What are Your Favorite Films from the 1940s and 50s?
With my local movie theater charging $12.50 per ticket, and with all of the expenses that come with planning my upcoming nuptials (as I commented below on C.J.'s post, I wish we had opted to elope), I’m determined to avoid the cinema this summer. Instead, I’m raiding the public library for every 1940s and 50s film I can get my hands on and plan to write a series over at Acculturated on the selections I watch. While plenty has changed in the sixty to seventy years since these films were produced, the basic human themes of love, truth, happiness, meaning, forgiveness, and mutual understanding are as relevant now as ever.
My first selection, which I write about here, was the 1947 film Gentleman's Agreement, directed by Elia Kazan and starring Gregory Peck. It's a great movie, if at times a bit on the preachy side, that treats the subject of anti-Semitism. Not the blatant, kill-the-Jews strain of anti-Semitism of Hitler's Germany or Ahmadinejad's Iran, but rather the passive and incredibly pernicious strain of anti-Semitism prevalent in postwar America.
My next selection will be on the 1950 film Sunset Boulevard, starring William Holden and Gloria Swanson. Member Adrian has already sold me on Elia Kazan's On the Waterfront, which I plan on reviewing as part of my series, but I welcome your recommendations for other outstanding films from the 1940s and 50s that stand the test of time and remain relevant for today's generation.
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Comments:
Apr '12
Re: What are Your Favorite Films from the 1940s and 50s?
At this point, most of the best have been mentioned. Maybe I can offer some of what I consider the best lesser known classics from the 40's and 50's?
Foreign Movies:
47 Ronin (1941), Japanese — an unforgettable story of betrayal, revenge, sacrifice and honor.
Musicals:
Silk Stockings (1957), Staring Fred Astaire and Cyd Charrise—a Cold War musical of all things!
Comedies:
You Can't Take It With You (1938--just outside your parameters) Directed by Frank Capra, staring Jimmy Stewart. An often forgotten classic comedy by Capra.
Westerns:
Ox Bow Incident (1947) Directed by William Wellman. Two drifters (Henry Fonda and Harry Morgan) arrive in a town just as a lynching party is being formed. They join in order not to be suspects, themselves.
War Movies:
Paths of Glory (1957), Directed by Stanley Kubrik, staring Kirk Douglas—a story about the 1916 French Mutiny in the trenches during WWI, and the subsequent trial of a handful of scapegoats.
Pork Chop Hill (1959), Starring Gregory Peck and all-star cast—a story about a new commander arriving to his unit just in time to lead it on an ill-fated assault, set during the Korean War.
Feb '12
Re: What are Your Favorite Films from the 1940s and 50s?
And of course the ever beautiful and charming Greer Garson singing and dancing She's ma daisy in Random Harvest .. oh those legs and that short tartan skirt.. They had talent..
Feb '12
Re: What are Your Favorite Films from the 1940s and 50s?
Best not leave out Fred and Ginger and all the joy they gave which for my mind can best be seen in Swing Time nothing's impossible I have found.. the look of Joy on Ginger's face, look ma, no hands.. Tom Cruise, eat your heart out..
Feb '12
Re: What are Your Favorite Films from the 1940s and 50s?
And who could beat Kim Novak and William Holden dancing to Moonglow in glorious color in Picnic.. she is sex on legs.. He couldn't dance to save himself so he really is half gone.. she really was hip..
Mar '12
Re: What are Your Favorite Films from the 1940s and 50s?
Treasure of the Sierra Madre: one of Bogies' best. "Badges? Badges?? We don't need no steenking badges!"
The Searchers. One of John Wayne's laconic best (and based on a true story). "That'll be the day."
Feb '12
Re: What are Your Favorite Films from the 1940s and 50s?
And then there was Rosalind Russell here getting the humanitarian award at the 73 Oscars.. different times..
Dec '11
Re: What are Your Favorite Films from the 1940s and 50s?
Since you guys obviously have an Audrey thing- what about Sabrina?
Edited on July 11, 2012 at 10:28amAug '11
Re: What are Your Favorite Films from the 1940s and 50s?
If you have not seen any Judy Holliday films, you must now.
Born Yesterday http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVtxrGOJzOs
It Should Happen To You http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Or6w-1qTCGA
The Marrying Kind http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5jsS6rslzU
The Solid Gold Cadillac http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FyRtt9r8Bw
Adam's Rib http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpKv943jwtM
Aug '11
Re: What are Your Favorite Films from the 1940s and 50s?
EThompson
Since you guys obviously have an Audrey thing- what about Sabrina?· 4 minutes ago
Edited 0 minutes ago
I enjoy Sabrina but it not one of my favorites. Bogart and Audrey just didn't click for me. Same with Charade and Cary/Audrey.
Jan '11
Re: What are Your Favorite Films from the 1940s and 50s?
Nathaniel (and others) you are sooo right. Danny Peary probably wrote the definitive essay on Rio Bravo in Cult Movies, but I can't resist!
I once thought I was a John Wayne fan, but I don't think I am - I'm just a Rio Bravo fan. Loved it as a boy - I remember coming in half way through when I first saw it, just as Chance was diving into the barn in pursuit of Pat Wheeler's killer... and it had me.
And it's one of the great leadership fables - "A game-legged old man and a drunk. That's all you got?" "That's WHAT I got." I go back again and again for Chance's brilliance (and mistakes) shepherding his motley team through this difficult and dangerous situation. Great script ("Hey, sheriff, you forgot your pants."), great performances ("All right, quit. Nobody's trying to stop you. You wanna quit, quit! Go back to the bottle, get drunk. One thing, though. The next time someone throws a dollar into a spittoon, don't expect me to do anything about it. Just get down on your knees and get it."). It has everything.
Mar '11
Re: What are Your Favorite Films from the 1940s and 50s?
A Place in the Sun has already been mentioned, but I second it and mention that it is very interesting for the way it deals, in 1951, with the issue of abortion.
Feb '12
Re: What are Your Favorite Films from the 1940s and 50s?
It's a bit after the specified time period, but I love The Lion in Winter with Peter O'Toole and Katherine Hepburn as Henry II and Elanor of Aquitaine. The family discovered it at the library when my mom confused it for The Wind and the Lion, and it's both moving and hilarious. It was my first Katherine Hepburn movie, and I was in love.
Jul '12
Re: What are Your Favorite Films from the 1940s and 50s?
Well, I love Hitchcock and most of the others that have been mentioned. But especially:
Anything Kurosawa: He is most well known for his samurai films but check out those made immediately post-war. e.g.: Drunken Angel, Stray Dog and One Wonderful Sunday.
Post-war British Comedies: Most think of this in terms of those wonderful TV series but, beginning in the mid-forties right up to the mid-sixties, the Brits turned out dozens and dozens of the most intelligently funny movies ever. e.g.: The Belles of St. Trinians, Tight Little Island (aka Whisky Galore) and School for Scoundrels. The last one is currently a Netflix instant movie.
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg: made in the early sixties so I'm cheating a bit. An enchanting love story with all dialog sung to the melodies of Michel Legrand. No spoken dialog at all. Not an opera or a musical. It may sound strange but watch it and see for yourself.
Edited on July 11, 2012 at 6:37pmJun '12
Re: What are Your Favorite Films from the 1940s and 50s?
Reading these comments, I have to think that movies these days just aren't that good in comparison. If you watch movies from the 1930s-early 1960s, you realize that Scorsese, Coppola et al. aren't that great. Their films say "Look at me, I'm a GREAT FILM," (please excuse the capitalization) yet so many earlier films were just as profound and fun to watch.
No, they don't make 'em like they used to.
May '10
Re: What are Your Favorite Films from the 1940s and 50s?
I strongly disagree. Well made, yes, but they let a murderer go free. Sure, they poke a few holes in the prosecution's case, but not enough to establish a reasonable doubt. To believe that kid didn't kill his father, you have to believe the following:
1. He had an argument with his father, who hit him (nothing calls this into dispute), and then left the apartment;
2. He went out and bought a switchblade (again, this is not disputed).
3. He almost immediately lost the switchblade.
4. Within hours of the fight (while the kid was at a movie the title of which he could not remember only a few hours later), someone else entered the apartment and stabbed his father with exactly the type of knife the kid lost (Henry Fonda shows only that it was not a particularly rare knife, but, please, the exact same type of knife the person with a motive bought and lost on the same night?).
That gets a thumbs down from me.
I'm all for movies with the number 12 in the title, but I vote for 12 O'Clock High.
Dec '11
Re: What are Your Favorite Films from the 1940s and 50s?
The Awful Truth with Cary Grant, looking like a million bucks and absolutely hilarious, and the one-of-a-kind Irene Dunne. Mr. Smith (Skippy) is just the best puppy.
I second Mickerbob that It Happened One Night is fantastic - you can see why it swept the "Big Five" awards at the Oscars that year. (Also of note is how Gable's Peter Warne influenced the characteristics of Bugs Bunny.)
Both of these are from the 30's but very fun and funny.
Sep '10
Re: What are Your Favorite Films from the 1940s and 50s?
Check out the original Cape Fear then watch the one with deniro. Some actors carry over playing other roles. Cool.
Mar '11
Re: What are Your Favorite Films from the 1940s and 50s?
Gojira's Hejira: I married my wife because she correctly cried at the end of Godzilla.
~Jimm · 13 hours ago
I recently saw the original Japanese (though subtitled) versions of Godzilla and Rodan on TCM, and I was blown away at how good they are. Way different from the American-edited releases. I grew up loving Godzilla movies (I even have some in my collection), but I never knew just how different the Japanese versions were. Godzilla, in many ways, is a completely different film, and the Raymond Burr version was pure butchery in comparison.
Re: What are Your Favorite Films from the 1940s and 50s?
Charles Rapp
EThompson
Since you guys obviously have an Audrey thing- what about Sabrina?· 4 minutes ago
Edited 0 minutes ago
I enjoy Sabrina but it not one of my favorites. Bogart and Audrey just didn't click for me. Same with Charade and Cary/Audrey. · 7 hours ago
Cary was already an oldie by the time he starred in Charade. By 1963, he'd lost his youthful charm.
Sep '11
Re: What are Your Favorite Films from the 1940s and 50s?
"People will Talk" is one of my favorites -- Cary Grant & Jeanne Crain; the first time I saw it, I couldn't understand how she could be so far aling she could feel the baby kick, and still have that 22" waist! So many complicated & interesting issues were raised, and I enjoy the faculty meeting. Jeanne Crain was one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood at the time-- not flashy, just beautiful.