Here is a list of 10 classic American movies, along with their cast, release year, business, and other details:
“Gone with the Wind” (1939) – This film, set in the American South during the Civil War and Reconstruction era, stars Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O’Hara and Clark Gable as Rhett Butler. It was a massive commercial and critical success, winning 8 Academy Awards and becoming the highest-grossing film of all time (adjusted for inflation).
“The Godfather” (1972) – This crime drama, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and based on the novel of the same name by Mario Puzo, stars Marlon Brando as the patriarch of the Corleone family, a powerful New York City mafia organization. The film also features Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, and James Caan in supporting roles. It won 3 Academy Awards and spawned two sequels.
“Citizen Kane” (1941) – Often considered one of the greatest films ever made, “Citizen Kane” is a drama about the rise and fall of a newspaper magnate, Charles Foster Kane, played by Orson Welles. The film was a critical and commercial failure upon its release, but it has since gained widespread acclaim for its innovative use of cinematography, sound, and narrative structure.
“The Shawshank Redemption” (1994) – This drama, based on the novella “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption” by Stephen King, follows the story of a wrongly convicted man, Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), who forms a friendship with another prisoner, Ellis Boyce (Morgan Freeman) while serving a life sentence. The film received critical acclaim and was a commercial success, but it was not a major hit at the box office upon its initial release.
“Casablanca” (1942) – This romantic drama, set in the Moroccan city of Casablanca during World War II, stars Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine, a cynical ex-pat who becomes involved in the fight against the Nazis. The film also features Ingrid Bergman as Rick’s former lover, Ilsa Lund. “Casablanca” was a critical and commercial success, winning 3 Academy Awards, and it has become one of the most iconic and enduring films in American cinema.
“The Wizard of Oz” (1939) – This musical fantasy, based on the novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by L. Frank Baum, follows the journey of Dorothy (Judy Garland) as she travels to the Land of Oz in search of a way home. The film features a memorable cast of characters, including the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), the Tin Man (Jack Haley), and the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr). “The Wizard of Oz” was a critical and commercial success and has become a beloved classic.
“A Clockwork Orange” (1971) – This dystopian crime drama, based on the novel of the same name by Anthony Burgess, follows the story of Alex (Malcolm McDowell), a young man who becomes a victim of an experiment designed to cure him of his violent tendencies. The film was directed by Stanley Kubrick and also features Patrick Magee and Adrienne Corri. “A Clockwork Orange” was a commercial and critical success and has become a cult classic.