Summer Movie Classics Top 10

What movies do you most enjoy watching in the summer? Here are some classics you will want to be sure to watch this and maybe every summer to come.

My number one movie to watch for summer is "Grease" starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton John. This movie has a bit of everything. It starts as summer ends and ends as summer begins. It was made in 1978 and based in the 1950s.

Two high school lovebirds caught in the midst of friends, reputation and beliefs. Will they end up together?

The music is outstanding with great hits like "Summer Nights", "You're the one that I want", "Grease", "Greased Lightning" and "We go Together". Almost every song is a big hit.

Summer of '42 from 1971 is a coming of age film. Not for young ones as sex is the big focus in this movie. A young man has his first experience and it's with an older woman.

Stars Jennifer O'Neil and Gary Grimes.

In the 1970s this was a cult classic. If you have not scene it yet, add to this year's summer rental list.

Dirty Dancing is great for summer viewing. Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey from 1987. This movie has great music, dancing, romance, sex and a nice storyline.

Best known song is "I've had the time of my life". Probably, one of Swayze's top three movies in his shortened life.

Based in the 1960s when a charming dance instructor teaches a young woman how to dance and a bit more.

American Graffiti is another coming of age movie based on the 1960s. The film was co-written and directed by George Lucas. It had such big future stars as Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark, Mackenzie Phillips, Bo Hopkins, Kathleen Quinlan and Harrison Ford.

What do teenagers do the summer before going to college? A lot. This movie was the so-called basis for the TV series "Happy Days".

I Know What you did last Summer is considered a horror/thriller, but it is based on the summer. The 1997horror/slasher film stars Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe and Freddie Prinze Jr.

After the senior prom the friends hang out at a beach drinking and carousing. On the way home they hit a man who jumps in front of their car. From there they are terrorized. Who survives and just who is terrorizing them?

Blue Hawaii stars Elvis Presley. I had to put an old classic. Presley plays Chad Gates who has just gotten out of the Army, and is happy to be back in Hawaii with his surf-board and friends.

It was made in 1961 and features many great Elvis songs including "Can't Help Falling in Love."

CaddyShack is the 1980 comedy that is great for the summertime. It is directed by Harold Ramis and written by Brian Doyle-Murray, Ramis and Douglas Kenney. It stars Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Ted Knight, Michael O'Keefe and Bill Murray.

It's built on an upscale country club and some crazy antics with a gopher dancing to "I'm Alright" by Kenny Loggins. It's classic summer entertainment.

National Lampoon's Summer Vacation is another great comedy. The Griswold family tries to get to Wally World during its summer vacation. It takes a lot of time and once they arrive it's closed. Ut-oh.

Stars Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo and was made in 1983.

"Why aren't we flying? Because, getting there is half the fun. You know that."

Mystic Pizza is the coming of age of two sisters and their friend, as seen through the romantic lives of the three main characters: Kat Arujo (Annabeth Gish), Daisy Arujo (Julia Roberts) and Jojo Barboza (Lili Taylor), who all work as waitresses at Mystic Pizza in Mystic, Connecticut. Mystic in the film is represented as a fishing town with a large Portuguese American population. I have been to the actual restaurant and tend to watch the movie before I go.

It's a great summer movie made in 1988 before Roberts was a star.

If you went to summer camp, you will love Meatballs. It stars Bill Murray and was made in 1979.

It follows the camp leader, a lonely kid who doesn't fit in and a romantic couple. There are a lot of practical jokes and stunts, but this is a fun movie. David Naughton's song "Makin It" came out of this film.

So there you have it. My top 10 (not in any particular order). Go get the DVDs and popcorn!