Royal Film Archive of Belgium's Most Important and Misappreciated American Films

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Created by mjf314.

Favorited 37 times, disliked 1 time, added to 28 watchlists.

In 1977, the Royal Film Archive of Belgium sent out questionnaires to film experts from 22 countries in order to compile an extensive list of important American films. 203 people participated (116 Americans and 87 non-Americans). Each participant compiled two lists, a list of the most important films (limited to 30 titles) and a list of misappreciated films (not limited in number). The final list is sorted by number of votes (including both important and misappreciated votes).

The book lists all 2327 films that received at least 1 vote. This list includes the films that received at least 5 votes.

One of the list entries is "Songs" which includes 25 films, so I included only the first one.

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  1. 15 new

    Scarface

    1932, in 16 top lists Check
  2. 16 new

    Trouble in Paradise

    1932, in 17 top lists Check
  3. 25 new

    Touch of Evil

    1958, in 30 top lists Check
  4. 31 new

    The Night of the Hunter

    1955, in 35 top lists Check
  5. 35 new

    The Big Sleep

    1946, in 22 top lists Check
  6. 37 new

    On the Waterfront

    1954, in 32 top lists Check
  7. 38 new

    The Maltese Falcon

    1941, in 27 top lists Check
  8. 39 new

    Monsieur Verdoux

    1947, in 11 top lists Check
  9. 40 new

    Bonnie and Clyde

    1967, in 28 top lists Check
  10. 48 new

    You Only Live Once

    1937, in 7 top lists Check
  11. 50 new

    I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang

    1932, in 14 top lists Check
  12. 55 new

    White Heat

    1949, in 15 top lists Check
  13. 60 new

    Underworld

    1927, in 9 top lists Check
  14. 68 new

    Some Like It Hot

    1959, in 35 top lists Check
  15. 80 new

    Fury

    1936, in 12 top lists Check
  16. 81 new

    Force of Evil

    1948, in 13 top lists Check
  17. 91 new

    North by Northwest

    1959, in 30 top lists Check
  18. 98 new

    The Big Heat

    1953, in 18 top lists Check
  19. 105 new

    Kiss Me Deadly

    1955, in 20 top lists Check
  20. 107 new

    The Docks of New York

    1928, in 9 top lists Check
  21. 112 new

    The Godfather Part II

    1974, in 32 top lists Check
  22. 119 new

    Little Caesar

    1931, in 10 top lists Check
  23. 124 new

    The Asphalt Jungle

    1950, in 15 top lists Check
  24. 138 new

    Strangers on a Train

    1951, in 17 top lists Check
  25. 142 new

    The Lady from Shanghai

    1947, in 9 top lists Check
  26. 144 new

    Double Indemnity

    1944, in 37 top lists Check
  27. 148 new

    They Live by Night

    1948, in 13 top lists Check
  28. 156 new

    The Godfather

    1972, in 42 top lists Check
  29. 165 new

    The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes

    1970, in 6 top lists Check
  30. 171 new

    Laura

    1944, in 21 top lists Check
  31. 189 new

    The Public Enemy

    1931, in 13 top lists Check
  32. 201 new

    The Barefoot Contessa

    1954, in 8 top lists Check
  33. 202 new

    Badlands

    1973, in 23 top lists Check
  34. 207 new

    West Side Story

    1961, in 22 top lists Check
  35. 214 new

    Pickup on South Street

    1953, in 14 top lists Check
  36. 218 new

    The Long Goodbye

    1973, in 15 top lists Check
  37. 236 new

    The Shanghai Gesture

    1941, in 3 top lists Check
  38. 245 new

    Mickey One

    1965, in 1 top list Check
  39. 255 new

    Gun Crazy

    1950, in 17 top lists Check
  40. 262 new

    The Woman in the Window

    1944, in 7 top lists Check
  41. 273 new

    The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond

    1960, in 1 top list Check
  42. 280 new

    Moonrise

    1948, in 4 top lists Check
  43. 283 new

    Mean Streets

    1973, in 22 top lists Check
  44. 288 new

    The Killing

    1956, in 15 top lists Check
  45. 299 new

    Crime Without Passion

    1934, in 0 top lists Check
  46. 300 new

    Mr. Arkadin

    1955 — a.k.a. Confidential Report, in 7 top lists Check
  47. 311 new

    Thieves Like Us

    1974, in 3 top lists Check
  48. 331 new

    Point Blank

    1967, in 15 top lists Check
  49. 337 new

    Murder by Contract

    1958, in 5 top lists Check
  50. 346 new

    The Lawless

    1950, in 1 top list Check
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Last updated on Aug 8, 2012; source