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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344 new
Around the World in 80 Days
1956, in 8 top lists Check -
182 new
Bad Luck Blackie
1949, in 2 top lists Check -
83 new
The Barber of Seville
1944, in 1 top list Check -
87 new
The Bells of St. Mary's
1945, in 3 top lists Check -
364 new
Birds Anonymous
1957, in 1 top list Check -
152 new
The Boy with Green Hair
1948, in 1 top list Check -
120 new
The Cat Concerto
1947, in 4 top lists Check -
33 new
Chef Donald
1941, in 0 top lists Check -
134 new
Clown of the Jungle
1947, in 0 top lists Check -
59 new
Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs
1943, in 2 top lists Check -
464 new
The Courtship of Eddie's Father
1963, in 0 top lists Check -
397 new
The Diary of Anne Frank
1959, in 3 top lists Check -
274 new
Don't Give Up the Sheep
1953, in 0 top lists Check -
297 new
Drag-A-Long Droopy
1954, in 0 top lists Check -
162 new
Drip Dippy Donald
1948, in 0 top lists Check -
273 new
Duck Amuck
1953, in 11 top lists Check -
85 new
Duck Soup to Nuts
1944, in 0 top lists Check -
755 new
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
1982, in 31 top lists Check -
12 new
Fantasia
1940, in 20 top lists Check -
507 new
Fantastic Voyage
1966 — a.k.a. Microscopia, in 2 top lists Check -
184 new
Fast and Furry-ous
1949, in 1 top list Check -
589 new
Fiddler on the Roof
1971, in 9 top lists Check -
342 new
Gee Whiz-z-z-z-z-z-z
1956, in 1 top list Check -
365 new
Greedy for Tweety
1957, in 0 top lists Check -
882 new
Home Alone
1990, in 6 top lists Check -
23 new
How Green Was My Valley
1941, in 11 top lists Check -
319 new
I'm Cold
1954, in 0 top lists Check -
112 new
It's a Wonderful Life
1946, in 33 top lists Check -
804 new
The Journey of Natty Gann
1985, in 0 top lists Check -
135 new
King-Size Canary
1947, in 4 top lists Check -
16 new
Knock Knock
1940, in 0 top lists Check -
320 new
The Legend of Rockabye Point
1955, in 0 top lists Check -
318 new
Lighthouse Mouse
1955, in 0 top lists Check -
161 new
Lucky Ducky
1948, in 1 top list Check -
248 new
Madeline
1952, in 0 top lists Check -
250 new
Magical Maestro
1952, in 1 top list Check -
475 new
Mary Poppins
1964, in 15 top lists Check -
75 new
Meet Me in St. Louis
1944, in 15 top lists Check -
474 new
My Fair Lady
1964, in 18 top lists Check -
466 new
Now Hear This
1962, in 0 top lists Check -
317 new
One Froggy Evening
1955, in 4 top lists Check -
249 new
Operation: Rabbit
1952, in 0 top lists Check -
11 new
Pinocchio
1940, in 16 top lists Check -
733 new
Popeye
1980, in 1 top list Check -
841 new
The Princess Bride
1987, in 19 top lists Check -
186 new
Ragtime Bear
1949, in 0 top lists Check -
119 new
Rhapsody Rabbit
1946, in 0 top lists Check -
390 new
Robin Hood Daffy
1958, in 0 top lists Check -
251 new
Rock-a-Bye Bear
1952, in 0 top lists Check -
84 new
Screwball Squirrel
1944, in 1 top list Check
Last updated on May 13, 2018;