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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15 new
A Wild Hare
1940, in 0 top lists Check -
48 new
Blitz Wolf
1942, in 1 top list Check -
61 new
Red Hot Riding Hood
1943, in 5 top lists Check -
84 new
Screwball Squirrel
1944, in 1 top list Check -
102 new
Swing Shift Cinderella
1945, in 1 top list Check -
103 new
The Shooting of Dan McGoo
1945, in 0 top lists Check -
135 new
King-Size Canary
1947, in 4 top lists Check -
136 new
Uncle Tom's Cabaña
1947, in 0 top lists Check -
161 new
Lucky Ducky
1948, in 1 top list Check -
182 new
Bad Luck Blackie
1949, in 2 top lists Check -
183 new
Little Rural Riding Hood
1949, in 2 top lists Check -
213 new
Ventriloquist Cat
1950, in 0 top lists Check -
250 new
Magical Maestro
1952, in 1 top list Check -
251 new
Rock-a-Bye Bear
1952, in 0 top lists Check -
275 new
The Three Little Pups
1953, in 0 top lists Check -
297 new
Drag-A-Long Droopy
1954, in 0 top lists Check -
319 new
I'm Cold
1954, in 0 top lists Check -
320 new
The Legend of Rockabye Point
1955, in 0 top lists Check
Last updated on May 13, 2018;