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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137 new
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
1948, in 25 top lists Check -
138 new
Rope
1948, in 10 top lists Check -
140 new
Macbeth
1948, in 1 top list Check -
141 new
State of the Union
1948 — a.k.a. The World and His Wife, in 1 top list Check -
142 new
Force of Evil
1948, in 13 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 -
145 new
Fort Apache
1948, in 5 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 -
151 new
The Snake Pit
1948, in 4 top lists Check -
152 new
The Boy with Green Hair
1948, in 1 top list Check -
153 new
Raw Deal
1948, in 5 top lists Check -
154 new
Wake of the Red Witch
1948, in 0 top lists Check -
155 new
Hollow Triumph
1948, in 2 top lists Check -
156 new
Ruthless
1948, in 1 top list Check -
158 new
The Argyle Secrets
1948, in 1 top list Check -
159 new
Rogues' Regiment
1948, in 0 top lists Check -
160 new
What Makes Daffy Duck
1948, in 0 top lists Check -
161 new
Lucky Ducky
1948, in 1 top list Check -
162 new
Drip Dippy Donald
1948, in 0 top lists Check -
163 new
Robin Hoodlum
1948, in 0 top lists Check -
169 new
They Live by Night
1948, in 13 top lists Check
Last updated on May 13, 2018;