Best Movies 1960

From Alfred Hitchcock, starring Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin
Rated R

Psycho is a classic horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. It tells the story of Marion Crane, a young woman on the run from the law after stealing a large sum of money from her employer. While on the run, she stops at the Bates Motel, run by the unsettling Norman Bates. As Marion and Norman spend more time together, it becomes increasingly clear that there is something seriously wrong with the motel and its proprietor. The film is a suspenseful and thrilling exploration of the dark side of human nature and its capacity for evil.

From Billy Wilder, starring Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, Ray Walston
Rated Approved

The Apartment is a classic 1960 romantic comedy-drama, directed by Billy Wilder. It follows C.C. "Bud" Baxter (Jack Lemmon) as he climbs the corporate ladder by lending out his apartment to his managers and their mistresses. Though he is initially successful, his conscience starts to weigh heavily on him once he falls in love with the elevator operator, Fran Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine). The film follows Bud as he must decide between his career and his love, ultimately coming to the conclusion that it is more important to be true to himself than to gain the approval of others. The Apartment features an acclaimed screenplay, direction and editing, resulting in 5 Academy Award wins, including Best Picture. It is now widely considered to be one of the best films of all time.

From Luchino Visconti, starring Alain Delon, Renato Salvatori, Annie Girardot, Claudia Cardinale
Rated Not Rated

Rocco and His Brothers is a 1960 Italian drama directed by Luchino Visconti. Set in Milan, the film follows the lives of the Parondi family, who have recently moved from the impoverished south of Italy to the industrialized north. Led by the father, Simone (Renato Salvatori), the family is composed of two sons, Rocco (Alain Delon) and Simone Jr. (Max Cartier), and two daughters, Cettina (Claudia Mori) and Lucia (Anna Maria Pierangeli). As they struggle to adjust to their new life in the city, Rocco and his brothers fall in love, become involved in crime, and face challenges that test the strength of their family bond. Through the story of the Parondi family, Visconti masterfully examines the complexities of human relationships and the struggles of adapting to a changing world.

From Stanley Kramer, starring Spencer Tracy, Fredric March, Gene Kelly, Dick York
Rated Passed

Inherit the Wind is a 1960 American courtroom drama film adaptation of the Broadway play of the same name, which was adapted from the 1925 play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee. The film tells the story of two lawyers who battle each other in a small-town court over a law banning the teaching of the Theory of Evolution in public schools. The film stars Spencer Tracy as attorney Henry Drummond, Fredric March as his rival Matthew Harrison Brady, Gene Kelly as journalist E. K. Hornbeck, and Dick York as Bertram Cates, a teacher on trial for teaching evolution. The trial is set against the backdrop of the religious fundamentalism of the 1920s. The film questions the legitimacy of using religious beliefs as a basis for legislation. Through its exploration of social and moral issues, Inherit the Wind has become a classic of courtroom drama films.

From Federico Fellini, starring Marcello Mastroianni, Anita Ekberg, Anouk Aimée, Yvonne Furneaux
Rated Not Rated

La Dolce Vita is a 1960 Italian film, directed by Federico Fellini, which follows a week in the life of Marcello Rubini (played by Marcello Mastroianni), a young and talented journalist who lives a decadent and hedonistic life in Rome. The film follows Marcello as he attempts to balance his professional ambitions and a complex personal life, as he navigates the city, filled with celebrities, parties, and an ever-present paparazzi. La Dolce Vita is an exploration of modern life and the moral decadence of its characters, as they search for pleasure and meaning in a society that values materialism and excess. The film has become a classic of world cinema, influencing generations of filmmakers and being named one of the greatest films of all time.

From Stanley Kubrick, starring Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Charles Laughton
Rated PG-13

Spartacus is a 1960 American epic historical drama film directed by Stanley Kubrick. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Howard Fast. It stars Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Tony Curtis, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov, and Jean Simmons. The film follows a slave revolt that is led by Spartacus, a Thracian gladiator who was captured and sold into slavery in Rome. After gaining the trust of the Roman general, Crassus, Spartacus is given a chance at freedom by leading the rebellion against Rome. Spartacus and his band of slaves battle their way through Rome, enlisting the help of other slaves, and eventually make it to their freedom. In the end, Spartacus and his men are defeated and he is crucified by Crassus, but he has become a symbol of freedom and hope that will never be forgotten.

From John Sturges, starring Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, Eli Wallach
Rated Approved

The Magnificent Seven is an American western film directed by John Sturges, starring Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, Robert Vaughn, Brad Dexter, James Coburn, and Horst Buchholz. Seven gunfighters are hired by a group of Mexican villagers to protect them from a band of vicious outlaws who have been terrorizing the town. The seven men, who have diverse backgrounds and expertise, come together to fight the criminals, and ultimately save the lives of the villagers. Along the way, they learn valuable lessons about loyalty, respect, courage and honor. In the end, they are celebrated as heroes and their legacy lives on in the town.

From Georges Franju, starring Pierre Brasseur, Alida Valli, Juliette Mayniel, Alexandre Rignault
Rated Not Rated

Eyes Without a Face is a French horror film from 1960 directed by Georges Franju. It follows the story of Doctor Génessier, a brilliant surgeon whose daughter, Christiane, is disfigured after a car crash. In order to restore her face to its former beauty, he abducts young women and attempts to graft their faces onto his daughter's. As the doctor's experiments become more desperate and gruesome, his daughter's psychological state deteriorates and her own morality is tested. The film is considered a classic of horror cinema, for its dark and poetic imagery, and for its exploration of themes of guilt and morality.

From George Pal, starring Rod Taylor, Alan Young, Yvette Mimieux, Sebastian Cabot
Rated G

The Time Machine is a 1960 science fiction film directed by George Pal and based on the 1895 novel of the same name by H. G. Wells. The film stars Rod Taylor as a scientist named George who invents a time machine which he uses to travel to the future, where he discovers a world divided between two species, the Eloi and the Morlocks. After being captured by the latter, he is rescued by a beautiful Eloi woman named Weena and the two travel back to his own time. Along the way, he discovers the truth about the future and the secrets of the time machine itself. The film is an allegory for the nuclear arms race and the dangers of unchecked scientific progress.

From Claude Sautet, starring Lino Ventura, Sandra Milo, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Marcel Dalio
Rated Not Rated

Classe Tous Risques is a French crime drama directed by Claude Sautet. The film follows four criminals, Abel (Lino Ventura), Eric Stark (Sami Frey), Maupas (Claude Cerval) and Marc (Philippe Noiret), who are on the run from the police following a failed robbery. They decide to take refuge in a small city in the south of France, and while they are there, they form a bond with the locals and with each other. As they become more comfortable in their new environment, they soon realize that they will have to confront their past in order to survive. The film follows their journey as they face the consequences of their actions and attempt to build a better future for themselves.

From Wolf Rilla, starring George Sanders, Barbara Shelley, Michael Gwynn, Laurence Naismith
Rated Not Rated

From Fred Zinnemann, starring Deborah Kerr, Robert Mitchum, Peter Ustinov, Glynis Johns
Rated Passed

From Roger Corman, starring Vincent Price, Mark Damon, Myrna Fahey, Harry Ellerbe
Rated Approved

From Lewis Milestone, starring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford
Rated Approved

From Stanley Donen, starring Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr, Robert Mitchum, Jean Simmons
Rated Approved

From Daniel Mann, starring Elizabeth Taylor, Laurence Harvey, Eddie Fisher, Dina Merrill
Rated Not Rated