50 Years of American Cinema
Created by Fidelio.
Favorited 3 times, disliked 1 time, added to 1 watchlist.
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?
Filter
-
1 new
The Great McGinty
1940, in 4 top lists Check -
2 new
Remember the Night
1940, in 2 top lists Check -
3 new
Arise, My Love
1940, in 1 top list Check -
9 new
The Great Dictator
1940, in 25 top lists Check -
10 new
His Girl Friday
1940, in 22 top lists Check -
13 new
The Shop Around the Corner
1940, in 14 top lists Check -
14 new
Turnabout
1940, in 0 top lists Check -
17 new
You Ought to Be in Pictures
1940, in 1 top list Check -
21 new
Meet John Doe
1941, in 3 top lists Check -
25 new
The Lady Eve
1941, in 20 top lists Check -
26 new
Sullivan's Travels
1941, in 24 top lists Check -
33 new
Chef Donald
1941, in 0 top lists Check -
37 new
Woman of the Year
1942, in 7 top lists Check -
40 new
The Major and the Minor
1942, in 3 top lists Check -
42 new
To Be or Not to Be
1942, in 24 top lists Check -
47 new
The Affairs of Jimmy Valentine
1942, in 0 top lists Check -
48 new
Blitz Wolf
1942, in 1 top list Check -
55 new
The Outlaw
1943, in 2 top lists Check -
57 new
Heaven Can Wait
1943, in 5 top lists Check -
58 new
Hitler--Dead or Alive
1942, in 0 top lists Check -
61 new
Red Hot Riding Hood
1943, in 5 top lists Check -
65 new
Going My Way
1944, in 6 top lists Check -
68 new
To Have and Have Not
1944, in 16 top lists Check -
75 new
Meet Me in St. Louis
1944, in 16 top lists Check -
77 new
The Miracle of Morgan's Creek
1944, in 9 top lists Check -
78 new
Hail the Conquering Hero
1944, in 7 top lists Check -
84 new
Screwball Squirrel
1944, in 1 top list Check -
93 new
Anchors Aweigh
1945, in 3 top lists 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 -
106 new
Ziegfeld Follies
1945, in 1 top list Check -
113 new
Margie
1946, in 0 top lists Check -
120 new
The Cat Concerto
1947, in 4 top lists Check -
127 new
Monsieur Verdoux
1947, in 11 top lists Check -
134 new
Clown of the Jungle
1947, 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 -
141 new
State of the Union
1948 — a.k.a. The World and His Wife, in 1 top list Check -
152 new
The Boy with Green Hair
1948, in 1 top list Check -
161 new
Lucky Ducky
1948, in 1 top list Check -
162 new
Drip Dippy Donald
1948, in 0 top lists Check -
167 new
On the Town
1949, in 10 top lists Check -
171 new
Adam's Rib
1949, in 8 top lists Check -
182 new
Bad Luck Blackie
1949, in 2 top lists Check -
183 new
Little Rural Riding Hood
1949, in 2 top lists Check -
185 new
The Magic Fluke
1949, in 0 top lists Check -
211 new
Gerald McBoing-Boing
1950, in 4 top lists Check -
212 new
What's Up Doc?
1950, in 0 top lists Check -
213 new
Ventriloquist Cat
1950, in 0 top lists Check -
230 new
The Quiet Man
1952, in 15 top lists Check
Last updated on May 13, 2018;