50 Years of American Cinema

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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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  1. 20 new

    The Maltese Falcon

    1941, in 27 top lists Check
  2. 137 new

    The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

    1948, in 25 top lists Check
  3. 146 new

    Key Largo

    1948, in 7 top lists Check
  4. 190 new

    The Asphalt Jungle

    1950, in 15 top lists Check
  5. 215 new

    The Red Badge of Courage

    1951, in 3 top lists Check
  6. 219 new

    The African Queen

    1951, in 11 top lists Check
  7. 262 new

    Moulin Rouge

    1952, in 2 top lists Check
  8. 286 new

    Beat the Devil

    1953, in 3 top lists Check
  9. 334 new

    Moby Dick

    1956, in 2 top lists Check
  10. 350 new

    Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison

    1957, in 1 top list Check
  11. 406 new

    The Unforgiven

    1960, in 2 top lists Check
  12. 443 new

    Freud

    1962, in 0 top lists Check
  13. 513 new

    Reflections in a Golden Eye

    1967, in 0 top lists Check
  14. 554 new

    A Walk with Love and Death

    1969, in 0 top lists Check
  15. 593 new

    Fat City

    1972, in 9 top lists Check
  16. 594 new

    The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean

    1972, in 2 top lists Check
  17. 658 new

    The Man Who Would Be King

    1975, in 5 top lists Check
  18. 720 new

    Wise Blood

    1979, in 7 top lists Check
  19. 783 new

    Under the Volcano

    1984, in 2 top lists Check
  20. 801 new

    Prizzi's Honor

    1985, in 6 top lists Check
  21. 845 new

    The Dead

    1987, in 9 top lists Check
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Last updated on May 13, 2018;