The underpants of the British media have been horribly twisted up after President Obama gifted a DVD set of classic American movies to Prime Minister Gordon Brown. It “looked like the kind of thing the White House might hand out to the visiting head of a minor African state,” scoffs the Daily Telegraph. The set included some true silver screen hits, such as Citizen Kane, The Godfather, Casablanca, Gone With the Wind, Psycho and The Grapes of Wrath.

Snarky reporters – like the Daily Mail’s Ian Drury – said it was “a gift about as exciting as a pair of socks.” Such a move was appalling for “the leader of the world’s richest country,” Drury commented.

Brown presented Obama with a pen holder made from the wood of 19th century British warship HMS Gannet, a sister ship to HMS Resolute, the vessel from which timbers were taken to make the Oval Office desk, reported the London Times. Malia and Sasha also received gifts from the Browns, which was reciprocated by the Obamas, who presented gifts to Brown’s two sons.

Diplomatic gift-giving is a tricky art to master. Had Obama lavished Brown with expensive items, Americans – and many others – would be quick to reprimand frivolous spending during times of recession. It would be out-of-character for the president to have unloaded a party bag full of pricey trinkets.

Neither Brown’s nor Obama’s personalities give way to snuffing others after a minor gaffe, if one can even call this particular gift exchange a gaffe. What should be remembered about Obama’s gift to Brown – and vice versa, Brown’s gift to Obama – is a simple one: It’s the thought that counts.

Britain’s reporters, bloggers and the like are worked up over nothing at all. The gift exchange was a nicety, and by no means a forecast of future American and British relations.

Not to mention that this particular selection of movies have been key in shaping a part of American culture. There are genuine lessons to be learned from each and every one of those films, and the British media could certainly stand to take some cues from them. For example, allowing oneself to be emotionally touched (Schindler’s List), appreciating things (It’s a Wonderful Life), that anything’s possible (ET), being careful of what you wish for (Wizard of Oz) and hanging onto innocence (To Kill a Mockingbird).

So what’s in the set of 25 DVDs? Here’s the list:

• Citizen Kane
• The Godfather
• Psycho
• Star Wars: Episode IV
• Casablana
• Raging Bull
• Sunset Boulevard
• The Graduate
• The General
• Singin’ in the Rain
• Lawrence of Arabia
• It’s a Wonderful Life
• On the Waterfront
• Schindler’s List
• Chinatown
• To Kill a Mockingbird
• The Grapes of Wrath
• Vertigo
• Some Like it Hot
• The Wizard of Oz
• The Searchers
• Gone With the Wind
• City Lights
• 2001: A Space Odyssey
• ET: The Extra-Terrestrial

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