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) ???
Pssst, want to check out the 50 Years of American Cinema list in our new look?
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6 new
The Sea Hawk
1940, in 2 top lists Check -
24 new
The Sea Wolf
1941, in 1 top list Check -
26 new
Sullivan's Travels
1941, in 24 top lists Check -
28 new
High Sierra
1941, in 8 top lists Check -
38 new
The Black Swan
1942, in 2 top lists Check -
52 new
For Whom the Bell Tolls
1943, in 3 top lists Check -
58 new
Hitler--Dead or Alive
1942, in 0 top lists Check -
68 new
To Have and Have Not
1944, in 16 top lists Check -
73 new
The Story of Dr. Wassell
1944, in 1 top list Check -
81 new
Nabonga
1944 — a.k.a. The Jungle Woman, in 0 top lists Check -
114 new
A Scandal in Paris
1946 — a.k.a. Thieves' Holiday, in 0 top lists Check -
129 new
The Exile
1947, in 0 top lists Check -
137 new
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
1948, in 25 top lists Check -
144 new
Red River
1948, in 16 top lists Check -
154 new
Wake of the Red Witch
1948, in 0 top lists Check -
159 new
Rogues' Regiment
1948, in 0 top lists Check -
177 new
Reign of Terror
1949 — a.k.a. The Black Book, in 1 top list Check -
181 new
Mighty Joe Young
1949, in 0 top lists Check -
219 new
The African Queen
1951, in 11 top lists Check -
226 new
The Tall Target
1951, in 2 top lists Check -
240 new
Bend of the River
1952 — a.k.a. Where the River Bends, in 3 top lists Check -
279 new
Vera Cruz
1954, in 2 top lists Check -
286 new
Beat the Devil
1953, in 3 top lists Check -
289 new
The Naked Jungle
1954, in 0 top lists Check -
292 new
Jivaro
1954 — a.k.a. Lost Treasure of the Amazon, in 0 top lists Check -
308 new
The Purple Plain
1954, in 0 top lists Check -
312 new
Moonfleet
1955, in 4 top lists Check -
330 new
The Searchers
1956, in 26 top lists Check -
331 new
Bhowani Junction
1956, in 2 top lists Check -
334 new
Moby Dick
1956, in 2 top lists Check -
338 new
The Ten Commandments
1956, in 12 top lists Check -
341 new
Stranger at My Door
1956, in 0 top lists Check -
344 new
Around the World in 80 Days
1956, in 8 top lists Check -
350 new
Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison
1957, in 1 top list Check -
358 new
The Bridge on the River Kwai
1957, in 32 top lists Check -
360 new
The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage...
1957 — a.k.a. The Viking Women and the Sea Serpent, in 0 top lists Check -
367 new
Wind Across the Everglades
1958, in 1 top list Check -
376 new
The Vikings
1958, in 0 top lists Check -
393 new
Some Like It Hot
1959, in 35 top lists Check -
394 new
North by Northwest
1959, in 30 top lists Check -
396 new
Ben-Hur
1959, in 22 top lists Check -
405 new
The Alamo
1960, in 1 top list Check -
408 new
Spartacus
1960, in 19 top lists Check -
418 new
Heller in Pink Tights
1960, in 1 top list Check -
419 new
The Savage Innocents
1960, in 2 top lists Check -
422 new
El Cid
1961, in 1 top list Check -
435 new
Hatari!
1962, in 3 top lists Check -
437 new
Ride the High Country
1962, in 7 top lists Check -
444 new
Barabbas
1961, in 0 top lists Check -
449 new
Hero's Island
1962 — a.k.a. The Land We Love, in 0 top lists Check
Last updated on May 13, 2018;