Okay, so I need some help coming up with a list of classic/quintessential American movies. Our friend Vittorio, who is Italian but did all his school in England, is coming to teach at Notre Dame, and he asked me if I could think of American movies he should watch before coming so he can start to acculturate himself to the US, especially the Midwest. Europeans probably are already familiar with the "great" cinematic films and the major Hollywood releases, so I'm trying to think of films that are somehow particularly American that he might not have run across. Here's my list so far - can you add to it?
1. Field of Dreams
2. Gone with the Wind
3. Dances with Wolves
4. Hoosiers
5. It's a Wonderful Life
6. Forrest Gump
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
These are movies I consider iconic American films. Some or all of them have probably faded from the consciousness of European film goers.
ReplyDeleteStagecoach (the 1939 version with John Wayne)
Red River
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
The Thin Man
The Maltese Falcon
His Girl Friday
Yankee Doodle Dandy
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
The Philadelphia Story (I hate the pre-feminist ideas but love Grant, Hepburn, and Stewart)
The Wizard of Oz
I think one of the quintessential American stories is that of the immigrant. Three movies (that also happen to be some of my all-time favorites) that tell that story are:
ReplyDeleteIn America
My Family/Mi Familia
The Namesake
1) O Brother - american roots riff on western civ classic - i would recommend it even if it were about anatartica
ReplyDelete2) The Sting
and
3) The Natural - redford classics on pre ww2 era - money and baseball, how american is that?
4) Troublesome Creek - documentary on a family's experience of the upheaval in agriculture in the 80's - the black clouds gathering on the horizon are undoubtably the dark minions of monsanto
5) Farmer John - a great companion work to troublesome creek
I'm probably way late on this, but wanted to add one of my favorite commentaries on a particular slice of contemporary American culture - American Beauty. Angst and discontent in suburbia.
ReplyDeleteI thought of another American Film: Coal Miner's Daughter.
ReplyDeleteTwo more: The Right Stuff and Apollo 13
ReplyDeleteI've settled into looking for American Films which show a particular ecosystem or socio-economic class in the U.S.:
ReplyDeleteMelvin and Howard
Fargo
Bonnie and Clyde
Does anyone know a film that feels true to Ohio? Shouldn't there be at least one great film that includes a wedding reception in a Methodist church basement on a hot afternoon in June? Must I be the one to write the screenplay?