Nine classic movies to keep you entertained in isolation

Stanley Kubrick’s historical epic stars Kirk Douglas as a slave who leads a revolt against the brutal Roman state. At three hours and 18 minutes long it’s a serious watch, but you’ll see some of Hollywood’s most famous names in action, including Sir Laurence Olivier, Peter Ustinov and Jean Simmons.

This quick-witted, cartoonish comedy starring Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe is a pacey and enjoyable watch.

The story sees two hapless musicians who have just witnessed a mafia killing trying to escape in disguise as part of an all-female jazz band. Things get complicated when one of them falls for the group’s singer and ukulele player, while the other is pursued by a male millionaire.

A bold, warm, funny film, Some Like It Hot features on-point performances from its three leads and explores ideas around gender, identity and relationships that put it ahead of its time.

Based on real events, The Great Escape tells the story of a group of particularly ingenious Allied prisoners attempting to escape Nazi imprisonment during World War II. Together, the men dig a tunnel to escape the camp and lead the Gestapo on a manhunt across Europe.

Starring a wise-cracking Steve McQueen, the film is famous for its climactic motorcycle chase sequence.

Despite the brutality of the guards and the ultimate futility of most of the escapees’ attempts, the movie celebrates the strength of the human spirit in the face of immense adversity.

It may be almost 100 years old, but Charlie Chaplin’s double act caper The Kid still has the power to delight audiences today.

The silent comedy features Chaplin’s famous alter ego, The Tramp, this time joined by The Kid, an orphaned boy he’s been haphazardly caring for since he found him abandoned in the street (brilliantly played by a five-year-old Jackie Coogan). The two make an entertaining and endearing double act, muddling along at home and surviving through small-scale scams. When the boy’s mum reappears and their partnership is threatened, you’ll be desperate for the pair to stay together.

A satirical musical comedy, Singin’ in the Rain follows pretend Hollywood power couple Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont as they navigate the transition from silent movies to ‘talkies’. They hit problems when it becomes clear that Lina’s high-pitched voice won’t win over viewers, and her lines and songs are dubbed over by another actress, who Don promptly falls in love with.

It’s worth a watch just for the movie’s most famous sequence, in which Gene Kelly sings and dances with an umbrella on a rainy street.

This Japanese masterpiece has been voted the ‘Greatest Film Of All Time’ in a poll of directors.

In Yasujirô Ozu’s movie, an elderly couple take a trip to the city to visit their grown-up children, but their offspring are too caught up in their own lives to pay them much attention. Only their son’s widow makes any real effort to spend time with them.

Both funny and tragic, the film explores family ties and the cultural clash between modern life and traditional values. This moving drama is nuanced and low-key, but compelling too.

Starring a young Judy Garland in the iconic role of Dorothy, this fantasy film tells the story of what happens when a tornado transports her and her dog Toto to the magical land of Oz.