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) ???
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230 new
The Quiet Man
1952, in 15 top lists Check -
231 new
Singin' in the Rain
1952, in 37 top lists Check -
232 new
Viva Zapata!
1952, in 2 top lists Check -
233 new
5 Fingers
1952, in 1 top list Check -
234 new
The Big Sky
1952, in 6 top lists Check -
235 new
High Noon
1952, in 18 top lists Check -
236 new
Limelight
1952, in 12 top lists Check -
237 new
Pat and Mike
1952, in 0 top lists Check -
238 new
The Marrying Kind
1952, in 1 top list Check -
239 new
Park Row
1952, in 3 top lists Check -
240 new
Bend of the River
1952 — a.k.a. Where the River Bends, in 3 top lists Check -
241 new
The Bad and the Beautiful
1952, in 9 top lists Check -
242 new
The Narrow Margin
1952, in 7 top lists Check -
243 new
No Room for the Groom
1952, in 0 top lists Check -
244 new
My Six Convicts
1952, in 0 top lists Check -
245 new
Kansas City Confidential
1952, in 3 top lists Check -
246 new
Red Planet Mars
1952, in 0 top lists Check -
247 new
Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla
1952, in 0 top lists Check -
248 new
Madeline
1952, in 0 top lists Check -
249 new
Operation: Rabbit
1952, in 0 top lists Check -
250 new
Magical Maestro
1952, in 1 top list Check -
251 new
Rock-a-Bye Bear
1952, in 0 top lists Check -
262 new
Moulin Rouge
1952, in 2 top lists Check
Last updated on May 13, 2018;