| Everyone likes to kick back with a comedy or see a | | | | plotting to kill the president be hiding among the |
| moving drama, but when it's time to get your pulse | | | | country's most conservative family? John |
| racing there is nothing like a top-notch thriller. Here is | | | | Frankenheimer's directorial debut sent fireworks |
| a list of the five greatest American thrillers and how | | | | across the film world and remains as tense today as |
| to access the films with satellite TV. | | | | when it premiered in 1962. |
| 5. The Godfather. When thinking if a thriller, you think | | | | 2. The Silence of the Lambs. The second version of |
| of intrigue, revenge, back-room plotting and shocking | | | | the Hannibal Lecter tale is a landmark in psychological |
| endings. With these criteria, there are few films more | | | | horror and maybe the best film of the 1990s. As |
| thrilling than The Godfather. The cast alone is worthy | | | | cannibal serial murderer Lecter, Anthony Hopkins |
| of an actor's Hall of Fame: Brando, Pacino, Duvall -- no | | | | launched the second phase of his brilliant career, |
| first names necessary. Throw in Diane Keaton and | | | | easily winning the Oscar in the process. Jodie Foster |
| James Caan (plus De Niro for part II) and it's not | | | | co-stars in Jonathan Demme's masterpiece which |
| even fair. If you haven't seen this film recently, check | | | | delves into the FBI procedural playbook and keeps |
| your satellite TV program guide today for the next | | | | the tension at a fever pitch. Best Movie, Best |
| showing. | | | | Actress for Foster and Best Director for Demme |
| 4. The French Connection. One of the most exciting | | | | were virtually unanimous choices for a film that |
| American films ever made, The French Connection | | | | continues to ignite satellite TV eighteen years later. |
| stars a frenetic Gene Hackman in one of his signature | | | | 1. Vertigo. From the Master of Suspense himself, this |
| roles. Whether it's the undercover pursuit on the New | | | | Alfred Hitchcock thriller is the very definition of the |
| York subway or the craziest chase ever on film, | | | | form. It is impossible to create a scenario more |
| watching this movie will keep your attention no | | | | haunting than its end, or to top Vertigo for the |
| matter what is going on. Find out from TCM host | | | | greatest plot twist in film history. Also one of the |
| Robert Osborne how they pulled off the chase scene | | | | most gorgeously shot films of all-time, Hitchcock left |
| under the elevated train and fasten your seatbelt for | | | | the cozy confines of his studio to let San Francisco |
| a thrilling ride in HD. | | | | play a major role in the picture. Jimmy Stewart and |
| 3. The Manchurian Candidate. It's the aftermath of | | | | Kim Novak are at the top of their game in this gem |
| the Korean War and Communist agents are all over | | | | from the TCM archives on satellite TV. |
| the United States. Could a dangerous operative | | | | |