Best Of...
American cinema: 1950s
12 Angry Men (1957)
Sidney Lumet
In a New York court room, a lengthy murder trial is nearing its conclusion. Once the judge has delivered his closing statements, the twelve members of the jury are led away to the jury room...
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Sidney Lumet
The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958)
Nathan Juran
Sinbad the Sailor is returning to Baghdad with the Princess Parisa, whom he intends to marry to secure a lasting peace between their two countries...
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Nathan Juran
A Place in the Sun (1951)
George Stevens
George Eastman, the son of poor missionary workers, is surprised when his uncle, the successful businessman Charles Eastman, offers him a job at one of his factories...
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George Stevens
A Star Is Born (1954)
George Cukor
One-time matinee idol Norman Maine has lost both his public and the confidence of the studio bosses who employ him, and he hastens his decline by drowning his sorrows in alcohol...
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George Cukor
A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
Elia Kazan
Blanche DuBois is a prim, middle-aged school teacher who, after losing her job and her old Mississippi home, makes her way to New Orleans to stay with her younger sister, Stella...
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Elia Kazan
The African Queen (1951)
John Huston
In 1914, Rose Sayer assists her brother, the Reverend Samuel Sayer, in leading a missionary village in German East Africa... [More...]
John Huston
In 1914, Rose Sayer assists her brother, the Reverend Samuel Sayer, in leading a missionary village in German East Africa... [More...]
All About Eve (1950)
Joseph L. Mankiewicz
The night Eve Harrington wins her award for the best stage actress of the year, the people who unwittingly brought about her success reflect on her meteoric rise to fame... [More...]
Joseph L. Mankiewicz
The night Eve Harrington wins her award for the best stage actress of the year, the people who unwittingly brought about her success reflect on her meteoric rise to fame... [More...]
All I Desire (1953)
Douglas Sirk
In 1910, Naomi Murdock is an itinerant actress who earns barely enough to live on, performing at rundown theatres in provincial towns across America... [More...]
Douglas Sirk
In 1910, Naomi Murdock is an itinerant actress who earns barely enough to live on, performing at rundown theatres in provincial towns across America... [More...]
All That Heaven Allows (1955)
Douglas Sirk
Cary Scott is a middle-aged New England widow. Well provided for by her late husband, she leads a comfortable life but is anxious over what the future may hold for her... [More...]
Douglas Sirk
Cary Scott is a middle-aged New England widow. Well provided for by her late husband, she leads a comfortable life but is anxious over what the future may hold for her... [More...]
An Affair to Remember (1957)
Leo McCarey
The world is stunned by the news that celebrity playboy Nickie Ferrante is about to marry a wealthy American heiress. Nickie is on his way back to New York by ocean liner when fate intervenes and derails his matrimonial plans, via a chance meeting with nightclub singer Terry McKay... [More...]
Leo McCarey
The world is stunned by the news that celebrity playboy Nickie Ferrante is about to marry a wealthy American heiress. Nickie is on his way back to New York by ocean liner when fate intervenes and derails his matrimonial plans, via a chance meeting with nightclub singer Terry McKay... [More...]
An American in Paris (1951)
Vincente Minnelli
After WWII, ex-serviceman Jerry Mulligan decides to stay on in Paris and pursue a career as an artist, seeking inspiration from the city he has fallen in love with... [More...]
Vincente Minnelli
After WWII, ex-serviceman Jerry Mulligan decides to stay on in Paris and pursue a career as an artist, seeking inspiration from the city he has fallen in love with... [More...]
Anastasia (1956)
Anatole Litvak
Paris, 1928. A decade after Tsar Nicolas II and his family were executed by the Bolsheviks, rumours continue to circulate that the tsar's daughter, Anastasia, somehow survived... [More...]
Anatole Litvak
Paris, 1928. A decade after Tsar Nicolas II and his family were executed by the Bolsheviks, rumours continue to circulate that the tsar's daughter, Anastasia, somehow survived... [More...]
Anatomy of a Murder (1959)
Otto Preminger
Paul Biegler is a struggling lawyer in a small Michigan town. Prompted by his alcoholic friend Parnell McCarthy he agrees to take on the case for the defence in an impending murder trial... [More...]
Otto Preminger
Paul Biegler is a struggling lawyer in a small Michigan town. Prompted by his alcoholic friend Parnell McCarthy he agrees to take on the case for the defence in an impending murder trial... [More...]
Angel Face (1952)
Otto Preminger
The Tremaynes, Charles and Catherine, are a wealthy couple who live with their daughter Diane at their hilltop estate in Beverley Hills... [More...]
Otto Preminger
The Tremaynes, Charles and Catherine, are a wealthy couple who live with their daughter Diane at their hilltop estate in Beverley Hills... [More...]
Armored Car Robbery (1950)
Richard Fleischer
Dave Purvis leads a gang of hardened criminals who plan to ambush an armoured car when it makes a collection outside a baseball station in Los Angeles... [More...]
Richard Fleischer
Dave Purvis leads a gang of hardened criminals who plan to ambush an armoured car when it makes a collection outside a baseball station in Los Angeles... [More...]
The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
John Huston
Within hours of leaving prison, criminal mastermind Doc Riedenschneider is preparing his next robbery. To clean up on a million dollars' worth of jewels, he recruits a safecracker, Louis Ciavelli, getaway-driver Gus Minissi and hoodlum Dix Handley... [More...]
John Huston
Within hours of leaving prison, criminal mastermind Doc Riedenschneider is preparing his next robbery. To clean up on a million dollars' worth of jewels, he recruits a safecracker, Louis Ciavelli, getaway-driver Gus Minissi and hoodlum Dix Handley... [More...]
The Bachelor Party (1957)
Delbert Mann
Charlie is a New York bookkeeper who seeks to better himself by attending night school to earn a degree, but his plans are threatened when he discovers that his wife Helen is pregnant... [More...]
Delbert Mann
Charlie is a New York bookkeeper who seeks to better himself by attending night school to earn a degree, but his plans are threatened when he discovers that his wife Helen is pregnant... [More...]
The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)
Vincente Minnelli
Film producer Harry Pebbel rounds up three people who owe their success to his associate Jonathan Shields, on the pretext of persuading them to work with Shields on his next film... [More...]
Vincente Minnelli
Film producer Harry Pebbel rounds up three people who owe their success to his associate Jonathan Shields, on the pretext of persuading them to work with Shields on his next film... [More...]
Bad Day at Black Rock (1955)
John Sturges
Shortly after WWII, a one-armed stranger arrives in the sleepy desert town of Black Rock. The locals do not take kindly to this newcomer and react in a hostile manner when he begins to ask seemingly innocent questions... [More...]
John Sturges
Shortly after WWII, a one-armed stranger arrives in the sleepy desert town of Black Rock. The locals do not take kindly to this newcomer and react in a hostile manner when he begins to ask seemingly innocent questions... [More...]
The Barefoot Contessa (1954)
Joseph L. Mankiewicz
At the funeral of Maria Vargas, the men who fashioned her into a myth remember their part in her tragic life. Burned out film director Harry Dawes recalls how he went to Spain with his rich but artistically ignorant film producer Kirk Edwards to persuade the unknown Maria, a cabaret dancer, to take up a career in the movie business... [More...]
Joseph L. Mankiewicz
At the funeral of Maria Vargas, the men who fashioned her into a myth remember their part in her tragic life. Burned out film director Harry Dawes recalls how he went to Spain with his rich but artistically ignorant film producer Kirk Edwards to persuade the unknown Maria, a cabaret dancer, to take up a career in the movie business... [More...]
The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953)
Eugène Lourié
In the aftermath of an atomic bomb test in the Arctic Circle, physicist Tom Nesbitt catches a glimpse of a gigantic prehistoric reptile, which seems to have been released by the blast after being trapped in the ice for millions of years... [More...]
Eugène Lourié
In the aftermath of an atomic bomb test in the Arctic Circle, physicist Tom Nesbitt catches a glimpse of a gigantic prehistoric reptile, which seems to have been released by the blast after being trapped in the ice for millions of years... [More...]
Beat the Devil (1953)
John Huston
Billy Dannreuther and his wife Maria are on their way to make their fortune in Africa, but are held up in an Italian port whilst their steamboat undergoes some repair work... [More...]
John Huston
Billy Dannreuther and his wife Maria are on their way to make their fortune in Africa, but are held up in an Italian port whilst their steamboat undergoes some repair work... [More...]
Bell Book and Candle (1958)
Richard Quine
One Christmas Eve in New York, Gillian Holroyd suddenly discovers that she is attracted to her neighbour, Shepherd Henderson... [More...]
Richard Quine
One Christmas Eve in New York, Gillian Holroyd suddenly discovers that she is attracted to her neighbour, Shepherd Henderson... [More...]
Ben-Hur (1959)
William Wyler
Jerusalem, 27 AD. Recently appointed commander of a Roman garrison, the Tribune Messala greets his old friend Judah Ben-Hur with warmth and affection, but their reunion turns cold when their political differences become apparent... [More...]
William Wyler
Jerusalem, 27 AD. Recently appointed commander of a Roman garrison, the Tribune Messala greets his old friend Judah Ben-Hur with warmth and affection, but their reunion turns cold when their political differences become apparent... [More...]
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (1956)
Fritz Lang
For years, newspaper editor Austin Spencer has sought to expose failings in the American legal system which may lead an innocent man to the electric chair... [More...]
Fritz Lang
For years, newspaper editor Austin Spencer has sought to expose failings in the American legal system which may lead an innocent man to the electric chair... [More...]
The Big Combo (1955)
Joseph H. Lewis
Police Lieutenant Leonard Diamond is determined to bring the notorious gangster boss Mr Brown to book. For Diamond, this is no longer work but a personal crusade against evil... [More...]
Joseph H. Lewis
Police Lieutenant Leonard Diamond is determined to bring the notorious gangster boss Mr Brown to book. For Diamond, this is no longer work but a personal crusade against evil... [More...]
The Big Heat (1953)
Fritz Lang
Investigating the apparent suicide of a fellow officer, detective Dave Bannion soon discovers he is about to lift the lid on something that reeks of vice and corruption... [More...]
Fritz Lang
Investigating the apparent suicide of a fellow officer, detective Dave Bannion soon discovers he is about to lift the lid on something that reeks of vice and corruption... [More...]
The Big Knife (1955)
Robert Aldrich
For Charlie Castle, one of Hollywood's biggest stars, success has come at a terrible price. In the pursuit of fame and fortune he has had to betray the ideals he once held dear, and in doing so he has lost not only his self-respect but also the love of the only woman who has meant anything to him, his wife Marion... [More...]
Robert Aldrich
For Charlie Castle, one of Hollywood's biggest stars, success has come at a terrible price. In the pursuit of fame and fortune he has had to betray the ideals he once held dear, and in doing so he has lost not only his self-respect but also the love of the only woman who has meant anything to him, his wife Marion... [More...]
Bigger Than Life (1956)
Nicholas Ray
Ed Avery is a happily married schoolteacher who takes on casual work with a taxi firm so that he can keep on top of the monthly bills... [More...]
Nicholas Ray
Ed Avery is a happily married schoolteacher who takes on casual work with a taxi firm so that he can keep on top of the monthly bills... [More...]
Bitter Victory (1957)
Nicholas Ray
During WWII, two British army officers stationed in Cairo are selected to lead a commando raid on German headquarters in Benghazi and steal some vital documents... [More...]
Nicholas Ray
During WWII, two British army officers stationed in Cairo are selected to lead a commando raid on German headquarters in Benghazi and steal some vital documents... [More...]