What's the greatest film your country has produced?

[Gaith]

Simple question: what's the greatest film your country has produced? Yes, you must pick one and only one. Of course, many films these days are decidedly international efforts, with cast and crew and financing and productions assembled from around the world, and some movies may therefore be fairly said to come from more than one country, but... use your judgment, I guess, and err on the side of non-international productions. (LotR, for instance, I'd call as American a movie as a Kiwi one, being produced by an American studio with a thoroughly international cast, so I'd discourage that as a pick for either country.)

I'll go first.

USA: Apocalypse Now (1979)

... Who's next?
​

 

[Locutus of Bored]

I have to go with Coppola again with The Godfather (1972) - USA.

 

[HIjol]

America:

Tie between "The Godfather" and "The Godfather II"
"Apocalypse Now" is close on the heels.

 

[Melakon]

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

 

[Mojochi]

 

[Dr. Funkenstein]

It would really depend on the genre.

For example, the best comedy for me would be Airplane!, while the best action flick would be Raiders of the Lost Ark and the best gangster movie would be Pulp Fiction.

There's no such thing as just one greatest film simply because the category is too large.

 

[Gaith]

^ Hey, Doc, this is like an international movie picnic or film festival something. You only get to bring one, or none at all. Rules are rules.

The Bridge on the River Kwai

I take it that's a nomination for Britain? Based on a book by a Frenchman, written by two Yanks, co-starring a Yank, produced by an Austrian-American... by a British production company, co-starring several Brits, directed by a Brit. That's about as international a production as it gets, really... but, it is a strong choice, so I guess I'll hesitantly allow it.

 

[HIjol]

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

oooo...A Classic!!!

 

[CorporalCaptain]

USA - Star Wars (1977).

 

[Amaris]

USA - Star Wars (1977).

Oh, that's a good one! For me it's still in the Lucas camp, and it has to be Raiders of the Lost Ark (USA).

 

[MacLeod]

^ Hey, Doc, this is like an international movie picnic or film festival something. You only get to bring one, or none at all. Rules are rules.

The Bridge on the River Kwai

I take it that's a nomination for Britain? Based on a book by a Frenchman, written by two Yanks, co-starring a Yank, produced by an Austrian-American... by a British production company, co-starring several Brits, directed by a Brit. That's about as international a production as it gets, really... but, it is a strong choice, so I guess I'll hesitantly allow it.

Don't see an issue with it, as IMDB lists its as a UK film, whilst a film like Skyfall says UK / US.

Though I think you should allow international productions, Sure LOTR was financed by an American studio, but I don't think of them as an American film, more a New Zealand film. Whilst 2001: A Space Odyssey being a UK/US co-production I think of more as an American film.

Others might percieve them differently however, but your idea your rules.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

USA - Vertigo

Is there anyone here who isn't from the US? Maybe we should open this up to list best movies from countries.

 

[Gaith]

^ Maybe, but I'm really particularly interested in what different countries' citizens think of their own nations' best works. Where's our international BBS crowd?

Don't see an issue with it, as IMDB lists its as a UK film, whilst a film like Skyfall says UK / US.

Though I think you should allow international productions, Sure LOTR was financed by an American studio, but I don't think of them as an American film, more a New Zealand film.

Who're you gonna believe, IMDB or my lyin' facts? Also, LotR didn't just have American financing, it was co-produced (as in actually put together) by two Yanks, with all of one New Zealander (Karl Urban) in its heavily international main cast, based on an English book, with an international design team. Yes, it had Kiwi writers, co-producers, and PJ, and was certainly a huge effort in NZ film history, but for the purposes of this thread I'm mainly interested in movies that are more clearly the product of one country. But, if any NZ posters want to pick it anyhow, that's of course their right.

 

[auntiehill]

Citizen Kane (1941)

 

[Mojochi]

^ Hey, Doc, this is like an international movie picnic or film festival something. You only get to bring one, or none at all. Rules are rules.

The Bridge on the River Kwai

I take it that's a nomination for Britain? Based on a book by a Frenchman, written by two Yanks, co-starring a Yank, produced by an Austrian-American... by a British production company, co-starring several Brits, directed by a Brit. That's about as international a production as it gets, really... but, it is a strong choice, so I guess I'll hesitantly allow it.

I hesitated on it myself. It really falls into a broader category I guess, like The Great Escape. It's tough to nail it down when we narrow it to something strictly American

If I narrow those parameters, I'd say maybe.......... The Shawshank Redemption

 

[J.T.B.]

USA - Star Wars (1977).

Love it down to my bones, but, well, made in Britain and Tunisia with a mostly British crew. For the same reason I can't go for Dr. Strangelove or my other Kubrick faves.

USA - Vertigo

Love it, British director.

Citizen Kane (1941)

Great one.

For me, I've got to go with the quintessentially American genre, iconic American scenery, and the mid-20th century's most distinctly American director. In Vistavision! The Searchers.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

USA - Star Wars (1977).

Love it down to my bones, but, well, made in Britain and Tunisia with a mostly British crew.

Yeah. This is where the definition of a film's nationality comes into play.

If the OP accepts what is generally or at least often the described nationality of Star Wars, American, then for the purposes of this thread I'll stick with my pick. Otherwise, I'll change it.

 

[J.T.B.]

If the OP accepts what is generally or at least often the described nationality of Star Wars, American, then for the purposes of this thread I'll stick with my pick. Otherwise, I'll change it.

I didn't mean it seriously, it was just my own thought process. Star Wars is American!

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I don't think the nationality of the director determines the nationality of the film. Luis Bunuel is Spanish, but Los Olvidados is a Mexican movie and The Discreet Charm Of The Bourgeouisis is a French one.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

If the OP accepts what is generally or at least often the described nationality of Star Wars, American, then for the purposes of this thread I'll stick with my pick. Otherwise, I'll change it.

I didn't mean it seriously, it was just my own thought process. Star Wars is American!

Gotya, but it's a fair question.