Listmania!
(Not Quite) Lost American Classics
Electra Glide in Blue [DVD] [1973] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]Electra Glide in Blue [DVD] [1973] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]
Buy used from: £14.88
Uneasy Rider, sort of. After this minor masterpiece, the writer-director never made another film, which seems a massive waste. Great performance from Burke.
Medium Cool [DVD] [1969] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]Medium Cool [DVD] [1969] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]
Buy used from: £30.00
The closest American cinema got to the spirit of the European film in the 1960s - ambiguous in its characterisation, partisan in its politics. And what a stunning, devastating ending.
Petulia [DVD] [1968] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]Petulia [DVD] [1968] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]
Buy used from: £38.00
Lester's greatest film, this beautiful romance was waaay ahead of its time. It says interesting things about the values of the 60s and what they indicated was happening to America and Americans.
3 Women [DVD] [1977]3 Women [DVD] [1977]
Buy new: £4.28
Altman does Bergman's "Persona". Only weirder.
Bad Company [DVD] [1972]Bad Company [DVD] [1972]
Buy new: £5.98 / Used from: £4.48
A lovely, quiet elegy of a Western from a decade full of great Westerns.
Matewan [DVD] [1987]Matewan [DVD] [1987]
Buy used from: £19.98
A folk recollection of a mining strike that ended in horrific violence, beautifully made and acted.
Modern Romance [DVD] [1981] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]Modern Romance [DVD] [1981] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]
Buy used from: £30.00
Why didn't Albert Brooks go on to be Woody Allen's greatest rival? Because he never made another film as great or funny as this one?
The Killing Of A Chinese Bookie [DVD] [1976]The Killing Of A Chinese Bookie [DVD] [1976]
Buy new: £5.98 / Used from: £3.99
The problem with Cassavetes is deciding which of his 1970s films to include here. Genius.
Claire Dolan [DVD] [1998] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]Claire Dolan [DVD] [1998] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]
Buy used from: £25.00
Lodge Kerrigan on the modern world. Katrin Cartlidge is unbelievable.
Hustle [DVD]Hustle [DVD]
Buy new: £15.69 / Used from: £14.99
One of the strangest mainstream films of the 1970s. And, aside from Deliverance and Boogie Nights, probably the best thing Burt Reynolds ever did.
Ali [DVD] [2002]Ali [DVD] [2002]
Buy new: £7.98 / Used from: £1.14
Mann's most underrated film, an Epic study of America itself, with Ali at the centre ofthe hurricane. Full of amazing filmaking, especially the stupendous opening scene.
Force Of Evil [DVD] [1948]Force Of Evil [DVD] [1948]
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £3.99
Fantastic script, great work by Garfield, lovely photography - what a movie...
Dazed And Confused [DVD] [1994]Dazed And Confused [DVD] [1994]
Buy new: £4.48 / Used from: £3.42
funny and moving, this has a meandering glory and authenticity which helps make it possibly cinema's greatest ever teen film. Great soundtrack, too.
Beast [DVD]Beast [DVD]
Buy new: £3.98 / Used from: £2.58
A tense, claustrophobic examination of men in combat, with great action scenes and direction.
Night Moves [DVD] [1975] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]Night Moves [DVD] [1975] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]
Buy used from: £7.83
Alan Sharp, who also wrote the brilliant Ulzanas Raid and Rob Roy, wrote this. This is better than either of those. Plus: Gene Hackman. Nuff said.
Pretty Poison [DVD] [1968]Pretty Poison [DVD] [1968]
Buy used from: £5.99
Incredibly dark and twisted little thriller, with great work from the horribly underappreciated Tuesday Weld.
Bigger Than Life [1956] [DVD]Bigger Than Life [1956] [DVD]
Buy new: £10.78 / Used from: £8.50
May be Nicholas Ray's greatest film, which is saying something...
Downhill Racer [DVD] [1969]Downhill Racer [DVD] [1969]
Redford in his most un-Redford role, in a near cinema verite look at an ambitious Pro Skier. Great location photography, mature, nuanced characters.
Spartan [DVD] [2004]Spartan [DVD] [2004]
Buy new: £2.98 / Used from: £0.98
"Wheres the girl?" The modern thriller, Mamet-style: pared down, cynical, witty.
The White Dawn [DVD] [1974] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]The White Dawn [DVD] [1974] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]
Buy used from: £26.37
American cinemas lost Prince, Kaufman made a series of great little films in the 70s and 80s. This is the oddest, but its perfect in its way...
Barbara Loden's Wanda [DVD] [1970] [US Import]Barbara Loden's Wanda [DVD] [1970] [US Import]
Buy used from: £46.00
A semi-improvised documentary-style account of a womans drift to the margins of society. Loden never made another film.
State Of Grace [DVD] [1991]State Of Grace [DVD] [1991]
Buy new: £3.98 / Used from: £2.20
A terrifically stylish attempt to make an Irish-American Godfather in 2 hours that doesn't really work but features an amazing climactic gunfight and a great bit of scenery-chewing from Oldman.
The Driver [DVD] [1978]The Driver [DVD] [1978]
Buy new: £4.98
Stylised, existential carchase version of Melville's Le Samourai. Fabulous chase sequences, unique atmosphere.
Fingers [DVD] [1978] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]Fingers [DVD] [1978] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]
Buy used from: £9.47
James Toback makes an awesome, never-to-be equalled debut.
Some Came Running [DVD]Some Came Running [DVD]
Buy new: £18.89
This terrific Rat Pack melodrama features of couple of Minelli's greatest sequences.