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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22 new
Sergeant York
1941, in 7 top lists Check -
41 new
Gentleman Jim
1942, in 3 top lists Check -
43 new
Yankee Doodle Dandy
1942, in 12 top lists Check -
54 new
The Song of Bernadette
1943, in 4 top lists Check -
67 new
Wilson
1944, in 2 top lists Check -
69 new
The Hitler Gang
1944, in 0 top lists Check -
90 new
Story of G.I. Joe
1945 — a.k.a. War Correspondent, in 3 top lists Check -
98 new
Pride of the Marines
1945 — a.k.a. Forever in Love, in 0 top lists Check -
232 new
Viva Zapata!
1952, in 2 top lists Check -
262 new
Moulin Rouge
1952, in 2 top lists Check -
325 new
Lust for Life
1956, in 3 top lists Check -
356 new
Saint Joan
1957, in 0 top lists Check -
372 new
The Left Handed Gun
1958, in 1 top list Check -
388 new
The Bonnie Parker Story
1958, in 1 top list Check -
397 new
The Diary of Anne Frank
1959, in 3 top lists Check -
408 new
Spartacus
1960, in 19 top lists Check -
422 new
El Cid
1961, in 1 top list Check -
442 new
Birdman of Alcatraz
1962, in 2 top lists Check -
443 new
Freud
1962, in 0 top lists Check -
444 new
Barabbas
1961, in 0 top lists Check -
447 new
The Miracle Worker
1962, in 6 top lists Check -
458 new
Cleopatra
1963, in 5 top lists Check -
485 new
The Sound of Music
1965, in 25 top lists Check -
504 new
A Man for All Seasons
1966, in 14 top lists Check -
512 new
Bonnie and Clyde
1967, in 28 top lists Check -
533 new
Funny Girl
1968, in 7 top lists Check -
534 new
Star!
1968, in 0 top lists Check -
544 new
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
1969, in 21 top lists Check -
561 new
Patton
1970, in 13 top lists Check -
615 new
Serpico
1973, in 9 top lists Check -
634 new
Lenny
1974, in 4 top lists Check -
661 new
All the President's Men
1976, in 21 top lists Check -
724 new
Raging Bull
1980, in 34 top lists Check -
740 new
Mommie Dearest
1981, in 2 top lists Check -
743 new
Reds
1981, in 9 top lists Check -
747 new
My Dinner with Andre
1981, in 7 top lists Check -
774 new
Star 80
1983, in 0 top lists Check -
775 new
Silkwood
1983, in 4 top lists Check -
781 new
Cross Creek
1983, in 0 top lists Check -
795 new
Amadeus
1984, in 23 top lists Check -
807 new
Sweet Dreams
1985, in 0 top lists Check -
809 new
Out of Africa
1985, in 11 top lists Check -
825 new
Sherman's March
1985, in 10 top lists Check -
850 new
Bird
1988, in 2 top lists Check -
856 new
Tucker: The Man and His Dream
1988, in 0 top lists Check -
875 new
Hôtel Terminus
1988, in 6 top lists Check -
879 new
Henry & June
1990, in 1 top list Check -
887 new
Reversal of Fortune
1990, in 1 top list Check -
888 new
Goodfellas
1990, in 31 top lists Check -
893 new
Bugsy
1991, in 4 top lists Check
Last updated on May 13, 2018;