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
-
2 new
Remember the Night
1940, in 2 top lists Check -
3 new
Arise, My Love
1940, in 1 top list Check -
6 new
The Sea Hawk
1940, in 2 top lists Check -
7 new
The Westerner
1940, in 0 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 -
19 new
The Little Foxes
1941, in 7 top lists Check -
21 new
Meet John Doe
1941, in 3 top lists Check -
25 new
The Lady Eve
1941, in 20 top lists Check -
32 new
The Face Behind the Mask
1941, in 2 top lists Check -
35 new
The Magnificent Ambersons
1942, in 15 top lists Check -
36 new
Mrs. Miniver
1942, in 9 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 -
41 new
Gentleman Jim
1942, in 3 top lists Check -
49 new
Casablanca
1942, in 39 top lists Check -
55 new
The Outlaw
1943, in 2 top lists Check -
68 new
To Have and Have Not
1944, in 16 top lists Check -
77 new
The Miracle of Morgan's Creek
1944, in 9 top lists Check -
79 new
Since You Went Away
1944, in 2 top lists Check -
89 new
Spellbound
1945, in 7 top lists Check -
92 new
Yolanda and the Thief
1945, in 0 top lists Check -
98 new
Pride of the Marines
1945 — a.k.a. Forever in Love, in 0 top lists Check -
104 new
The Best Years of Our Lives
1946, in 30 top lists Check -
107 new
Notorious
1946, in 24 top lists Check -
110 new
Gilda
1946, in 13 top lists Check -
114 new
A Scandal in Paris
1946 — a.k.a. Thieves' Holiday, in 0 top lists Check -
115 new
To Each His Own
1946, in 1 top list Check -
121 new
Duel in the Sun
1946, in 7 top lists Check -
128 new
Pursued
1947, in 4 top lists Check -
129 new
The Exile
1947, in 0 top lists Check -
143 new
Letter from an Unknown Woman
1948, in 15 top lists Check -
144 new
Red River
1948, in 16 top lists Check -
154 new
Wake of the Red Witch
1948, in 0 top lists Check -
158 new
The Argyle Secrets
1948, in 1 top list Check -
166 new
A Letter to Three Wives
1949, in 5 top lists Check -
167 new
On the Town
1949, in 10 top lists Check -
169 new
They Live by Night
1948, in 13 top lists Check -
170 new
Under Capricorn
1949, in 3 top lists Check -
171 new
Adam's Rib
1949, in 8 top lists Check -
173 new
Champion
1949, in 2 top lists Check -
188 new
Sunset Blvd.
1950 — a.k.a. Sunset Boulevard, in 35 top lists Check -
196 new
Broken Arrow
1950, in 1 top list Check -
214 new
A Place in the Sun
1951, in 13 top lists Check -
216 new
An American in Paris
1951, in 18 top lists Check -
219 new
The African Queen
1951, in 11 top lists Check -
228 new
Bullfighter and the Lady
1951, in 0 top lists Check -
230 new
The Quiet Man
1952, in 15 top lists Check -
231 new
Singin' in the Rain
1952, in 37 top lists Check -
237 new
Pat and Mike
1952, in 0 top lists Check
Last updated on May 13, 2018;