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

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

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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. 37 new

    Stagecoach

    1939, in 21 top lists Check
  2. 44 new

    My Darling Clementine

    1946, in 20 top lists Check
  3. 45 new

    Fort Apache

    1948, in 5 top lists Check
  4. 46 new

    She Wore a Yellow Ribbon

    1949, in 8 top lists Check
  5. 47 new

    Wagon Master

    1950, in 6 top lists Check
  6. 48 new

    Rio Grande

    1950, in 4 top lists Check
  7. 51 new

    The Sun Shines Bright

    1953, in 5 top lists Check
  8. 53 new

    The Searchers

    1956, in 26 top lists Check
  9. 57 new

    The Horse Soldiers

    1959, in 0 top lists Check
  10. 58 new

    Two Rode Together

    1961, in 4 top lists Check
  11. 59 new

    The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

    1962, in 16 top lists Check
  12. 88 new

    The Big Sky

    1952, in 6 top lists Check
  13. 93 new

    El Dorado

    1966, in 2 top lists Check
  14. 148 new

    Rancho Notorious

    1952, in 3 top lists Check
  15. 230 new

    Apache

    1954, in 2 top lists Check
  16. 231 new

    Vera Cruz

    1954, in 2 top lists Check
  17. 305 new

    Union Pacific

    1939, in 2 top lists Check
  18. 325 new

    Run of the Arrow

    1957, in 4 top lists Check
  19. 326 new

    Forty Guns

    1957, in 9 top lists Check
  20. 351 new

    Devil's Doorway

    1950, in 2 top lists Check
  21. 352 new

    Winchester '73

    1950, in 7 top lists Check
  22. 354 new

    Bend of the River

    1952 — a.k.a. Where the River Bends, in 3 top lists Check
  23. 355 new

    The Naked Spur

    1953, in 10 top lists Check
  24. 359 new

    The Man from Laramie

    1955, in 5 top lists Check
  25. 360 new

    The Last Frontier

    1955, in 0 top lists Check
  26. 363 new

    Man of the West

    1958, in 8 top lists Check
  27. 395 new

    River of No Return

    1954, in 1 top list Check
  28. 406 new

    The Lusty Men

    1952, in 4 top lists Check
  29. 407 new

    Johnny Guitar

    1954, in 22 top lists Check
  30. 408 new

    Run for Cover

    1955, in 0 top lists Check
  31. 417 new

    Take Me to Town

    1953, in 0 top lists Check
  32. 436 new

    Shane

    1953, in 18 top lists Check
  33. 463 new

    Duel in the Sun

    1946, in 7 top lists Check
  34. 466 new

    Man Without a Star

    1955, in 2 top lists Check
  35. 470 new

    In Old Arizona

    1928, in 1 top list Check
  36. 484 new

    Cheyenne

    1947, in 0 top lists Check
  37. 486 new

    Colorado Territory

    1949, in 3 top lists Check
  38. 489 new

    Distant Drums

    1951, in 0 top lists Check
  39. 499 new

    7 Men from Now

    1956, in 2 top lists Check
  40. 500 new

    Decision at Sundown

    1957, in 1 top list Check
  41. 501 new

    The Tall T

    1957, in 7 top lists Check
  42. 502 new

    Buchanan Rides Alone

    1958, in 2 top lists Check
  43. 503 new

    Ride Lonesome

    1959, in 4 top lists Check
  44. 506 new

    Comanche Station

    1960, in 2 top lists Check
  45. 508 new

    Ramrod

    1947, in 3 top lists Check
  46. 510 new

    Springfield Rifle

    1952, in 0 top lists Check
  47. 511 new

    The Indian Fighter

    1955, in 0 top lists Check
  48. 512 new

    Day of the Outlaw

    1959, in 3 top lists Check
  49. 537 new

    Silver Lode

    1954, in 3 top lists Check
  50. 538 new

    Tennessee's Partner

    1955, in 1 top list Check
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Last updated on Sep 28, 2019;