Best Of...
American cinema: 1950s
Lust for Life (1956)
Vincente Minnelli
Driven by an overwhelming urge to achieve something worthwhile in his life, Vincent Van Gogh takes up the position of a preacher in a small mining town in the Borinage district of Belgium...
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Vincente Minnelli
Magnificent Obsession (1954)
Douglas Sirk
Bob Merrick is the archetypal rich playboy, selfishly squandering his time and his money in reckless leisure pursuits. One day, he comes close to drowning himself whilst chasing records in his souped-up speedboat...
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Douglas Sirk
Man of a Thousand Faces (1957)
Joseph Pevney
In 1930, Lon Chaney's untimely death at the age of 47 shocked the world and led those who knew him to offer heartfelt tributes to this, one of the undisputed giants of silent cinema...
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Joseph Pevney
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
Alfred Hitchcock
Whilst vacationing in Morocco, Dr Ben McKenna and his wife, Jo, make the acquaintance of a mysterious Frenchman, Louis Bernard...
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Alfred Hitchcock
The Man with the Golden Arm (1955)
Otto Preminger
Frankie Machine returns to his home town after a spell in prison where he was cured of his heroine addiction. He soon runs into his old friend Sparrow, who earns a crust by selling stray dogs, and Schwiefka, who used to employ him as a dealer in illegal poker games... [More...]
Otto Preminger
Frankie Machine returns to his home town after a spell in prison where he was cured of his heroine addiction. He soon runs into his old friend Sparrow, who earns a crust by selling stray dogs, and Schwiefka, who used to employ him as a dealer in illegal poker games... [More...]
The Men (1950)
Fred Zinnemann
Shot by a German sniper in WWII, a young American soldier, Ken Wilcheck, suffers a spinal injury that will prevent him from ever walking again... [More...]
Fred Zinnemann
Shot by a German sniper in WWII, a young American soldier, Ken Wilcheck, suffers a spinal injury that will prevent him from ever walking again... [More...]
Monkey Business (1952)
Howard Hawks
Dr Barnaby Fulton is a brilliant research chemist who, to his wife's dismay, has become obsessed with developing a drug that will throw the ageing process back into reverse... [More...]
Howard Hawks
Dr Barnaby Fulton is a brilliant research chemist who, to his wife's dismay, has become obsessed with developing a drug that will throw the ageing process back into reverse... [More...]
My Cousin Rachel (1952)
Henry Koster
Southern England in the 1830s. In his early twenties, Philip Ashley lives on the large Cornish estate of his cousin Ambrose whilst the latter, his guardian since childhood, resides in Florence for health reasons... [More...]
Henry Koster
Southern England in the 1830s. In his early twenties, Philip Ashley lives on the large Cornish estate of his cousin Ambrose whilst the latter, his guardian since childhood, resides in Florence for health reasons... [More...]
Niagara (1953)
Henry Hathaway
Ray and Polly Cutler arrive at Niagara Falls, where they hope to spend their belated honeymoon in peace. The holiday gets off to a bad start when they learn that their cottage is occupied by another couple, George and Rose Loomis... [More...]
Henry Hathaway
Ray and Polly Cutler arrive at Niagara Falls, where they hope to spend their belated honeymoon in peace. The holiday gets off to a bad start when they learn that their cottage is occupied by another couple, George and Rose Loomis... [More...]
The Night of the Hunter (1955)
Charles Laughton
It is the Great Depression and for most ordinary Americans life is unbearably hard. Desperation drives Ben Harper, a young father, to rob a bank, but in the attempt he kills two men... [More...]
Charles Laughton
It is the Great Depression and for most ordinary Americans life is unbearably hard. Desperation drives Ben Harper, a young father, to rob a bank, but in the attempt he kills two men... [More...]
Nightfall (1957)
Jacques Tourneur
One evening, commercial artist James Vanning makes the acquaintance of Marie Gardner in a cheap bar. She claims to be a model and offers to pose for him, but on leaving the bar Vanning is seized by two thugs and bundled into a car... [More...]
Jacques Tourneur
One evening, commercial artist James Vanning makes the acquaintance of Marie Gardner in a cheap bar. She claims to be a model and offers to pose for him, but on leaving the bar Vanning is seized by two thugs and bundled into a car... [More...]
North by Northwest (1959)
Alfred Hitchcock
Life for advertising executive Roger Thornhill suddenly gets a little complicated on the day he is mistaken for a Federal agent named George Kaplan... [More...]
Alfred Hitchcock
Life for advertising executive Roger Thornhill suddenly gets a little complicated on the day he is mistaken for a Federal agent named George Kaplan... [More...]
The Nun's Story (1959)
Fred Zinnemann
In the late 1920s, Gabby Van Der Mal persuades her loving father to allow her to fulfil what she believes is her mission in life, to enter a convent where she can devote herself to God... [More...]
Fred Zinnemann
In the late 1920s, Gabby Van Der Mal persuades her loving father to allow her to fulfil what she believes is her mission in life, to enter a convent where she can devote herself to God... [More...]
Oklahoma! (1955)
Fred Zinnemann
Oklahoma, in the early 1900s. Curly, a cowboy who lives with his aunt Eller, is in love with Laurey, and has offered to take her to the Skidmore dance... [More...]
Fred Zinnemann
Oklahoma, in the early 1900s. Curly, a cowboy who lives with his aunt Eller, is in love with Laurey, and has offered to take her to the Skidmore dance... [More...]
The Old Man and the Sea (1958)
John Sturges
Each morning, an old Cuban fisherman sets out to sea in his battered skiff and returns empty handed at the end of each day, to be met by the only friend he has, a kind little boy... [More...]
John Sturges
Each morning, an old Cuban fisherman sets out to sea in his battered skiff and returns empty handed at the end of each day, to be met by the only friend he has, a kind little boy... [More...]
On Dangerous Ground (1952)
Nicholas Ray
Jim Wilson is a hard-bitten detective who has no qualms about using violence and underhand methods when it comes to dealing with the city's lowlife... [More...]
Nicholas Ray
Jim Wilson is a hard-bitten detective who has no qualms about using violence and underhand methods when it comes to dealing with the city's lowlife... [More...]
On the Waterfront (1954)
Elia Kazan
His dreams of becoming a professional boxer dashed, Terry Malloy finds work on the docks around New York. His brother Charley is the lawyer for Johnny Friendly, a racketeer whose underworld activities allow him to control every aspect of life on the docks... [More...]
Elia Kazan
His dreams of becoming a professional boxer dashed, Terry Malloy finds work on the docks around New York. His brother Charley is the lawyer for Johnny Friendly, a racketeer whose underworld activities allow him to control every aspect of life on the docks... [More...]
Othello (1952)
Orson Welles
Othello is a courageous general in the Venetian army, renowned for his many military victories against Venice's enemies. But not everyone approves of his success... [More...]
Orson Welles
Othello is a courageous general in the Venetian army, renowned for his many military victories against Venice's enemies. But not everyone approves of his success... [More...]
Pal Joey (1957)
George Sidney
Arriving in San Francisco, two-bit cabaret singer Joey Evans soon talks his way into a night club spot, although his reputation as a serial philanderer precedes him... [More...]
George Sidney
Arriving in San Francisco, two-bit cabaret singer Joey Evans soon talks his way into a night club spot, although his reputation as a serial philanderer precedes him... [More...]
Panic in the Streets (1950)
Elia Kazan
When a dead body is found on the New Orleans waterfront, its gunshot wounds leave no doubt as to the cause of death. But the man would have died even if he had not been shot, as he was infected with pneumonic plague, a lethal strain of bubonic plague... [More...]
Elia Kazan
When a dead body is found on the New Orleans waterfront, its gunshot wounds leave no doubt as to the cause of death. But the man would have died even if he had not been shot, as he was infected with pneumonic plague, a lethal strain of bubonic plague... [More...]
Party Girl (1958)
Nicholas Ray
Chicago, in the early 1930s. Thomas Farrell is a lawyer who makes a healthy living defending the town's mobsters, most notably the feared gangster boss Rico Angelo... [More...]
Nicholas Ray
Chicago, in the early 1930s. Thomas Farrell is a lawyer who makes a healthy living defending the town's mobsters, most notably the feared gangster boss Rico Angelo... [More...]
Pat and Mike (1952)
George Cukor
College physical education instructor Pat Pemberton appears destined for a successful career as an all-round professional sportswoman - at least she would be if it weren't for her disparaging fiancé, who saps her resolve at every tournament she attends... [More...]
George Cukor
College physical education instructor Pat Pemberton appears destined for a successful career as an all-round professional sportswoman - at least she would be if it weren't for her disparaging fiancé, who saps her resolve at every tournament she attends... [More...]
Paths of Glory (1957)
Stanley Kubrick
By 1916, the war in Europe has arrived at a virtual impasse. On both sides, the progress made in one year is measured in metres and paid for by tens of thousands of soldiers' lives... [More...]
Stanley Kubrick
By 1916, the war in Europe has arrived at a virtual impasse. On both sides, the progress made in one year is measured in metres and paid for by tens of thousands of soldiers' lives... [More...]
People Will Talk (1951)
Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Dr Noah Praetorius is a successful medical practitioner who enjoys great popularity and respect at the university where he teaches... [More...]
Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Dr Noah Praetorius is a successful medical practitioner who enjoys great popularity and respect at the university where he teaches... [More...]
Pickup on South Street (1953)
Samuel Fuller
Pickpocket Skip McCoy finds himself in greater trouble than he could ever have imagined when he steals a woman's purse containing microfilm of government secrets... [More...]
Samuel Fuller
Pickpocket Skip McCoy finds himself in greater trouble than he could ever have imagined when he steals a woman's purse containing microfilm of government secrets... [More...]
Pillow Talk (1959)
Michael Gordon
The only thing that Jan Morrow and Brad Allen have in common is that they share a telephone line. This is a constant source of annoyance to Jan who, trying to make a living as an interior designer, is tired of overhearing Brad's attempts to seduce every eligible young woman in New York over the phone... [More...]
Michael Gordon
The only thing that Jan Morrow and Brad Allen have in common is that they share a telephone line. This is a constant source of annoyance to Jan who, trying to make a living as an interior designer, is tired of overhearing Brad's attempts to seduce every eligible young woman in New York over the phone... [More...]
The Prodigal (1955)
Richard Thorpe
Micah, a devout servant of the Hebrew tradition, wins his father Eli's disapproval when, on a visit to Damascus, he falls in love with the beautiful priestess of Astarte, Samarra... [More...]
Richard Thorpe
Micah, a devout servant of the Hebrew tradition, wins his father Eli's disapproval when, on a visit to Damascus, he falls in love with the beautiful priestess of Astarte, Samarra... [More...]
Pushover (1954)
Richard Quine
When hoodlum Harry Wheeler pulls off a bank robbery, detective Paul Sheridan is tasked with maintaining a 24 hour surveillance on his girlfriend, Lona McLane... [More...]
Richard Quine
When hoodlum Harry Wheeler pulls off a bank robbery, detective Paul Sheridan is tasked with maintaining a 24 hour surveillance on his girlfriend, Lona McLane... [More...]
Quentin Durward (1955)
Richard Thorpe
In 1465, the impecunious Scottish knight Quentin Durward travels to France to determine whether the Countess Isabelle of Marcroy will make a suitable bride for his aged uncle... [More...]
Richard Thorpe
In 1465, the impecunious Scottish knight Quentin Durward travels to France to determine whether the Countess Isabelle of Marcroy will make a suitable bride for his aged uncle... [More...]