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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826 new
Street Smart
1987, in 0 top lists Check -
827 new
Blind Date
1987, in 0 top lists Check -
828 new
Wall Street
1987, in 3 top lists Check -
829 new
House of Games
1987, in 7 top lists Check -
830 new
The Untouchables
1987, in 9 top lists Check -
831 new
Innerspace
1987, in 0 top lists Check -
832 new
Barfly
1987, in 1 top list Check -
833 new
Roxanne
1987, in 2 top lists Check -
834 new
Gardens of Stone
1987, in 0 top lists Check -
835 new
Full Metal Jacket
1987, in 18 top lists Check -
836 new
Good Morning, Vietnam
1987, in 7 top lists Check -
837 new
Tin Men
1987, in 0 top lists Check -
838 new
Fatal Attraction
1987, in 11 top lists Check -
839 new
Radio Days
1987, in 4 top lists Check -
840 new
September
1987, in 0 top lists Check -
841 new
The Princess Bride
1987, in 19 top lists Check -
842 new
Near Dark
1987, in 9 top lists Check -
843 new
Raising Arizona
1987, in 9 top lists Check -
844 new
Empire of the Sun
1987, in 9 top lists Check -
845 new
The Dead
1987, in 9 top lists Check -
861 new
Five Corners
1987, in 0 top lists Check
Last updated on May 13, 2018;