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) ???
Pssst, want to check out the 50 Years of American Cinema list in our new look?
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926 new
Schindler's List
1993, in 35 top lists Check -
795 new
Amadeus
1984, in 23 top lists Check -
830 new
The Untouchables
1987, in 9 top lists Check -
460 new
The Great Escape
1963, in 14 top lists Check -
896 new
JFK
1991, in 13 top lists Check -
657 new
Barry Lyndon
1975, in 24 top lists Check -
661 new
All the President's Men
1976, in 21 top lists Check -
844 new
Empire of the Sun
1987, in 9 top lists Check -
912 new
Malcolm X
1992, in 7 top lists Check -
765 new
The Right Stuff
1983, in 13 top lists Check -
569 new
Woodstock
1970, in 13 top lists Check -
504 new
A Man for All Seasons
1966, in 14 top lists Check -
560 new
Little Big Man
1970, in 9 top lists Check -
458 new
Cleopatra
1963, in 5 top lists Check -
518 new
In Cold Blood
1967, in 8 top lists Check -
743 new
Reds
1981, in 9 top lists Check -
22 new
Sergeant York
1941, in 7 top lists Check -
764 new
Missing
1982, in 5 top lists Check -
810 new
Salvador
1986, in 7 top lists Check -
865 new
Casualties of War
1989, in 2 top lists Check -
730 new
Heaven's Gate
1980, in 8 top lists Check -
260 new
Julius Caesar
1953, in 4 top lists Check -
405 new
The Alamo
1960, in 1 top list Check -
232 new
Viva Zapata!
1952, in 2 top lists Check -
52 new
For Whom the Bell Tolls
1943, in 3 top lists Check -
140 new
Macbeth
1948, in 1 top list Check -
924 new
King of the Hill
1993, in 1 top list Check -
415 new
Exodus
1960, in 1 top list Check -
124 new
The Fugitive
1947, in 1 top list Check -
471 new
Cheyenne Autumn
1964, in 1 top list Check -
53 new
Air Force
1943, in 2 top lists Check -
177 new
Reign of Terror
1949 — a.k.a. The Black Book, in 1 top list Check -
331 new
Bhowani Junction
1956, in 2 top lists Check -
67 new
Wilson
1944, in 2 top lists Check -
462 new
The Cardinal
1963, in 1 top list Check -
46 new
Native Land
1942, in 2 top lists Check -
414 new
The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond
1960, in 1 top list Check -
572 new
The Molly Maguires
1970, in 0 top lists Check -
356 new
Saint Joan
1957, in 0 top lists Check -
639 new
The White Dawn
1974, in 0 top lists Check -
132 new
Black Gold
1947, in 0 top lists Check -
69 new
The Hitler Gang
1944, in 0 top lists Check
Last updated on May 13, 2018;