While classic movies are not typically known for their power to shock, a trip through the Turner Classic Movie archives on satellite TV might change people's minds. Black and white snoozers are sometimes on the menu, with Tyrone Power barely filling the screen with his presence, but there is much more on offer everyday. From French gangster pictures to wild romps from American directors in the 1970s, TCM is the place to go for thrilling films. Here are five HD scorchers not to be missed.

1. Scarecrow. Looking for the American Dream? Al Pacino and Gene Hackman are pursuing their own broken-down version of it in this 1970's classic. Far from Jimmy Stewart's quest in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Pacino and Hackman are ambling through the heartland, hoping to reunite with estranged children and eventually open a carwash after serving prison terms. Pacino has never been so vulnerable on film, while an American movie has rarely been so honest in its portrayal of how the other half lives.

2. Rififi. If you have trouble getting the gist of the title - on top of the language barrier - don't worry, there's a music video in the midst of this 1950's French gangster classic. While an entertainer in a nightclub croons 'Rififi,' the aging crew gets ready to pull off a score which will send them into retirement. Of course, such things hardly pan out as planned. Known for its wild chase scene and strange affection between the male leads, Rififi is as uncommon and entertaining a film as can be found on satellite TV.

3. Vertigo. All Jimmy Stewart films are hokey, by-the-book exercises in Hollywood formulae, right? Anyone who comes across this Alfred Hitchcock scorcher will quickly see the other side of the story. Perhaps the most thrilling picture of all the Hollywood classics, the supernatural is at least suggested if not fully embraced in Vertigo. On top of an apparent resurrection, there is a disappearing act in the middle of the film which confounds critics to this day. See this monumental picture on TCM in high definition.

4. Five Easy Pieces. Ever been frustrated by a restaurant's policy on menu substitutions? If so, this film presents the funniest resolution of the problem that has ever been recorded. Jack Nicholson just wants a side of toast, after all. Aside from this legendary scene, Five Easy Pieces represents a type of film rarely made in modern times. Its brutal honesty will shock and refresh any viewer tired of the stale Hollywood romances.

5. Breathless. What if the world's biggest film fan got a cast and crew ready to make a first-rate picture? Breathless is in many ways the result of this fantasy, as Jean Luc Godard made his sensational debut with this love story/gangster saga that's really more about the director's feeling for movies than a script or traditional storytelling. Tune in for one of the most enjoyable pictures ever made on satellite TV.

A direct tv subscription will allow you to open your eyes to the entire history of cinema. Bar and restaurant owners who opt for a directv business account can project classic film or sports to add another dimension to the establishment.