1950s

From feel good musicals to slapstick comedy to the rise of method acting and blockbuster epics; cinema in the 1950s had it all. Let's explore the decade that gave us some of the most influential films in cinema history.

Challenges

Although the 1950s were a huge success in cinema history, the film industry was going through a number of changes and faced an array of challenges. The first of which was The rise of Television. Television became increasingly more accessible in America in the 1950s and provided a direct threat to cinema ticket sales.

When the decade began a mere 9% of households in America owned a television set. However, an increase in disposable income after the war years saw an increase in the consumer market. By 1955 more than half of all American households had at least one television set and by the end of the decade television ownership had risen to over 85%. Hollywood film companies saw this upward trend and decided to diversify their business by making television programs as well as films. With a significant decline in ticket sales at the box office, production companies had even more reason to get involved in television programming.

There are, however, other reasons for the decline in theatre ticket sales. Many young couples were deciding to move their families to newer and bigger homes in the suburbs which meant they were further away from downtown movie theatres. With the increase in suburbanisation, people were also enjoying other leisure activities that were in direct competition with the cinemas. The suburbs also offered audiences an alternative viewing experience in the form of the drive-in cinema. By the early 1950s the number of drive-in cinemas across America had risen from 155 to over 4000. They became popular with young families as they were affordable and had the ability to accommodate everyone in the family, including babies. Many of them offered free entry for children and included a playground and concession stands. Drive-ins were also a popular date night option for young couples and a place in which youths enjoy socialising with their friends.

Two other major challenges for the film industry were the Paramount decree and the Hollywood Blacklist.

The paramount decree was signed in the late 40s and had a big impact on Hollywood studios from 1950 onwards. Prior to the signing of the decree, film studios owned their own theatre chains in which they would run their own films. However, when the government accused the 8 major film studios of monopolising film distribution, the decree was signed which forced a separation of studios and theatre chains, making the way for smaller and independent film studios to break into the market.

The industry was also in turmoil when the development of the Hollywood blacklist

caused friction behind the scenes. The blacklist was developed as a way of stopping the spread of fascism by banning communists and their sympathisers from working in the film industry. The first group of workers called to testify became known as The Hollywood Ten which consisted of directors, screenwriters and producers. They were imprisoned for being in contempt of court for their refusal to answer questions pertaining to their possible involvement with communism. The blacklist caused tension behind the scenes as many industry workers, including some actors, were strongly against the committee responsible for the investigations while workers who did provide testimony were not openly supported by their peers.

Just because there were tensions behind the scenes and an obvious decline in cinemagoers during the 50s does not mean there was a decline in the quality of films. In fact, far from it! Let’s take a look at some of the films, actors and directors from the decade that are still so beloved by audiences today.

The Films

The list of memorable films from the 50s could really go on and on; An Affair to Remember, Streetcar Named Desire, Sunset Blvd and 12 Angry men are to name but a few.

In this section we’ll discuss just three films from the 50s, one from the beginning, the middle and the end of the decade, however, many other films will be mentioned later.

All About Eve (1950)

In the record breaking All About Eve, Bette Davis once again showed the world her natural talent in a commanding performance as Margo, an ageing Broadway star who is manipulated and betrayed by an ambitious young woman named Eve, played by Ann Baxter. The film is historic in its recognition of female talent. It is the only film to have received four oscar nominations for female roles, the most of any film, and it also holds the record for the most Oscar nominations for a film with 14 in total, matched only by Titanic and La La Land. In total it won 6 of those 14 nominations, including Best Picture.

Rebel Without a Cause (1955)

It was the film that spoke to a whole generation and represented a very distinct divide between teenagers and their parents. James Dean in the iconic red jacket captivated audiences while Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo were equally as impressive. However, Rebel Without a Cause actually received mixed reviews from the critics. Most agreed however, that James Dean’s performance was outstanding. Sadly, Dean would never see how successful the film became as he was killed in a car accident just a month prior to its release. Incidentally, Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo also died prematurely with Natalie Wood drowning at the age of 43, while Sal Mineo died at 37 after being attacked by a stranger. In 1990, Rebel Without a Cause was added to the National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically and aesthetically significant”. It was also a personal favourite of the film’s director, Nicholas Ray.

The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

One of the most successful films of the decade came in 1957 with 'The Bridge on the River Kwai'. Based on the 1952 book by French author Pierre Boulle, the film was the highest grossing movie for that year and won seven Oscars including Best Picture. The award for Best Actor went to Alec Guiness for his portrayal of Colonel Nicholson. Interestingly, the producer originally wanted Spencer Tracy for the role but Tracy, who had read the book, believed the part needed to be played by an Englishman. The film also took home the trophy for best screenplay which was given to Pierre Boulle on the night. The screenplay was actually written by Carl Foreman and Michael Wilson but neither were not given the award as they were on the Hollywood blacklist at the time and both had fled the country. The two screenwriter’s were eventually given the award after their passing.

Musicals

Gene Kelly

When it comes to musicals, it’s hard to ignore the sheer talent of Gene Kelly. The 1950s saw him perform two of his best roles. Firstly, as Jerry Mulligan in the award winning ‘An American in Paris’ and then as the enigmatic Don Lockwood in the much loved classic 'Singing in the Rain'. Not only did he star in the 'Singing in the Rain' with Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor but he co-directed the film too. He was so committed to the project that he actually filmed the title dance scene with a fever. He was known on set to be a perfectionist and somewhat of a hard task master. Something he expressed remorse over in his later years.

Esther Williams

For many, the thought of musicals in the 1950s also brings to mind Esther Williams and her beautifully choreographed synchronised swimming. A professionally trained swimming champion, she became known as America’s mermaid due to her success in aqua-musicals. She has been quoted as saying that the water was her favourite co-star. The musical sub-genre was not without its dangers, however, with Esther breaking several bones while shooting swim sequences and very nearly drowned when she was unable to find a trapdoor exit underwater.

The Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals were big in the 50s with South Pacific, Carousel, Oklahoma and The King and I all being released during the decade. Yul Brynner actually won the Best Actor Oscar for his role in the Kind and I.

Also notable in this genre was Leslie Caron in An American in Paris and GiGi.

Judy Garland shone in one of the many iterations of A Star is Born.

Triple Threats Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby entertained in High Society, also featuring Louis Armstrong.

Marylin Monroe meshed music with comedy in the films Some Like it Hot and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

There was also a subgenre of musical westerns in the 50s with films like Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Annie Get Your Gun and of course who could forget Calamity Jane starring Doris Day in one of her most recognisable roles.

Westerns

When it came to pure Westerns, however, one of the most recognizable actors was John Wayne. Of the 80 westerns he starred in, his personal favourite was 'The Searchers' in 1956. He played an American civil war veteran named Ethan Edwards and loved the film so much that he actually named his son Ethan as an homage to the character. According to the American Film Institute, 'The Searchers' is the best film in the western genre.

One of the most successful westerns of the decade was 'High Noon' with 4 Oscar wins

including Gary Cooper for Best Actor and an additional three nominations including Best Picture. Gary Cooper’s casting in the film was called into question given he was 51 at the time and his character was only meant to be 30 plus his onscreen wife was played by Grace Kelly who was only 21 at the time. Ultimately, Cooper was praised for his performance and it was considered his big comeback after a few years where his career appeared to be in decline. The films lost out on the Best Picture Oscar to film ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’ which is now considered to be one of the biggest upsets in the awards' history.

Other notable westerns from the decade were George Stevens films Shane starring Alan Ladd in the title role and Giant with an all star cast including Elizabeth Taylor, James Dean and Rock Hudson.

Film Noir

After its emergence in the 40s, the film noir genre continued into the 50s and by the end of the decade it had gone through an evolution of sorts. The reasons for this include the introduction of colour film and other advancements in technology, the changing social and political climate and the rise of independent film companies which meant that filmmakers could afford to be a bit more experimental in their work. There is some debate as to when film noir ended if at all, or if it simply evolved into a subgenre of neo-noir but many would agree that, the 1950s still managed to produce some of the best film noirs including Kiss Me Deadly, Touch of Evil, Sudden Fear and Sunset Boulevard.

Directors

William Wyler

With such an impressive filmography we really could’ve mentioned William Wyler in any of our decade articles with his work beginning in the 1920s all the way through to the 60s. We’ll mention him here however, due particularly to his film Ben-Hur in 1959 which earned him an Oscar for Best Director. The film actually won a total of 11 Oscars making it one of three films with the most Academy Awards, tied only with Titanic and Lord of the Rings. Ben Hur was also the highest grossing film in the U.S for the entire decade. Many actors credit him as part of their success. Sir Lawrence Olivier said that Wyler taught him how to act on camera, while Bette Davis claims Wyler was responsible for making her a star. All in all, he directed 31 actors in their Oscar winning performances which is the most of any director.

Alfred Hitchcock

It’s hard to ignore the huge legacy of Alfred Hitchcock with his suspenseful thrillers, complex characters and twist endings. By the 1950s Hitchcock had already developed an impressive filmography. He began the decade in the film noir genre with movies 'Stage Fright' and 'Strangers on a Train' and ended the decade with action thriller 'North by Northwest', starring Cary Grant whom Hitchcock had stated was his favourite actor to work with. In fact, Hitchcock had a tendency to favour particular actors and actresses and would work with them several times. This was evident in the 50s with Grace Kelly appearing in Dial M for Murder, Rear Window and To Catch a Thief. Another favourite of Hitchcock’s was James Stewart who also starred in Rear Window as well as The Man who Knew Too Much and Vertigo. Some actually regard Vertigo as one of Hitchcock’s best films. It has earnt itself a place in the top ten American films of all time according to the American Film Institute and was listed as the best Mystery film in their rankings based on genre. Although many directors who came after him, including Spielberg, Scorsese and Tarantino, credit him as being a huge influence on their work, at the time Hitchcock was not recognised for his talents and never won an Oscar for his directorial work. When watching an Alfred Hitchcock film, don’t forget to look out for the man himself as he made a habit of making a cameo in each of his films.

Ida Lupino

Ida Lupino paved the way for female directors in a typically male dominated profession and was the first female to direct a film noir with movie The Hitchhiker in 1953. An established actress herself, Lupino was a forward thinker, often complaining that she was bored on set while others were doing the fun work. As an actress she was selective about her roles and was even put on suspension from her contract with Warner Bros when she refused particular roles because they were "poorly written and beneath her". She eventually left the studio and signed with 20th century fox but before doing so she used her time on suspension as an opportunity to observe what goes on behind the camera. She learnt the craft of filmmaking, editing and producing and ultimately became a savvy business woman.

Other directors of note during this decade were John Huston who directed The African Queen and Billy Wilder who directed Sunset Boulevard and Sabrina.

The Actors

While many of the great actors from the 40s continued to have significant success in the 50s, the decade also saw a new wave of talent arise. This new generation of actors, including the likes of James Dean, Marlon Brando, Paul Newman and Montgomery Clift, introduced the world to a new kind of screen performance known as Method Acting. The method involved an actor understanding the internal motivations of a character so that they could embody them rather than just represent them. The more seasoned actors found it off putting when a scene partner would adopt this style of acting and many directors found it challenging to work with, but audiences all over the world responded to the emotive performances it produced. The style was popularised by Lee Strasberg at the Actor’s Studio in New York and was based on the teachings of Konstantine Stanislavski. A big supporter of the method acting movement was director Elia Kazan who was actually a cofounder of The Actors Studio. He directed some of the most famous method actors in the 50s including Marlon Brando in 'A Streetcar Named Desire' and 'On the Waterfront' and James Dean in 'East of Eden'. Alongside Brando and Dean as the first major method actors was Montgomery Clift. While Brando and Dean’s performances were often intense, Clift was more subtle and nuanced. His performance in 'From Here to Eternity' was a prime example of this and earned him a nomination for the Best Actor Academy Award. Also notable is Paul Newman’s performance in 'Somebody up there likes Me'. It is interesting to note that Newman’s parts in both 'Somebody up there Likes me' and 'The Left Handed Gun' had originally been awarded to James Dean but were subsequently given to Newman after Dean’s untimely death.

As usual there are too many talented actors ot name them all in this article but we would like to make note of the following;

Rock Hudson

He was the quintessential tall dark and handsome leading man of the 50s but it did take Rock Hudson a while to find his feet as an actor. In fact, during filming of his first movie he took 38 takes to say just one line! However, by 1956 he’d certainly become a more established actor when he earned himself an Oscar nomination for his role in 'Giant' alongside Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean. Interestingly, he and Dean had an intense dislike for one another.

Other notable mentions are Tony Curtis, Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Ernest Borgnine and the dynamic duo of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.

The Actresses

Marilyn Monroe

During the 50s, societal norms were being questioned and people began to challenge what was considered inappropriate, and so, despite the production code still being in action, stars like Marilynn Monroe began to find favour with audiences for their exuding sexuality and sultry good looks. Monroe made 23 films in the 50s including 'Some Like it Hot' with Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon and 'The Seven Year Itch' which gave the iconic image of Marilyn in a white billowing dress standing over a subway vent.

Elizabeth Taylor

For Elizabeth Taylor, this was one of her most successful decades, although her career spans over many, as she starred in multiple box office hits and earned herself three Academy Awards nominations for Best Actress in a Leading Role. With her piercing blue eyes, she captivated audiences in films such as 'A Place in the Sun', 'Ivanhoe', 'Suddenly Last Summer' and 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof'.

Dorothy Dandridge

Dorothy Dandridge paved the way for women of colour in Hollywood when in 1955 she became the first African American to be nominated for the Academy award for Best Actress in a leading role for her performance in Carmen Jones. She became an overnight sensation and was soon turning down supporting parts in favour of leading roles. She was also the first African American on the cover of Life magazine. Her film 'Island in the Sun' pushed the limits of the production code but was a huge success despite some controversies surrounding its subject matter. At the end of the decade she starred in Porgy and Bess alongside Sidney Poitier, another groundbreaking actor who we will discuss in our article on the 60s.

Grace Kelly

Grace Kelly was admired for her poise and sophistication which many young stars that followed her tried to emulate. Not only was she beautiful but she had the talent to match. She was often cast as the young wife to male lead actors who were much older than her. Grace Kelly made 13 films as well as several television shows in the 1950s. Although well known for her roles in Alfred Hitchcock films, she also starred in The Country Girl in 1954 which earnt her the Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role. In 1956 she completed her final project as socialite Tracy Lord in 'High Society' before she left Hollywood to marry the Prince of Monaco.

Other notable actresses of the 50s were, Ava Gardner, Kim Novak, Natalie Wood and Lauren Bacall. Audrey Hepburn also made a name for herself during this decade, however we will discuss her in our article on the 60s.

All in all cinema in the 1950s really had something for everyone and the quality films it produced are still loved by so many today. So what do you think about this decade in cinema history? As always we love to hear your thoughts so head on over to the comment section and join the conversation about your favourite films, writer’s, directors and actors.