The Top 10 Films of the Year 1968
May 68 will always be recognized as the moment of the biggest student revolts to ever happen. They reminded me of the Maple Spring we had here in the Province of Québec. At first it was the Spring of Prague in Czechoslovakia, then Italy took the relay, the death of three American students in South Carolina, in Poland a movement against the anti-Semitic government burst out, then in Tokyo, and finally in May it was in France that the whole May 68 took full resonance.
In our little world of Film it was the firing of Henri Langlois, the head of the French Cinematheque, which caused got a huge effect on French filmmakers but also got the support of Charlie Chaplin and Stanley Kubrick. Those events had an important influence on films around the entire world, bringing a leftist approach to filmmakers more commonly known as revisionist, See the Westerns of Sergio Leone and Sam Peckinpah. Or Arthur Penn‘s, Bonnie and Clyde. The films of 1970’s (the second Golden Age of Cinema) wouldn’t be the same without the French New Wave and the rise of May 68.
The year 1968 was an outstanding year in movies and let’s see what it brought for us movie lovers.
10. Teorema
Italian director Pier Paolo Pasolini was a master at crafting shocking and multi-layered films. Anyone who has seen Salo or the 120 Days of Sodom perfectly know that. Teorema is about a messianic figure that seduces an entire family of bourgeois and changes every member in a different fashion. A lot of Pasolini’s ideology is symbolized in this film: his communist/catholic opinions and his open sexuality are widely palpable. Often overlooked and lesser known than the aforementioned Salo, it had a big influence on someone like Martin Scorsese.
9. Baisers volés aka Stolen Kisses
The cycle of Antoine Doinel, the alter ego of François Truffaut portrayed by Jean-Pierre Léaud began with the mind blowing The 400 Blows, a cornerstone of the French New Wave and evolved through time in the life of both men. It may not be as revolutionary as their first collaboration together but still a very strong Truffaut film.
8. Witchfinder General
This lesser known Horror movie sees Vincent Pryce star as Matthew Hopkins, a witch hunter. Pryce and Horror is a perfect match and this story is surprisingly well shot. A little gem that is often overlooked.
7. Bullitt
Does this Steve McQueen car movie need a presentation? McQueen was an absolute fan of speed and driving. The car chase sequence took seven days to shoot in the streets of San Francisco. An iconic film with an iconic actor and an iconic car.
6. Shame
One of the few genre films by Swedish master Ingmar Bergman, Skammen or Shame follows a couple of musicians during War time and it studies the involvement of civilians during these incredibly difficult times. Bergman was a man of great ideas and he knew how to translate his vision on the screen with the strong performances of his two lead actors Max Von Sydow and Liv Ullman. A representation of shame on many levels.
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15 Comments
That’s a great set of film for 1968, Michael. Glad to see Peter Yates ‘Bullitt’ make this list — it seems with some that it doesn’t get the respect it deserves beyond usual kudos for Steve McQueen and that car chase. It’s under appreciated, alright. I’d recommend, if you haven’t seen it, John Boorman’s unique vision for his ‘Hell in the Pacific’ film that also came out the same year as the Tet Offensive, with Lee Marvin and Toshiro Mifune in a great two man show. Thanks.
Thanks for the recommandations le0pard13! There are very much appreciated! Since I admire Marvin and Mifune I’ll have to watch it!
Bullitt is a must and we should not musjudge a film when it is such sheer entertainment.
I’ve only seen 2 of these films in the top 10 and I own them on DVD and they’re the top 2 films.
In the honorable mentions list, I’ve seen Romeo & Juliet, Yellow Submarine, and Planet of the Apes.
This top 2 can challenge any top 2 of films of almost every year!
Man, 1968 might be my favorite movie year.
It was indeed a superb year in movies!
I couldn’t get to page 2, what were films 5-1?
Sorry Funk. The link is fixed now
Thanks Castor!
Thank you much, Most excellent.. And great list, plus your honorable mentions. I remember 1968 like yesterday, and did see a few of these movies at the big screen. Still view 1,2 & 7 on a regular basis.
Lots of classics! Those three are great films! Thanks.
Michael, well done! I keep forgetting that 1968 was such a great year. As for myself, I would add both “If…”, “Faces”, “Planet of the Apes”, and “Targets” to my list, and take off “The Produces” and most of the foreign-language films. But you cannot argue at all your #1-4 picks! Outstanding!!
Thank You Karl! I still have to see If… and Planet of the Apes was close to be on the list too!
The foreign language films are essential here and believe me they are worth the look.
Hi, Michael and company:
Another excellent list!
Great catch on ‘Witchfinder General’. Vincent Price could pull off any role, but Horror seemed his most comfortable fit.
‘Bullitt’ without the chase scene is 7/10 of a great film and modern cop procedural. The chase scene completes the film with room to spare. Even if the Charger Bullitt is chasing loses more hubcaps than its assigned number of wheels!
‘The Producers’ and ‘Night Of The Living Dead’ are givens. With directors at the tops of their respective games.
‘Rosemary’s Baby’ is one of Polanski’s best. Great work by John Cassavetes as an
under appreciated superb louse!
‘Once Upon A Time In The West’ gains admission through its opening credits alone.
Let alone a very decent Shoot ‘em Up!
’2001′ is Kubrick’s Magnum Opus to the future we may never see.
Nice addition of ‘Targets’ to the Honorable Mentions.
1968 was such a fun year to have a round up! So many great films and so few spots on a Top 10 list!
Price was sucha great actor! I try to plug him whne I can. And ‘Witchfinder General’ was avery pleasant surprise.
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