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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187 new
All About Eve
1950, in 25 top lists 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 -
193 new
The Men
1950, in 2 top lists Check -
194 new
Where the Sidewalk Ends
1950, in 3 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 -
199 new
Panic in the Streets
1950, in 5 top lists Check -
200 new
Gun Crazy
1950, in 17 top lists Check -
201 new
Caged
1950, in 3 top lists Check -
202 new
The Breaking Point
1950, in 4 top lists Check -
203 new
No Man of Her Own
1950, in 2 top lists Check -
204 new
Armored Car Robbery
1950, in 1 top list Check -
205 new
Woman on the Run
1950, in 2 top lists Check -
207 new
Outrage
1950, in 5 top lists Check -
208 new
Where Danger Lives
1950, in 2 top lists Check -
209 new
Three Came Home
1950, in 0 top lists Check -
210 new
The Sound of Fury
1950, in 2 top lists Check -
211 new
Gerald McBoing-Boing
1950, in 4 top lists Check -
212 new
What's Up Doc?
1950, in 0 top lists Check -
213 new
Ventriloquist Cat
1950, in 0 top lists Check
Last updated on May 13, 2018;