AFI’s 100 Years, 100 Movies (51-100)
The American Film Institute recently released their updated, 2007 list of the one hundred greatest movies in cinema history. Did your favorite movie make the list? We take a look at the movies that ranked numbers 51 through 100.
100. Ben-Hur
One of the most celebrated epics of all time, “Ben Hur” (1959) starred Charlton Heston in the title role of Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince who loses everything when a friend (played by Stephen Boyd) turns against him. The film won eleven Academy Awards including best picture and best actor (Heston).
99. Toy Story
Woody (voice of Tom Hanks), a cowboy and one of Andy’s (voice of John Morris) favorite toys becomes increasingly jealous of Buzz Lightyear (voice of Tim Allen), the astronaut and new toy on the block, in 1995’s animated “Toy Story”. But the two rivals call a truce when they’re faced with the dangers of the world outside of Andy’s room!
98. Yankee Doodle Dandy
Cinematic tough guy James Cagney won a best actor Oscar for his portrayal of George M. Cohan, the renowned entertainer, writer and composer, whose life is the premise for this 1942 biographical musical.
97. Blade Runner
In the future, a cop must track down “replicants”, outlawed “human-esque” beings who have returned to Earth. The cult hit “Blade Runner” (1982) starred Harrison Ford.
96. Do The Right Thing
Spike Lee wrote, directed and starred in 1989’s “Do the Right Thing”. Mookie (Lee) is the centralized figure in a
95. The Last Picture Show
Ben Johnson and Cloris Leachman won Oscars for their supporting roles in 1971’s “The Last Picture Show”. The movie, which also starred Timothy Buttons, Jeff Bridges and Cybil Shepherd, told the stories of Sonny and Duane (Buttons and Bridges) who learn life’s lessons in the tiny town of
94. Pulp Fiction
Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta star in “Pulp Fiction” (1994) as Jules Winnfield and Vincent Vega, two hit men with a job to do. The movie, directed and written by Quentin Tarantino (who also made a cameo appearance in the film) also starred Ving Rhames, Uma Thurman and Bruce Willis.
93. The French Connection
Detectives Jimmy Doyle and Buddy Russo (Roy Scheider) are on the verge of making a huge drug bust with a connection to two French dignitaries. Gene Hackman, who portrayed Doyle, won a best actor Oscar while “The French Connection” (1971) won for best picture.
92. Goodfellas
Jimmy, Henry and Tommy are friends who find themselves caught up in the mob scene. Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta and Joe Pesci (who won a best supporting actor Oscar) starred in “Goodfellas” (1990) which was directed by Martin Scorsese.
91. Sophie’s Choice
Meryl Streep won a best actress Oscar for her portrayal of the title character, Sophie Zawistowski in 1982’s “Sophie’s Choice”. Sophie is a Holocaust survivor who begins a relationship with Nathan (Kevin Kline).
90. Swing Time
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers shined in the 1936 musical “Swing Time”. When Lucky (Astaire) has to earn a quick $25,000 to marry his fiancée, he travels to
89. The Sixth Sense
Bruce Willis starred as Malcolm Crowe in the 1999 M. Night Shyamalan film “The Sixth Sense”. Malcolm is determined to help a troubled boy, Cole (Haley Joel Osment), who claims to see the dead.
88. Bringing Up Baby
Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn starred in the 1938 romantic comedy “Bringing Up Baby”. What role will Baby, Susan Vance’s (Hepburn) pet leopard play in bringing Susan and David (Grant) together?
87. 12 Angry Men
Can one hold out on a jury mean the difference between a guilty and innocent verdict? Henry Fonda and Jack Klugman starred in 1957’s “12 Angry Men”.
86. Platoon
Oliver Stone wrote and directed the best picture Oscar winner “Platoon” (1986). The movie focuses on young Private Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen), his experiences in the Vietnam War and the friction between two Sergeants (Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe).
85. A Night At The Opera
84. Easy Rider
Two men go on the ultimate road trip, motorcycling half way across
83. Titanic
The 1997 blockbuster Titanic won the Oscar for best picture. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet starred as Jack and Rose, two people from different worlds who meet and fall in love on the ill fated voyage.
82.
The 1926 movie “
81. Spartacus
Kirk Douglas played the title role in 1960’s “Spartacus”, a slave who leads an uprising in
80. The Apartment
1960’s “The Apartment” won the Oscar for best picture. Starring Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine and Fred MacMurray, the movie tells the story of Bud (Lemmon) who lets his corporate boss use his apartment for liaisons.
79. The Wild Bunch
Starring Ernest Borgnine and William Holden, “The Wild Bunch” (1969) told the story of a group of aging outlaws looking for one last hoorah!
78. Modern Times
A factory worker (Charlie Chaplin as the Tramp) tries to adjust to life in “Modern Times” (1936). The movie also stars Paulette Goddard.
77. All The President’s Men
The Watergate scandal is uncovered by two reporters, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward. 1976’s “All The Presidents Men” starred Dustin Hoffman as Bernstein and Robert Redford as Woodward.
76. Forrest Gump
A simple man does great things in this 1994 film. “Forrest Gump” starred Tom Hanks in the title role which garnered him a best acting Oscar as well as a best picture prize for the movie.
75. In The Heat Of The Night
Detective Virgil Tibbs finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation in the South. Will he and Police Chief Bill Gillespie be able to work together to solve the crime? “In the Heat of the Night” (1967) starred Sidney Poitier as Tibbs and Rod Steiger in an Oscar winning role as Gillespie.
Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), a young FBI agent, must delve into the mind of the cannibalistic murderer Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) in order to catch serial killer Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine). Foster and Hopkins both received Oscars for their performances in The Silence of the Lambs (1991) which also won best picture.
73. Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid
Paul Newman and Robert Redford starred in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” (1969). The outlaw pair, famous for their bank robberies, tries to escape from an oncoming posse.
72. The Shawshank Redemption
Andy and Red strike up an unusual friendship while both are doing time in prison. “The Shawshank Redemption” (1994), based on the story by Stephen King, starred Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman.
71. Saving Private Ryan
A group of soldiers venture behind enemy lines in World War II to save Private James Ryan (Matt Damon) whose brothers have been killed in action. “Saving Private Ryan” (1998) starred Tom Hanks and Edward Burns.
70. A Clockwork
Malcolm McDowell stars as Alex de Large in Stanley Kubrick’s 1971 film “A Clockwork Orange”. Alex, a violent young man, opts to undergo “aversion therapy” in order to reduce his prison sentence. But when Alex is released, is he really cured of his violent tendencies?
69. Tootsie
Michael Dorsey, a down on his luck actor, reinvents himself as Dorothy Michaels and becomes a star in a TV show. How long will he be able to keep the rouse up? “Tootsie” (1982) starred Dustin Hoffman, Teri Garr and Jessica Lange who won a supporting actress Oscar for her role as Julie.
68. Unforgiven
William Munny, Ned Logan and the Schofield Kid venture to Big Whisky, to collect on a $1,000 bounty that a group of prostitutes have offered for two cowboys after the pair cut up one of the girls. But with Little Bill running the town, the trio may get more than they bargained for. “Unforgiven” (1992) starred Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, Gene Hackman and Richard Harris. The movie won a best picture and a best director Oscar for Eastwood as well as a best supporting actor award for Hackman.
67. Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?
Elizabeth Taylor and Sandy Dennis won leading role and supporting Oscars, respectively, for their work in 1966’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”. The real lives of long time married couple, Martha (
Swashbuckling archaeologist Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) must find the Arch of the Covenant before a group of Nazis get to it in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Along the way he must deal with snake pits as well as his rekindled romance with Marion (Karen Allen).
65. The African Queen
Screen legend Humphrey Bogart won a best actor Oscar for his role as the surly boat captain Charlie Allnut in 1951’s “African Queen”. It’s the middle of World War I and Charlie agrees to ferry Rose Sayer (Katharine Hepburn) back to civilization resulting in a dire situation.
64. Network
Howard Beale (Peter Finch, who won a posthumous best actor Academy Award for the role) is a long time news anchor who’s about to lose his job. But when Beale goes on the air and tells people what he really thinks, his show’s ratings start to improve. “Network” (1976) also starred best actor Oscar winner Faye Dunaway, Robert Duvall and William Holden.
63. Cabaret
There’s plenty to see at the Kit-Kat club in 1930s
62. American Graffiti
It’s the last night on the town for some high school buddies before starting college life. “American Graffiti” (1973) starred Richard Dreyfuss and Ron Howard.
61. Sullivan’s Travels
Determined to make a movie of more significance, director John Sullivan (Joel McCrea) decides to experience the life of the downtrodden by becoming a transient in order to gain first hand knowledge for the film. Along the way he meets and befriends a disenchanted actress. “Sullivan’s Travels” (1941) also starred
60. Duck Soup
The Marx Brothers (including brother Zeppo) starred in the 1933 comedy “Duck Soup”. When Mrs. Teasdale (Margaret Dumont) helps out the financially strapped state of Freedonia, she insists that the new president be none other than Rufus T. Firefly (Groucho Marx).
59.
Theirs is a unique blend of politics and music in Robert Altman’s 1975 film “
58. The Gold Rush
Charlie Chaplin not only starred in the 1925 comedy “The Gold Rush” but also wrote and directed the film. In the movie, a prospector (Chaplin) travels to
57. Rocky
Sylvester Stallone wrote and starred as the title character in “Rocky” (1976). Rocky Balboa gets a once in a lifetime shot to face off against the world’s heavyweight boxing champion, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). “Rocky” won the Academy Award for best picture.
56. Jaws
It’s the height of the tourist season for the seaside town of
55. North By Northwest
Alfred Hitchcock directed 1959’s “North by Northwest” which starred Cary Grant as Roger Thornhill who flees across country when his life is threatened by government spies who have mistaken him for someone else. The movie also starred Eva Marie Saint.
54. M*A*S*H
There are plenty of shenanigans going on at a field hospital during the Korean War. “M*A*S*H” (1970) was directed by Robert Altman and starred Elliott Gould, Donald Sutherland and Robert Duvall.
53. The Deer Hunter
The lives of three friends are forever changed when they enlist in the Army and are sent to
52. Taxi Driver
Travis Bickle (Robert DeNiro) is a disturbed veteran/taxi cab driver who has to deal with his own anger and loneliness while rejecting the seedier parts of the city. “Taxi Driver” (1976) also starred Peter Boyle, Jodie Foster, Harvey Keitel and Cybil Shepherd.
51.
1961’s “West Side Story” won the Oscar for best picture as well as supporting acting awards for George Chakiris and Rita Moreno. Tony (Richard Beymer) and Maria (Natalie Wood), who are connected to two warring gangs, the Sharks and the Jets, fall in love with tragic consequences.
Stay tuned as we countdown numbers 50 to 1!
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© 2007 by Tammy Cordani. To use the above content you must first obtain written permission. Please contact Tammy Cordani. All rights reserved.