50 Years of American Cinema
Created by Fidelio.
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Since its first publication in the early sixties and over various updates, "50 ans de cinéma américain" has become the Holy Book of most french cinephiles. Initially published by Jean-Pierre Coursodon and Yves Boisset (with Bertrand Tavernier writing some unsigned articles) as an opuscule called "20 ans de cinéma américain", the book has been totally restructured by Coursodon and Tavernier in the early seventies as "30 ans de cinéma américain", then in 1991 as "50 ans de cinéma américain" and finally updated - for the time being - in 1995.
Due to its form and long sedimentation, division into many sections and the piling up of informations over the years, none list here can really do justice to this book. The highlight and largest section of the book is indisputably the "Dictionary of filmmakers" in which the authors virtually discuss the whole filmographies of more than 250 american directors (this part can't be materialized into a list).
The present list focuses on the first part of the book, a timeline between 1939 and 1993 including the most important and noteworthy movies of each year ("works"). Please note that this section also includes other comments ("facts" and "talents") impossible to transpose here.
The two authors bring up the unmissable masterpieces and commercial triumphs but also a lot of personal picks from overlooked directors or victims of the blacklist (residue of their early years as fervent publicists). They deliberately include some turkeys ("le coin du nanar") and obscurities ("à redécouvrir"), with a strong attention to short features (mainly cartoons).
I hope this list, despite its flaws and restriction to american movies, could be of some utility to ICM users and bring to light which is my favorite book about movies (along with the "Dictionary of Films" from Jacques Lourcelles).
The authors are currently working on a definitive edition of their book - presumably entitled "100 ans de cinéma américain" - that will considerably enlarge the scope, starting from 1914 and to likely reach 2014. Needless to say that most of the previously summoned french cinephiles are awaiting for this like men of God were devotedly expecting the Parousia back in the days.
Missing : "Seven lively arts" (John Hubley, 1959) ???
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20 new
The Maltese Falcon
1941, in 27 top lists Check -
137 new
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
1948, in 25 top lists Check -
146 new
Key Largo
1948, in 7 top lists Check -
190 new
The Asphalt Jungle
1950, in 15 top lists Check -
215 new
The Red Badge of Courage
1951, in 3 top lists Check -
219 new
The African Queen
1951, in 11 top lists Check -
262 new
Moulin Rouge
1952, in 2 top lists Check -
286 new
Beat the Devil
1953, in 3 top lists Check -
334 new
Moby Dick
1956, in 2 top lists Check -
350 new
Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison
1957, in 1 top list Check -
406 new
The Unforgiven
1960, in 2 top lists Check -
443 new
Freud
1962, in 0 top lists Check -
513 new
Reflections in a Golden Eye
1967, in 0 top lists Check -
554 new
A Walk with Love and Death
1969, in 0 top lists Check -
593 new
Fat City
1972, in 9 top lists Check -
594 new
The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean
1972, in 2 top lists Check -
658 new
The Man Who Would Be King
1975, in 5 top lists Check -
720 new
Wise Blood
1979, in 7 top lists Check -
783 new
Under the Volcano
1984, in 2 top lists Check -
801 new
Prizzi's Honor
1985, in 6 top lists Check -
845 new
The Dead
1987, in 9 top lists Check
Last updated on May 13, 2018;