We acknowledge the Gadigal of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the Country on which the Art Gallery of New South Wales stands.

Film series: Epic America 6 November 2013 – 9 February 2014

By Robert Herbert, curator, film (until June 2017)
Two cowboys look in the distance. Behind them are two horses and a butte.

Still from The searchers, 1956

A cinematic history

The selection of films in Epic America presents a chronological overview of some of the most important events shaping American history: slavery; the annexation of the 'wild west'; the American Civil War; mass immigration; the Great Depression; the perplexities of the post-war era – all seen through the work of some of the most influential directors, writers and cinematographers. Human drama is brought to life on a grand scale, seen against the background of war, political upheaval, social injustice, economic and natural disaster, and the quest for power and wealth.

Screening from 6 November 2013 to 9 February 2014 in conjunction with the exhibition America: painting a nation – the most expansive survey of American painting ever assembled in Australia – this series presents epic stories of a great nation. The films are presented through high-quality 35mm prints borrowed from local and international archives.

Films

  • 6, 10 November – Amistad (director Steven Spielberg, US, 1997, 35mm)

  • 13 November – The General (directors Buster Keaton, Clyde Bruckman, US, 1927, 35mm)

  • 13, 17 November – Meek’s cutoff (director Kelly Reichardt, US, 2010, 35mm)

  • 20, 24 November – Glory (director Edward Zwick, US, 1989, 35mm)

  • 27 November, 1 December – Lincoln (director Steven Spielberg, US, 2012, 35mm)

  • 4, 8 December – The searchers (director John Ford, US, 1956, 35mm)

  • 11, 15 December – The assassination of Jesse James by the coward Robert Ford (director Andrew Dominik, US, 2007, 35mm)

  • 8, 12 December – Unforgiven (director Clint Eastwood, US, 1992, 35mm)

  • 11 January – The age of innocence (director Martin Scorsese, US, 1993, 35mm)

  • 15, 19 January – There will be blood (director Paul Thomas Anderson, US, 2007, 35mm)

  • 18 January – Hester Street (director Joan Micklin Silver, US, 1975, 35mm)

  • 22, 26 January – The grapes of wrath (director John Ford, US, 1940, 35mm)

  • 25 January – Citizen Kane (director Orson Welles, US, 1941, 35mm)

  • 27 January – Bonnie and Clyde (director Arthur Penn, US, 1967, 35mm)

  • 29 January, 2 February – To kill a mockingbird (director Robert Mulligan, US, 1962, 35mm)

  • 1 February – They shoot horses, don’t they? (director Sydney Pollack, US, 1969, 35mm)

  • 5, 9 February – Pollock (director Ed Harris, US, 2000, 35mm)

Six people with dark brown skin with chains around their necks. The sun is beating down on them.

Still from Amistad, 1997

A person with light skin is bent down. Close behind them is a train.

Still from The general, 1927

A person with light skin wearing a pale bonnet and shawl points at something with their right hand.

Still from Meek's cutoff, 2010

Severl people with dark brown skin wearing train driver caps look at someone whose back is to the camera.

Still from Glory, 1989

A man with light skin and a thick beard sits in front of a building.

Still from Lincoln, 2012

Two cowboys look in the distance. Behind them are two horses and a butte.

Still from The searchers, 1956

Two people with light skin stand in a golden field. Behind them are large clouds.

Still from The assassination of Jesse James by the coward Robert Ford, 2007

Two people wearing thick coats and fedoras are riding horses next to a road.

Still from Unforgiven, 1992

A man kisses the neck of a woman. Both are seated on an ornate sofa.

Still from The age of innocence, 1993

A close-up of a person's with light skin's face. They are wearing a fedora and half their face is hidden in shadow.

Still from There will be blood, 2003

Two people seated at a table are facing each other. Behind them are stacks of upturned chairs.

Still from Hester Street, 1975

A tall person wearting a suit and cap looks over their shoulder. Next to them a person wearing a shawl looks up at them imploringly.

Still from The grapes of wrath, 1940

Two people wearing suits are standing. The person on the left is looking at the person on the right.

Still from Citizen Kane, 1941

Two people with light skin are smiling and seated in the front of a car. One person has their hand on the steering wheel.

Still from Bonnie and Clyde, 1967

A man wearing a suit stands in a courtroom. Behind him are people with light skin seated at desks. People with dark skin are packed and standing on a balcony.

Still from To kill a mockingbird, 1962

Four people with light skin are moving forward. The person in the middle has a sailor's suit on.

Still from They shoot horses, don't they?, 1969

A man with light skin wearing a white t-shirt and jeans is kneeling on the floor.

Still from Pollock, 2000