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. 9 new

    Shoulder Arms

    1918, in 5 top lists Check
  2. 18 new

    The Great Dictator

    1940, in 25 top lists Check
  3. 30 new

    The Lost Patrol

    1934, in 0 top lists Check
  4. 40 new

    The Long Voyage Home

    1940, in 4 top lists Check
  5. 43 new

    They Were Expendable

    1945, in 4 top lists Check
  6. 54 new

    The Wings of Eagles

    1957, in 2 top lists Check
  7. 57 new

    The Horse Soldiers

    1959, in 0 top lists Check
  8. 64 new

    Hearts of the World

    1918, in 2 top lists Check
  9. 75 new

    The Dawn Patrol

    1930, in 1 top list Check
  10. 79 new

    The Road to Glory

    1936, in 0 top lists Check
  11. 87 new

    I Was a Male War Bride

    1949 — a.k.a. You Can't Sleep Here, in 3 top lists Check
  12. 106 new

    Saboteur

    1942, in 2 top lists Check
  13. 167 new

    To Be or Not to Be

    1942, in 24 top lists Check
  14. 214 new

    Dishonored

    1931, in 4 top lists Check
  15. 221 new

    Anatahan

    1953 — a.k.a. Ana-ta-han, in 4 top lists Check
  16. 228 new

    Campanadas a medianoche

    1965 — a.k.a. Chimes at Midnight, in 11 top lists Check
  17. 234 new

    Attack

    1956, in 2 top lists Check
  18. 238 new

    The Dirty Dozen

    1967, in 8 top lists Check
  19. 246 new

    A Farewell to Arms

    1932, in 3 top lists Check
  20. 261 new

    The Bitter Tea of General Yen

    1932, in 3 top lists Check
  21. 311 new

    Operation Petticoat

    1959, in 0 top lists Check
  22. 316 new

    What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?

    1966, in 0 top lists Check
  23. 319 new

    The Steel Helmet

    1951, in 2 top lists Check
  24. 320 new

    Fixed Bayonets!

    1951, in 1 top list Check
  25. 324 new

    China Gate

    1957, in 0 top lists Check
  26. 328 new

    Merrill's Marauders

    1962, in 0 top lists Check
  27. 344 new

    King & Country

    1964, in 0 top lists Check
  28. 358 new

    Strategic Air Command

    1955, in 0 top lists Check
  29. 361 new

    Men in War

    1957, in 4 top lists Check
  30. 364 new

    Duck Soup

    1933, in 24 top lists Check
  31. 387 new

    The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

    1962, in 0 top lists Check
  32. 401 new

    In Harm's Way

    1965, in 0 top lists Check
  33. 411 new

    Bitter Victory

    1957, in 3 top lists Check
  34. 425 new

    A Time to Love and a Time to Die

    1958, in 4 top lists Check
  35. 429 new

    Gunga Din

    1939, in 7 top lists Check
  36. 447 new

    The Miracle of Morgan's Creek

    1944, in 9 top lists Check
  37. 448 new

    Hail the Conquering Hero

    1944, in 7 top lists Check
  38. 452 new

    The Big Parade

    1925, in 13 top lists Check
  39. 467 new

    War and Peace

    1956, in 3 top lists Check
  40. 468 new

    What Price Glory

    1926, in 2 top lists Check
  41. 493 new

    Battle Cry

    1955, in 0 top lists Check
  42. 510 new

    Springfield Rifle

    1952, in 0 top lists Check
  43. 535 new

    Rendezvous with Annie

    1946 — a.k.a. Corporal Dolan AWOL, in 0 top lists Check
  44. 536 new

    Sands of Iwo Jima

    1949, in 2 top lists Check
  45. 539 new

    Hold Back the Night

    1956, in 0 top lists Check
  46. 552 new

    A Terrible Beauty

    1960 — a.k.a. The Night Fighters, in 0 top lists Check
  47. 563 new

    Hell to Eternity

    1960, in 0 top lists Check
  48. 600 new

    Hell Is for Heroes

    1962, in 0 top lists Check
  49. 622 new

    Immortal Sergeant

    1943, in 0 top lists Check
  50. 623 new

    The Eve of St. Mark

    1944, in 0 top lists Check
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Last updated on Sep 28, 2019;