This animated cat, developed by Otto Messmer, was the most popular of the silent era and made way for numerous other animal tunes including Mickey Mouse.
Meshes in the Afternoon (1943)
This film by Maya Deren proved that not only could a woman direct a significant work of art but that the avante-garde had come to America.
Salt of The Earth (1954)
This film, by Harold Bierberman, really stands as a testament to the struggles of the Latino working classes in New Mexico circa the 1950. But also is significant because the writers' involved were blacklisted.
The Zapruder Film (1963)
This shockingly creepy 15-second home movie has been seen by more people than the number who saw the moonwalk, Woodstock and the Vietnam war TV news coverage combined. It qualifies as a landmark film.
Scorpio Rising (1964)
Kenneth Anger's film was pre-MTV but seen today seems to fit right into the aesthetic. It's comprised of 13 scenes and 13 songs from the early 60's that mainly revolves around a group of bikers hanging out getting ready for an initiation.
Don't Look Back (1967)
D.A. Pennbaker's documentary about Bob Dylan's 1965 concert tour of England has an off-the-cuff feel both in the way Dylan and others act and react to each others and also in it's cinema-vertie style. One of the first and best documentaries to give us a warts and all portrait of a rock star..
Night of The Living Dead (1968)
George Romero's horror film was made for cheap but made back a bundle and in the process it spawned a whole new generation of slasher horror films.
Easy Rider (1969)
Dennis Hopper's biker film had all the hope, dreams and anxieties of the free ridin' 60's generation. It featured known names in the roles, it used rock music iin a whole new way and it became an overnight sensation.
Harlan County, USA (1976)
This Academy Award winning documentary by Barbara Koppel about was one of the first to show us an up close and personal struggle by striking mine workers and their families.
Killer of Sheep (1977)
Charles Burnett's film went beyond blaxploitation and showed us how black Americans lived, played and struggled in America. It's one of the only Independent films that Congress put into the Library of Congress's National Film Register.
A Woman Under the Influence (1974)
John Cassavettes was at the forefront of American Independent films in the 70's and this devestating film proved that he could churn out pictures that were as worthy and powerful as anything Hollywood had to offer.
Sex Lies & Videotape (1989)
Seems like a long time since Steven Soderberg was a new face. This Cannes winning film has to be credited with kick-starting the American Independent boom of the 90's.
Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Although it's a derivative of numerous 1950's caper flics Quentin Tarantino's film boldly put a new face and a renewed sense of violence and mayhem on the screen that is still influencing filmmakers all over the indie world today.
Daughters of The Dust (1992)
This rarely seen film by Julie Dash about a 19th Century African-American matriachy uses language and cinematic style in fresh, unique ways. It should have influenced a whole generation and may still someday.
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The Blair Witch Project (1999)
A miniscule budget horror film that went on to make over $100 million cannot be ignored. Although it won't likely spawn similar horror films (as Night of The Living Dead did) it's marketing campaign undoubtedly has been a significant influence.
