The AFI Catalog of Feature Films , also known as the AFI Catalog , is an ongoing project by the American Film Institute (AFI) to catalog all commercially-made and theatrically exhibited American motion pictures from the birth of cinema in 1893 to the present. It began as a series of hardcover books known as The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures , and subsequently became an exclusively online filmographic database .
31-401: Each entry in the catalog typically includes the film's title, physical description, production and distribution companies, production and release dates, cast and production credits , a plot summary, song titles, and notes on the film's history. The films are indexed by personal credits, production and distribution companies, year of release, and major and minor plot subjects. To qualify for
62-428: A "brilliant blow against racial and religious intolerance". The Daily Mirror assessed it as "the most explosive picture of the year" and "one of the most exciting and punch-laden pictures you've ever seen." In addition to winning Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actress ( Celeste Holm ), Gentleman's Agreement was one of Fox's highest-grossing movies of 1947. The political nature of
93-478: A careful analysis, an extraordinarily naive role." On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes , the film holds an aggregate score of 82% based on 83 critic reviews, with an average rating of 7.1/10. The website's consensus reads: "It occasionally fails to live up to its subject matter – and is perhaps an 'important' film more than a 'great' one – but the performances from Gregory Peck and Dorothy McGuire are superb." The New York Herald Tribune described it as
124-634: A heart attack at the age of 39 before his second hearing date. In recognition for producing Gentleman's Agreement , the Hollywood chapter of B'nai B'rith International honored Darryl Zanuck as its "Man of the Year" for 1948. On Sunday, December 12, a gala commemoration evening was held in downtown Los Angeles at the Biltmore Hotel before a crowd of over a thousand. Among the tributes to Zanuck, New Mexico Senator Clinton Anderson said, "He does not storm up and down
155-565: A length of at least four reels ). With that said, the Catalog has included over 17,000 short films (those less than 40 minutes/four reels) from the first era of filmmaking (1893–1910). The print version comprises five volumes documenting all films produced in the United States from 1892 to 1993, while new records are created by the AFI editorial team and added each year to the online database. In 1965,
186-459: A lesser role in the film to be a part of it. Portions of the film were shot on location in Darien, Connecticut . Gentleman's Agreement received a generally favorable reception from influential New York Times critic Bosley Crowther . Crowther said that "every point about prejudice which Miss Hobson had to make in her book has been made with superior illustration and more graphic demonstration in
217-482: A subsidiary. Film studios also create television programs for broadcast syndication . Gentleman%27s Agreement Gentleman's Agreement is a 1947 American drama film based on Laura Z. Hobson 's best-selling 1947 novel of the same title . The film is about a journalist (played by Gregory Peck ) who pretends to be Jewish to research an exposé on the widespread antisemitism in New York City and
248-489: Is friendly to Phil, though many people cancel at the last minute. Dave announces he will have to quit his job because he cannot find a residence for his family. Kathy owns a vacant cottage in Darien and Phil sees it as a solution to Dave's problem. Kathy, however, is unwilling to offend her neighbors by renting it to a Jewish family. Phil breaks his engagement to her and announces he will be moving away from New York when his article
279-437: Is not enthusiastic about the story. At a lunch party, Phil meets Minify's niece Kathy Lacey, who is actually the person who suggested the story idea. The next day, at home, Phil admits his surprise after learning that the idea came from "a girl". His mother mocks him for his anti-female prejudice. Phil then tries to explain anti-Jewish prejudice to his son. Realizing how difficult it is to explain these topics, he decides to write
310-638: Is published. When it comes out, it is well received by the magazine staff. Kathy meets with Dave and tells him how sick she felt when a party guest told a bigoted joke. However, she has no answer when Dave asks her what she did about it. She realizes that remaining silent condones the prejudice. The next day, Dave announces that he and his family will be moving into the cottage in Darien and Kathy will be moving in with her sister next door to make sure they are treated well. Moved by this, Phil reconciles with Kathy. His mother, still recovering from her heart condition, tells Phil that his article has given her new hope for
341-417: Is scarce in the city, but it is particularly difficult for him, since not all landlords will rent to a Jewish family. While researching his story, Phil experiences several incidents of bigotry. When Phil's mother becomes ill with a heart condition, the doctor discourages him from consulting a specialist with a Jewish name. After hearing Phil is Jewish, the doctor becomes uncomfortable and leaves. In addition,
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#1733092603145372-579: The 1920s ). The first AFI Catalog was published thereafter in 1971 by the University of California Press ; the publication featured, as encyclopedic volumes, the records for every American feature film released during the 1920s' period. The Catalog began as a series of hardcover books known as The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures , published by the University of California Press (excluding vol. A) from 1971 to 1993. The print version comprises seven volumes documenting all films produced in
403-410: The epithet is wrong in and of itself. Kathy's attitudes are revealed further when she and Phil announce their engagement. Her sister Jane invites them to a celebration in her home in Darien , which is known to be a community where Jews are not welcome. Fearing an awkward scene, Kathy wants to tell her family and friends that Phil only pretends to be Jewish, but he dissuades her. At the party, everyone
434-780: The "Arts and Humanities Bill" was signed into law by U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson ; it established the American Film Institute (AFI), as well as the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities . As there was no existing listings of films of the past—making preservation an immediate concern—the Bill obliged the AFI to build a new "catalog" of feature films that would protect cultural history from being lost in obscurity or disappearing entirely. In 1967,
465-479: The "Feature Films" volumes, a film must have been commercially produced either on American soil or by an American company. In accordance with the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF; French : Fédération Internationale des Archives du Film ), the film must have also been given a theatrical release in 35 mm or larger gauge to the general public, with a running time of at least 40 minutes (or
496-505: The AFI officially began operation, documenting the first century of American filmmaking through the AFI Catalog of Feature Films . The Catalog was the first scholarly listing of American films, "with academically vetted information about the existence, availability and sources of motion pictures already produced, spanning the entirety of the art form since 1893." From 1968 to 1971, AFI researched film production between 1921 and 1930 (i.e.,
527-519: The United States from 1892 to 1970. The publication of the hardcover volumes was suspended due to budgetary reasons after volume F4 (1941–50) in 1997. Feature films released from 1951 to 1960 and from 1971 to 1993 have been cataloged only in the online database. Subtitled "A Work in Progress" due to the scant information available on many films released in this era. Foreign-made films are included if they were released by American companies. With this volume,
558-601: The United States in that period. The hardcover edition includes pornographic features , although they have been excluded from the electronic database edition. Errors in the print editions have been carried over to the online version, despite published criticisms, and there is no means by which users can offer discussions or corrections. This is the first of the AFI Catalog series to include films from more than one decade. It contains over 2500 feature-length films whose central components include racial and national ethnic experience in
589-421: The United States, such as Gentleman's Agreement (1947), Broken Arrow (1950), Bright Victory (1951), Giant (1956), and The Defiant Ones (1958). This volume also includes various independent productions by African-American filmmakers and various ethnic and religious organizations. The project estimates that additional years will be cataloged at six-month intervals. Film school students are offered
620-465: The affluent communities of New Canaan and Darien, Connecticut . It was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won three: Best Picture , Best Supporting Actress ( Celeste Holm ), and Best Director ( Elia Kazan ). The movie was controversial in its day, as was a similar film on the same subject, Crossfire , which was released the same year (though that film was originally a story about anti-homosexuality, later changed to antisemitism). In 2017,
651-516: The film to pass the censors, as he had been known to make disparaging remarks about Jews. There was also concern that Dorothy McGuire's character being divorced would offend the National Legion of Decency . The role of Phillip Green was first offered to Cary Grant , but he turned it down. Peck decided to accept the role, although his agent advised him to refuse, believing Peck would be endangering his career. Jewish actor John Garfield agreed to play
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#1733092603145682-554: The film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". Widowed journalist Philip Schuyler Green moves to New York City with his aging mother and his young son Tommy. Phil meets with magazine publisher John Minify, who asks Green, a gentile , to write an article on antisemitism . At first, he
713-630: The film, however, upset the House Un-American Activities Committee , with Elia Kazan , John Garfield , and Anne Revere all being called to testify before the committee. Revere refused to testify and although Garfield appeared, he refused to "name names". Both were placed in the Red Channels of the Hollywood Blacklist . Garfield remained on the blacklist for a year, was called again to testify against his wife, and died of
744-410: The film, so that the sweep of her moral indignation is not only widened, but intensified thereby". However, Crowther also said that the movie shared the novel's failings in that "explorations are narrowly confined to the upper-class social and professional level to which he is immediately exposed". He also said the main character's shock at the extent of anti-Semitism was lacking in credibility: "It is, in
775-535: The future, a new motivation to get well. Zanuck decided to make a film version of Hobson's novel after being refused membership in the Los Angeles Country Club , because it was assumed (incorrectly) that he was Jewish. Before filming commenced, Samuel Goldwyn and other Jewish film executives approached Darryl Zanuck and asked him not to make the film, fearing it would "stir up trouble". They also warned that Hays Code enforcer Joseph Breen might not allow
806-416: The janitor is shocked to see that a Jewish name is listed on the mail box. Furthermore, when Phil wants to celebrate his honeymoon at a swanky hotel, the manager refuses to register Phil, whom he tells to go elsewhere. Tommy also becomes the target of bullies because of this. Phil is troubled by the way Kathy consoles Tommy, telling him their taunts of "dirty Jew" are wrong because he is not Jewish, not that
837-530: The magazine to adopt hiring policies that are open to Jews. Phil meets fashion editor Anne Dettrey, who becomes a good friend and potentially more, particularly as strains develop between Phil and Kathy. After completing his service in WWII, Dave Goldman, Phil's childhood friend, moves to New York and lives with the Greens while searching a job and a home for his family. Being Jewish, Dave also experiences antisemitism. Housing
868-670: The opportunity to provide plot synopses and original research, but input from other, experienced film researchers is not encouraged. The project will also eventually catalog short films (beyond 1910) and newsreels . List of film production companies This is a list of film production and distribution companies. A production company may specialize in producing their in-house films or own subsidiary development companies. Major production companies often distribute films from independent production companies. This list includes both active and no longer active (defunct) companies. Active production companies are either run by themselves or as
899-471: The project began to include plot summaries written especially for the catalog from viewing the movie itself, whenever possible, instead of relying on plot summaries taken from copyright registrations, studio publicity materials, or reviews. Due to the large number of co-productions between American and foreign companies in the 1960s, and the difficulty of determining any particular film's nationality, this volume includes all feature films released theatrically in
930-455: The story. Phil and Kathy begin dating and Phil adopts a Jewish identity to write the story from a fresh perspective. They agree to keep it secret that Phil is not Jewish. Despite seeming to have liberal views, Kathy is taken aback after learning of Phil's plan. At the magazine, Phil is assigned a secretary, Elaine Wales. She turns out to be Jewish, but changed her name to get the job. After learning of Wales' experience from Phil, Minify orders
961-420: The streets of a community, urging its citizens to do good. He does not fill the pages of books with words that string together into a sermon. He allows you to be seated comfortably in a theater, to be absorbed in a problem and to walk out into the night with your thoughts clarified and your lips saying, 'This situation ought to be changed'." After the formal speeches there was a star-studded variety show, including