The Best Films According to Andrew Sarris's The American Cinema

The Best Films According to Andrew Sarris's The American Cinema's icon

Created by TomServo.

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In Andrew Sarris's The American Cinema, every director in the book has their full filmography listed, and Sarris italicizes the best films of each director. Here is the full collection of every film italicized in the book (with the exception of Out of the Past, which remains unitalicized likely as an error as he calls it Jacques Torneur's masterpiece).

The book has multiple sections, with who Sarris viewed as the pantheon directors at the top, and slowly dwindling in quality as the list goes down. However, there is merit to be found towards the bottom, as he lists a series of oddities, one-shots, and, at the time, newcomers, as well as subjects for further research.

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  1. 257 new

    The Strong Man

    1926, in 4 top lists Check
  2. 258 new

    Long Pants

    1927, in 1 top list Check
  3. 259 new

    Platinum Blonde

    1931, in 1 top list Check
  4. 260 new

    American Madness

    1932, in 1 top list Check
  5. 261 new

    The Bitter Tea of General Yen

    1932, in 3 top lists Check
  6. 262 new

    Lady for a Day

    1933, in 2 top lists Check
  7. 263 new

    It Happened One Night

    1934, in 29 top lists Check
  8. 264 new

    Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

    1936, in 11 top lists Check
  9. 265 new

    Lost Horizon

    1937, in 6 top lists Check
  10. 266 new

    You Can't Take It with You

    1938, in 8 top lists Check
  11. 267 new

    Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

    1939, in 16 top lists Check
  12. 268 new

    Meet John Doe

    1941, in 3 top lists Check
  13. 269 new

    It's a Wonderful Life

    1946, in 33 top lists Check
  14. 270 new

    State of the Union

    1948 — a.k.a. The World and His Wife, in 1 top list Check
  15. 271 new

    Pocketful of Miracles

    1961, in 0 top lists Check
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Last updated on Sep 28, 2019;