RIP Robin Wood (1931-2009)

By: Paul Johnson

The great Canadian film critic, author of HOLLYWOOD FROM VIETNAM TO REAGAN, HITCHCOCK’S FILMS and SEXUAL POLITICS AND NARRATIVE FILM, has died. His book on Hitchcock remains one of the definitive critical studies of the Hitchcock oeuvre, and his canonical essay, “The American Nightmare,” on 1970s US horror cinema, has informed thinking about horror movies of that era ever since. Here’s a list of 10 of his favorite films according to Criterion: http://www.criterion.com/explore/56

ADDENDUM: Pace the comments below, I’ve added his top 10 + 1 (except for RALLY ROUND THE FLAG, BOYS, missing from the auteurs’ database) from his Sight & Sound greatest films ballot from 2002: http://www.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/topten/poll/voter.php?forename=Robin&surname=Wood. Also added: favorites from his 72, 82 & 92 lists. MIA: MY LOVE HAS BEEN BURNING, A PASSION

01

Sansho the Bailiff

Kenji Mizoguchi
02

Playtime

Jacques Tati
03

Mr. Arkadin

Orson Welles
04

Seven Samurai

Akira Kurosawa
05

Pickup on South Street

Samuel Fuller
06

The Lady Eve

Preston Sturges
07

Tokyo Story

Yasujirô Ozu
08

I Know Where I'm Going!

Michael Powell
09

Band of Outsiders

Jean-Luc Godard
10

Notorious

Alfred Hitchcock
11

Rio Bravo

Howard Hawks
12

The Young Girls of Rochefort

Jacques Demy
13

Heaven's Gate

Michael Cimino
14

I Walked with a Zombie

Jacques Tourneur
15

Late Spring

Yasujirô Ozu
16

Marnie

Alfred Hitchcock
17

The Reckless Moment

Max Ophüls
18

The Rules of the Game

Jean Renoir
19

Ugetsu

Kenji Mizoguchi
20

The Piano Teacher

Michael Haneke
21

Céline and Julie Go Boating

Jacques Rivette
22

Letter from an Unknown Woman

Max Ophüls
23

The Scarlet Empress

Josef von Sternberg
24

The Crucified Lovers

Kenji Mizoguchi
25

Days of Heaven

Terrence Malick
26

The Greatest Love

Roberto Rossellini
27

Tout va bien

Jean-Luc Godard
28

Vertigo

Alfred Hitchcock
29

Sunrise

F.W. Murnau
30

Bigger Than Life

Nicholas Ray
31

Days and Nights in the Forest

Satyajit Ray
32

Voyage to Italy

Roberto Rossellini

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ExileinArden

19Dec09

Not just a critic but a visionary, Wood has done as much to expand the thinking of his readers as any intellectual of the last century. I have long been unable to admit any other writer on film as his equal and, though his writings will continue to guide and challenge my thinking, not only on individual films but on literature, art, politics, 'life itself' as it were, I cannot think of another consciousness whose passing could rob us of so much stimulation-- with any new film that intrigues or enchants, I must ask myself in vain, 'what will Wood make of this?' Though my view might be at odds, I am bereft to think we must do without his.

Paul Johnson

19Dec09

Thanks for all the additional lists to pull from.

Kenji

19Dec09

other favourites (in Sight and Sound polls, 72, 82, 92..) : Celine and Julie go Boating, Letter from an Unknown Woman, My Love has been Burning (Mizoguchi), The Scarlet Empress, Chikamatsu Monogatari, Days of Heaven, Europa 51, Tout Va Bien, Vertigo, A Passion, Sunrise, Bigger than Life, Days and Nights in the Forest, Voyage to Italy