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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8 new
The Letter
1940, in 5 top lists Check -
20 new
The Maltese Falcon
1941, in 27 top lists Check -
30 new
The Shanghai Gesture
1941, in 3 top lists Check -
31 new
Among the Living
1941, in 1 top list Check -
70 new
Bluebeard
1944, in 1 top list Check -
71 new
Laura
1944, in 21 top lists Check -
72 new
The Woman in the Window
1944, in 8 top lists Check -
74 new
Double Indemnity
1944, in 37 top lists Check -
76 new
Ministry of Fear
1944, in 3 top lists Check -
88 new
Mildred Pierce
1945, in 17 top lists Check -
89 new
Spellbound
1945, in 8 top lists Check -
94 new
Detour
1945, in 16 top lists Check -
96 new
The House on 92nd Street
1945, in 2 top lists Check -
100 new
Johnny Angel
1945, in 1 top list Check -
101 new
Strange Illusion
1945, in 1 top list Check -
107 new
Notorious
1946, in 24 top lists Check -
108 new
The Big Sleep
1946, in 22 top lists Check -
109 new
Fallen Angel
1945, in 2 top lists Check -
110 new
Gilda
1946, in 13 top lists Check -
111 new
The Dark Corner
1946, in 2 top lists Check -
117 new
Nocturne
1946, in 1 top list Check -
118 new
The Chase
1946, in 3 top lists Check -
122 new
Boomerang!
1947, in 3 top lists Check -
123 new
Crossfire
1947, in 7 top lists Check -
125 new
Out of the Past
1947, in 16 top lists Check -
126 new
Dark Passage
1947, in 5 top lists Check -
130 new
Body and Soul
1947, in 6 top lists Check -
131 new
The Gangster
1947, in 1 top list Check -
139 new
The Lady from Shanghai
1947, in 9 top lists Check -
142 new
Force of Evil
1948, in 13 top lists Check -
146 new
Key Largo
1948, in 7 top lists Check -
147 new
The Naked City
1948, in 9 top lists Check -
148 new
Call Northside 777
1948 — a.k.a. Calling Northside 777, in 2 top lists Check -
149 new
Pitfall
1948, in 2 top lists Check -
150 new
The Big Clock
1948, in 5 top lists Check -
153 new
Raw Deal
1948, in 5 top lists Check -
155 new
Hollow Triumph
1948, in 2 top lists Check -
156 new
Ruthless
1948, in 1 top list Check -
159 new
Rogues' Regiment
1948, in 0 top lists Check -
169 new
They Live by Night
1948, in 13 top lists Check -
172 new
The Set-Up
1949, in 10 top lists Check -
173 new
Champion
1949, in 2 top lists Check -
175 new
White Heat
1949, in 15 top lists Check -
176 new
Criss Cross
1949, in 6 top lists Check -
180 new
The Crooked Way
1949, in 1 top list Check -
188 new
Sunset Blvd.
1950 — a.k.a. Sunset Boulevard, in 35 top lists Check -
189 new
Night and the City
1950, in 12 top lists Check -
190 new
The Asphalt Jungle
1950, in 15 top lists Check -
191 new
The Lawless
1950, in 1 top list Check -
192 new
In a Lonely Place
1950, in 19 top lists Check
Last updated on May 13, 2018;