American Society of Cinematographers Reveals its List of 10 Best-Shot Films of the 20th Century; It Includes ‘Lawrence of Arabia,’ ‘Blade Runner’ and ‘Apocalypse Now’

The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) celebrated its 100th anniversary on Tuesday by revealing its list of the best-shot films of the 20th century.

The major surprise was the lack of silent films on the list, such as, quite possibly, the greatest silent film of them all, the German-expressionist-influenced 1927 masterwork “Sunrise,” shot by Charles Rosher and Karl Struss. Another major snub of note;  My personal top 10 pick, 1958’s “Vertigo,” shot by Robert Burks.

The lists were voted on by ASC members.

The ASC Top 10 List:

1. “Lawrence of Arabia” (1962), shot by Freddie Young, BSC (Dir. David Lean)

2. “Blade Runner” (1982), shot by Jordan Cronenweth, ASC (Dir. Ridley Scott)

3. “Apocalypse Now” (1979), shot by Vittorio Storaro, ASC, AIC (Dir. Francis Ford Coppola)

4. “Citizen Kane” (1941), shot by Gregg Toland, ASC (Dir. Orson Welles)

5. “The Godfather” (1972), shot by Gordon Willis, ASC (Dir. Francis Ford Coppola)

6. “Raging Bull” (1980), shot by Michael Chapman, ASC (Dir. Martin Scorsese)

7. “The Conformist” (1970), shot by Vittorio Storaro, ASC, AIC (Dir. Bernardo Bertolucci)

8. “Days of Heaven” (1978), shot by Néstor Almendros, ASC (Dir. Terrence Malick)

9. “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968), shot by Geoffrey Unsworth, BSC with additional photography by John Alcott, BSC (Dir. Stanley Kubrick)

10. “The French Connection” (1971), shot by Owen Roizman, ASC (Dir. William Friedkin)