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The Great Films: Fifty Golden Years of Motion Pictures
THE GREAT FILMS Fifty golden years of motion pictures
- GenresFilm
260 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1967
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May 1, 2020
The renowned New York Times film critic Bosley Crowther selected fifty great movies from the period 1915-1967 for this volume.
From Crowther's introduction: "What have been my criteria in making these selections of the great films?.... My first rule has been to scrutinize those pictures that have been the breakthroughs, that have opened new ground, not just in techniques of expression but in the discoveries and revelations they have made. I have sought those films in which content has been of such originality and significance and has been so aptly combined with cinema technique -or style, if you wish - that it has resulted in those films being forceful and usually precedental works."
From the silent era: THE BIRTH OF A NATION; INTOLERANCE; THE CABINET OF DR CALIGARI (Germany); NANOOK OF THE NORTH (Documentary); THE COVERED WAGON; THE STORY OF GOSTA BERLING (Sweden); THE THIEF OF BAGDAD; GREED; THE FRESHMAN; THE GOLD RUSH; POTEMKIN (USSR); THE GENERAL; THE CROWD.
The 30s: THE BLUE ANGEL (1929/Germany); ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT; THE PUBLIC ENEMY; A NOUS LA LIBERTE (France); KING KONG; IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT; THE INFORMER; A NIGHT AT THE OPERA; CAMILLE; LA GRANDE ILLUSION (France); NINOTCHKA; GONE WITH THE WIND,
The 40s: THE GRAPES OF WRATH; FANTASIA (Animation); CITIZEN KANE; THE MALTESE FALCON; IN WHICH WE SERVE (Britain); HENRY V (Britain); LES ENFANTS DU PARADIS (France); IVAN THE TERRIBLE, PARTS 1 & 2 (USSR); THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES; PAISAN (Italy); MONSIEUR VERDOUX; THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE; THE BICYCLE THIEF (Italy).
The 50s: SUNSET BLVD.; RASHOMON (Japan); FORBIDDEN GAMES (France); SHANE; ON THE WATERFRONT; THE SEVENTH SEAL (Sweden); LA STRADA (Italy); THE APU TRILOGY: PATHER PANCHALI/ APARAJITO/ THE WORLD OF APU (India).
The 60s: LA DOLCE VITA (Italy); TOM JONES (Britain); BLOWUP (Britain); ULYSSES (adaptation of James Joyce novel).
Think you will agree, quite a diverse selection of American and International cinema in all genres as defined by Crowther's guidelines of choice
Every film listed comes with Crowther's perceptive critique, cast and credits and a superb collection of stills.
Review based on Putnam paperback edition: fifth impression, 1967. 258 pages.
From Crowther's introduction: "What have been my criteria in making these selections of the great films?.... My first rule has been to scrutinize those pictures that have been the breakthroughs, that have opened new ground, not just in techniques of expression but in the discoveries and revelations they have made. I have sought those films in which content has been of such originality and significance and has been so aptly combined with cinema technique -or style, if you wish - that it has resulted in those films being forceful and usually precedental works."
From the silent era: THE BIRTH OF A NATION; INTOLERANCE; THE CABINET OF DR CALIGARI (Germany); NANOOK OF THE NORTH (Documentary); THE COVERED WAGON; THE STORY OF GOSTA BERLING (Sweden); THE THIEF OF BAGDAD; GREED; THE FRESHMAN; THE GOLD RUSH; POTEMKIN (USSR); THE GENERAL; THE CROWD.
The 30s: THE BLUE ANGEL (1929/Germany); ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT; THE PUBLIC ENEMY; A NOUS LA LIBERTE (France); KING KONG; IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT; THE INFORMER; A NIGHT AT THE OPERA; CAMILLE; LA GRANDE ILLUSION (France); NINOTCHKA; GONE WITH THE WIND,
The 40s: THE GRAPES OF WRATH; FANTASIA (Animation); CITIZEN KANE; THE MALTESE FALCON; IN WHICH WE SERVE (Britain); HENRY V (Britain); LES ENFANTS DU PARADIS (France); IVAN THE TERRIBLE, PARTS 1 & 2 (USSR); THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES; PAISAN (Italy); MONSIEUR VERDOUX; THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE; THE BICYCLE THIEF (Italy).
The 50s: SUNSET BLVD.; RASHOMON (Japan); FORBIDDEN GAMES (France); SHANE; ON THE WATERFRONT; THE SEVENTH SEAL (Sweden); LA STRADA (Italy); THE APU TRILOGY: PATHER PANCHALI/ APARAJITO/ THE WORLD OF APU (India).
The 60s: LA DOLCE VITA (Italy); TOM JONES (Britain); BLOWUP (Britain); ULYSSES (adaptation of James Joyce novel).
Think you will agree, quite a diverse selection of American and International cinema in all genres as defined by Crowther's guidelines of choice
Every film listed comes with Crowther's perceptive critique, cast and credits and a superb collection of stills.
Review based on Putnam paperback edition: fifth impression, 1967. 258 pages.
Displaying 1 of 1 review