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. 318 new

    I Shot Jesse James

    1949, in 1 top list Check
  2. 319 new

    The Steel Helmet

    1951, in 2 top lists Check
  3. 320 new

    Fixed Bayonets!

    1951, in 1 top list Check
  4. 321 new

    Park Row

    1952, in 3 top lists Check
  5. 322 new

    Pickup on South Street

    1953, in 14 top lists Check
  6. 323 new

    House of Bamboo

    1955, in 3 top lists Check
  7. 324 new

    China Gate

    1957, in 0 top lists Check
  8. 325 new

    Run of the Arrow

    1957, in 4 top lists Check
  9. 326 new

    Forty Guns

    1957, in 9 top lists Check
  10. 327 new

    Underworld, U.S.A.

    1961 — a.k.a. Underworld U.S.A., in 3 top lists Check
  11. 328 new

    Merrill's Marauders

    1962, in 0 top lists Check
  12. 329 new

    Shock Corridor

    1963, in 14 top lists Check
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Last updated on Sep 28, 2019;