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"It's a Wonderful Life" Tops AFI List of 100 Most Inspiring Films of All Time

Posted on Friday, June 16, 2006 and updated on Friday, June 16, 2006 2:08 PM


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LOS ANGELES, June 14, 2006—The American Film Institute (AFI) revealed the most inspiring films of all time in AFI’s 100 Years…100 Cheers, a three-hour special television event on CBS with commentary from many of Hollywood’s most celebrated actors and filmmakers. A jury of 1,500 film artists, critics and historians selected the classic IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, starring James Stewart, as the most inspiring movie of all time. Rounding off the top 10 inspiring films are: TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (#2), SCHINDLER’S LIST (#3), ROCKY (#4), MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (#5), E.T. THE EXTRATERRESTRIAL (#6), THE GRAPES OF WRATH (#7), BREAKING AWAY (#8), MIRACLE ON 34th STREET (#9) and SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (#10).
#MOVIEYEAR
1IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE1946
2TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD1962
3SCHINDLER'S LIST1993
4ROCKY1976
5MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON1939
6E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL1982
7THE GRAPES OF WRATH1940
8BREAKING AWAY1979
9MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET1947
10SAVING PRIVATE RYAN1998
11THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES1946
12APOLLO 131995
13HOOSIERS1986
14THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI1957
15THE MIRACLE WORKER1962
16NORMA RAE1979
17ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST1975
18THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK1959
19THE RIGHT STUFF1983
20PHILADELPHIA1993
21IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT1967
22THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES1942
23THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION1994
24NATIONAL VELVET1944
25SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS1941
26THE WIZARD OF OZ1939
27HIGH NOON1952
28FIELD OF DREAMS1989
29GANDHI1982
30LAWRENCE OF ARABIA1962
31GLORY1989
32CASABLANCA1942
33CITY LIGHTS1931
34ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN1976
35GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER1967
36ON THE WATERFRONT1954
37FORREST GUMP1994
38PINOCCHIO1940
39STAR WARS1977
40MRS. MINIVER1942
41THE SOUND OF MUSIC1965
4212 ANGRY MEN1957
43GONE WITH THE WIND1939
44SPARTACUS1960
45ON GOLDEN POND1981
46LILIES OF THE FIELD1963
472001: A SPACE ODYSSEY1968
48THE AFRICAN QUEEN1951
49MEET JOHN DOE1941
50SEABISCUIT2003
51THE COLOR PURPLE1985
52DEAD POET'S SOCIETY1989
53SHANE1953
54RUDY1993
55THE DEFIANT ONES1958
56BEN-HUR1959
57SERGEANT YORK1941
58CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND1977
59DANCES WITH WOLVES1990
60THE KILLING FIELDS1984
61SOUNDER1972
62BRAVEHEART1995
63RAIN MAN1988
64THE BLACK STALLION1979
65A RAISIN IN THE SUN1961
66SILKWOOD1983
67THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL1951
68AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN1982
69THE SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS1957
70COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER1980
71COOL HAND LUKE1967
72DARK VICTORY1939
73ERIN BROCKOVICH2000
74GUNGA DIN1939
75THE VERDICT1982
76BIRDMAN OF ALCATRAZ1962
77DRIVING MISS DAISY1989
78THELMA & LOUISE1991
79THE TEN COMMANDMENTS1956
80BABE1995
81BOYS TOWN1938
82FIDDLER ON THE ROOF1971
83MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN1936
84SERPICO1973
85WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT1993
86STAND AND DELIVER1988
87WORKING GIRL1988
88YANKEE DOODLE DANDY1942
89HAROLD AND MAUDE1972
90HOTEL RWANDA2004
91THE PAPER CHASE1973
92FAME1980
93A BEAUTIFUL MIND2001
94CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS1937
95PLACES IN THE HEART1984
96SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISCHER1993
97MADAME CURIE1943
98THE KARATE KID1984
99RAY2004
100CHARIOTS OF FIRE1981
The Criteria The jurors were asked to consider the following criteria in making their selections: - FEATURE-LENGTH FICTION FILM: Narrative format, typically over 60 minutes in length. - AMERICAN FILM: English language film with significant creative and/or production elements from the United States. - CHEERS: Movies that inspire with characters of vision and conviction who face adversity and often make a personal sacrifice for the greater good. Whether these movies end happily or not, they are ultimately triumphant--both filling audiences with hope and empowering them with the spirit of human potential. - LEGACY: Films whose "cheers" continue to echo across a century of American cinema. *Only feature-length American films released before January 1, 2005, were considered. About the American Film Institute AFI is a national institute providing leadership in screen education and the recognition and celebration of excellence in the art of film, television and digital media. AFI trains the next generation of filmmakers at its world-renowned Conservatory, maintains America's film heritage through the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and explores new digital technologies in entertainment and education through the AFI Digital Content Lab and K-12 Screen Education Center. As the largest nonprofit exhibitor in the U.S., AFI ON SCREEN encompasses the annual AFI FEST presented by Audi: AFI Los Angeles International Film Festival—as well as year-round programming at ArcLight Hollywood and the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring, Maryland, including SILVERDOCS: AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Festival. AFI AWARDS, the annual almanac for the 21st century, honors the most outstanding motion pictures and television programs of the year, while AFI's 100 Years… series has ignited extraordinary public interest in classic American movies. And, during the past 33 years, AFI's Life Achievement Award has become the highest honor for a career in film. More information about AFI can be found by visiting its Web site, located at www.AFI.com. Source: AFI Press Release


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