Claude Rains (second from left), Humphrey Bogart (center) and Ingrid Bergman (right) starred in "Casablanca," which finished No. 2 on the AFI's list of the greatest American films. (Associated Press)

The American Film Institute's 100 Greatest American Movies were selected by a panel of 1,500 leaders from across the American film community as the best films produced during the first 100 years of American filmmaking. They were asked to pick 100 of their favorite entries from a list of 400 films, while attempting to include a variety of genres as well as decades. The list features 74 Best Picture nominees and 32 Oscar winners (** = won Oscar as Best Picture; * = nominated for Best Picture). View the breakdown by decade.

As a result, the list announced yesterday may be slightly more skewed than one chosen wholly on merit. That's the point, says AFI spokesman Seth Oster, who believes the list will inspire a dialogue and hopes this will lead to an increased regard for the art form.

1939 was the most celebrated year in film history and Steven Spielberg directed more greatest movies than any other filmmaker - he had five on the list. Few selections on the list are earth-shaking; as you'd expect, classics like "Sunset Boulevard" generally made the list and fun flicks like "Beverly Hills Cop" did not. Why Mr. Smith survived the cut, but Mr. Deeds, Mister Roberts and Mrs. Miniver did not is not so easily explained.

The list, unveiled in a CBS TV special last night, is designed to promote public awareness of the film institute, which was recently forced to cut back its operations. "As federal funding has been eliminated, AFI, like other not-for-profit arts institutions, has been forced to search for new ways to raise its profile," Oster said.

There were quirks in the list, perhaps the strangest being that Ward Bond appeared in more of the top 100 films than anybody. He appeared in "It Happened One Night," "Bringing Up Baby," "Gone With the Wind," "The Grapes of Wrath," "The Maltese Falcon," "It's a Wonderful Life" and "The Searchers." (Robert Duvall was second.) James Stewart and Robert DeNiro starred in the most films, five each. Katharine Hepburn led actresses, starring in four.

Though the rankings are controversial, no one can dispute that together, the AFI 100 represent the pinnacle of American filmmaking. So, whether you're revisiting an old favorite or discovering a new classic, rest assured that you'll be enjoying these timeless treasures for years to come.

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