Movies About The 1950s

From Sidney Lumet, starring Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Martin Balsam, John Fiedler
Rated Approved

12 Angry Men is a classic courtroom drama directed by Sidney Lumet and released in 1957. The film follows the deliberation of a jury in a murder trial as they attempt to decide whether the defendant is guilty or not. During the course of the discussion, prejudices and preconceptions of the jury members are exposed, leading to a tense and suspenseful atmosphere. Despite the overwhelming evidence presented, the jurors must come to a unanimous decision in order to prevent a possible mistrial. Throughout the movie, the jurors gradually come to the realization that the defendant may be innocent and that the life of an innocent man hangs in the balance. The film is filled with intense debates and thought-provoking arguments that leave the audience questioning their own preconceptions about justice and ultimately leads to a dramatic conclusion.

From Alfred Hitchcock, starring James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Wendell Corey, Thelma Ritter
Rated PG

Rear Window is a 1954 suspense thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring James Stewart and Grace Kelly. The film revolves around a wheelchair-bound photographer, L.B. Jefferies (Stewart) who, while recovering from a broken leg, is confined to his apartment. To pass the time, Jefferies begins to spy on his neighbors with a telephoto lens. As he watches his neighbors, he begins to piece together a disturbing story - and is soon convinced that one of his neighbors has committed murder. With the help of his high-society girlfriend, Lisa Fremont (Kelly), Jefferies must prove his suspicions and bring the murderer to justice.

From Billy Wilder, starring Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich, Charles Laughton, Elsa Lanchester
Rated Approved

Witness for the Prosecution is a 1957 American courtroom drama film directed by Billy Wilder and starring Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich, Charles Laughton and Elsa Lanchester. The film is based on the play of the same name by Agatha Christie. The story follows Leonard Vole (Power), who is accused of murdering a rich widow, Emily French (Lanchester). Vole insists he is innocent, and his lawyer, Sir Wilfrid Robarts (Laughton) takes on the seemingly impossible task of defending him. Robarts calls upon the services of one of his old flames, the enigmatic, former cabaret singer Christine Vole (Dietrich), to testify on Leonard's behalf as a witness for the prosecution. In a climactic trial, the jury must decide whether Leonard is guilty of murder or whether Christine, whose testimony provides a startling surprise to the court and jury, will be believed.

From Directors: Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly, starring Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagen
Rated G

Singin' in the Rain is a classic musical comedy set in Hollywood in the 1920s. It follows the story of silent film star Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly) and the challenges he faces with the transition to talking pictures. With the help of his best friend Cosmo (Donald O'Connor) and aspiring actress Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds), Don navigates the difficulties of the new technology and puts on a show-stopping musical performance. The film features some of the most iconic musical numbers in Hollywood history, including the title track, “Make 'Em Laugh,” and “Good Morning.” As the film comes to a close, Don and Kathy finally get the happily ever after they’ve been longing for.

From Joseph L. Mankiewicz, starring Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, George Sanders, Celeste Holm
Rated Passed

All About Eve is a 1950 American drama film written and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, and produced by Darryl F. Zanuck. It stars Bette Davis as Margo Channing, a highly regarded yet aging Broadway star. Anne Baxter plays Eve Harrington, an ambitious young fan who maneuvers her way into Channing's life, ultimately threatening Channing's career and her personal relationships. The film also features performances by George Sanders, Celeste Holm, Hugh Marlowe, Barbara Bates, Gary Merrill, and Thelma Ritter. The story follows Eve, who arrives in New York City and manages to gain the trust of Margo and those in her social circle. She gradually insinuates herself into Margo's life, becoming her assistant and understudy. As time passes, Eve's scheming ways and Margo's increasing insecurity about her age and career create a rift between them. The film culminates in a tense confrontation between the two women at a major awards ceremony. All About Eve was a huge critical and commercial success upon its release, winning six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and was named the best film of 1950 by the New York Film Critics Circle. It is widely considered to be one of the

From Akira Kurosawa, starring Toshirô Mifune, Machiko Kyô, Masayuki Mori, Takashi Shimura
Rated Not Rated

Rashōmon is a 1950 Japanese period drama film directed by Akira Kurosawa. It tells the story of a crime and the subsequent trial from four different perspectives. The film is based on two short stories by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa: "In a Grove" and "Rashōmon". The film follows a court case revolving around a man who was killed in a grove and the rape of his wife by a bandit. Four different people who were present at the grove give conflicting accounts of what happened, leading the court to wonder which of these stories is the truth. The film explores the nature of truth and how it can be interpreted in different ways. The film won several awards including the Golden Lion Award at the Venice Film Festival, the Special Award at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and the Most Popular Foreign Language Film at the National Board of Review. It had a lasting impact on cinematic style and storytelling, inspiring filmmakers around the world.

From Henri-Georges Clouzot, starring Yves Montand, Charles Vanel, Peter van Eyck, Folco Lulli
Rated Not Rated

The Wages of Fear is a 1953 French-Italian thriller directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot. It follows the story of four desperate European men who are hired to transport volatile nitroglycerin over a treacherous mountain road in South America. The men are promised a large sum of money for their efforts, though they know full well that their task is extremely dangerous. As the men embark on their hazardous mission, they must battle physical exhaustion, internal conflicts, and the ever-looming threat of death. The film is a gripping exploration of human will and tenacity in the face of danger and desperation.

From Alfred Hitchcock, starring Ray Milland, Grace Kelly, Robert Cummings, John Williams
Rated PG

Dial M for Murder is a classic crime thriller from the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock. The movie stars Ray Milland as Tony Wendice, a former tennis player who is now a psychopathic murderer plotting to kill his wealthy wife Margot (played by Grace Kelly). To do this, he has devised an intricate plan to hire a professional killer to make it look like a burglary gone wrong. However, Tony's plan is complicated by Margot's involvement in an affair with a wealthy American crime novelist, Mark Halliday (played by Robert Cummings). As Tony attempts to cover his tracks and frame Margot's lover, the plot quickly spirals out of control and takes a number of unexpected turns. The movie culminates in a gripping courtroom climax as Tony fights for his freedom. Dial M for Murder is a gripping and suspenseful classic that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

From Billy Wilder, starring Kirk Douglas, Jan Sterling, Robert Arthur, Porter Hall
Rated Approved

Ace in the Hole (also known as The Big Carnival) is a 1951 American film noir drama, directed by Billy Wilder and starring Kirk Douglas as an ambitious, cynical, and amoral reporter who stops at nothing to exploit a story for his own gain. After Chuck Tatum (Douglas) is fired from his newspaper job, he finds himself in Albuquerque, New Mexico. When he hears of a man trapped in a cave-in at a local Indian reservation, he sees the opportunity to turn a potentially tragic event into a big front-page story. He manipulates the situation to get publicity, and soon people from all over the country flock to the scene. Meanwhile, the situation quickly worsens, leaving a life hanging in the balance. In the end, Tatum finds himself unable to escape the consequences of his selfish actions.

From Elia Kazan, starring Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, Lee J. Cobb, Rod Steiger
Rated Approved

On the Waterfront, directed by Elia Kazan and released in 1954, tells the story of dockworker Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando) and his moral dilemma between standing up against the corrupt labor union and mob bosses or continuing to accept their rule. Set in the tough world of the New York waterfront, Terry is caught between sticking up for his brother, a priest, and his own self-interest. After witnessing a murder at the hands of mob boss Johnny Friendly (Lee J. Cobb), Terry is forced to choose between loyalty to the mob and loyalty to his conscience. Ultimately, he decides to stand up against the corrupt waterfront gangsters and fight for justice, revealing to the police the truth about the murder and the other mob-related crimes. His courage and steadfastness in the face of danger and adversity ultimately lead to the downfall of the powerful mob bosses and the reform of the corrupt union.

From Jules Dassin, starring Jean Servais, Carl Möhner, Robert Manuel, Janine Darcey
Rated Not Rated

Rififi is a 1955 French crime film directed by Jules Dassin. The film follows four criminals, Tony (Carl Möhner), Jo (Jean Servais), Mario (Robert Manuel) and Cesar (Marcel Lupovici), as they plan and execute an ambitious heist of a Paris jewelry store. While the plan is carefully calculated, the execution of the robbery is surprisingly smooth, with only one hiccup. The team is successful in their endeavor and makes off with millions of francs worth of jewelry. But their success is short-lived, as the police start to close in on them and their plan begins to unravel. In the end, despite their best efforts to remain anonymous, the group is forced to face the consequences of their criminal act.

From Fred Zinnemann, starring Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, Thomas Mitchell, Lloyd Bridges
Rated PG

High Noon is a classic Western directed by Fred Zinnemann and starring Gary Cooper. The story follows a retired marshal, Will Kane (Cooper), who is about to embark on his honeymoon with his new bride, Amy (Grace Kelly), when he learns that a criminal he sent to jail, Frank Miller (Ian MacDonald), has been pardoned and is coming back to town on the noon train to get revenge. Will chooses to stay in town and face Miller, despite being abandoned by the townspeople who lack the courage to stand up to Miller. As the clock approaches noon, Will must fight Miller and his gang alone, with only his bride and an elderly, crippled gunslinger to help him. Through courage, determination, and a little bit of luck, Will is able to defeat Miller and ride off into the sunset with Amy. High Noon is widely considered to be one of the greatest Westerns of all time, and has had a lasting impact on the genre.

From Charles Laughton, starring Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish, James Gleason
Rated Not Rated

The Night of the Hunter is a 1955 American film noir directed by Charles Laughton and starring Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters and Lillian Gish. The film tells the story of a corrupt and murderous preacher, played by Mitchum, who attempts to con a family out of their inheritance. The film follows two children, played by Sally Jane Bruce and Billy Chapin, who are pursued by the preacher across the backwoods of West Virginia. Along the way, they come across a kindly widow, played by Gish, who helps to protect them from the preacher’s malevolent plans. The Night of the Hunter is noted for its powerful atmosphere, haunting score by Walter Schumann, and its expressionistic style. The film was widely acclaimed upon its release, and has since become a cult classic.

From Stanley Kubrick, starring Sterling Hayden, Coleen Gray, Vince Edwards, Jay C. Flippen
Rated Approved

The Killing is a classic crime drama directed by Stanley Kubrick in 1956. It follows the story of Johnny Clay, a veteran ex-convict, who assembles a crack team of criminals to pull off one last heist. The plan is to rob a racing track on race day, but as the heist gets underway, it quickly becomes a complex web of betrayal and double-crossing. As the twists and turns mount, Clay and his team must find a way to dodge the police and make off with the loot before the race is over. Along the way, the film explores themes of loyalty, trust, and the harsh realities of criminal life.

From Alfred Hitchcock, starring Farley Granger, Robert Walker, Ruth Roman, Leo G. Carroll
Rated PG

Strangers on a Train is a 1951 thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Farley Granger and Robert Walker. The story revolves around two strangers, Guy Haines and Bruno Anthony, who meet on a train and hatch a plan to exchange murders. Guy wants to get rid of his unfaithful wife, but can't do it without implicating himself. Bruno offers to do the deed in exchange for Guy disposing of Bruno's hated father. Complications arise when Bruno starts to carry out his part of the plan, and a deadly game of cat-and-mouse ensues. With its clever plotting, memorable characters, and taut suspense, Strangers on a Train has become one of Hitchcock's most beloved films.

From Elia Kazan, starring Vivien Leigh, Marlon Brando, Kim Hunter, Karl Malden
Rated PG

A Streetcar Named Desire is a 1951 American drama film directed by Elia Kazan and starring Marlon Brando, Vivien Leigh, Kim Hunter and Karl Malden. The screenplay, adapted from Tennessee Williams' 1947 Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same title, tells the story of a repressed, Southern belle named Blanche DuBois. Blanche moves in with her sister Stella and brother-in-law Stanley Kowalski in New Orleans, where the couple live in the cramped apartment of a working-class neighborhood. Stanley is rough, loud, and domineering, and clashes with Blanche's delicate sensibilities. As the story progresses, Blanche's mental stability gradually deteriorates as she struggles to reconcile her past with the present. The film culminates in a dramatic confrontation between Blanche and Stanley that results in Blanche being taken away to a mental institution.

From John Huston, starring Sterling Hayden, Louis Calhern, Jean Hagen, James Whitmore
Rated Passed

The Asphalt Jungle (1950) is a crime drama directed by John Huston and starring Sterling Hayden, Louis Calhern, Jean Hagen, and Sam Jaffe. The film tells the story of a group of small-time criminals who plan and execute a major heist. Despite the promise of a big payout, the group finds themselves in trouble when the law and other criminals close in on them. Ultimately, The Asphalt Jungle portrays a world in which crime rarely pays and justice is rarely served.

From Vincente Minnelli, starring Lana Turner, Kirk Douglas, Walter Pidgeon, Dick Powell
Rated Passed

The Bad and the Beautiful centers on the ambitious and self-absorbed movie producer Jonathan Shields (Kirk Douglas). When he falls out with the people who have helped him become successful, including his former lover (Lana Turner) and the director (Barry Sullivan) of his first hit, he enlists the aid of a struggling actress (Gloria Grahame) to help him make his next big project. As Jonathan fights to keep his studio afloat and his career alive, the film interweaves the stories of the people whose lives have been affected by his ruthless ambition. As tensions mount and relationships are tested, the question remains: will Jonathan be able to redeem himself and make the film of his dreams?

From Henry King, starring Gregory Peck, Helen Westcott, Millard Mitchell, Jean Parker
Rated Not Rated

The Gunfighter is a classic Western film directed by Henry King and released in 1950. The film stars Gregory Peck as Jimmy Ringo, an aging gunfighter who is desperate to break away from his violent past and lead a peaceful life. However, Ringo finds himself in the middle of a deadly cycle of revenge when the sons of his old enemies come looking for revenge. Despite his attempts to stay away from violence, Ringo must fight for his life and the safety of his family. In the end, Ringo must choose between the life he wants and the life he has been given.

From George Stevens, starring Montgomery Clift, Elizabeth Taylor, Shelley Winters, Anne Revere
Rated Passed

A Place in the Sun is a 1951 American romantic drama film directed by George Stevens, based on the 1925 novel An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser. It stars Montgomery Clift, Elizabeth Taylor, and Shelley Winters, and tells the story of a young man from a humble background whose ambition and determination to better himself become increasingly destructive. The film follows George Eastman (Montgomery Clift), a hardworking young man from a poor family, as he begins to rise in society. With the help of his wealthy uncle, George is able to attend college, get a job at a factory, and meet and fall in love with socialite Angela Vickers (Elizabeth Taylor). However, George’s newfound success is complicated by his relationship with poor factory worker Alice Tripp (Shelley Winters). When Alice becomes pregnant, George must choose between the two women, and his decision ultimately has devastating consequences.

From Edward Dmytryk, starring Humphrey Bogart, José Ferrer, Van Johnson, Fred MacMurray
Rated Not Rated

The Caine Mutiny is a 1954 American drama film directed by Edward Dmytryk, based on the 1951 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Herman Wouk. It stars Humphrey Bogart in a story about a U.S. Navy destroyer-minesweeper’s captain who is relieved of command during a typhoon in the Pacific Theater of World War II. The film centers around executive officer Lieutenant Commander Philip Francis Queeg (Bogart) and his subsequent court-martial. Queeg's behavior on the bridge of the Caine during the storm leads to the crew's mutiny against him. The film also stars Van Johnson, Fred MacMurray, Robert Francis, and José Ferrer. The film was a major critical and commercial success, and won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

From Don Siegel, starring Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynter, Larry Gates, King Donovan
Rated Approved

Invasion of the Body Snatchers is the 1956 science-fiction classic directed by Don Siegel. The film follows Dr. Miles Bennell (Kevin McCarthy) in a small California town as he discovers a sinister alien plot to replace human beings with emotionless duplicates. As the town's inhabitants start to be replaced one by one, Miles must find a way to stop the alien takeover and save humanity. With the help of his ex-girlfriend Becky Driscoll (Dana Wynter), Miles discovers that the alien pods are capable of creating replicas of human beings that are devoid of emotion. In the end, Miles and Becky manage to alert the authorities and the alien pods are destroyed. However, a final scene reveals the alien pods have spread to other cities and the cycle of replication may continue.

From Billy Wilder, starring Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, William Holden, Walter Hampden
Rated Passed

Sabrina (1954) is a romantic comedy film directed by Billy Wilder. It follows the story of Sabrina Fairchild (Audrey Hepburn), the daughter of a wealthy family’s chauffeur who is hopelessly in love with the family’s younger son, David (William Holden). After a trip to Paris, Sabrina returns with a newfound confidence and sophistication. When she returns, the tension between David and his older brother, Linus (Humphrey Bogart) is obvious. Linus decides to take Sabrina under his wing, and with his guidance she wins David’s affection. However, a complicated romantic triangle ensues when David discovers his true feelings for Sabrina, and Linus reveals his own secret love for her. The film follows the characters’ emotional journeys as they come to terms with their love for each other, and ultimately find happiness.

From Nicholas Ray, starring James Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo, Jim Backus
Rated PG-13

Rebel Without a Cause is a 1955 American drama film starring James Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo, and Jim Backus. Directed by Nicholas Ray, it is a tale of teenage rebellion and social pressure. Jim Stark (Dean) is a troubled teen who moves to a new town with his family, where he quickly finds himself in trouble with the local authorities and kids at school. He meets Judy (Wood) and Plato (Mineo), two other troubled teens who become his friends. Together, they face difficulties and trouble caused by their parents and society, and their search for identity and acceptance. Through their struggles, the teenagers learn about the complexities of adult life and ultimately gain a greater understanding of themselves.

From Ishirô Honda, starring Takashi Shimura, Akihiko Hirata, Akira Takarada, Momoko Kôchi
Rated Not Rated

Godzilla is a 1954 Japanese science fiction kaiju film directed by Ishirō Honda. The plot follows a giant prehistoric amphibious creature, referred to as a "Godzilla", who is awakened and empowered by nuclear radiation, and attacks Tokyo, Japan. The film stars Akira Takarada, Momoko Kōchi, Akihiko Hirata, and Takashi Shimura. The film spawned a series of sequels, beginning with Godzilla Raids Again in 1955, and has since been followed by numerous other entries into the Godzilla film franchise. In the film, scientists investigate the appearance of a giant monster, dubbed "Godzilla" by the press, that attacks Tokyo. The film, which combines elements of horror, science fiction, and political drama, was a critical and commercial success, and spawned a series of sequels and spin-offs.