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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927 new
Groundhog Day
1993, in 22 top lists Check -
883 new
Edward Scissorhands
1990, in 10 top lists Check -
49 new
Casablanca
1942, in 39 top lists Check -
366 new
Vertigo
1958, in 42 top lists Check -
516 new
The Graduate
1967, in 29 top lists Check -
231 new
Singin' in the Rain
1952, in 37 top lists Check -
686 new
Annie Hall
1977, in 34 top lists Check -
421 new
Breakfast at Tiffany's
1961, in 9 top lists Check -
188 new
Sunset Blvd.
1950 — a.k.a. Sunset Boulevard, in 35 top lists Check -
715 new
Manhattan
1979, in 20 top lists Check -
413 new
The Apartment
1960, in 28 top lists Check -
259 new
Roman Holiday
1953, in 14 top lists Check -
282 new
On the Waterfront
1954, in 32 top lists Check -
918 new
Bram Stoker's Dracula
1992, in 6 top lists Check -
838 new
Fatal Attraction
1987, in 11 top lists Check -
436 new
Lolita
1962, in 11 top lists Check -
107 new
Notorious
1946, in 24 top lists Check -
601 new
Cabaret
1972, in 24 top lists Check -
616 new
Mean Streets
1973, in 22 top lists Check -
219 new
The African Queen
1951, in 11 top lists Check -
10 new
His Girl Friday
1940, in 22 top lists Check -
809 new
Out of Africa
1985, in 11 top lists Check -
697 new
Days of Heaven
1978, in 19 top lists Check -
860 new
Dangerous Liaisons
1988, in 8 top lists Check -
808 new
The Purple Rose of Cairo
1985, in 7 top lists Check -
216 new
An American in Paris
1951, in 18 top lists Check -
901 new
My Own Private Idaho
1991, in 10 top lists Check -
283 new
Sabrina
1954, in 5 top lists Check -
104 new
The Best Years of Our Lives
1946, in 30 top lists Check -
253 new
Shane
1953, in 18 top lists Check -
932 new
The Age of Innocence
1993, in 6 top lists Check -
89 new
Spellbound
1945, in 8 top lists Check -
252 new
From Here to Eternity
1953, in 13 top lists Check -
348 new
An Affair to Remember
1957, in 9 top lists Check -
759 new
Sophie's Choice
1982, in 3 top lists Check -
305 new
The Seven Year Itch
1955, in 3 top lists Check -
110 new
Gilda
1946, in 13 top lists Check -
321 new
Giant
1956, in 10 top lists Check -
347 new
Funny Face
1957, in 6 top lists Check -
13 new
The Shop Around the Corner
1940, in 14 top lists Check -
25 new
The Lady Eve
1941, in 20 top lists Check -
68 new
To Have and Have Not
1944, in 16 top lists Check -
370 new
Gigi
1958, in 11 top lists Check -
35 new
The Magnificent Ambersons
1942, in 15 top lists Check -
566 new
Love Story
1970, in 6 top lists Check -
144 new
Red River
1948, in 16 top lists Check -
230 new
The Quiet Man
1952, in 15 top lists Check -
833 new
Roxanne
1987, in 2 top lists Check -
285 new
A Star Is Born
1954, in 13 top lists Check -
171 new
Adam's Rib
1949, in 8 top lists Check
Last updated on May 13, 2018;