The First 100 Years of Cinema: A Celebration of American Movies

Running time: N/A

A glorious tribute for movie buffs, fans, and makers. Using entertaining and provocative clips and terrific interviews with many movie masters, A Celebration of American Movies does just that, celebrates the wonders of (arguably) our century's most influential art-form. 'They amazed us from the start, and they amaze us still,' the film pronounces. From the beginnings with D.W. Griffith, Mary Pickford, and Charlie Chaplin to the golden years with Humphrey Bogart, Greta Garbo, Orson Welles and Henry Fonda to the contemporary with Steven Spielberg, Woody Allen, and Dustin Hoffman, the journey of film history is ripe with drama, comedy, adventure, experiment, wonder, and ultimately inspiration. The film launches forward full-steam rolling great clips and quotes by us at a frenzied rate: before you know it the hundred minute trip is over, reminding us of many of the best moments in film and also some of its most trite and embarrassing. By the way, the tone of the ride is fun and exhiliratory rather than pedantic. Could their be a better way to celebrate American Cinema than to watch a movie in it's honor? So grab your popcorn, your soda, and don't forget your ticket. -- Al Owens