The Writer's Guild of America was formed in 1954 by Hollywood screenwriters. It's comprised of two groups, one representing writers on the West Coast, the other representing writers on the East Coast. The Guild released their list of the Best Screenplays of the 21st Century earlier this month, and movie fans are taking a look back at their previous list of 101 Best Screenplays of All Time. With many classic films such as Some Like it Hot and The Godfather, there are many films whose screenplays are considered the best of the best.
Many of these films have been recognized by the American Film Institute, as well as the Library of Congress due to their cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance. The WGA's list recognizes the screenplays of both classic movies and modern favorites, but which 10 do they consider the best of all time?
The Godfather Part II (1974)
The acclaimed sequel to The Godfather portrays the early life and career of Vito Corleone, while his son Michael expands and tightens his grip on the crime family syndicate. To many, The Godfather Part II is significantly better than the original, including better production and story structure that weaves Vito's coming-of-age story with Michael's present-day narrative of succeeding his now-deceased father.
According to Forbes, co-producer Fred Roos says he didn't just consider it one of the best sequels of all time, but one of the 20 best movies ever made. It became the first sequel to win the Academy Award for Best Picture and has been recognized by the American Film Institute, who included it on multiple Top 100 lists.
Some Like it Hot (1959)
Marilyn Monroe stars in this romantic comedy directed, produced, and co-written by Billy Wilder. It follows two musicians who disguise themselves as women to escape from Mafia gangsters after witnessing them commit a crime. The film opened to commercial and critical success, receiving six Academy Award nominations, winning Best Costume Design.
NPR reports that Some Like it Hot was filmed without the approval of the Hayes Code, due to its inclusion of LGBT-related themes, including cross-dressing. The film's overwhelming success contributed to its eventual replacement, due to greater social tolerance. Considered a timeless comedy masterpiece, Some Like it Hot was adapted into a Broadway production called Sugar in 1972.
Network (1976)
Faye Dunaway and William Holden star in Network, about fictional network UBS struggling with poor ratings. UBS exploits a deranged former anchor's ravings and revelations about the news media for profit but quickly finds that his message is difficult to control. It was a five-time Academy Award winner, taking home the Oscar for Best Actor, Actress, Supp Actress, and Original Screenplay.
Vincent Canby's review for the New York Times calls the film outrageous, brilliantly, and cruelly funny, adding that it confirms Paddy Chayefsky as a new American satirist. Network has left a strong influence on pop culture, with many works referencing the film, including its famous catchphrase, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!"
Sunset Blvd. (1950)
Another Billy Wilder feature, Sunset Blvd. is about a screenwriter who develops a dangerous relationship with a dated film star determined to make a triumphant return. William Holden plays Joe Gillis, the struggling screenwriter who is pulled into the demented fantasy world of silent film star Nora Desmond.
Praised upon release, the three-time Academy Award winner is often ranked among the greatest movies ever made. The film has had numerous musical adaptations, with its Black & Hampton and Andrew Lloyd Webber collaboration being the most successful. A film adaptation of the musical is in development, as reported by Broadway.com.
Annie Hall (1977)
Woody Allen's romantic comedy-drama Annie Hall stars Allen as Alvy Singer, a comedian trying to figure out why his relationship with Annie failed. The titular role was written for Diane Keaton, who co-starred in the film.
The film was met with acclaim and has been the subject of analysis due to its themes of love and sexuality, modern Jewish identity, and Allen's neurotic persona. Annie Hall created a strong legacy, with costume designer Ruth Morely creating looks that influenced the fashion world, and the film itself is known for breaking the fourth wall, making it a masterpiece in comedy and meta narration.
All About Eve (1950)
Drama All About Eve is about Eve Harrington, an ambitious young fan of aging star Margo Channing, and how she inserts herself in Channing's life, ultimately threatening her career and personal relationships. The six-time award winner was the first film in Oscar history to earn four female acting nominations for stars Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, Thelma Ritter, and Celeste Holm.
All About Eve was met with overwhelmingly positive reviews upon release and has often been compared favorably to Sunset Blvd., which was released in the same year. The film has been adapted for radio and the stage and inspired the stage musical Applause. The plot has been referenced numerous times in pop culture, and its themes of the downfalls of stardom and aging have been analyzed by critics and academics alike.
Citizen Kane (1941)
Orson Welles produced, directed, and starred in Citizen Kane, a quasi-autobiographical film based on the life of Charles Foster Kane. The film is known for rejecting the traditional linear narrative most films use, telling the story entirely in flashbacks from different points of view.
Despite being a critical success, Citizen Kane didn't succeed at the box office due to its limited release. In the decades since, it's been considered the most influential of all time, the cinematography inspiring John Huston's The Maltese Falcon. Its flashback structure was also the inspiration for film noirs released in the 1940s and '50s.
Chinatown (1974)
Directed by Roman Polanski, Chinatown stars Jack Nicholson as private detective Jake Gittes, who finds himself caught in a web of deceit, corruption, and murder after he's hired to expose an adulterer in Los Angeles. It holds a 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising Robert Towne's screenplay and performances from its leads.
The screenplay is legendary amongst critics and is often cited as one of the best due to its tight structure and memorable characters like Nicholson's weary investigator and John Huston's charismatic and corrupt Noah Cross. Chinatown is also considered one of the ten best mystery movies of all time by the American Film Institute, and the film received a sequel in 1990 called The Two Jakes. David Fincher announced a Netflix prequel series in 2019, according to Deadline.
The Godfather (1972)
The first installment of the epic crime trilogy, The Godfather stars Marlon Brando as Mafia Don Vito Corleone, who passes the mantel to his unwilling son Michael. Based on Mario Puzo's novel of the same name, the film won Best Picture, Best Actor (Brando), and Best Adapted Screenplay at the 45th Academy Awards.
The Godfather was a massive success, breaking several box office records, and received overwhelming critical acclaim. Brando's performance of Corleone still holds up today, and many of the elements remain loved by fans, including the iconic final scene. Coppola's gangster masterpiece has been referenced and parodied in pop culture in the years since its release, most notably in 1990's The Freshmen, which also starred Brando in a rare comedic role.
Casablanca (1942)
Casablanca is a romantic drama about a cynical American expatriate who must choose whether to help his former lover and her fugitive husband escape the Nazis in French Morocco. It won Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay.
While Citizen Kane is often considered the greatest film of all time, many feel Casablanca deserves the title. The film explores the themes of sacrifice, and critics feel it works as a political allegory. There have been numerous adaptations, and it's considered one of Ingrid Berman's top films.