Movies by Decade: 50s

Continuing my march through the decades with the 50s.

With the 1950s, we see some shifts in movies.  Swashbucklers are basically out, replaced by Medieval epics.  One of the biggest changes seems to be in the epic department – numerous movies over 3 hours, which becomes almost the norm in the 60s.  Musicals are also big in the 50s.  And while Westerns are still prominent, science fiction begins its push.  The 50s also stands out for the introduction of Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly.  Honestly, this decade’s list is almost impossible, because there are so many great, and I mean GREAT, movies.  There’s close to 10 movies in the “Honorable Mentions” that could be top 10 in just about any other decade.

 

Before my list (remember this is “best,” not necessarily “favorite”), a few notable movies not mentioned, because I have not seen them: All About Eve, The Greatest Show on Earth, On the Waterfront, Marty, Around the World in 80 Days, Gigi, Sunset Boulevard, East of Eden, Touch of Evil, Witness for the Prosecution.  Also, I recently watched From Here to Eternity, which I would not have watched had I known what it was about.  And I love Hitchcock, but Vertigo is highly overrated.

 

Honorable Mentions: Ivanhoe, Shane, Stalag 17, Prince Valiant, The Seven Samurai, Sabrina, Godzilla, Rio Grande, Oklahoma!, The Court Jester, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, High Society, The Ten Commandments, Heaven Knows Mr. Allison, An Affair to Remember, Paths of Glory, The Nun’s Story, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Singin’ in the Rain, Peter Pan, Dial M for Murder, I Confess, High Noon, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Father of the Bride

 

Top 10 Countdown:

10. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

            Pretty tough to start a top ten with this movie.  It’s a classic look at the dehumanization of war.  You can’t help but hate Alec Guinness, which means he does a great job of playing the role.  There’s a reason why he won seven of the Oscars the movie won, including Best Picture.

 

9. 12 Angry Men (1957)

            A really well acted look at human nature.  The ambiguity at the end makes it a classic.  It’s a reminder that perception is often more important to people that reality, which is sad.

 

8. To Catch a Thief (1955)

            This is Hitchcock’s decade, as will become quite clear.  Most people would not have this so high, but it’s great fun, and Cary Grant and Grace Kelly really shine.

 

7. White Christmas (1954)

            You can’t watch this movie and not smile the whole time.  Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye are great together, almost as good as Crosby and Hope, while Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen hold their own.

 

6. The Quiet Man (1952)

            Anyone who says John Wayne had no versatility, I always point to this movie, which must be watched every St. Patrick’s Day.  Maureen O’Hara is the perfect counter to The Duke, and the end fight is classic.

 

5. North by Northwest (1959)

            In contention for the best of Hitchcock, though there’s at least one more to come here.  It’s a true thriller, and with To Catch a Thief, proof that Cary Grant was the actual first James Bond.

 

4. Roman Holiday (1954)

            The movie that put Audrey Hepburn on the map, and what an introduction!  Fun, romantic, charming, and even some great absurdist humor with the cops going after her.

 

3. Rear Window (1954)

            Basically a perfect movie, and it’s only #3 due to the strength of the two to come.  Movies are most thrilling when they are in confined spaces, and it doesn’t get much more confined than James Stewart stuck in a wheelchair.  No matter how many times I watch it, certain parts still make me tense.

 

2. The Searchers (1956)

            The greatest Western of all time.  Similar to The Quiet Man, anyone who says Wayne cannot act have never watched this.  It could possibly be #2 on the all-time list, if not for…

 

1. Ben-Hur (1959)

            Charlton Heston absolutely shines.  Haya Harareet is a perfect match for Heston.  Stephen Boyd is easy to hate.  Epic.  Iconic.  The greatest score of all time.  The perfect movie.  There’s not much more to say.

 

Extra fun: the best movie scores of the decade

Ben-Hur (Miklós Rózsa)

North by Northwest (Bernard Herrmann)

Ivanhoe (Rózsa)

The Searchers (Max Steiner)

The Ten Commandments (Elmer Bernstein)

 

Other music from the decade: Elvis and rock and roll hit the scene, though jazz is very big as well.  Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and Julie London are some of my favorite singers.  While the movie came out in the 80s, the Stand By Me soundtrack is the perfect “sound of the 50s.”  Finally, a little shout-out to the musicals that made the decade great: An Affair to Remember, Brigadoon, Carousel, Guys & Dolls, High Society, The King and I, Oklahoma!, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Singin’ in the Rain, and South Pacific.