AFI ANNOUNCES 100 GREATEST AMERICAN MOVIES OF ALL TIME CITIZEN KANE – #1
CASABLANCA, THE GODFATHER, GONE WITH THE WIND AND LAWRENCE OF ARABIA complete the top five movies; five Spielberg films make the top 100; James Stewart, Katharine Hepburn, Robert De Niro and Robert Duvall among the most represented actors.
List is the centerpiece of AFI's historic celebration of the first 100 years of American movies.
LOS ANGELES, June, 1998 — The American Film Institute (AFI) tonight announced the 100 greatest American movies of all time, as selected by a blue-ribbon panel of leaders from across the film community.
Voted the number one movie was CITIZEN KANE, Orson Welles' 1941 classic, which
he directed, produced, wrote and starred in at the age of 25. The rest of the
top ten, in order, are: CASABLANCA (#2), THE GODFATHER (#3), GONE WITH THE WIND
(#4), LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (#5), THE WIZARD OF OZ (#6), THE GRADUATE (#7), ON THE
WATERFRONT (#8), SCHINDLER'S LIST (#9) and SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (#10).
"This is an exciting moment in American film history," said AFI's President Emerita Jean Picker Firstenberg. "As the end of this century approaches and we
reflect on its defining achievements, among the most powerful and successful
is, without question, the motion picture. Through the collective judgment of
leaders from across the American film community, from both in front of and
behind the camera, AFI has identified 100 movies which set the standard and
mark the excellence of the first century of American cinema. Movies are an
intensely personal experience, and it's certain that this list will generate a
broad range of opinion and discussion. AFI welcomes this dialogue and hopes to
achieve an increased regard, respect and appreciation for this great American
art form."
AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies is an 18-month celebration that began last
November when AFI invited more than 1,500 leaders from across the American film
community — screenwriters, directors, actors, producers, cinematographers,
editors, executives, film historians and critics, among them — to choose from a
list of 400 nominated films compiled by AFI and select the 100 greatest
American movies. The nominated films were all made in the first 100 years of
American cinema (1896–1996). Movies produced after 1996 were not included.
The top 100 movies were unveiled during a special three-hour program broadcast
tonight on CBS Television, produced by Gary Smith. Next week, Turner Network
Television (TNT) will begin airing 10 one hour specials, produced by Mel Stuart
and Richard Schickel, one broadcast each Tuesday night for 10 consecutive
weeks, providing an in-depth look as to why these 100 movies are considered the
greatest of all time. In addition, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will air a cable
festival this fall that features many of the movies. And the 100 films will be
available in videostores across the nation as part of this special celebration,
with labels designating these films as part of AFI's 100 greatest list.
AFI's 100 YEARS...100 MOVIES (1998)
List of the 400 nominated movies
List of the 100 winning movies
Click here to go to the list downloads page
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