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) ???
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43 new
Yankee Doodle Dandy
1942, in 12 top lists Check -
92 new
Yolanda and the Thief
1945, in 0 top lists Check -
93 new
Anchors Aweigh
1945, in 3 top lists Check -
106 new
Ziegfeld Follies
1945, in 1 top list Check -
167 new
On the Town
1949, in 10 top lists Check -
216 new
An American in Paris
1951, in 18 top lists Check -
229 new
Rooty Toot Toot
1951, in 3 top lists Check -
231 new
Singin' in the Rain
1952, in 37 top lists Check -
254 new
The Band Wagon
1953, in 14 top lists Check -
264 new
Give a Girl a Break
1953, in 0 top lists Check -
285 new
A Star Is Born
1954, in 13 top lists Check -
290 new
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
1954, in 8 top lists Check -
302 new
It's Always Fair Weather
1955, in 3 top lists Check -
303 new
My Sister Eileen
1955, in 0 top lists Check -
347 new
Funny Face
1957, in 6 top lists Check -
351 new
Les Girls
1957, in 1 top list Check -
370 new
Gigi
1958, in 11 top lists Check -
410 new
Bells Are Ringing
1960, in 1 top list Check -
411 new
Let's Make Love
1960 — a.k.a. The Billionaire, in 1 top list Check -
426 new
West Side Story
1961, in 22 top lists Check -
465 new
The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped...
1964, in 1 top list Check -
474 new
My Fair Lady
1964, in 18 top lists Check -
589 new
Fiddler on the Roof
1971, in 9 top lists Check -
601 new
Cabaret
1972, in 24 top lists Check -
687 new
New York, New York
1977, in 5 top lists Check -
700 new
Movie Movie
1978, in 0 top lists Check -
711 new
Hair
1979, in 3 top lists Check -
712 new
All That Jazz
1979, in 19 top lists Check -
737 new
Pennies from Heaven
1981, in 1 top list Check -
749 new
Victor/Victoria
1982, in 4 top lists Check -
757 new
One from the Heart
1981, in 2 top lists Check
Last updated on May 13, 2018;