK

Citizen Kane may well be the best film. It just goes to show that continuity isn't everything; after all the premise of the film is to understand the last words "Rosebud" which were uttered while nobody was around... So how does anyone know what those last words were?
Dan Gurden, UK

Citizen Kane? Pah, Scooby Doo could run rings round him.
Russell Aisbitt, UK

Citizen Kane is a boring film about a boring person

Phil, UK

Citizen Kane is a boring film about a boring person. The best film was Tyrone Power in Somerset Maugham's The Razors Edge which is genuinely thought provoking.
Phil, UK

Where is Spiceworld? Why can't I vote for that?
Steve, UK

There is no logic that can prove Citizen Kane is better than Bride of Chucky

Mike Donovan, UK

The whole concept of 'best' implies that one piece of fiction can be superior to another, when this is completely undecideable. There is no logic that can prove Citizen Kane is better than Bride of Chucky. The whole concept of high art is subjective fascism. All fiction is relative and if we are to encourage intellectualism then we should do so by learning facts and not the products of people's imagination.
Mike Donovan, UK

I'll back Les Enfants du Paradis, Romeo is Bleeding (very underrated but brilliantly acted); The Red Shoes for beauty and for style and glamour how could you ever beat Grace Kelly and Cary Grant in To Catch a Thief?
Sarah, Belgium

Bedazzled - the 1963 original with Peter Cook and Dudley Moore - pure GENIUS.
Jess, UK

Four Words. The Sound Of Music.
Nuwanpriya, Sweden

For me it's a split decision between Henry V (the Brannagh version) and the film of the ground-breaking and thought-provoking television series On The Buses.
Phil Elson, USA

Citizen Kane's days at the top are numbered

Nick Barker, England

I suspect Citizen Kane's days at the top are numbered, which is frankly a relief, because soon everyone will come to appreciate Jackie Chan's Shaolin Chamber of Death as the finest piece of cinema ever to be shown to a grateful public ever. EVER.
Nick Barker, England

Citizen Kane always gets people arguing - even those who haven't seen it have an opinion. For that reason alone it's a great film. Personally, I love: Kubricks's work - especially Dr Strangelove, Passport to Pimlico, Double Indemnity, Brazil and The Italian Job is pretty fantastic too. Favourite foreign film must be Three Colours: Blue. The great thing about the movies is that they can take you wherever you want depending on your mood.
Simon, New Zealand

They should call these things "directors' favourites" and not best films ever. It is a very personal choice.
Ed, UK

A worthy winner

Lela, UK

In my opinion, Citizen Kane is a worthy winner, because it is a groundbreaking film. However that does not mean it is my favourite, as I personally prefer such works as The Third Man, Some Like It Hot, Dr Strangelove and more recently La Haine and the Three Colours trilogy.
Lela, UK

Any list of greats must include The Grapes of Wrath. A marvellous story superbly filmed. Jane Darwell as Ma Joad was amazing, and Tom Joad must have been one of Henry Fonda's best ever performances.
Veronica, England

The three best films ever: Rear Window, Brazil and Being John Malkovich.
Paul Rowley, UK

The lists focus very heavily on English language films; the highest listed non-European film comes in fifth on one list. Tokyo Monpogatari remains stunning both technically and in terms of story. Do not forget Pathar Panchali either. No films from Eastern Europe at all. Makes one wonder...
Stewart Hartley, Spain

The Back to the Future trilogy

Matt Charlton, England

Being a movie buff and having a collection of DVDs that spans well over 200, I have to say that in my opinion, the greatest films of all time are probably the Star Wars complete saga (even though we're waiting for the last part). The Back to the Future trilogy is also excellent, in its wit; you can watch the trilogy over and over and still pick up on new things every time you watch it.
Matt Charlton, England

My greatest movie of all time is Shawshank Redemption. I watch it very often and it is the only piece of culture (except for books and classical music) which truly changed my life.
Gerard Hart, Plymouth, UK

Best film of all time - Carry on up the Khyber.
Robert Denton, UK

No-one mentioned Wuthering Heights? The 1939 companion to The Wizard Of Oz and Gone With The Wind. You can't get much better than Lawrence Olivier and Merle Oberon.
Greg, Las Vegas, USA

Of course Withnail and I is the best film ever with a superb performance by Richard E. Grant! I demand to have some booze.
Vix, Sussex, UK

The most chilling film I have seen

Gary Thomas, UK

May I suggest The Vanishing... the original and not the horrible Hollywood remake that was required to have a happy ending and thus spoiled the whole film. No sex, violence or car chases but the most chilling film I have seen.
Gary Thomas, UK

Choosing the top whatever of whatever is pointless. There are many different genres and we all have different tastes. Many people choose what everybody else says because they think it makes them look bright. But ask them to explain why it is their favourite movie and they will be lost for words. For me the greatest movie is Cool Hand Luke. Why? Great performances, great story and the good guy don't win in the end. Or does he?
Graeme, UK

Judging by the times I can replay the videos and enjoy the films anew, my favourites are LA Confidential - and it's pretty faithful to the stunning James Ellroy book - and Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei at their best in My Cousin Vinnie. Both films rely on great scripts, not on mind-numbing special effects. And a mention for nostalgia-England: The Titfield Thunderbolt.
Eric, England

A less well known or publicised masterpiece is Stand by Me starring the late River Phoenix. This is my personal favourite. The performance of the four young boys are absolutely outstanding.
Janice, England

I would opt for the Godfather films as favourites

Dave Smith, New Zealand

Citizen Kane is not only a magnificent movie that is thought-provoking and enduring, it was also made on a shoestring budget while leaving gigantic images in the viewer's mind. In one impressive scene all that is used is a fireplace in a dark empty studio. Personally, I would opt for the Godfather films as favourites because they so beautifully capture the truly good, bad and ugly aspects of the American experience.
Dave Smith, New Zealand

Why has no-one mentioned Casablanca? I'm shocked!
Carl Sanders, UK

Very difficult choice but I would go for either Full Metal Jacket (probably the finest anti-war movie ever made), Lolita (Kubrick's version), Goodfellas or Blade Runner. It all depends on what mood you are in but for comedy I would settle for Withnail and I just to wake up all the Citizen Kane 'stiffs in here'.
Rob, UK

This list is a bit heavy on English-language films

David Clifford, UK

Citizen Kane is a great film, but this list is a bit heavy on English-language films. One of the most brilliant films from around the same era, and technically innovative as well, is Carn�'s Les Enfants du Paradis.(1945).
David Clifford, UK

The Wizard of Oz could easily be in the top ten. A timeless classic that enthralled us as children and can still captivate us more than 60 years after it was made.
Martin, USA

I can't believe nobody voted for Blade Runner. It's a modern classic that makes you reflect about what life really is. Fantastic photography and excellent music from Vangelis. A masterpiece.
Anna, Spain

12 Angry Men has to be up there with the best. The simplicity of its direction, the wonderful acting and the cleverness of the script keeps one engrossed from start to finish.
Richard, UK

Godfather Part II has to be at the pinnacle of modern cinema

Emir, UK

For me personally I would have to say the Godfather Part II has to be at the pinnacle of modern cinema. The direction, production, and actors really bought this great motion picture to life.
Emir, UK

There has been much comment that there are no British movies in the top 10. What about 2001? Kubrick hailed from the US but he adopted England as his home and rarely left it. 2001 has a British screenplay writer and was shot in Borehamwood by a largely British crew. The studio involved was MGM, but film histories always list this picture's country of origin as the UK, not the US. Finally, on a personal note, I don't think 2001: A Space Odyssey could have been made anywhere other than the UK.
Paul Franklin, UK

Without a doubt Withnail and I, it has you laughing and crying all day long.
Jase, Leeds, UK

To Jase, Leeds: Sir, I suggest we meet up and have cake and the finest wines known to humanity! You are of course correct, Withnail and I is by far and away the best film ever made.
Terry Amis, UK

The Usual Suspects - truly a modern classic

Leon, UK

I'm surprised that The Usual Suspects hasn't had a mention. Not only does it have quite an amazing storyline (and twist at the end) but also a fantastic cast. Truly a modern classic.
Leon, UK

It would have to be either Gone With The Wind or Dr Zhivago, both wonderfully emotive films showing people overcoming hardships and life altering changes. A film that made me think a lot was Schindler's List. The photography was amazing and brought a horrific subject to life, definitely a modern classic.
Jennifer, UK

I haven't yet seen Citizen Kane, but I fully intend to do so the next chance I get. In my opinion, the best film I have ever seen is Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. This film was stunning - the direction, acting, plot and cinematography were flawless.
John Kearney, UK

I certainly agree that Citizen Kane is probably the film that set the standard for modern film making. However, there are so many genres with their own classics that deserve to be given an equal footing. Fail Safe, Dr Strangelove, Apocalypse Now, Das Boot, 12 Angry Men, and Akira are just some examples.
Steve Brown, UK

Does this suggest no truly great films have been made in 22 years?

Paul Scourfield, UK

Whilst I am happy to concede that Citizen Kane may be the greatest movie ever made, (whilst not necessarily my favourite) I find it amazing that Raging Bull is the most recent film in the polls and then the Godfather films before that. Does this suggest that no truly great films have been made in the last 22 years? I would argue this is not the case and that those polled have a rather elitist view of cinema and feel inclined to look to films that were made so long ago, ignoring the revolutions that have taken place in the last couple of decades.
Paul Scourfield, UK

I agree with most choices made by the critics and directors. The movies that have had most impact for me are Bride of Frankenstein (Whale, 1935), Bringing Up Baby (Hawks, 1938), All Quiet on the Western Front (Milestone, 1930), Seven Samurai (Kurosawa, 1954), Schindler's List (Spielberg, 1993). There are others but brevity is important. Whale's film combines excellent cinematic story telling with technical and acting expertise, and it does not receive enough recognition.
Richard Freeman, UK

Not one of the films in the list would make it into my top 50.

Del, UK

There is no such thing as a greatest film of all time, just as there is no such thing as the greatest song of all time. These top 10 lists - and there are hordes of them - are totally pointless. Everyone has their own taste and preferences. Not one of the films in the list would make it into my top 50. No film critic is gonna tell me what's the best or what I should like, I can make up my own mind.
Del, UK

What is refreshing is to see a list of best films that really is that. A list of the best films, rather than the best films from the last five years which is what these lists normally are.
Peter, UK

Once Upon a Time in America is my all time favourite film. The emotive depth and honesty of the film, in my mind has not been surpassed. De Niro gives an outstanding performance - once again.
Eileen, UK

My greatest movie of all time would have to be The Shawshank Redemption. I can still remember how emotional it made me the first time I saw it. A modern classic.
Graham, UK

The 1930s were the golden era of Hollywood and film making.

'Film Buff', Wales

The 1930s were the golden era of Hollywood and film making. Several of the excellent films of this era are now either lost or forgotten, so were rarely get a chance to see them on TV. Hence the younger generation know nothing of them. The very best of them all was Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1931) starring Frederic Marsh and Miriam Hopkins; it was directed by Rouben Mamoulian.
Film Buff, Wales UK

I saw Citizen Kane at the top of a similar list a few years ago. I got the video as a result. I wasn't impressed! The voters on the list probably think I'm ignorant. I think they're just pretentious.
James, UK

My favourite film of all time is, without doubt, Aliens. The only film to ever give me nightmares, it remains a science fiction classic, and resulted in a deserved Oscar for Sigourney. The crux of this debate, however, appears to be whether a film should be remembered more for its technical skill or its ability to entertain. While CK is no doubt technically impressive, as entertainment, its not the best.
Jim, UK

My favourite film of all time is undoubtedly The Robe. Twentieth Century Fox used it to introduce the CinemaScope technique with 4-track magnetic stereophonic sound, revolutionary at that time. Spiritually, a deeply moving film, with impeccable performances from Richard Burton, Jean Simmons, Victor Mature and Michael Rennie. I lost count of the number of times I saw this film, before finally buying a video of it.
Graham Rodhouse, The Netherlands

A truly great film is one that improves with repeat viewings

David Bowley, UK

I've never thought that Citizen Kane was that great a work of cinema. Yes it is technically very interesting and I appreciate the influence it has had. But other films have taken those innovations and adapted and improved on them. The storyline of Citizen Kane, for me, sets the main protagonist as an unlikable, cold character, who, by the end of the film I couldn't care less about. For me a truly great film is one that improves with repeat viewings - 8 1/2, Vertigo, Miller's Crossing. It's a pity that the critics and the directors still feel as though they have to pay homage to this supposed great work. I'm not decrying Orson Wells' talent - see The Thin Man or for proof of that. I just wish those voters approached to compile these polls didn't so slavishly repeat the same mantra that has been passed down for the past 40 or so years - that CK is the best film ever.
David Bowley, UK

I have watched a lot of films in my time. A favourite will depend on whether you see films as works of great art, or throw-away entertainment. My favourite film of all time used to be Jacob's Ladder, but recently I stumbled across the remake Vanilla Sky and was blown away. It's just a shame that most of these so-called critics who constantly whinge about the lack of imagination and plot in contemporary cinema cry like babies when films like Vanilla Sky and Mulholland Drive are released. When a film can move you, make you laugh and explore a dozen different themes whilst challenging the viewer's preconceptions... well, that's what I call a damn good film.
Mike Bartlett, UK

Good though these films are, you wouldn't necessarily choose to watch them repeatedly; some are a struggle to watch even once! Surely watchability is a more relevant criterion than any vague notion of "greatness." Personally, the film I would choose for my desert island is Day of the Jackal, which I find spellbinding.
Andy Millward, UK

Movie-goers should have the final say. After all, they are the ones who movies are created for. The greatest film of all time for me is Schindler's List. It's still the only film that has ever made me cry, being the most moving and compelling film I've seen. I would actually go so far as to say that it should be on the national curriculum.
Dan, England

My first choice would be Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey

Darren O, UK

I think Lord Of The Rings is probably a classic in its own right already. It is certainly the only film in recent years that I have found overwhelming. But I think my first choice would be Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, just for its sheer tense atmospherics, brilliant acting and fantastic sets that were years ahead of anything else at the time and still look fantastic today.
Darren O, UK

Nine Monkeys by Terry Gilliam would be very high on my list. A fascinating movie worth seeing over and over again. Ghandi is another one, it is very well made and it has very touching scenes and some great mass-scenes. As far as Citizen Kane is concerned, I think Movie-makers and goers look with different eyes at a movie.
Rachel, Netherlands

I think Rachel might mean Twelve Monkeys!! I agree that occasionally the "great" films are not necessarily the same ones that you may want to watch over and over again, but that says more about the human attention span than anything else. There are so many different criterion for judging film that it's impossible to pick the best film ever, but for a truly wonderful, heart-warming, and beautiful cinematic experience, go and see Amelie. Or for a film that evokes the adolescent lying dormant in us all, then the elegaic Virgin Suicides is a masterpiece.
Jon, Haywards Heath

The movie-makers are right this time. Citizen Kane, even almost 60 years on, is a breathtaking masterpiece and prime example of artistic innovation. It's one of my personal faves, together with Taxi Driver, Godfather Parts I and II.
Zack Mayo, Austria, formerly UK

Most people should be forgiven for not appreciating how innovative 'Citizen Kane' actually was, as most of us were not around when it was made, however it does appear dated when seen in comparison to films such as 'Blade Runner' which have built on the lighting/ atmosphere/ suspense techniques that Wells pioneered. For me, great art should be timeless, so my choice would be 'Twelve Angry Men', which relied totally on inspired writing, and superhuman acting, not technical trickery, or a budget the size of a third-world country's national debt.
Jack Burge, England