On April 13, 2009 CNN post:
Turner Classic Movies (like CNN, a division of Time Warner) is celebrating its 15th anniversary this month, and in honor of the occasion, the network has selected the 15 most influential films of all time.
They are: “The Birth of a Nation” (1915); “Battleship Potemkin” (1925); “Metropolis” (1927); “42nd Street” (1933); “It Happened One Night” (1934); “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1937); “Gone With the Wind” (1939); “Stagecoach” (1939); “Citizen Kane” (1941); “Bicycle Thieves” (1947); “Rashomon” (1950); “The Searchers” (1956); “Breathless” (1959); “Psycho” (1960); and “Star Wars” (1977).
Well I’m not surprised films by and about Black people did NOT make the list. It is interesting to note….
Killer of Sheep, a movie by director Charles Burnett was declared a “national treasure” In 1990 by Library of Congress and placed it among the first 50 films entered in the National Film Registry for its historical significance. In 2002, the National Society of Film Critics selected the film as one of the 100 Essential Films of all time.
In 1999, Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing was deemed "culturally significant" by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry, one of three films to do so in its first year of eligibility.
Is the United States Library of Congress wrong? Or dose Ted Turner not see theses and other Black films relevant? See why ImageNation is needed? Burn Hollywood Burn. What do you think?
You got it right! GG they more than likely never even remotely considered any Black Films in there selection process.Its up to us to make that situation change and we must try to come together to do it.We must support those who support us.
ReplyDeleteImagenation is one of the very few support systems out there for us so keep supporting them and Lets keep fighting for our voices to be heard.
Gregg Mann
It all depends on what their criteria was. Out of the list of 15 I've seen 7. Birth of a Nation is an influential movie...Not because of the content but because direction...D. W. Griffith's use of the close up is an example of this.
ReplyDeleteCitizen Kane is very influential because of Orson Wells’s use of flashbacks and nonlinear storytelling method. Rashomon for the way the story is told from different perspectives…That method is still used today by many screenwriters and directors.
Psycho for the suspense and a twist of an ending. Star Wars because of special effects and marketing.
My criteria for influential goes as follows…If a movie comes out that, changes the way films are made then it is influential. Most of these movies on the list changed the way films are made. I wish they included City Lights by Chaplin and In the Heat of the Night. Those two movies are very influential in my opinion.
Solo72vh makes a solid point... *got me thinking*
ReplyDeleteKILLER OF SHEEP is a really good one. You have to add LADY SINGS THE BLUES. Berry Gordy was before his time! He had the music and film on lock. ST LOUIS BLUES (not sure if it was made by a black person but it had an all star Black cast) the WC handy movie featuring Nat King Cole, Ruby Dee, Eartha Kit plus more, CORN BREAD EARL & ME, CLAUDINE, A RAISIN IN THE SUN (featuring Sidney Pointer.) I think I better stop here.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to add one notable mention...Oscar Micheaux. He was a great influence on Black Cinema.
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