British Film Institute's "Top 100 British Films of the 20th Century"

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Early in 1999, the British Film Institute produced a selection booklet and sent copies to 1,000 people embracing all strands of the film, cinema and television industries throughout the UK – producers, directors, writers, actors, technicians, academics, exhibitors, distributors, executives and critics. Participants were asked to consider (and vote for up to 100) ‘culturally British’ feature films, released in cinemas during the 20th century, which they felt had made a strong and lasting impression. Altogether, more than 25,700 votes were cast, covering 820 different films.

Pages: 1

  1. 1.
    The Third Man (The Criterion Collection)
    by Carol Reed

  2. 2.
    Brief Encounter (The Criterion Collection)
    by David Lean

  3. 3.
    Lawrence of Arabia
    by David Lean

  4. 4.
    The 39 Steps (The Criterion Collection)
    by Alfred Hitchcock

  5. 5.
    Great Expectations (The Criterion Collection)
    by David Lean

  6. 6.
    Kind Hearts and Coronets
    by Robert Hamer

  7. 7.

  8. 8.
    Don't Look Now
    by Nicolas Roeg

  9. 9.
    The Red Shoes - Criterion Collection
    by Michael Powell

  10. 10.
    Trainspotting
    by Danny Boyle

  11. 11.
    The Bridge on the River Kwai (Limited Edition)
    by David Lean

  12. 12.
    If... (The Criterion Collection)
    by Lindsay Anderson

  13. 13.
    The Ladykillers
    by Alexander Mackendrick

  14. 14.
    Saturday Night and Sunday Morning
    by Karel Reisz

  15. 15.
    Brighton Rock
    by John Boulting 1947 (UK) 92min

  16. 16.
    Get Carter
    by Mike Hodges

  17. 17.
    The Lavender Hill Mob
    by Charles Crichton

  18. 18.
    Henry V (The Criterion Collection)
    by Laurence Olivier

  19. 19.

  20. 21.
    The Long Good Friday (The Criterion Collection)
    by John Mackenzie

  21. 22.
    The Servant
    by Joseph Losey

  22. 23.
    Four Weddings and a Funeral
    by Mike Newell

  23. 24.
    Whisky Galore! (1949)
    by Alexander Mackendrick

  24. 25.
    The Full Monty
    by Peter Cattaneo

  25. 26.
    The Crying Game
    by Neil Jordan

  26. 27.
    Doctor Zhivago (Two-Disc Special Edition)
    by David Lean

  27. 28.
    Monty Python's Life of Brian (The Criterion Collection)
    by Terry Jones

  28. 29.
    Withnail and I (The Criterion Collection)
    by Bruce Robinson

  29. 30.
    Gregory's Girl
    by Bill Forsyth

  30. 31.
    Zulu

  31. 32.
    Room at the Top

  32. 33.
    Alfie (Widescreen)
    by Lewis Gilbert

  33. 34.
    Gandhi
    by Richard Attenborough

  34. 35.
    The Lady Vanishes (The Criterion Collection)
    by Alfred Hitchcock

  35. 36.
    The Italian Job
    by Peter Collinson

  36. 37.
    Local Hero
    by Bill Forsyth

  37. 38.
    The Commitments
    by Alan Parker

  38. 39.
    A Fish Called Wanda

  39. 40.
    Secrets and Lies
    by Mike Leigh

  40. 41.
    Dr. No (Special Edition)
    by Terence Young

  41. 42.
    The Madness of King George
    by Nicholas Hytner

  42. 43.
    A Man for All Seasons
    by Fred Zinnemann

  43. 44.
    Black Narcissus (The Criterion Collection)
    by Emeric Pressburger

  44. 45.
    The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (The Criterion Collection)
    by Emeric Pressburger

  45. 46.
    Oliver Twist (The Criterion Collection)
    by David Lean

  46. 47.
    I'm All Right Jack

  47. 48.
    Performance
    by Nicolas Roeg

  48. 49.
    Shakespeare in Love (Miramax Collector's Series)
    by John Madden

  49. 50.
    My Beautiful Laundrette
    by Stephen Frears

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Created by Robot Co-op on Nov 30, 2005.
 

Comments

Untitled — 2 years ago

Am I wrong, or is Sleuth not in here? What a gross overlook!


Untitled — 3 years ago

Just realised that A Canterbury Tale is not on this list!!!

I know there’s a lot of P&P on the list already, and that’s probably why it was left off; all the same, when I compare that film to a number of the sheer mediocrities on this list, it seems absurd.


Untitled — 4 years ago

Anyone wanting to delve a bit further could take a peek at my list of “200+ Essential British Films”! I do think Bill Douglas’ trilogy, or at least My Childhood (one of the very greatest British films), should be here.


About the BFI list — 6 years ago

The original list is online at the BFI site:

http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/bfi100/

and it is worth reading what the rational for choice was and also what the definition of “British” was.

Chariots of Fire is number 19 on the list. Also, number 89 is mistitled, since the film chosen was actually Jenning’s Fires Were Started, which is on that DVD collection.


Wonderful list! — 6 years ago

I grew up in the Commonwealth so saw a lot of these films before realising what Hollywood realy was about. Looking back, some of these films a true gems!

The “Carry on…” series of comedies brought immense delight, laughter and happiness to our large family in the 60`s and 70`s.

I am surprised that “Sound of Music” and “My Fair Lady” did not make the top 100 in the voting, I wonder also where the brilliant “Chariots of Fire” ended?

[Iv’e added some posters but why are my icons square?]




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