Top Films Of Decade 1950s

The musical of life, "to sing in the rain". Delightful musical send-up of the transition period from silent to sound films. "Good Morning", "Make 'Em Laugh," "Broadway Rhythm" among the best. With the most talented dancer Gene Kelly singing, dancing and splashing in puddles. Winner of my Best Film from the 1950's.

The Citizen Kane Of Hollywood. Sunset Boulevard is a classic that takes on the hollywood dream. The at times disturbing, gothic and ultimately tragic noir with character of the century the deluded silent star Swanson who actually lived a version of the character in real life as did the butler. Also real life people, The Waxworks, such as Buster Keaton, Anna Q. Nilsson and H. B. Warner, who, like De Mille, play themselves. Swanson is ready for her close-up in this impacting slice of Hollywood life depicting a reclusive, former silent screen actress. The film won three Academy Awards, including Best Screenplay but did not win best picture because the academy didn't like the subject matter i.e. hollywood. "All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up." and "I am big! It's the pictures that got small."

Hitchock classic. Obsession and suspense combine in this eerie drama. His famous fear of heights and the tense score by Bernard Herrmann, considered by many film writers and scholars as Hitchcock's most ambitious film. I would agree.

Crushing Classic, the Great Gritty drama of union corruption memorable, mainly, for Brando's best performance. The end scene on the docks is unforgettable. A must see Classic. Won Best Picture. "You don't understand! I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I could've been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am."

The one film that would best sum up Hitchcock's career, style and mastery. Great screenplay and acting from Stewart, and the most beautiful actress Grace Kelly. The story and smaller sub story's are amazing. Winner of my Greatest Alfred Hitchock Films.

The real world of theatre. I have never seen a film with such brilliant dialogue as All About Eve. A classic story with unbelieveable revelations of backstage betrayal. "Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy night." The ultimate in Sophisticated performances, especially by Davis and the great critic Sanders. Forget all the snappy dialogue in other films, this film has the monopoly.

The greatest comedy classic in Cinematic History. Hilarious comedy with stellar performances by Monroe, Curtis and Lemmon, and memorable musical numbers. Memorable throughout, especially for the last line, "Well, nobody's perfect." Some Like It Hot is the perfect comedy.

"Let's go home Debbie", one of the greatest westerns of all time. The inspriation for countless of classics from Lawrence Of Arabia to Star Wars. The "Duke" John Waynes, best performance as the eternal outisder, verging on villian. A complex western masterpeice.

It may not look it but this is a Dark World War II drama. The Matter Of Principal. With the famous bridge that embodies the absurdities of war. Guiness seals himself as one of the greatest British actors. One of the best war films made.

The gripping, penetrating, and engrossing examination of a group of twelve jurors in a 'seemingly' open-and-shut murder trial case.

I must admitt of all the film genres the Western is my least favourite. They can be painfully straight forward, like the indianas vs the cowboys and the good vs the bad. Just as Will Kane stands alone in the streets of the town, High Noon stands alone as the great western. High Noon is also a morality tale between the hero Will Kane, the badies and the rest of the town that abandon's him to his fate. The film's most powerful assest is the character of Will Kane played by Gary Cooper in his best Academy Award winning role ever. Will Kane is one of the greatest heros of all, he falls into the class of great hero movies, such as Atticus Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird and Jefferson Smith in Mr Smith Goes To Washington. These men all stand their ground the face of great adversity, sacrificing themselves to do what is right. Classically drawn story, simple and yet so powerful, the tight film structure creates a build up of suspense like no other film, as the clock ticks toward noon and the inevitable shootout. The haunting song that plays throught the film haunts you "Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin". Simple but powerful. High Noon remains a tale for our troubled age. Winner of my Top Westerns.

La Strada, which is the Italian word for The Road. Fedrico Fellini's best film. La Strada won the Academy Award for Best foreign film, even though it is far better than most English films. I shall never forget Masina's face, the most remarkable of faces, she performs a moving protryal, and Quinn is egqually unforgettable both actors make the film crackle with their chemistry. La Stada is one of the most beautiful films and one of the most tragic films ever.

Simply a classic in every way. The unlikely love story and rousing romantic adventure in Africa, between Katherin Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart. Both rated as Best actress and actor ever by the AFI. The chemistry, characterisation and dialogue is pure gold.

The best performance of James Dean's short legendary carrer. Rebel is by far the best 1950's film dealing with teenage rebellion. It seemed to define a generation of 1950s teenagers who felt lonely and isolated from their parents and sought solace with friends. It desperately wants to say something and doesn't know what it is. If anyone did know, it would lose its fascination. Winner of my Top Gay/Lesbian Themed Films.

One of Hitchcock's best second only to Psycho and Rear Window. Great mystery and cross-country chase. Cary Grant, my favourite actor is the Hitchcockian man caught up in a mystery. The best scenes include the thrilling crop-dusting airplane scene and the final mount Rushmore scene. Winner of my Top Road Films.

"Steeeeellllllllllaaaaa! Hey, Stella!" and "I have always depended on the kindness of strangers."

One Hitchcock's best. It is a plot made of ingenuity and amorality, based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith. Much like Rope with great performances by Granger and one of the greatest Hitchcock villians, the very queer Walker. Usually ranked among Hitchcock's best only after "Psycho", "Vertigo," "North by Northwest"," and "Rear Window".

The definition of an Epic. 11 Oscars, huge box office and really long. Its depiction of Jesus Christ was also extremely subtle and reverant. This epic, character-driven story features Heston as the title character in his carrer defining role. By far the film's most impressive and legendary action scene - is the spectacularly famous chariot race. Winner of my Greatest Chase Scene.

Winner of my Top Chick Flicks.

East of Eden is the first film my favourite actor James Dean ever stared in. His performance this film is in many ways his best, his most soulful, most vulnerable and most complex, but not his most iconic, which would have to be Rebel Without A Cause. Riveting, moody and brooding Dean personifies the loveless, sad young man that yearns for the love of his cold father. Every time you want to pull away you are pulled back. Utimately the film deals with the struggle of good and evil and the psychology of childhood development, which shows that a boy needs to connect with his father in order to develop properly. Indeed this film offers the most moving protrayal of this kind of circumstances and results. One of the reasons why Dean was so brilliant was that he was play himself, his own relationship with his father. This film reached out and spoked to me in a way that few films can. Yet wether or not you personally connect with this film, the film it self is enough to move you and have an impact. A classic and a truly heart braking film.

My first oversaes trip was to Rome, Italy and no other film could capture the feeling of Rome, or indeed travel in general than Roman Holiday. So much is this film loved by myself and my family that it has practically become part of our personal history. No matter how I may be feeling Roman Holiday always puts a smile on my face and makes me cry. The breakout Oscar winning performance of Audrey Hepburn, one of my all time favourite actresses and the ideal leading man role of Gregory Peck truly make the film what it is. My favourite scene, by far is the Mouth of Truth visit where Peck actually improvised an unscripted moment when he pretended to have his hand eaten off, always makes me laugh."I don't know how to say goodbye. I can't think of any words. Don't try."

Best Picture Academy Award-winning film, with the unbelieveably great dancer and signer Gene Kelly. A perfect showcase for dazzling scenes built around Gershwin's great score. With the great song 'I Got Rhythm'. Visually beautiful love story and the great ballet sequence, filmed in the style of Impressionist paintings, is legendary. Songs include "I Got Rhythm," "Embraceable You," "S'Wonderful," and the title song are the best.

Grace Kelly, Bing Cosby, Frank Sinatra, What a cast, not to mention great music, ie, It's in the stars next July we collide with Mars.

One of the funniest films I have seen, Aunty Mame is a comic classic. A comedy that the whole family can enjoy. "Life's a banquet, and most suckers are starving to death."

Saddest film I have ever seen, and that's saying a lot. A soul chilling look at life and love, this film is devestating, extreemly moving and ultimately a soul crushing tragedy. Winner of my Saddest Tearjerker Film.

The realisation of all childhood dreams, to go to Neverland and never grow up. Peter Pan holds a special place in one's heart. The best adaptation of J.M. Barrie's classic novel and one the Disney Greates.

One, only sees this film for two reasons, firstly to see Marilyn Monroe struggling to act, but still fabulous, and secondly to see the all time famous song 'Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend'. Heaps of fun.

Another great Ealing Comedy, with the star of the studio, Alec Guiness always teriffic in the productions. Not as great as previoious ealing productions, such as Kind Hearts and Coronets, but still a must see, for British comedy and Ealing fans.