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15 movies that changed movies
Published: 4/13/2009 1:58 PM
Last Modified: 4/13/2009 1:58 PM

Turner Classic Movies has named the 15 most influential films in cinema history, in celebration of the 15th anniversary of the great-old-movies network (digital channel 210 in Tulsa).
The selections concentrate on those films that shaped the future of motion pictures. “Star Wars” is the most recent entry, a difference-maker in the way that George Lucas used merchandising rights, as we now see hit films become TV shows, novels, comic books....the list goes on.
My immediate thoughts: How many of these 15 pictures has the average filmgoer seen? What films would they say were more influential in shaping how we see movies today? In order of the year of release, TCM’s list includes:
The Birth of a Nation (1915): The birth of the American film epic as well as film controversies for its depiction of the Ku Klux Klan.
Battleship Potemkin (1925): Perhaps for its often-imitated “Odessa Steps” scene alone, which modern audience may know best as “that scene with the baby carriage” in “The Untouchables”.
Metropolis (1927): The grand-daddy of the sci-fi genre, an inspiration on video games, music videos and more.
42nd Street (1933): The magic of Busby Berkeley, who choreographed the future of musicals.
It Happened One Night (1934): Frank Capra invents the screwball comedy.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937): Its visual look is the reason we refer to the genre as “animated films” rather than “cartoons.”
Gone with the Wind (1939): No film captured the American imagination so intensely, and for so many decades.
Stagecoach (1939): The first of two John Ford films on the list is the action-Western with great depth of character.
Citizen Kane (1941): Deep-focus photography, overlapping dialogue, a flashback narrative assembled from multiple viewpoints: Orson Welles made the definitive director’s picture.
The Bicycle Thief (1947): Shot in real locations rather than on a set, with real people that didn’t look like Hollywood stars.
Rashomon (1950): Akira Kurosawa employed unique editing techniques and storytelling devices.
The Searchers (1956): John Ford and John Wayne take the Western in a new direction in a brooding showcase of one man’s obsession.
Breathless (1959): Jump cuts between scenes, and within scenes; the origin of the shaky camera film school.
Psycho (1960): Hitchcock the big-budget hitmaker went small and disturbing and surprised audiences by killing off the star early.
Star Wars (1977): Discovered new markets for merchandising in this galaxy.

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27thLancer (4 years ago)

I've seen 10 of the 15. I would have to say that a few are missing --

Rocky -- Created the infinite sequal (and the original was a pretty good movie in it's own right) -- could have also gone with Star Trek series on this one.

The French Connection -- Redefined how action sequences were shot and edited

The Matrix -- The limits of physics and human capabilities are no longer an issue in shooting scenes

Tron -- The concepts of live action married to animation/computer generated graphics was born here. Precursor to all the CGI that is used today.

Tulsa World Scene Writer Michael Smith (4 years ago)

My most immediate additions were of the recent variety:
The Godfather (1972) for so many obvious reasons, like Gordon Willis' darker-than-dark cinematography that shaded the characters' dirty dealings, so often imitated.
Batman (1989) for being the hit that firmly cemented in the public's mind the idea of the "opening weekend" box-office figure that has defined blockbuster success for 20 years.

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I See Movies for Free

“I was born a poor, black child” … not me, actually, but Steve Martin’s character in the “The Jerk.” That absurd opening line is just one of the absurd number of film facts, quotes and minutiae contained in movie critic Michael Smith’s brain, at his disposal to toss out on a moment’s notice. It’s a key requirement as Tulsa World film critic to know these things. Michael learned a few other life facts along the way (seven years as a Crystal’s Pizza & Spaghetti manager) before attempting journalism and joining the Tulsa World in 1996, where he’s covered everything from a school shooting in Fort Gibson to a tornado in Stroud to witnessing an execution. A little community theater coverage was sprinkled in there, too. Movies engender many of his happiest memories, from standing in line for “Star Wars” and “Grease” at the Southroads Cinema to the James Bond and Pink Panther movies that always premiered at the enormous Continental Theater.

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