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
-
7 new
The Westerner
1940, in 0 top lists Check -
51 new
The Ox-Bow Incident
1943, in 14 top lists Check -
105 new
My Darling Clementine
1946, in 20 top lists Check -
121 new
Duel in the Sun
1946, in 7 top lists Check -
137 new
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
1948, in 25 top lists Check -
145 new
Fort Apache
1948, in 5 top lists Check -
168 new
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
1949, in 8 top lists Check -
195 new
Wagon Master
1950, in 6 top lists Check -
196 new
Broken Arrow
1950, in 1 top list Check -
198 new
The Gunfighter
1950, in 8 top lists Check -
227 new
Little Big Horn
1951 — a.k.a. The Fighting Seventh, in 0 top lists Check -
234 new
The Big Sky
1952, in 6 top lists Check -
235 new
High Noon
1952, in 18 top lists Check -
240 new
Bend of the River
1952 — a.k.a. Where the River Bends, in 3 top lists Check -
253 new
Shane
1953, in 18 top lists Check -
257 new
Take Me to Town
1953, in 0 top lists Check -
258 new
The Naked Spur
1953, in 10 top lists Check -
261 new
The Sun Shines Bright
1953, in 5 top lists Check -
278 new
Apache
1954, in 2 top lists Check -
279 new
Vera Cruz
1954, in 2 top lists Check -
280 new
Johnny Guitar
1954, in 22 top lists Check -
284 new
Silver Lode
1954, in 3 top lists Check -
297 new
Drag-A-Long Droopy
1954, in 0 top lists Check -
306 new
Man Without a Star
1955, in 2 top lists Check -
307 new
The Man from Laramie
1955, in 5 top lists Check -
311 new
The Naked Dawn
1955, in 2 top lists Check -
314 new
Tennessee's Partner
1955, in 1 top list Check -
330 new
The Searchers
1956, in 26 top lists Check -
335 new
7 Men from Now
1956, in 2 top lists Check -
340 new
Blazing the Overland Trail
1956, in 0 top lists Check -
345 new
Run of the Arrow
1957, in 4 top lists Check -
346 new
Forty Guns
1957, in 9 top lists Check -
357 new
3:10 to Yuma
1957, in 7 top lists Check -
373 new
Man of the West
1958, in 8 top lists Check -
374 new
The Big Country
1958, in 6 top lists Check -
375 new
From Hell to Texas
1958, in 0 top lists Check -
386 new
Cowboy
1958, in 1 top list Check -
391 new
Rio Bravo
1959, in 19 top lists Check -
399 new
The Wonderful Country
1959, in 1 top list Check -
400 new
The Hanging Tree
1959, in 1 top list Check -
406 new
The Unforgiven
1960, in 2 top lists Check -
412 new
Sergeant Rutledge
1960, in 1 top list Check -
427 new
One-Eyed Jacks
1961, in 10 top lists Check -
430 new
Two Rode Together
1961, in 4 top lists Check -
438 new
Lonely Are the Brave
1962, in 4 top lists Check -
439 new
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
1962, in 16 top lists Check -
471 new
Cheyenne Autumn
1964, in 1 top list Check -
472 new
A Distant Trumpet
1964, in 0 top lists Check -
488 new
Major Dundee
1965, in 2 top lists Check -
508 new
The Professionals
1966, in 2 top lists Check
Last updated on May 13, 2018;