The many types of American cinema have gone through their fair share of evolutions and technical feats. But technicality does not define American cinema. Over the past century, films ranging in genres have been projected into the eyes of millions of viewers and brought dreams to life.
Cinema is defined by innovation and imagination, which defines America at its core. America is a nation where progression and innovation is at the root of our existence. There have been many films over the past century that embody this idea, either telling great stories of the American character, imagining the ideals of the country, or progressing cinema through new technological and cultural means. These motion pictures are a staple of American culture and, besides being beloved by audiences around the world, inherently define American film (in no particular order).
Gone with the Wind
Gone with the Wind is a staple of motion picture history. In fact, it is a representation of the shift in American ideologies and way of life in the south. After the Civil War, the country sees a major shift, and it is presented in this film in a way that some might find offensive and out of date. However, the film is a beautiful look into American history, an epic romance, and its accolades and prestige are considerably valid.
Casablanca
Casablanca is considered not just the greatest war film of all time, but also a perfect film, and rightfully so because of its timelessness as a romance. While it is set during World War II, the themes of loyalty, self-sacrifice, and patriotism prevail. It is one of the beating hearts of cinema’s history, the perfect representation of traditional “old” Hollywood cinema that begs discussion and a viewing from film viewers.
The Wizard of Oz
The 1939 classic film The Wizard of Oz is a motion picture juggernaut. It is worshiped because of its purity, but it is a technical feat because of its dedication to imagination.
L. Frank Baum’s novel is filled with wondrous moments of imagination come to life, but the beauty of seeing the vast world of Oz with all of its colors, characters and unpredictability has given this film a permanent residence in the hearts of audiences for over eight decades.
The Godfather
Francis Ford Coppola is one of cinema’s most important artists because of his ability to mine classic epics out of American culture. Between Apocalypse Now, The Conversation, Tucker: The Man and His Dreams, and The Cotton Club, few filmmakers have explored 20th century American history with such a massive scope. The Godfather is perhaps the greatest of these, a tremendous feat of American filmmaking. It tells the story of Italian American civilization in the Tri-State area. In addition to its themes of crime and violence as a
Citizen Kane
Orson Welles, aged just 26, released a masterpiece in Citizen Kane. What makes this film such a staple of American cinema is its use of lighting and camera movements to tell a compelling mystery about a fallen tycoon; Welles invented a new film language that is still being used today. The film is a cinematographic marvel and uses symbolism along with flashbacks to tell a story about the rise and fall of a juggernaut in journalism, loosely based on William Randolph Hearst, that also chronicles changes in America and media in the early 20th century.
To Kill a Mockingbird
In addition to being one of the most important novels of all time, To Kill a Mockingbird is considered one of the most impactful films ever made. Gregory Peck’s Oscar-winning performance as Atticus Finch is the father we all want to see on screen. However, the lessons the film teaches about trust and truth ultimately send its quality to the stratosphere. It is a heartfelt story of searching for truth and what Finch is willing to risk doing so.
Forrest Gump
Tom Hanks is a defining actor of his generation, winning three Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Perhaps his defining role is Forrest Gump, a cultural sensation that was directed by Robert Zemeckis. What makes this film a crucial part of our culture is its dedication to… our culture.
Forrest travels through events in history that, while meant to be humorous, is a perfect time capsule of events broadcasted on television. It is timeless, quotable, and certainly worthy of a watch by Americans and fans of Hanks.
Saving Private Ryan
Saving Private Ryan is not an easy film to watch, but it is another film that defines Tom Hanks’ career. The great war film also is a testament to director Steven Spielberg’s ability to capture realism and the intensity of warfare. It is an important film in our cinematic history because of its attention to detail. The opening sequence is a brutally accurate depiction of Operation Overlord or The Battle of Normandy. The film brings audiences to the ground level of World War II and shows the intensity of battles on land and sea.
The Sandlot
The Sandlot is a film that does rely on its nostalgia of an easier time… in life and history. The film is innocent, which helps allow it to capture the heart of friendship and comradery on screen. The story is timeless and harmless, but the characters' dynamics are what makes it a classic piece of American cinema. It is a fun summer flick about America’s favorite pastime and relies on pure fun and entertainment. From the quotability, iconic moments, and the brilliant cameo of James Earl Jones, there is so much to enjoy and remember from this family film.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Psychedelic art is not for everyone, but audiences should view Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas because of its ability to transcend its trippy trappings and make a sweeping statement about America as it shifted from the '60s to the '70s. This film is warped, seen through the perspective of a psychedelic experience of lead characters played by Johnny Depp (as iconic American author and journalist, Hunter S. Thompson) and Benicio del Toro.
However, it represents a sense of liberation that was prevalent in the 1960s in America, as well as the hedonism and rise of conservatism in the '70s, and contains deeper themes about individual freedom and self-expression.=
2001: A Space Odyssey
Stanley Kubrick is one of history's most sophisticated directors. His films, such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, are stylistic masterpieces and are almost dramatic epics in their presentation. However, this science fiction classic is one of America’s defining films. It changed the way science fiction was viewed on screen and took its material seriously to tell a story about human existence and co-existence with machines and technology. The bounds of 2001: A Space Odyssey is extraordinary, and it should be appreciated for its technological feats accomplished way back in 1968.
Goodfellas
Martin Scorsese’s mob epic Goodfellas is often referred to as his best work. First, one can not deny the dynamic between Robert de Niro, Joe Pesci, and the late Ray Liotta. Second, the story is fast-paced, violent, and visually innovative, never boring the audience. The use of voice-overs to get audiences into the minds of the characters was done to a perfect extent. There is not a dull moment in this film, and it focuses on the gangster side of mob cinema and the brutalities of what was done by organized crime officials.
The Shawshank Redemption
The Shawshank Redemption is at the top of IMDb’s charts for a reason. While it did not win the Best Picture Academy Award in 1994, it is still considered by many viewers to be the greatest film of all time and one of the most important in American cinematic history. It is a powerful story about perseverance and decision-making through troubled times. There is also a deeper meaning of morality and innocence and how a long duration in prison becomes one’s norm as they remain frozen in time.
The Producers
Director Mel Brooks is one of the kings of comedy on screen and stage, and his first cinematic masterpiece was The Producers. This film deserves a viewing because of its dedication to Broadway, which is a staple of American tourism. But it also features a hilarious dynamic between Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder, in one of the funniest pairings in film history after the silent era.
Wilder is riddled with anxiety and Mostel is a charismatic scumbag, combining for many iconic scenes, and the audience can't help but fall in love with the two. The film is one of Brooks' best, and it is arguably the greatest tribute to Broadway, one of the first modern dark comedies, and a hilarious story about a theatrical flop.
The Exorcist
The horror genre is defined by a few generations of films that pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable on screen. However, The Exorcist does what few films have ever been able to achieve — genuinely scaring audiences today just as much as it did half a century ago.
The Exorcist takes its time setting up the characters, ultimately making a compelling dramatic story about faith versus science that ventures deeper into the darkness than hardly any other film before it. The visuals intensify and become colder, and it leaves audiences with a sense of emptiness. It is one of the most important horror films, and is used as a comparison piece to films of today.
The Dark Knight
Superhero stories are becoming America’s most profitable and marketable films of this generation. However, The Dark Knight took the characters of Batman and The Joker and created a compelling crime drama and morality tale that focuses on both sides of the law. The coin is flipped, and these characters are forced to make difficult choices which teeter on the precipice of good and evil. From an acting perspective, Heath Ledger created something miraculous as Joker, and if anything, audiences should view this film to appreciate his dedication to the role.
Star Wars
George Lucas created a franchise that has been a crucial part of worldwide culture for multiple generations. Star Wars, or Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, was the film that started it all and spawned the franchise. It is a bit whimsical and silly in its dialogue, but nothing like this had been done before. Lucas expanded on the fantasy that Kubrick introduced in his space odyssey, creating not just epic world-building but literal galaxy-building. He created characters with compelling backstories surrounded by immensely imaginative visuals and effects. But the heart of Star Wars is the adventure, and it is the quintessential story of marvelous escapism.
The Silence of the Lambs
The Silence of the Lambs is one of the few films to have ever won “The Big Five” at the Academy Awards (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Screenplay). The film is highly disturbing and authentic, marking a shift in how American crime films were told (and how much we rooted for antagonists). What truly makes the film special is its use of Hannibal Lecter, played by Anthony Hopkins, who aids law enforcement in understanding the mind of a psychopath… because he is one.
Fantasia
Fantasia is animation at its very finest. Walt Disney’s magical cinematic experience combines visuals with extravagant orchestral scores to tell a variety of stories. These tales range in tones but all embody the beauty of animation and what makes it so special — its ability to manifest limitless imagination. The stories in Fantasia are cinematic achievements that won Walt Disney an Honorary Award at the Academy Awards.
Rocky
Rocky is not necessarily a sports film, it is a drama and a romance at its core. The screenplay by Sylvester Stallone tells the story of a boxer who is striving for his wife, and ultimately it is her name that he calls in the end.
The character of Rocky does not win in the end, which is rare for a film of this subject. Rocky is one of the most compelling dramas of its time, introduced Sylvester Stallone to the wider world, and is forever engrained in American culture.
Back to the Future
Back to the Future continues to grow in popularity since it was released in 1985. The fanbase for this film is notably passionate… but why does it have such an appeal? Perhaps it showcases rural America in both modern and classic format. Marty is transported to a Hill Valley that is still in the midst of progress. In addition, his dynamic with Doc Brown has become iconic. The film is a crucial part of American cinema and teaches a lesson about writing one’s own future, crucial to the entrepreneurial spirit of America. The characters, music, and special effects are still considered remarkable almost 40 years later.