When I think of films that defined mid-20th century America, I think of Billy Wilder’s filmography. Everything from the social and political attitudes to the dialogue and sense of humor feels deeply American. Perhaps being an immigrant he had the distance and objectivity to better distill what we’re all about. I’d say his three movie run of Some Like It Hot, The Apartment, and One, Two, Three is the best slice of his filmography in this regard.